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DSi region locked regular DS games, WTF?

meppi said:
Goddamn-it.

If my Umihara Kawase cart that just shipped has region locking, there will be RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE! >:(
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Umihara Kawase Jun Second Edition Kanzenban? NTR-P-CUHJ - not DSi enhanced, region free.


zigg said:
All DS games run in a limited mode on the DSi hardware. In DS mode, the increased CPU speed, new Wi-Fi chip (and thus WPA), cameras, internal memory, etc. are unavailable. Current flash cards run in this mode; the only thing DSi-compatible means is they've been built specially to fool the DSi into thinking they're a valid DS game.

So, basically, the question is, does a game loaded this way still run as a DSi-enhanced game?
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No. Flash cards make the DSi switch to legacy mode. It's supposedly not possible to switch to native mode without actually resetting the system, so all DSi enhanced games booted using a flash card will also run in legacy mode - just like the flash card itself.
 
blu said:
region locking is publishers' call. you people do realise that nintnedo just gave the gun to the perpetrators, right? and chances are those perpetrators actively asked for it.
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I think I saw at least one "fuck Sega and fuck Nintendo too" in this thread, which I think just about covers it.

anyway, as much as i hate region-locking (i.e. as the next guy), region locking is what allows a small, well-respected publisher like xseed make a few bucks with hard-core userbase titles like korg ds10+ (the only dsi-enhanced cart i have here) - i wonder what part of the original ds10 userbase would've resisted to importing the jp version the moment it was released last year had there not been region locking.
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Errr, wouldn't the obvious way to check that be to look at the sales of the original, region-free KORG DS-10 and note that they must've been good enough for XSeed to also bring over the enhanced version? :lol
 
runnin_blue said:
yeah i discovered this problem with korg+. the american version doesn't work on the aussie dsi. complete bs if you ask me.
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KORG + packaging is fairly clear about it being a DSi title though iirr, they didn't stealth in some non-existent DSi features just to region-lock it like the Sonic game.

Lucky the Korg+ doesn't really have any language barriers so I could get the Japanese version.
 
Man, I can't even take the game back cause I bought it at a convention we had in NZ last weekend. :lol

The whole thing just has me completely boned.

I'll just import an American one some day, maybe when the price goes down and give this one to my brother. Or just live on my DS Lite.

;(
 
Fusebox said:
KORG + packaging is fairly clear about it being a DSi title though iirr, they didn't stealth in some non-existent DSi features just to region-lock it like the Sonic game.

Lucky the Korg+ doesn't really have any language barriers so I could get the Japanese version.
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Will it come out in Europe?
 
Fusebox said:
Well then of course it will work, only DSi/DSi-enchanced titles are region-locked.
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Yeah I should have probably quoted Hylian7 when answering.
The last thing we need are old titles region-locked on the DSi.
 
Dragona Akehi said:
Kobun: why have you not grilled every NOA rep you've spoken to about this?
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I'm kinda surprised about this too. He should be getting some answers, make a few people feel uncomfortable, highlight the issues.
 
zigg said:
As I understand it, a DSi-enhanced game actually contains two copies of itself, one built for DS, one for DSi. The latter comes loaded with the region code and new anti-piracy features.
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Not two copies of the game, but rather two copies of the runtime. Probably some storage problem otherwise. The gist of what you're saying is right, though.

It's pretty eye-opening that DSi enhanced games are available like this without a boxart change (eg: the Gameboy Color had an obvious boxart change for mixed mode games, and a more subtle change for GBC-only titles - I'm thinking of Link's Awakening and Oracle of Ages/Seasons?) but I'm guessing all of the "secret" mixed-mode games are at least using the clockspeed boost for some benefit, even if they didn't feel like talking about it in press materials.
 
Mandoric said:
This isn't really true for any systems except, possibly, Sega's. I'm unaware of the exact details of approval, but Sega's systems always handled regions by checking a list of approved regions against the console's single region.
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my original understanding was that all modern systems that do physical media region locking, starting with the DC, do the inclusive/mask test, but i was factually wrong, so i stand corrected.

as re per-region licensing fees - that's hardly a factor in the context of this discussion, namely the discriminating factors of region locking given titles do get published in different regions, not the 'we don't plan to publish at all there', as the latter brings no revenue to anybody. also, per-region licensing fees could be there even if a system does not feature region locking as different localizations still need to be licensed.

charlequin said:
Errr, wouldn't the obvious way to check that be to look at the sales of the original, region-free KORG DS-10 and note that they must've been good enough for XSeed to also bring over the enhanced version? :lol
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not necessarily. the ds korg, in all its versions, is a niche product - while the first version may have carved the niche, the second catered to an already established userbase. the potential for import in the second case is way higher than in the first. let's not forget the entire localization of either versions constitutes in xseed putting their logo on the boot screen and translating the booklet.
 
Dragona Akehi said:
Kobun: why have you not grilled every NOA rep you've spoken to about this?
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I am not even sure how much Nintendo wants you to take your DSi with you on trips abroad... having a "region locked" AC adapter kinda makes me think that they either do not really want you to do that or that they want you to double dip and get a AC adapter for every region you go to ;).

My EU DSi has a 50 Hz 220V only adapter IIRC.
 
Panajev2001a said:
I am not even sure how much Nintendo wants you to take your DSi with you on trips abroad... having a "region locked" AC adapter kinda makes me think that they either do not really want you to do that or that they want you to double dip and get a AC adapter for every region you go to ;).

My EU DSi has a 50 Hz 220V only adapter IIRC.
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So what on my next visit to Japan, I cannot take a converter, USB charger or if I've left my DSi at home buy a game and play it upon my return?
 
blu said:
as re per-region licensing fees - that's hardly a factor in the context of this discussion, namely the discriminating factors of region locking given titles do get published in different regions, not the 'we don't plan to publish at all there', as the latter brings no revenue to anybody. also, per-region licensing fees could be there even if a system does not feature region locking as different localizations still need to be licensed.
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It's a factor if we're talking whose decision it is to region-lock on a given system, though. The X360 is the only viable system that supports locking at all where it's possible to produce a multi-region soft, but doing so is actively punished. Especially for small publishers and niche games, as opposed to large ones who will need worldwide approval eventually anyway.
I'm fairly sure you essentially get double-dipped, as a Japanese publisher, if you try multiregion; you need to get approved in each region for the original release, but then any localized version will need its own approval because it's technically a new title. This as opposed to US games typically going for worldwide approval, because they typically ship worldwide in English with a native-language manual.

Of course, this doesn't apply to Nintendo (multiregion is technically impossible) or Sony (no regioning, each localized version needs reapproval).
 
Somnid said:
Classic Word Games
TitleID: TWL-VCW*
Reason: Can create unlimited number of crossword grids
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Wait a sec! So DSi games are able to save on the flash space? Am I getting this right? Never thought about this possibility though


SUCKS! @ region locking regular DS games :(
 
FYI, since the 1st of April, every new DS game submitted to Nintendo's approval must be compiled using the DSi's TWL SDK.
 
Shito said:
FYI, since the 1st of April, every new DS game submitted to Nintendo's approval must be compiled using the DSi's TWL SDK.
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Does this mean every game is going to be region-locked?
I hope i am misunderstanding.
 
Shito said:
FYI, since the 1st of April, every new DS game submitted to Nintendo's approval must be compiled using the DSi's TWL SDK.
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Oh fuck we're screwed.

Source?

Wizpig said:
Does this mean every game is going to be region-locked?
I hope i am misunderstanding.
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No that's exactly what this means.
 
Shito said:
FYI, since the 1st of April, every new DS game submitted to Nintendo's approval must be compiled using the DSi's TWL SDK.
Click to expand...

Oh no, this better not be true.

Glad I imported my DSi! I KNEW this was gonna happen! (BTW I have a US DSi and a UK DSiXL so I'm covered for the most part) Just gotta pray that nothing remains JPN exclusive (who am I kidding? :lol)
 
Shito said:
FYI, since the 1st of April, every new DS game submitted to Nintendo's approval must be compiled using the DSi's TWL SDK.
Click to expand...

Shit. Seriously, fuck that. So I have to buy a UK DSi if I want to play any future UK games (I have a US DSi) ? I hope the big media outlets make a stink about this. Basically this is the end for legitimate importing of foreign DS software without the need for multiple handhelds.

Glad I imported my DSi! I KNEW this was gonna happen!
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I did the same thing, got a US DSi (I'm in the UK). What's really shit about this is those exclusive games that only come to one of the US/EU won't be easy to play. I feel for any Tingle fans if they announce the sequel for the EU only. And what about Last Window? God, this is such fucking mess.
 
Ushojax said:
Shit. Seriously, fuck that. So I have to buy a UK DSi if I want to play any future UK games (I have a US DSi) ? I hope the big media outlets make a stink about this. Basically this is the end for legitimate importing of foreign DS software without the need for multiple handhelds.
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You should be able to rip your games to a flash cart. That way you circumvent the region lock, but you won't be able to use the DSi enhanced features (if any). And I believe ripping DSi games isn't as simple and straight forward as ripping regular DS games.
 
wsippel said:
You should be able to rip your games to a flash cart. That way you circumvent the region lock, but you won't be able to use the DSi enhanced features (if any). And I believe ripping DSi games isn't as simple and straight forward as ripping regular DS games.
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Nah, I won't be doing that. I'll be voting with my wallet. If I can't play the software the way I've been playing it for the last 6 fucking years, I wont play it at all.
 
onken said:
I hate region locking so very, very much.
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This, lack of it is one of the reasons I love my PS3 and would love my 360 so much more if the same were true there.

But that's household consoles, region locking on a handhand? Jeez Nintendo, jeez.
 
Shito said:
FYI, since the 1st of April, every new DS game submitted to Nintendo's approval must be compiled using the DSi's TWL SDK.
Click to expand...

WHAT?!?

This is the worst news ever.

My current DSi XL is the first DS model I didn't import. I just ordered it from amazon.de, since I thought I wouldn't be interested in any gimmicky DSi games that use the camera, and hence I won't mind the region lock of these games.

And now this crap happens?

Can anyone confirm that holding down the cart while loading really disables the region lock? I couldn't find any info about that outside this thread!

Otherwise my brand new DSi XL is off to eBay, and I'll have to import an american model along with "Dragon Quest IX"...
 
wsippel said:
You should be able to rip your games to a flash cart. That way you circumvent the region lock, but you won't be able to use the DSi enhanced features (if any). And I believe ripping DSi games isn't as simple and straight forward as ripping regular DS games.
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What about flash carts that are specifically advertised to be compatible with the DSi LL?
 
Holding down the cart isn't gonna do any good, the menu simply doesn't see the card. No errors or menus, nothing.
 
VOOK said:
Holding down the cart isn't gonna do any good, the menu simply doesn't see the card. No errors or menus, nothing.
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Great. Thanks for trying.

Edit: I assume all new DS games having mandatory region locks since April 1st isn't true either? Because I can't find any source for that as well.
 
Shito said:
FYI, since the 1st of April, every new DS game submitted to Nintendo's approval must be compiled using the DSi's TWL SDK.
Click to expand...

This is interesting. I guess we'll see what happens.
 
VOOK said:
So what on my next visit to Japan, I cannot take a converter, USB charger or if I've left my DSi at home buy a game and play it upon my return?
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Sure, you could even build your own local power source... there are so many options...

I did not state that it was impossible to get your DSi recharged abroad, I am saying that they are either making it tougher for whatever reason or trying to nickle and dime people by selling another accessory (which could be a Nintendo 1st party one) specific for your DSi.

Being the device not really... cheap... (neither DSi or DSi XL) offering an easier option for travelers (like a normal USB port through which users could also recharge their unit from) would have been a good idea IMHO.
 
Pezking said:
Great. Thanks for trying.

Edit: I assume all new DS games having mandatory region locks since April 1st isn't true either? Because I can't find any source for that as well.
Click to expand...

If someone wants to PM me about it because they can't talk about it I'm willing to speak off the record/not take names.
 
VOOK said:
Better get a US DSi XL then I guess.
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We don't know why he keeps buying PAL, either.

If this means I'll have to play Hotel Dusk 2 on the old DS Lite there will be RAGE :)
Fuck you Iwata.
 
;( ;( ;(

Man it just keeps getting worse apparently. I dunno what I'm gonna do, have to just exclusively import now, gah sometimes games actually come out here locally really quickly/cheaper than importing/I want it right now!! I liked just picking it up from where ever ended up the best for that particular game and not having to worry about crap like this.

Flash cards wont do for me really, yeah I could buy the game like I usually do then just play the rip of it on a flash card but I really like having 'my game', the play-through I did saved on the real cartridge itself, the thing that sits in the draw, I dunno if that makes any sense to anyone else.

;( Sux, why you gotta do this Nintendo, after so long why kick up a stink now suddenly.
 
I've got someone else telling me that this April 1 thing is complete bunk, I think the person who posted it should back up his claims or clarify his/her statement.
 
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