News: 2013
News archive
December 18, 2013
In today's Nintendo Direct, it was revealed that the Wii U title Sonic: Lost World would receive a free Yoshi's Island themed level.  The Yoshi's Island Zone DLC level is available as a free download on the eShop right now.  It's worth noting that the DLC can be purchased on your account even if you don't currently own the game it is tied to.

Source: Nintendo Direct (12-18-2013)
NES Remix now available on Wii U 08:05:24 PM CT [David]
NES Remix is now available on the Wii U eShop for $14.99.  Jump, hop, and blast your way through hundreds of Wario Ware-styled challenges and remixes of 18 classic NES titles, including Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong, Jr., Donkey Kong 3, Mario Bros., Wrecking Crew, and Super Mario Bros.

Link: NES Remix (Nintendo.com)
During today's Nintendo direct, it was revealed that Rosalina will be a playable character in both Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS, as well as in Mario Kart 8.

Source: Nintendo Direct - 12/18/2013
Three items have been added to the Club Nintendo website:

Luigi's Mansion Figurine - 1500 coins. See Luigi cower as the spook sneaks up behind him!

3DS Pouch: Mario Edition - 500 coins.

3DS Pouch: Luigi Edition - 500 coins.

Get them while they last!

Link:  Club Nintendo (North America)
December 7, 2013
During the Spike VGX Awards Show, Reggie revealed that Cranky Kong will be a playable character in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.  Everyone's favorite furry curmudgeon will be able to bounce along on his cane, just like Scrooge McDuck (everyone's favorite feathery curmudgeon.)
October 23, 2013
A Wii U Deluxe Set bundled with New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U will launch on November 1, Nintendo of America announced today. Both games come on one disc and are included at no additional cost.

In Europe, the bundle is dubbed the "Mario & Luigi Premium Pack" and is set for release on November 8.

Links:
NOA press release
NOE news
October 18, 2013
Yoshi's Cookie has crumbled 08:04:05 PM CT [David]
Yoshi's Cookie has been removed from the Wii Shop Channel, with no crumbs remaining.  The title can no longer be downloaded, even by those who had previously purchased the title.  If the game is currently installed on a Wii, it can be played or copied to an SD card.  Current owners should be careful to avoid deleting the title from their Wii; once it's deleted, it can't be reclaimed.
October 11, 2013
After vanishing from the Wii Shop Channel on October 9th, the game has returned, at least for a week: the NES version of Yoshi's Cookie will be available for purchase until 9 a.m. Pacific time on Friday, October 18th.

The official Shop Channel alert implies that the title won't be available for re-download after that point, even for those who have already purchased the title.  While every other removed title has remained available for re-download via the "Titles You've Downloaded" menu, it might be a good idea to verify that you have the game installed in either the Wii system memory or an SD card.

Full text of the Wii Shop Channel message regarding the game:

Yoshi's Cookie only available through 10/18

The Virtual Console title Yoshi's Cookie (500 Wii Points) will be discontinued at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.  If you'd like to purchase this title or have already purchased and would like to re-download, please do so before this time.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

October 10, 2013
The NES game Yoshi's Cookie can no longer be purchased on the Wii Shop Channel.  The game was scheduled for removal from the European Wii Shop Channel on October 11th (according to an alert on the Shop itself), but was removed from the US Shop Channel on or before Wednesday, October 9th.

It's interesting to note that the game was scheduled for removal with the next regular European shop update, but vanished from the US shop slightly before the regularly scheduled update.

Update (10/10/2013): This title has reappeared in the Wii Shop Channel, but will be removed again on October 18th, 2013.  More details are available in this TMK news post.
July 26, 2013
A New Super Luigi U coin challenge was posted in the New Super Mario Bros. U Developers' Room community on Miiverse. The game's director, Masataka Takemoto, is inviting players to post screenshots of their final game coin totals to the thread. The twist? He wants to see the lowest number of coins people can collect while also completing the game. The challenge is open until August 18, but there's no word on a prize. Takemoto's record is 191 coins. Can you do better?

Link: Miiverse
June 12, 2013
Yoshi (a.k.a. "Mario & Yoshi", a.k.a. "Yoshi's Egg") is now available on the Wii U Virtual Console for just 30 cents.  This special promotional pricing lasts for the next 30 days.
June 11, 2013
Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze were shown for the first time today during Nintendo's E3 webcast. All three games are in development for the Wii U.

Super Mario 3D World will have Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad as playable characters. A new power-up transforms Mario into Cat Mario and lets him climb walls and scratch enemies. The game is currently planned for a December release.

Coming in Spring 2014, Mario Kart 8 features courses that let you drive on walls or upside-down with the new anti-gravity karts. Gliding, underwater driving, and motorcycles return from previous games in the series.

Retro Studios, the creators of Donkey Kong Country Returns, will bring DK back again in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. This time, Dixie Kong teams up with Donkey and Diddy. Tropical Freeze is set for release in November.

Link: Nintendo Direct@E3 2013
June 4, 2013
Super Mario Bros. 3 for Wii Virtual Console is now part of the Club Nintendo rewards catalog for a limited time. Club Nintendo members can exchange 150 coins for a download ticket from June 3 through June 30. On the Wii Shop Channel, Super Mario Bros. 3 sells for 500 Wii Points.

Link: Club Nintendo
May 6, 2013
Club Nintendo is now offering Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars for Wii Virtual Console as a downloadable reward from today through June 2. Members can redeem 200 Coins for the game, which is also available for 800 Wii Points on the Wii Shop Channel.

Link: Club Nintendo
April 26, 2013
The Virtual Console service has officially launched on Wii U systems, and two Mario-related titles are now available for purchase: Super Mario World ($7.99) and the NES Donkey Kong Jr. ($4.99).  Both have Miiverse communities as well.
April 17, 2013
Nintendo revealed new entries in the Yoshi's Island and Mario Party series during the Nintendo Direct webcast earlier today. Both titles are currently in development for the Nintendo 3DS.

The upcoming Yoshi's Island game will bring back Yoshi and Baby Mario for their third platforming adventure together. No release date was announced.

Releasing in the winter, Mario Party will include seven game boards, 81 all-new mini-games, AR Card games, and StreetPass battles.

Link: Nintendo Direct - 4.17.2013 (NOA)
April 8, 2013
Super Mario 64 for Wii Virtual Console is now part of the Club Nintendo rewards catalog for a limited time. Available today through May 5, a Super Mario 64 download ticket will cost Club Nintendo members 200 Coins. On the Wii Shop Channel, the game sells for 1,000 Wii Points.

Link: Club Nintendo
March 15, 2013
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D will launch on May 24 in North America and Europe, Nintendo announced today. The game is being developed by Monster Games, the studio behind Pilotwings Resort and Excitebots: Trick Racing.

In Japan, "Donkey Kong Returns 3D" is still set for a summer release.
February 14, 2013
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, and Mario Golf: World Tour were announced for the Nintendo 3DS during the Nintendo Direct webcast today.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is a remake of Donkey Kong Country Returns, which was released on the Wii in 2010. The 3DS version will release this summer.

The latest in the "Mario & Luigi" RPG series, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team is scheduled for a summer release.

Mario Golf: World Tour is also coming this summer, and is the first "Mario Golf" game since Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour was released ten years ago.

The Mini Marios from the "Mario vs. DK" series will return in Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, coming soon to the Nintendo eShop.

Link: NOA press release
February 11, 2013
Paper Mario for Wii Virtual Console is one of four new games added to the Club Nintendo rewards catalog. From today through March 10, members can exchange 200 Coins for a download ticket. The game is also available on the Wii Shop Channel for 1,000 Wii Points.

Club Nintendo also added Kirby Super Star, which includes cameo appearances by various Mario characters.

Link: Club Nintendo
January 23, 2013
New Yoshi, 3D Mario, and Mario Kart games for Wii U were announced during today's Nintendo Direct webcast.

Good-Feel, the developer of Wario Land: Shake It! and Kirby's Epic Yarn, is giving the "epic yarn" treatment to Yoshi's world for the dinosaur's first solo platforming adventure since Yoshi's Story. The webcast included a few seconds of game footage that featured Yoshi and Shy Guys made of yarn.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata also revealed that the team behind the Mario Galaxy series and Super Mario 3D Land are developing the new Mario 3D action game.

No footage for the new 3D Mario or Mario Kart games was shown, but Iwata said that both will be playable at this year's E3.

Link: http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct/archive/01-23-2013/
January 17, 2013
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon will be released on March 24 in the U.S., according to a press release published by Nintendo of America today.

Dark Moon, still known as Luigi's Mansion 2 overseas, is the sequel to Luigi's Mansion, a GameCube launch title.

Link: NOA press release
January 16, 2013
If you've needed a 6" x 6" cleaning cloth for your electronics but have been holding off until a Yoshi-themed one was available, wait no longer!  The North American Club Nintendo site now has a Yoshi cleaning cloth available for 400 coins.

Link: Yoshi Cleaning Cloth - Club Nintendo
January 7, 2013
Mario Kart 64 is now available as a downloadable reward on Club Nintendo. From today through February 10, Club Nintendo members can redeem 200 Coins for Mario Kart 64 on Wii Virtual Console, which normally costs 1,000 Wii Points.

Also starting today, Club Nintendo is offering Tetris (Game Boy) and Punch-Out!! (NES) for the Nintendo 3DS eShop until February 10. Both games feature cameo appearances by Mario.

Link: Club Nintendo