It might seem like a weird question but here's why I'm asking it:

I'll be buying my copy of Mario Kart 8 tomorrow or Saturday and the only free game I haven't purchased yet is Wii Party U which I have absolutely no interest for. Then reading about the procedure on how to get the free game, I found out we get the game through a Wii U download code retrieved on Club Nintendo.

So here's my line of thinking:

IF download codes aren't region locked, I could get a Pikmin 3 or Wind Waker HD download code with my copy of Mario Kart 8 and then trade it for a Wonderful 101 download code from an European user who was going to get Pikmin3 or WW anyway. I could also organize a trading thread for others wanting to do the same.

So, does anyone know for sure if download codes are region locked or not?

Arent every DL content region locked on all systems?

Well the eshop is region locked so probably

I would think so. Nintendo games are always region locked.

He's not talking about the games but the codes to download them.

I'd say that they are locked. I'm guessing it because it's the different Nintendo Clubs that will give us the code to download and, with Nintendo being Nintendo, I wouldn't be surprised if each Club has it's own serial code that works within its region/market.

Also, I thought Nintendo gave us a code to download a game and we were the ones choosing which one to get.

Almost, we choose a game then get a code to download that game, so the choice comes before the code.

I see, thanks.

Still, this limits the number of people with codes to trade as most buyers will choose a game they don't have and want :-/.

It would have to be coordinated with someone willing to wait a bit but the potential trades could happen between someone from Europe wanting to download Pikmin 3 and someone from NA wanting a game outside the 4 we have available.

I do realize there's nothing to gain for the people in Europe except the gratitude of a fellow NA VGC user.

I'll get the game soon (although not at launch), and I'm still unsure if I'll get the free game or not (because I don't want to join the Nintendo Club, mostly).

So, given that by then we'll know how it works and what bit of info we do give to Nintendo to get the code, I wouldn't mind helping some fellow Ninty VGC'ers from the other side of the pond if there's no hassle involved .

I like that idea as I'm in the exact same boat. However, while I've never verified, I'm sure it has to be locked not only your region, but your Club Nintendo account/systems.

I was actually considering selling a code on eBay.