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Let's convince Nintendo to go region-free!
- Thread starter Cheesemeister
- Start date
Axispowers
Member
Nintendo restates commitment to region locking
http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/4/4493752/nintendo-restates-commitment-to-region-locking
http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/4/4493752/nintendo-restates-commitment-to-region-locking
efyu_lemonardo
May I have a cookie?
this is the same E3 interview with Iwata
That's still referring to the IGN interview, but it is good that this is getting exposure.
toddhunter
Member
Just makes me restate my commitment to not buying a Wii U.
ElectricKaibutsu
Member
18,782 signatures. Amazing. And here I was skeptical that it would break 10,000.
Defending Nintendo's stance on Region Locking : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr3kXe2uu-8
HawthorneKitty
Sgt. 2nd Class in the Creep Battalion, Waifu Wars
I just saw this and now love him.
Cheesemeister
Member
Lord Ghirahim
Member
Congrats! Quite a lot of sigs so far.
Brawly Likes to Brawl
Member
Is this a troll video? That "10 year old kids whining" part was ridiculous.
ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
Lord Ghirahim
Member
Didn't you know that spending $2000 for Nintendo region freedom is normal if you happen to buy two copies of a game once?
D
Deleted member 13876
Unconfirmed Member
No, this is what happens when people are so enarmored with a company their head will perform the most inane mental gymnastics that would put Cirque Du Soleil to shame. It's fairly horrifying.
I don't know why he feels he needs to do this.
PaulExcellent
Member
What the fuck is this?
Is this for real?
"You would actually SAVE money!
"No. You wouldn't. At all.
Brawly Likes to Brawl
Member
I can understand not caring about Region Lockiing, but I can't wrap my head around the idea of defending or supporting it. It offers no benefit to the consumer whatsoever.
Lord Ghirahim
Member
It's called being off one's meds.
That guy's defense made very little sense to me.
If Nintendo cares so much about measuring which markets are successful for a game, why the fuck doesn't it just launch the games in all markets at the same time, and ensure that the game comes with language support for those regions?
If Nintendo cares so much about measuring which markets are successful for a game, why the fuck doesn't it just launch the games in all markets at the same time, and ensure that the game comes with language support for those regions?
The way they're handling Pokémon X/Y is how they should handle all their games; simultaneous worldwide release.
Or they could at least release all of their games within a week of each other.
Dark Rider
Member
Signed and tweeted.
I think Nintendo look at the 3DS sales (a region locked system) and tell themselves region locking is not a major problem sales wise because our region locked handheld is selling like hot cake.
I think Nintendo will try to please us only when they find themselves bleeding on both fronts console and handheld because they will basically hanging from a cliff. For now with the 3DS printing money for them they will keep their ivory tower stance regarding core gamers.
I think Nintendo look at the 3DS sales (a region locked system) and tell themselves region locking is not a major problem sales wise because our region locked handheld is selling like hot cake.
I think Nintendo will try to please us only when they find themselves bleeding on both fronts console and handheld because they will basically hanging from a cliff. For now with the 3DS printing money for them they will keep their ivory tower stance regarding core gamers.
Cheesemeister
Member
When selling luxury products that nobody needs to survive, excellent customer service is paramount. We should absolutely be seeing simultaneous worldwide releases with as many languages as possible for as many games as possible. If official releases arrive faster than shipping for an import and prices are set reasonably, then blocking the games that never get localized becomes even more pointless. Providing region-free gaming is good customer service and drives consumer adoption of expensive consoles and a wider library to match. Maintaining region-locking and remaining anti-consumer is not what you want to do when trying to sell a luxury ecosystem.
Infernal Monkey
Member
If only. WiiFolderJosh is a moron and continues to spread his toxic confusion on what this campaign's actually about.
Not always possible. Pokemon X/Y is text only, as far as I know, so scripts would be easy to change. Plus, it has an international company dedicated to managing the franchise. That makes globalization much easier.
Compare it to something like Zangeki no Reginleiv that's fully voiced. It would take much longer to localize. The Jump games have horrible licensing issues that would have to be dealt with; Jam with the Band would probably require changes to music before it can be released worldwide.
Fantastical
Death Prophet
I remember I used to watch this dude's videos like 6 years ago because he would invite over his frat bro-like friends and play Mario Party and I thought they were all hot.
True story. Stupid video.
Lord Ghirahim
Member
I hope Nintendo can get more failed porn actors to support region-locking.
Lord Ghirahim
Member
I don't think it's good manners to put a figurehead on the spot like that.
Poltergust
Member
I'm currently part of the uploader comments and am having a debate with him. Do you guys think I bring up good arguments?
I am Michael Bolton
Banned
Is this sarcasm?
Lord Ghirahim
Member
No. Fils-Aime shouldn't have to answer questions he's in no position to answer. I understand people are angry at stupid anti-consumer policies, but let's be reasonable.
I am Michael Bolton
Banned
Thats his job to be prepared to answer these questions. People shouldnt withhold questions just because of the title that an employee holds. He's an employee of a company, he's not exempt. The reason Nintendo continues to pull this shit is because the media especially refuses to hold its feet to the fire. If the game media wont then its great when fans will.
Silent_Ocarina
Member
This is a shame because I previously enjoyed watching this person's videos. I'm almost tempted to create a YouTube account just to respond to him in his comments. I've been following his responses, by the way.
I can't say that I'm a big expert on business practices such as this, but I think many people are missing the big points. Here are some defenses I've been hearing.
Nintendo needs to region-lock so they can gather appropriate data and monitor sales between regions.
- There are probably similar versions of this argument, but I just made one from memory. The common rebuttal is that importers are a very small minority that will not affect Nintendo's data substantially. However, the quickest counter would probably be:
So if hardly anybody imports games, why bother making them region-free?
- Personally, this is a rather disgusting defense. It might not affect you, but it does affect others. The biggest offense is assuming region-lock only affects those who import Japanese games. This is much bigger than importing, especially in the case of the 3DS. People travel with the thing! What if they buy a game while on vacation? What if an American buys his/her child a 3DS while on vacation in Europe? That 3DS would be useless once they return to America. It's not as though region-locking is common consumer knowledge, and blaming the ignorance of consumers will not be effective if similar devices from competitors are not region-locked. Even in these cases, some people still cling to the argument that it only affects a small percentage of people. So? We have specific examples in which region-locking hurts people. Can you come up with a situation where region-locking helps you as a consumer?
If people import Japanese games because they are not localized, that will reduce sales of a game in a region in the event the game really does get localized. This hurts me because it reduces the potential of games to actually get localized.
- This is actually the first time I've heard this one. I'm probably using the wrong term, but this sounds like a false dichotomy. You are giving us the ultimatum between region-free and more localizations when it hasn't even been proven that there is any correlation between the two. This is all hypothetical which, to my knowledge, has no precedent. On the other hand, we have very real situations where consumers are negatively affected by the presence of region-locking. Furthermore, this argument again focuses on merely importing titles that are not localized when region-locking affects more than niche importers.
I apologize; I'm rambling by now, and I feel like I'm talking to people who aren't actively reading this thread. After all, NeoGAF is essentially united against region-locking; you all don't need further convincing. However, I think I just needed to let my two cents out. Maybe those with a YouTube account can use my thoughts.
Poltergust
Member
Seriously, that WiiFolderJosh video will be the first and hopefully only time I ever get into a debate on Youtube. I'm not the argumentative type. ._.
That's true as well.
Though she was only asking if he could help implement it with the next console. His reaction seemed really reluctant and I assume he is somewhat aware about regional stuff.
Domstercool
Member
That was one of his replies to a question abut Operation Rainfall.
This answer shows me that he hasn't done his research...
Poltergust
Member
*sigh* I don't know if I'll be able to make him reconsider or not. I really respect him as a person (I've been subscribed to his channel for a few years now), but I simply cannot side with him on this.
Starwolf_UK
Member
Josh makes such obvious holes in his arguments. He is saying you should buy a Japanese system for eShop access (and cheaper games) when failing to realise a region free system has a good chance of having that access anyway (otherwise, how could you buy DLC for imported games*). Then the whole save money well...if it breaks you've lost everything and you need to buy like 20 games before you pay back buying the hardware. In other words for someone who just wanted Reingielv (sp), Xenoblade and The Last story they're better breaking the region lock.
Then there is the matter of sales. NOA is losing (nay, bleeding) Xenoblade sales by refusing to reprint it. I mean in Europe you can search around and find copies for 50 Euro new still while in America the cheapest used copy will be like $70.
*-I'll give Nintendo credit here. Many (?all?) PS3 games the DLC is country specific. As in if you own UK uncharted 3, the Spanish DLC won't work with it.
Then there is the matter of sales. NOA is losing (nay, bleeding) Xenoblade sales by refusing to reprint it. I mean in Europe you can search around and find copies for 50 Euro new still while in America the cheapest used copy will be like $70.
*-I'll give Nintendo credit here. Many (?all?) PS3 games the DLC is country specific. As in if you own UK uncharted 3, the Spanish DLC won't work with it.
It came out in Europe. It is keeping Rhythm Paradise and Sight Training company in the forgotten bargain bins of Saturn and MediaMarkt (I think they were less than 5 Euros even).
Poltergust
Member
I still don't think Josh has directly answered why the DS was so successful despite being a region-free console.
DICKS AHOY
Banned
shock and awe that someone with the name "WiiFolderJosh" defends something assbackwards about nintendo
Not even gonna bother to respond on his channel, but that was a load a crap.
He doesn't want to "rattle our cages" yet he ridicules us as a whole because he buys a Japanese system anyway and doesn't see the problem of having to do so to play Japanese games.
What a load of bullshit.
His whole point of dehumanising the group of people and calling them "the internet" in an as dismissive term as possible was just offensive.
Been subscribed to his channel for years now, but I had no idea he was such an asshole.
The sentiment of "we all have to protect Nintendo because they are a very special company" is headache inducing as well. Not the first time I've encountered this on this very topic.
People can be so dense...
Lord Ghirahim
Member
It's disturbing when people get so protective of a company. It's like a religion to them. At least there haven't been any game dev assassinations over "betrayaltons" so far.
I do think it's fair to suggest that Nintendo are making some games no-one else really seems to be able to make; I think it's understandable to have a fear that if Nintendo were to go away, no-one would rise up to fill those gaps. Where's the large world puzzle-led action adventure like Zelda? Darksiders was the closest, and that's not that similar. Where's the exploration-based FPS like Metroid Prime? Where's the fighter/platformer hybrid like Smash? There's PSASBR, but will we see another of those?
I think that's the logic that makes people perhaps a bit zealous in defense of the company; not the company itself, but the fact that in the major marketplace, they're the only folk doing certain things.
...not that this in any way justifies the defenses, which *are* rubbish. I'm just musing on the psychology behind it.
I think that's the logic that makes people perhaps a bit zealous in defense of the company; not the company itself, but the fact that in the major marketplace, they're the only folk doing certain things.
...not that this in any way justifies the defenses, which *are* rubbish. I'm just musing on the psychology behind it.
Absolutely.
I love Nintendo myself and never even got upset with the Wii or it's games like many others did, simply because it did get a large amount of great titles in the end, even if you had to do a bit of research and look for them sometimes.
But to blindly defend everything from 50Hz VC games to region locking...I just can't wrap my head around it.
When Iwata mentioned the region locking around E3 and stated the following:
I have to to say I do understand where he is coming from.
But at the same time, when someone imports a game from another region, Iwata shouldn't feel like it's his responsibility to make sure that software is cultural acceptable or has legal restrictions in the region where the publisher isn't selling the actual software to begin with.
Clearly when a consumer is willing to go through the trouble of buying items from different locations through importers, they are fully aware that those games might be created with a certain local flavour.
Like I said, I understand where Iwata is coming from, but he shouldn't feel the need to protect a very small portion of consumers from themselves.
Nintendo said no to Operation Rainfall loads of times? as in once? thrice? per game?
When did Microsoft say no?