-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Let's convince Nintendo to go region-free!
- Thread starter Cheesemeister
- Start date
IrishNinja
Member
i'm with you on this one, cheese! cj_iwakura should be by shortly as well, heh
it'd be great if we could get Rainfall in on this, or some kinda organized tweetathon. i sometimes assume nintendo just doesn't know/think it'd be a priority for consumers, because otherwise i don't know the advantages for keeping them really, just that maybe it's a default for japanese companies? shit practice either way.
agreed! so sad to see
this "nothing in it (right now) for me" is equally shitty too, i think
it'd be great if we could get Rainfall in on this, or some kinda organized tweetathon. i sometimes assume nintendo just doesn't know/think it'd be a priority for consumers, because otherwise i don't know the advantages for keeping them really, just that maybe it's a default for japanese companies? shit practice either way.
agreed! so sad to see
this "nothing in it (right now) for me" is equally shitty too, i think
Cheesemeister
Member
It's not just a one-way street. I can't get Scribblenauts Unlimited on my Japanese systems.
PeakPointMatrix
Member
Am I wrong, or isn't it possible to hack region free playability into a console? That might be a more practical scenario than Nintendo actually listening to their fanbase unfortunately 
blizzardjesus
Banned
I don't know about other consoles, but that has been nintendo's stance on the issue. I don't care since i can just order a japanese system if I really needed to play some import game.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/nintendo-comments-on-3ds-region-locking/
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-19-nintendo-defends-3ds-region-lock
I can't disagree with that. You are right in that but I have come to terms that I buy a Nintendo for Nintendo games only so know that I will get the goods I want. Personally would rather an account system above region free at this stage.
Data Elemental
Member
Having to lug around two or even three handhelds is annoying. Having the systems be region free would be much preferable. I don't have the feeling that a region free hack is going to happen anytime soon, so having an official change made to the firmware seems like the best bet. Trying can't hurt!
Glass Rebel
Member
I'm happy to join a Miiverse campaign when it hits 3DS...
InsaneZero
Member
Did my part and yeah'd that comment.
FlyingSaucer
Banned
I have a hard time accepting to buy multiple times the same hardware because of a limitation from the constructor.
At the very least, a region-lock would be acceptable for me if ALL titles could be bought/accessibles (even without translation) on ALL regional dematerialized stores. As a customer, I believe having more options is always preferable.
witchedwiz
Member
Doubt this can go anywhere..
Would love this though, as i can't still understand the reasoning behind the region-lock (actually i understand them from publishers' pov, but from a user's is utter shit)..
Would love this though, as i can't still understand the reasoning behind the region-lock (actually i understand them from publishers' pov, but from a user's is utter shit)..
Is this even a possibility? Is their form or region locking firmware or hardware based?
I'd like to think that at Nintendo's HQ's around the globe they still have a bank of Telex machines.
I'd like to think that at Nintendo's HQ's around the globe they still have a bank of Telex machines.
TangoAlphaLima
Member
I thought the Wii U was Nintendo's attempt at keeping regions free from their console.
I kid, I kid.
Cheesemeister
Member
Any 3DS cart will fit into any 3DS, it just won't show up on the menu. I'd imagine it's the same deal on Wii U. We're past the cartridge slot tabs to something that's not worked around so easily.
Starwolf_UK
Member
Region free eShop would flow better (heck even a delayed one as the common reason for wanting imports is games that never come out, I say a year is the most a game should take to come out). They're weary about carts due to counterfeit games.
Even then they didn't fully take it on board as they felt "German subtitles for English speakers > Proper 60Hz gameplay that destroyed the Balloon Fight Miiverse community". So who knows how they'll handle region free.
I'm not double dipping as it is daft plus it sends completely the opposite message; "Nintendo you made a bad choice with region locking, I'm rewarding you for this mistake by making a hardware purchase".
Firmware. Ironically it used to be hardware (cartridge slots slightly different but possible to work around with DIY or adaptors) between Japan and America. Europe always had chips...(heck, when NES came out in Europe there were two regions)
I'll do my part. Region locking isn't such a great decision with how connected the world is nowadays. Why deny potential revenue for your company? Especially with a region free eShop, since Nintendo would get 100% of the money spent on a title.
Denying customers a game, and yourself another sale, because you need that region's hardware is dumb.
Denying customers a game, and yourself another sale, because you need that region's hardware is dumb.
LiquidSolid
Member
/dead
I'd be behind this though. Region locking is the main reason why I'm not interested in the 3DS, as a handheld without imported games isn't appealing to me at all. I'm far less interested in the Wii U but it'd still be a positive move.
Cheesemeister
Member
Exactly. Region-locking leads to missed sales opportunities.
FlyingSaucer
Banned
Exactly my stance too. I'm a big proponent of the vote-with-your-wallet school of thought, so a company denying me the opportunity to show support is a little unbelievable.
From a company's standpoint I may understand the need to control your business, and import gaming tends to be a niche within a niche - not something which concern most of your audience. But being locked about the opportunity of buying japanese exclusives is not something I'm willing to accept gracefully.
That does not make sense, because there is at least one PS3 game that was locked to one region.
Would you back up your statement with links.
Cheesemeister
Member
Voting with your wallet in this case is not exactly something that sends a clear signal. Boycotting systems and choosing others gets lost in statistical noise due to it being a niche issue.
There's simply no compelling reason to deny the passionate minority of gamers who import the ability to buy more games. It's better to put the customer first and actually listen to their needs. Make these customers happy above all, as they're the ones who make word-of-mouth work.
Guys, the problem is that we aren't the targets of the region lock. Japanese reverse importers are the target of the region lock.
Japanese physical media is about as expensive as it is in Australia, except imports are easier and thus cheaper. Given that some Westernized games have a Japanese voice track (and others can be undubbed) it winds up being cheaper overall to get the US versions of Japanese games. I hope your campaign takes off and reminds Nintendo that they have passionate and dedicated fans, but the fact is you were never even considered when this decision was made--Japanese retailers were.
Japanese physical media is about as expensive as it is in Australia, except imports are easier and thus cheaper. Given that some Westernized games have a Japanese voice track (and others can be undubbed) it winds up being cheaper overall to get the US versions of Japanese games. I hope your campaign takes off and reminds Nintendo that they have passionate and dedicated fans, but the fact is you were never even considered when this decision was made--Japanese retailers were.
Cheesemeister
Member
Have you looked at Japanese game prices on Nintendo systems lately? They're typically 4800 yen on 3DS and 5800-6800 yen on Wii U. Hardly price-gouging to the point that would give rise to the reverse-importation boogeyman. The locals prefer to play with Japanese language settings anyway.
I've been thinking about importing an american 3DS..but what happens if it breaks? you can't send it to NoE can you?
FlyingSaucer
Banned
I agree with you.
But realistically I guess it's just a matter of being a lot of potential concerns for the minor return on investment we represent for the companies :/
Aye, reverse importing is more a concern for anime DVD/BD than vg
Projectjustice
Banned
Nintendo consoles have always been regional locked.
but not handhelds, which are also consoles.
Projectjustice
Banned
Apparently not to Nintendo.
And saying this while not actively doing anything to change it will help? Yes, they've always been locked, but they don't have to be, and shouldn't be.
not sure I follow, but you repeated something that's been stated in the op (me too). Did you read it?
Cheesemeister
Member
Apparently you need to mate it with the same-region system during setup. I'm not sure if you can swap later.
As for defeatism: that's absolutely the wrong attitude to have when trying to effect change. People need to speak up and stand up for themselves. Taking even a few moments to express your support for this to Nintendo would be a much greater help than posting a wet blanket message.
We need to get fired up over this, not get bogged down in loser talk!
Am I wrong, or isn't it possible to hack region free playability into a console? That might be a more practical scenario than Nintendo actually listening to their fanbase unfortunately
I'm far from an expert on this. However, IIRC every retail game goes through Nintendo's licensing system where the publisher gets a key from Nintendo and they then put that key in the game. That's how region locking seems to be done, with different sets of keys for each region.
In theory, Nintendo could release a patch so the system could accept keys from different regions. I think.
I am totally for this movement, and hope we can get something out of it.
Exactly. What if people were saying "Man, Microsoft won't change their mind at all! They have DRM, no used games, etc., and that's how it is, we shouldn't do anything, because if we did, nothing will change anyway."?
Karsticles
Member
Would they need to make the Wii "emulator" region-free separate from the Wii U? Being able to play a few Wii games that never came over would get me on board with this.
I'll probably throw the tweets out anyway for Cheesemeister, since he does so much for us. <3
IMO, to get people fired up about this, you need to show why it's important. IMO, the OP should have a list of videos from games that never made it over here. Otherwise you will get lukewarm reception.
Even then, it's a difficult task because this only barely affects the USA, and most people can't read JP anyway. Movements need to motivate people through demonstrated effect and applicability, not ideals.
I'll probably throw the tweets out anyway for Cheesemeister, since he does so much for us. <3
IMO, to get people fired up about this, you need to show why it's important. IMO, the OP should have a list of videos from games that never made it over here. Otherwise you will get lukewarm reception.
Even then, it's a difficult task because this only barely affects the USA, and most people can't read JP anyway. Movements need to motivate people through demonstrated effect and applicability, not ideals.
yankee666
Member
I already speaked out and scream at nintendo when they made the 3DS Region locked, and i will do it again with this petition.
Is not a loser talk, more like realistic talk
