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DSiWare Games Can't Be Transferred to New System

Somnid said:
It's not new. They've done this with Wii since 2006.

You are guaranteed all downloads should your system break but you can't buy a new color and have them transfer it. For this to be a problem the assumption is you are buying at least 2 DSi from the same region for your own use. There's maybe 1% of people who will ever be affected by this.
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But what if my dsi goes out of warranty and then breaks, I lose all those games?
 
mattiewheels said:
But what if my dsi goes out of warranty and then breaks, I lose all those games?
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Well, I guess a repair is still less than a new system but yeah you will need Nintendo to repair it. You just don't get your choice of paint (or maybe you could request it, I have no idea).

It's a bigger deal when a new line of systems rolls around. What happens then either validates the rage or makes it look like so much whining.
 
A Twisty Fluken said:
This will never happen.

ds-4988601006118-2T.jpg


Never.
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I thought that was a Lady GaGa edition for a sec :lol
 
ethelred said:
Nintedo fails so, so much, and the DSi is a huge steaming pile of anti-consumer awfulness.

I'll buy Shantae, but nothing else.
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I love my DSi. *shrugs*

This is a nonissue too...
mattiewheels said:
But what if my dsi goes out of warranty and then breaks, I lose all those games?
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No, u pay to get it fixed and you will still have your games or buy a new DSi (dont know why you would when its cheaper to fix the broken one) and send it into Nintendo to relocate your games to the new one. This is exactly the same thing they do to Wiis and I recently had this done.
 
Yes Boss! said:
Is this really new? Same as Wii.
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That is bullshit. I didn't know.



Not gonna buy any dlc on DSi (or Wii in future) until it is fixed. Nintendo is gonna piss lots of moms and pops down the line if they don't sort this out.
 
MirageDwarf said:
That is bullshit. I didn't know.



Not gonna buy any dlc on DSi (or Wii in future) until it is fixed. Nintendo is gonna piss lots of moms and pops down the line if they don't sort this out.
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No, they arent if they havent already with the wii...
akilshohen said:
I thought that was a Lady GaGa edition for a sec :lol
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exactly, me too. :lol
 
This has been known since the thing was announced.

I'm willing to bet that Nintendo will come up with a way to transfer games to a next gen Wii or DS when the time comes.
Drkirby said:
Has anyone called NoA yet? Australian branch's word doesn't matter IMO. At the very least it should be possible to transfer if you get the system repaired.
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It is.
 
why are people acting like this is new? this has been the case since virtual console started.

Also fuck the account thing too, because my account got hacked and I lost at least 4 or 5 arcade games tied to my account, but are STILL ON MY HARD DRIVE.
 
Well, I guess the long-term strategy here would be that DS emulators will eventually support DSiWare and DSi flash cards should as well. So I guess if end up screwed by this, you can just resort to ethically neutral but OMG illegal piracy to continue playing the games you own on the hardware you own.

Right now if you were screwed by buying a new Wii or having your Wii break out of warranty and pursuing any avenue other than Nintendo for repair, you could "pirate" your WiiWare games back onto your new Wii or play them on your PC on Dolphin.

Actually, as an ethical bonus, you could actually make backups of all your WiIWare / DSiWare for this reason so that if the time ever comes, you're not forced to actually download ROMs. Gives you an additional layer of ethical justification.

Insaniac said:
Also fuck the account thing too, because my account got hacked and I lost at least 4 or 5 arcade games tied to my account, but are STILL ON MY HARD DRIVE.
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... well, my first instinct would be to ridicule you for putting your password into a scam phishing site, but beyond that, propose a system of digital distribution that doesn't tie games to some perishable thing.

I mean, I get bitching about Nintendo's system because there's a trivially better one out there on the Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, PSP Go, iPhone, and PC DDL Services... but I don't understand bitching about account tying because short of "No copy protection, do what you want with your data", you're always going to have data protected by some credentials.
 
Yes Boss! said:
Is this really new? Same as Wii.
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I would say yes because it is DSi this time. Not Wii. So it is new to me.

It gave me more time to think before buy a DSi, maybe I will wait any SE version.
 
MisterAnderson said:
If Nintendo doesn't sort this shit out by Wii HD...so help me...

I have hundreds of dollars worth of VC/WiiWare that I will want transferred.
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Yes, that really is going to be fantastic to witness :lol

Also fuck the DSi. Shantae better get some form of retail release once all parts have been released, as if I'd shell out for hardware iteration #3 now with no GBA slot and innovative region locking in the handheld space!
 
This is why I haven't bought any DSi games since the Art Style releases. It occured to me that even though I'm not keen on Sony or MS' drm schemes, Nintendo is just flat out stupid. I was tempted to trade my DSi toward my PSP Go but those games would have disappeared into the ether and Nintendo would make me purchase them again if I wanted to play them on a future DS. It's bullshit.

Also, this is nothing like the PSP situation. I have all my PSP / PSone games stored on my PS3 and I'm free to use them on both of my PSPs at the same time. I actually own the games, independent of hardware.

This plus the region locking makes DSiware completely useless to me.
 
mattiewheels said:
But what if my dsi goes out of warranty and then breaks, I lose all those games?
Click to expand...

Possibly not if it's like the Wii. I sent my launch Wii off to be repaired recently and with an e-mail NOE transferred all my Virtual Console and Wiiware titles over to the fixed Wii. It's long since lost its warranty and I had no proof of purchase (and it even had the Homebrew Channel on at one point, though I removed it before sending it in to be repaired).... of course, that's not a DSi so it might be different.

I am shocked at how user-unfriendly Nintendo are being though - sure they'll do this in a case like mine, but simply moving over to a new console shouldn't require purchasing ALL YOUR GAMES AGAIN. What tosh.

I might have to agree with the negative Nancies on this one; the DSi just sounds less and less appealing as time goes on, and I already have one even.
 
Peronthious said:
Oh wow, this is surprising. And Nintendo has such a robust and full functioned online system with the Wii.

Oh wait...
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Holy shit @ this thread and the people resigned to a crapctacular online presence. Not having your migration policy from Wii to WiiHD ready halfway through the gen is one thing. Admitting you have absolutely no intention of ever implementing any kind of ownership policy -- effectively rendering any licence the end user has with Nintendo worthless -- is quite another thing. If you aren't complaining about this you are part of the problem. Thanks for nothing.
 
Epic Tier 3 Engineer said:
:lol Heh, ok.

This is DD done wrong. I tend to trust Sony more because all of my stuff can be easily transferred if need be. I refuse to buy a single Wiiware/VC/DSi game until Nintendo can assure me that if my Wii breaks, I'll get my stuff back.
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bullshit.
You know how to read, eh? "DSiware games can't be transferred to NEW SYSTEM"
which means something like "You can't transfer your games to a new system, as they are tied to your console".

you will get back your wiiware/VC/DSi games back if your Wii/DSi breaks.
I have 3 friends who's Wiis broke and they all got there Wiiware and VC stuff replaced.


My wii broke. I sent it in for repair, and Nintendo moved my VC account over to the new console.

True story.
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yeah it IS like that. some people here really think if their Wii breaks all there VC/wiiware games are lost forever or something.
 
iamaustrian said:
bullshit.
You know how to read, eh? "DSiware games can't be transferred to NEW SYSTEM"
which means something like "You can't transfer your games to a new system, as they are tied to your console".

you will get back your wiiware/VC/DSi games back if your Wii/DSi breaks.
I have 3 friends who's Wiis broke and they all got there Wiiware and VC stuff replaced.
Click to expand...

Which is great when you send your Wii or DSi into Nintendo and have them provide warranty service for it. What happens when you use your store warranty or you're entirely out of warranty and buying a new DSi is significantly more convenient and barely any more expensive than going through the refurb process?
 
Stumpokapow said:
Which is great when you send your Wii or DSi into Nintendo and have them provide warranty service for it. What happens when you use your store warranty or you're entirely out of warranty and buying a new DSi is significantly more convenient and barely any more expensive than going through the refurb process?
Click to expand...

this assumes that the store doesn't understand that the warranty is serviced by nintendo. Their computers should tell them that.

it also assumes that DSi repairs are expensive with Nintendo, I don't think this is true either.

so the only real issue is the convenience factor, but if you're rich enough to value a few days over $x of downloaded content, then I doubt if it's a big worry. I'm in this latter group, I sold my Wii because I felt it was going to waste, then rebought one earlier this year as the game quality has improved markedly in 2009. It's kind of disappointing that I can't get the old stuff back, but not greatly so.
 
The great thing about Nintendo's system is that games tied to the system are permanent even with the games deleted off the harddrive.

Second hand Wii owners the world over can find out what their previous owners were getting up to game-wise! Is Sexy Poker marked as downloadable on the Shop channel? Better give those remotes and accessories a good disinfecting scrub!
 
Stink said:
this assumes that the store doesn't understand that the warranty is serviced by nintendo. Their computers should tell them that.
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Err, no. If you go into a store and use a store warranty for your DSi, the store will give you a new unit, send your dead unit to their head office, and somewhere down the line, Nintendo will service it. You will not be able to call Nintendo and say "Hey guys the store gave me a new DSi, time to transfer my games".

it also assumes that DSi repairs are expensive with Nintendo, I don't think this is true either.
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My DSi died eleven days after purchase, which was still under warranty so I can't speak to what they would cost. Wiis cost anywhere from $100 to $200 to get serviced out of warranty, depending on the issue. My last DS Lite that broke would have cost me $115 to be serviced out of warranty. Forgive me for my skepticism when it comes to Nintendo's gentleness.

so the only real issue is the convenience factor, but if you're rich enough to value a few days over $x of downloaded content, then I doubt if it's a big worry.
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It's not a few days. As anyone who has had their 360 get replaced can attest, it can be 4-6 weeks to get hardware shipped off, looked after, and returned. Nintendo is generally a little speedier, but if you can't understand why people would prefer $149 for a new unit at retail to $100 for a refurbed unit and a multiple week wait, well...

I'm in this latter group, I sold my Wii because I felt it was going to waste, then rebought one earlier this year as the game quality has improved markedly in 2009. It's kind of disappointing that I can't get the old stuff back, but not greatly so.
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I'm not sure why it's not greatly so, because if you sold literally any other gaming device with digital downloads you'd have them back right now.
 
Well, I can't speak for US stores, I have no experience of that. As long as repair costs are significantly cheaper, I think your assumptions are still pretty unsafe.

Clearly 360 return rates are irrelevant, I hope you realised that as you typed.

And maybe I wasn't clear, I sold the Wii with the games installed, so I got some nominal value for the sale of them anyway.

I'd rather just be able to sell them than have them tied to my e-mail address such that they're totally worthless to me (as is the case with my PS3 downloads, as I no longer own that system, but I still have PSP content in the same account).
 
Yep, this Nintendo's policy for the Wii (VC, WiiWare, etc) as well.

I actually spoke to a Nintendo rep. and they said they can't transfer games if you buy a new Wii, only if your Wii breaks. And even then she said it wasn't 100% gauranteed.
The reason was something along the lines of breaking licensing.

So let me get this right. I want to buy a new console from you, but you aren't going to have a system set up where I can bring my games over?

It really sucks, as you most likely will never see your dl'ed games past the Wii. I would have hoped Nintendo would have made it so you could carry them over to the new system, but it apparently is not going to be that way.

So enjoy your Wii/DSiWare games while you can.
 
Burai said:
The issue here is that the Wii doesn't get released in new colours every six months. That's what makes it different. If you decide you want one of the new colours, you're SOL.
Click to expand...

Save yourself cash and paint your DSi
 
Stumpokapow said:
My DSi died eleven days after purchase, which was still under warranty so I can't speak to what they would cost. Wiis cost anywhere from $100 to $200 to get serviced out of warranty, depending on the issue. My last DS Lite that broke would have cost me $115 to be serviced out of warranty. Forgive me for my skepticism when it comes to Nintendo's gentleness.
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What? I have done and witnessed a handful of out-of-warranty repairs with NOA myself and it's always been the $75 flat rate + ship. This is the first I've heard of variable pricing, apart from the kerfluffle over the Homebrew Channel charge.
 
spwolf said:
ones not related to OP? oh my.
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Well, they're both overpriced, if you want some similar ground to bitch about.

Because the thing kicks an incredible amount of ass (except for region-locking, they can go to hell for that doozy).
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It has the potential to be kickass. Right now, though, DSi exclusive stuff is not worth losing the GBA slot and paying more for the thing than a Lite (or even a DSTank, if you could find one).
 
Question, wouldn't tying games to an account rather than hardware make it harder for people to pirate games?

Wtf Nintendo, get with the fucking times.
 
Why would you even own two DSi or two Wii anyway?

When my Wii got the green dots glitch I sent it in and was actually concerned about this, but the new unit they sent back had my account automatically linked and downloads present / transferred.

People say that the Apple / MS / Sony stuff is linked to an account but there ARE stipulations. You can only use the downloads on a certain number of authorised machines before the download stops working. If you want to free one up you have to delete / unauthorise it. That IS a model Nintendo should adopt in theory -- but then, if I could share my VC / Wii Ware games with my friends, Nintendo would probably take a hit in sales, so I can understand why they didn't do that... they DO have good schemes though -- like the help-a-friend scheme where if you play it right you can get the entire VC library free.

If you wanna get your games transferred I'd do one of these things:

- look into using homebrew to do a complete NAND backup and transfer (dangerous)
- send both consoles to Nintendo with a letter explaining that you have two consoles for some reason and don't see why you should have to buy the same downloads twice
 
Stink said:
And maybe I wasn't clear, I sold the Wii with the games installed, so I got some nominal value for the sale of them anyway.

I'd rather just be able to sell them than have them tied to my e-mail address such that they're totally worthless to me (as is the case with my PS3 downloads, as I no longer own that system, but I still have PSP content in the same account).
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I think rather than having a back and forth on the intricacies of how many dollars it costs to get something repaired and how likely something is to break, why don't we just settle on the fact that you view this as an acceptable (or better, maybe?) DRM scheme than the alternative, and I don't.

Here's why I don't. Comparison of Nintendo DRM versus anyone else's DRM:
You buy a new system for shits and giggles. You throw your old one in the trash, sell it, make it into performance art, whatever.
- Nintendo: You're fucked.
- Everyone else: Welcome, friend.
- I did this with my DS. DSPhat -> DSLite -> Black and Red DSLite -> DSi.

You buy a new system for shits and giggles. You keep your old one. Either new colour, systems for two rooms, both your kids want handhelds, whatever.
- Nintendo: Hope you want to play using your old one. If not, you're fucked.
- Everyone else: Welcome, friend. Hell, buy three more!
- Girlfriend and I both have separate DSis.

Your system breaks. You repair it with the console manufacturer.
- Nintendo: Welcome, friend. Here's your refurb console.
- Everyone else: Welcome, friend. Here's your refurb console.
- One dead DS Lite, one cracked DS Lite, one dead DSi.

Your system breaks. You do an exchange using in-store warranty.
- Nintendo: You're fucked.
- Everyone else: Welcome, friend.

You move to another continent and buy a new system.
- Nintendo: You're fucked.
- Microsoft: You're basically fucked.
- Everyone else: Welcome, friend.

You sell your system.
- Nintendo, if you choose to sell the downloadable content: You get marginal value for your downloaded content.
- Everyone else, if you choose to sell the downloadable content: You get marginal value for your downloaded content. Make sure to remove your credit card info to stay safe.
- Nintendo, if you choose not to: You're fucked.
- Everyone else, if you choose not to: Sad to see you go, friend.

Successor console comes out.
- Nintendo: You're probably fucked, ???.
- Microsoft: ???
- Sony: ???
- Apple: You're probably welcome, friend.
- PC: hahahahahaa new console hahahahahahahahahahaha noobs.

Of the five DRM regimes I put up with for downloadable content, Nintendo's offers absolutely no advantage and obvious disadvantages to the other ones.
 
Drkirby said:
How did she Manage that? "I am an Admin at Neogaf, give me my points back or you shale suffer!"
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Completely OT, but: Base10/DECODE is a book-style DSiware game that inexplicably does not have a left-handed flip. I am left-handed. It was impossible to play. Nintendo accordingly had my points refunded.

Nintendo had better rethink this about transferring licences. It can be done, as per the reference of my refund. If I somehow get my hands on my own DSi, I should be able with a phone call to transfer my licences over to the new one. It might take some bitching, but I can't see how it isn't possible, except for the fact you can only register one DSi per Club Nintendo account.
 
I don't understand why so many people are saying "obviously!" It's not like a company is incapable of improving how they do business. Every new system they release that fails consumers is ripe for criticism regardless of the fact that they've screwed us in the past.
 
radioheadrule83 said:
Why would you even own two DSi or two Wii anyway?
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When they inevitably release DSi+ Brite Lite in Da Nite? Personal console / family console? You and your broham both have a DSi?

People say that the Apple / MS / Sony stuff is linked to an account but there ARE stipulations. You can only use the downloads on a certain number of authorised machines before the download stops working. If you want to free one up you have to delete / unauthorise it.
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MS's actually works on an infinite number of consoles provided you're connected to the internet. Also, most "fixed number of computer" DRM schemes have the capacity to bulk deauthorize which clears up the "hassle", if there is one, of deauthorizing.

they DO have good schemes though -- like the help-a-friend scheme where if you play it right you can get the entire VC library free.
Click to expand...

They don't have this in North America and I don't think it's feasible to hit the level where you get the entire VC library for free.

If you wanna get your games transferred I'd do one of these things:

- look into using homebrew to do a complete NAND backup and transfer (dangerous)
- send both consoles to Nintendo with a letter explaining that you have two consoles for some reason and don't see why you should have to buy the same downloads twice
Click to expand...

- Ignore the DRM, homebrew your Wii (for DSi, hope you don't get a second one before homebrew becomes possible) because it provides a superior experience, download the games you own illegally--or legally depending on your country's view on these things. If you're worried about the ethics of your actions, go volunteer at a homeless shelter. Ta-da!
 
Stumpokapow said:
snipped
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Far too many assumptions to even bother arguing with. The future isn't written yet. Let's not forget that external DRM systems change. Microsoft have changed their music DRM service three times already as far as I know, with no comeback for original customers.
 
radioheadrule83 said:
Why would you even own two DSi or two Wii anyway?

When my Wii got the green dots glitch I sent it in and was actually concerned about this, but the new unit they sent back had my account automatically linked and downloads present / transferred.

People say that the Apple / MS / Sony stuff is linked to an account but there ARE stipulations. You can only use the downloads on a certain number of authorised machines before the download stops working. If you want to free one up you have to delete / unauthorise it. That IS a model Nintendo should adopt in theory -- but then, if I could share my VC / Wii Ware games with my friends, Nintendo would probably take a hit in sales, so I can understand why they didn't do that... they DO have good schemes though -- like the help-a-friend scheme where if you play it right you can get the entire VC library free.

If you wanna get your games transferred I'd do one of these things:

- look into using homebrew to do a complete NAND backup and transfer (dangerous)
- send both consoles to Nintendo with a letter explaining that you have two consoles for some reason and don't see why you should have to buy the same downloads twice
Click to expand...

Ok, I can tell you that last reason isn’t going to fly as I already made a big stink on the phone to a Nintendo rep, to the point she had to go get a manager. But Nintendo was still insistent that unless your Wii breaks, they cannot transfer games to a new system.

And, it’s not just owning two systems, what if you wanted to give your old one away and buy the new black Wii? Nintendo should have set it up to allow for the option to have your games transferred over to your new system.

And what about next gen? Or the new “Wii HD” (if it ever comes out). I know if that is released, a lot of people are going to want to upgrade. So they have to say bye-bye to their downloaded games? Or keep both consoles hooked up? Neither is an option I feel we should have to employ.
 
Stink said:
Far too many assumptions to even bother arguing with. The future isn't written yet. Let's not forget that external DRM systems change. Microsoft have changed their music DRM service three times already as far as I know, with no comeback for original customers.
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... so your comeback is that DRM systems that are better than Nintendo's are not better than Nintendo's because in the future they might change and not be better than Nintendo's in the end? Even granting you that, which I don't, they're better now.

Please do bother though. I didn't make any assumptions there, except for the "???" in terms of future console generations.
 
Pureauthor said:
It has the potential to be kickass. Right now, though, DSi exclusive stuff is not worth losing the GBA slot
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It absolutely is for me, and I've taken into account every part of the value equation.

Diff'rent strokes.

Stump, mind explaining this "Wii repairs can cost $100-$200" thing? I'm still sort of bewildered at this.
 
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