A few months ago, I received an e-mail from Nintendo that said that members that reached Platinum Status on Club Nintendo would receive a choice of either an official Mario hat or a download code for Doc Louis' Punch-Out!! on Wii. I chose the former simply because of nostalgic reasons. Well, I received the hat in the mail today.

The box it arrived in was your basic cardboard box; the sender's address was none other than Nintendo of America's. I opened it up to find a red Mario hat, protected by plastic wrap.







As you can see, the hat isn't a typical hat -- it's pretty big. It looks very authentic and well made. After taking the hat out of the plastic, I decided to try it on:





Upon flipping the hat over, I found a paper slip labeled "Mario Hat Instruction Manual."



The picture above is a bit blurry, so I typed everything up:

Mario Hat
Handling and care Instructions

About the Mario Hat
This item was designed to replicate the shape of Mario's hat, and was created specifically for Club Nintendo Platinum members. Please be aware that this item is not designed to function as a hat for practical use.

Please enjoy this item as an interior accessory, a fun item when taking pictures, or to add to your collection of Mario related items.

Handling and Care



Do not machine wash or dry clean as it may result in loss of color and loss of shape. Color may rubb off to other materials. Please use care when using hat with white and light colored clothing.

If color rubs onto clothing, please have the clothing cleaned as soon as possible. If the hat needs cleaning, wipe the area that needs cleaning with a damp fabric and dry well. (Color may rub off against the cleaning fabric. Do not use thinner, benzine, or other bleach materials)



Do not pull hard or handle roughly as it may result in damage. Stop using if item becomes damaged.

Never place near heat source.

Do not place under direct sunlight, or in places with high humidity.

Do not leave unattended if item gets damp by elements such as rain or sweat. Air dry in a cool place if it gets wet.

The plastic wrapping that the item is enclosed in may cause accidents. Please store in a safe place or dispose of to keep away from children.

MADE IN CHINA
NOT FOR SALE

Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with the hat. Perhaps it isn't as cool as a Super Famicom controller, but it's the thought that counts. Have you received yours yet? If you chose the game download instead, what are your thoughts about that? We'd love to hear your comments.