Also Square-Enix.
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Iwata addresses region-locking at Nintendo investor Q&A
- Thread starter Cheesemeister
- Start date
Sir_Crocodile
Member
uh huh
reminds me of
reminds me of
It's harder to charge some regions higher prices
Starwolf_UK
Member
The problem there is the DSi introduced region locking to handhelds and I feel that was partly because of the online store (the other part being counterfeit cartridges, not so appealing to manufacture when you have to worry about region). Of course they were using points back then and had probably come off the back of this little headache (I could switch to Japan buy 1000 points for £5 and spend it on £7 worth of content, you don't have to be a maths genius to see the problem there...moreso when NCL are in the black by £5 while NOE are in the red by £7).
The 3DS eShop giving you a separate wallet for each country solved that headache completely. It is a shame NNID can along and spoiled the party (locked to a single country).
Still given how country locked NNIDs (refusing to sign into Nintendo Network at all if your system to the wrong country) are and "won't somebody please think of the children" I assume those are two of the "various problems to be solved"
Uh...I guess that's good news. I don't know, I can't really make anything of what he said.
But honest question: why were their handheld system region-free up until the 3DS (or DSi games), whereas all of their home consoles have always been region-locked?
Yeah also, this.
But honest question: why were their handheld system region-free up until the 3DS (or DSi games), whereas all of their home consoles have always been region-locked?
Yeah also, this.
Another reason why I really didn't like the DSi and was rather lukewarm with their 3DS.
A handheld is made for moving and everything and they initially give it a shit battery, a special effect that's their entire point which is useless when moving and they make it unable to play games you buy while on vacation on the other side of the Earth.
Seriously a handheld should always be regionfree, not that I care I'm not buying their stuffs if I have to import it myself, really can't be arsed.
A handheld is made for moving and everything and they initially give it a shit battery, a special effect that's their entire point which is useless when moving and they make it unable to play games you buy while on vacation on the other side of the Earth.
Seriously a handheld should always be regionfree, not that I care I'm not buying their stuffs if I have to import it myself, really can't be arsed.
gingerbeardman
Member
One small step...
😁
😁
Sony should keep their trap shut after Persona 4 Arena and Joysound Drive on the so called region free PS3. There were also region locked demos in the PSN store. And then there is the nightmare with DLC purchases. Some is region locked. Some isn't. Some is even version locked. Some other isn't. It's a nightmare.
They are also not releasing 1 multilingual European version of their games (that's what Nintendo is doing for ages), but instead release multiple to effectively force people to not import from UK. Uncharted 2+3 bought in UK is English only.
In case Nintendo goes region free with their home console, I really hope that they won't create such a mess with DLC and instead do it properly, so that I can buy for example an Asian copy and then buy the DLC in Europe.
Because on existing platforms now, Nintendo is the only one who signed such agreements with all their partners. You have to honor those agreements, or find a way to dismantle them to everyone's satisfaction. All of the problems stem from Nintendo's poor decisions, but those are decisions they have to continue to live with, just like they have to live with the WiiU until they have a replacement.
SerTapTap
Member
Oh yeah, that IP block was really something else
TheMoon
Member
The latter already exists, btw.
It doesn't protect customers or even benefit Nintendo much, if at all. Region locking is to protect retailers and subsidiaries (e.g. Atlus EU) whose profits would be hurt by importing from regions that either sell more cheaply or that release before they do.
Triplicates
Member
As soon as this happens, I will buy a Wii U. Just give us a country select screen during setup and put the option to change it in the settings menu.
DXB-KNIGHT
Member
Keep it per publisher and don't in force it as a hardware feature. Best of two worlds.
Another reason why I never replay Sony's ps3 games, I bought them in France, played it 1rst time in French and want to replay it in another language? Not possible, so I play something else instead.
Thanks guys ^_^
I honestly couldn't remember since the last time I'd gotten a few imports was on the GBA. With the DS I was surprised I didn't take advantage of it when I could.
It wasn't until I considered getting Monster Hunter 3U that I paid attention to region locking with the 3DS. :'(
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
My GameBoy and my DS scowl at you, Nintendo.
Yeah, nobody ever talks about how DLC are still region locked. You can work around the lock on the PS3 by having a separate acount, but it's a pain in the ass. On the VITA you're just out of luck.
I still find depressing that to play Monster Hunter games without waiting months I have to buy a japanese 3DS
and that's when I have to wait, in comse cases like Monster Hunter 4 I never got the chance..
backwards Nintendo truly, I don't see other companies in such "dilemas" and they do not have that
and that's when I have to wait, in comse cases like Monster Hunter 4 I never got the chance..
backwards Nintendo truly, I don't see other companies in such "dilemas" and they do not have that
Pancakes R Us
Member
Yes. Perhaps another 10 years or so will go by before we get any further comment on it. Those greedy bastards, I was really upset about handheld region locking because it was only recently restricted.So you're saying that...there's a chance?
Ya, I dont see why people are so excited by these statements. It was basically a non answer.
sixteen-bit
Member
Or a Playstation
I really wish the question was explained better because he just gave Iwata a free ticket to non-answer land. The answer is a tiny bit positive, but it's full of holes.
Based on that answer, even the next console won't be region-free at all, at the minimum... which is a bummer. I guess Nintendo thinks that it's fine as long as they introduce the account system next console.
Based on that answer, even the next console won't be region-free at all, at the minimum... which is a bummer. I guess Nintendo thinks that it's fine as long as they introduce the account system next console.
Pancakes R Us
Member
Surely you know what this poster meant, BTW? I find these responses so annoying. When people on here refer to a proper account system, they mean one that they can associate and disassociate from a console themselves and reattach to another system to download all their purchases themselves. Without needing to contact/beg/plead with Nintendo. Without having to have two of the systems present to do a system transfer. Basically, without any bullshit. Like most other digitally-present companies at the moment.
Nintendo apologists. Annoy the heck out of me. BTW.
NormalFish
Banned
This was really the only answer they could give at this point, not really surprising. That isn't to say it's not good to see, but where they really going to eat the horrible press from saying that they think region locking is best for the consumer at this point? Seems unlikely.
Seriously on a console kinds of make sense, and I'm being really generous.
On a handheld it's basically saying to your customers : "Don't ever travel with our products and please spend your money elsewhere"
What's the point of Streetpassing the whole world if the games aren't even compatible to begin with?
Surely handheld gamers can play locally and online regardless of regions! Why would you block their ability to trade/buy games?
On a handheld it's basically saying to your customers : "Don't ever travel with our products and please spend your money elsewhere"
What's the point of Streetpassing the whole world if the games aren't even compatible to begin with?
Surely handheld gamers can play locally and online regardless of regions! Why would you block their ability to trade/buy games?
You could in theory see this sentence:
as "if we unlock Wii U + 3DS, there may also be a benefit for us."
Yeah, I'm going dumb and dumber on this, but there really is a tiny chance. I haven't bought a 3DS yet, Nintendo doing that would be a selling point.
BeatResetsTheWorld
Banned
Right when they introduced digital content? Coincidence? NOPE
Or wait for region free and translation patch capabilities to become available via homebrew. The Homebrew Channel for 3DS is expected to be released within a few weeks.
He's not going to make that big of decision on the fly. People are just glad to hear that they're probably going to look into it for their next platform or something.
The chances of a translation patch actually being completed seem very low to me.
Even then, people shouldn't expect wholesale region-unlocking. The best case would still have region-locking decided by publishers and locking purchases of digital content in a particular country/region to that country/region alone, which are common practices.
In other news: If I read the badly (google) translated page correctly they refer to Amiibo for Animal Crossing as an example of it's future use? (Q1)
Someone who speaks japanese and can do a little overview of the questions & answers (possibly in a new thread)?
Edit: ok this thread: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=922786
Someone who speaks japanese and can do a little overview of the questions & answers (possibly in a new thread)?
Edit: ok this thread: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=922786