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[ShogunDarius]

Nintendo will maintain its policy of region-locking hardware with the New Nintendo 3DS handheld, the company has confirmed to GameSpot.

It means that games released across Japan, Europe, and North America will only be playable in those territories, effectively eliminating the opportunity to import games without importing foreign hardware, too.

In contrast to Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo has a long history of region-locking its hardware, implementing the restriction to both the Wii U and 3DS systems.

Despite hope that this policy would change, on Wednesday a representative for Nintendo told GameSpot that the New Nintendo 3DS, and New 3DS XL, will both be region-locked.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-nintendo-3ds-will-be-region-locked/1100-6422079/


I didnt expect it to be region free anyway, though I am annoyed with Ninty for making the device (3DS) region locked.

 

[Busaiku]

NoA better have colored buttons.

 

[TI82]

Ugh, but really who is surprised?

 

[Maintenance]

What a shame, could've had more people change if they made it region free.

 

[Wario64]

Bad rumor was never alive

 

[Zombie James]

What an antiquated policy. Let it die already.

 

[daydream]

Frustrating, to say the least.

But yeah, not unexpected.

 

[johnbone]

Not a surprise, but too bad.

Get it together Nintendo!

 

[Chanser]

No surprise there.

 

[Volotaire]

Not surprised in the slightest.

 

[SwiftDeath]

Terrible policy is still terrible. Ah well not unexpected

 

[The Grim Heaper]

Bad rumor was never alive

yep, probably one of the least reliable sources out there

 

[Monster Zero]

Damn, guess I'm waiting. Would have imported the hell out of the new3ds

 

[Nyoro SF]

I remember all the Japanese titles I imported for my DS. Great times were had. Nintendo sure does like to make me sad.

 

[ShogunDarius]

Bad rumor was never alive

I guess that's true but some people were actually believing it, if you can believe that :/

 

[GulAtiCa]

Who believed that dumb rumor anyways?

 

[Scum]

"Shocking news!" but frustrating, nonetheless. :-/

 

[Abriael]

Of course. Did anyone really expect such a consumer-friendly move from Nintendo?

After they're making a three years old console obsolete, this is only par for course.

 

[vinnygambini]

Bad rumor was never alive

Seriously

 

[Coldnoodle]

U R AWESOME ^o^

 

[Andrefpvs]

Oh okay, I guess I don't need a New 3DS after all.

 

[MLH]

Well then, time to reboot #EndRegionLocking #NintendoRegionFree campaign.
(as if we ever stopped...)

 

[Nibel]

It never was a rumor, just wishy washy bullshit from a diehard Nintendo fan from Germany who has no clue about anything.

 

[Hugstable]

Not a surprise, but still sad

 

[Opiate]

Can someone remind me what the defense of region locking is? Honest question.

 

[cardinalmind]

You cannot kill something that was never alive in the first place.

 

[ieptbarakat]

Good thing I never got my hopes up for this.

 

[jeenaudx]

Importing games is way too niche this will never happen

 

[JetSetRadio]

Good. Nintendo obviously has a valid reason to do this!

 

[Xaero Gravity]

This New 3DS.

3DS before 3DS.

Give me a true successor.

 

[andymcc]

Can someone remind me what the defense of region locking is? Honest question.

Gotta think about the bottom line of regional offices!

Importing games is way too niche this will never happen

i miss the good ol' days of Nintendo handhelds.

 

[massoluk]

Come on, Nintendo. If you release a new Ouendan in the future, I want to be in on it.

 

[Tenki]

I want to see what's he going to say next.

 

[EhrgeizVII]

I find it a disgusting idea that a handheld videogame console would be regionlocked. Can't wrap my head around it.

 

[johnbone]

Can someone remind me what the defense of region locking is? Honest question.

It affords Nintendo "better" control over the pricepoint of its products.

...that's about it I think!

 

[Ouren]

of fucking course it is

 

[JoeM86]

Can someone remind me what the defense of region locking is? Honest question.

If I'm not mistaken, they said a while back that it was due to parental controls.

I can't remember where I saw that though, it was a long time ago.

 

[JordanN]

This is horrible. One of the last viable handhelds around and Nintendo locks it.

 

[koutoru]

I didn't even think it was at the level of a "rumor", I thought people were just wishing it was.

 

[Koren]

In contrast to Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo has a long history of region-locking its hardware, implementing the restriction to both the Wii U and 3DS systems.

What?

Long-history that starts with DSi on portable...

And on home consoles, Sony's first attempt on region free is PS3 (which was very welcome).

Besides, Nintendo home consoles usually were far more easier to unlock than Sony's (sometimes just removing a piece of plastic from the console, or shorting a resistance).

I didnt expect it to be region free anyway, though I am annoyed with Ninty for making the device (3DS) region locked.

Me neither, but I like that they hear the question as often as possible, maybe they'll think about it for the next generation...

 

[Anth0ny]

They're not going to go back.

 

[Toad.T]

Can someone remind me what the defense of region locking is? Honest question.

Poached sales. They believe that if you're going to buy the games before they're in English, then you won't buy the games when they're released here. Small market, yes, but Nintendo needs all the small markets they can get.

Or at least, that's what I could come up with.

 

[Stet]

Can someone remind me what the defense of region locking is? Honest question.

I have to assume it has something to do with the size and pricing in different regional markets. Similar to how on older CDs there was frequently a "Japanese Import" to entice people from that region to buy at their higher pricepoints instead of importing from overseas.

(This is not a defense I agree with, incidentally.)

 

[Nairume]

Can someone remind me what the defense of region locking is? Honest question.

In theory, I suppose it limits unlicensed games and/or piracy.

 

[TimmiT]

Bad rumor was never alive

Not sure why people even bother with rumors from this NiNTENDOMiNATiON guy.

 

[hunnies28]

U R AWESOME ^o^

Poor TiLMEN

 

[Wishmaster92]

Never change Nintendo.

 

[NinjaMouse]

Can someone remind me what the defense of region locking is? Honest question.

The best I could find...which still seems like garbage, especially when it comes to games:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_lockout#Multimedia

"A regional lockout may be enforced for several reasons, such to stagger the release of a certain product, to hinder grey market imports by enforcing price discrimination, or to prevent users from accessing certain content in their territory because of legal reasons (either due to censorship laws, or because a distributor does not have the rights to certain intellectual property outside of their specified region)."

I can only think that Nintendo of Japan, Europe, and America all like to keep their respective pots of money colored as such.

 

[MegaMelon]

I don't see why people thought region locking would be removed in the first place.

 

[johnbone]

Never change Nintendo.

But handheld region locking IS a change!