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#NintendoRegionFree 2014 STARTS NOW!

j_VPQOk_QIq_MHQ.png

Last year, we campaigned to have Nintendo remove region-locking on the 3DS and Wii U. Iwata did not respond to the campaign itself, only answering a question from IGN at E3, before the campaign itself started:

Satoru Iwata said:
From some people’s perspective, it might seem like a kind of restriction. However, we hope people can appreciate the fact that we’re selling our products worldwide.

There are many different regions around the world, and each region has its own cultural acceptance and legal restrictions, as well as different age ratings. There are always things that we’re required to do in each different region, which may go counter to the idea that players around the world want the freedom to play whatever they want.

I hope that game fans can understand that the industry isn’t doing this solely out of business ego. There are some reasons behind it.

This was obviously an unsatisfactory answer. Region-locking IS a restriction, and such an anti-consumer practice has no place in luxury products. Other platform holders have dropped region-locking despite the same cultural, legal, and ratings issues.

What we want is to be able to play legally-purchased games for Nintendo platforms purchased from anywhere in the world, irregardless of any hardware region setting. If parental controls are a concern, access to out-of-region titles can simply be disabled by default and enabled by adults.

How can I help?

0. Subscribe to this thread!

1. Yeah these Miiverse posts asking for an end to region-locking in the Nintendo@E3 2014 community. (More to be listed.)

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_uuH6FA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxZoAgpQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW7CnIKg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn01T-oAA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW7I_p-w
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxZvQZWw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW7P6nQQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_vHrDVQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW7Xc3XA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_vNrDng
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_vIkaIw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn01jrsLQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxZ7K1GQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW7cYQ3A
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_vVkUnw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_vaPkNQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW7gmEKQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn01r6Z3g
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxZ_8rog
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxaDm58A
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxaCRh0Q
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_vaPkNQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_vaJ_Cw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn011zhNw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxaHsxgA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW7vYgQw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxam0AFA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxalCt_Q
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW8MHhUg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW8fRJOg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxa6wD-Q
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxbBepPQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn03CGuAA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAACaU2yRzdG4vA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxbO9hRQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW8ihGeg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW8pDPcg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn03M4caA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn03JFn6A
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxbXuifg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn03Wvq-Q
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn03aaCCA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxbljDmA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAACNUKEjPjhyHA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW9G0jRA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxb-M10w
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW9cOe4Q
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW9UYJBw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAACNUKEjPucm-Q
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW9XFMdw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn031Vl3Q
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_xyYOpA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW9A1Q1w
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW9jpRww
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn04Aff-g
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_x1TVNA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxcOZ9EA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW9veNow
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn04Uf8zg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW-FhN-A
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_yOCHrw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn04gqj_g
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_yZdg_A
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW-VkIHA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn0410SlQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_yeC9pg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAADtU2ySyDKpeQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn05QKNpw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_y_UTpw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxdUZvdw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_zHs2Eg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW-3sthw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_zGogww
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn05rOZAg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAADtU2ySyIaiWA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAAABUaW_TdYH7g
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_zMf5yQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAACNUKEjRKwIOg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxdf2yhQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn0527gyA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW_EvXag
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW_NxmBA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_znrTfA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxd_14tA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW_arBFg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW_iyxZw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYn06Z2AXQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxhmoP3A
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxhTd5WQp
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlXCyiDfw

8gNOKkW.png

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlxaBPm9Q

zl_Cfz_SAv1_Yk_H_Qin_Mj.png

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW7sdJpw

zl_Cfz_SAx1_A87_HGb_ZQT.png

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAACNUKEjPkIFdw

zl_Cfz_SAyagwh_DIe_ARO.png

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAACNUKEjPuInHA

zl_Cfz_SAy5rc_Au_l_M18.png

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAACNUKEjP46k4w

zl_Cfz_SA1_TXs05_YX04_Z.png

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAACNUKEjQ2-AMQ

zl_Cfz_SA1ln4w_Eh2p5n.png

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAAYUKlW-21umg

zl_Cfz_SA1nnk3v_E5brr.png

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADRUqF_zFumXQ

zl_Cfz_SA14l85iq_VD0_D.png

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAACNUKEjRVFmNQ

2. Post your own messages and drawings on Miiverse, Twitter, and other social media under the hashtags #EndRegionLocking and #NintendoRegionFree. Miiverse posts listed in this thread will be added to the OP.

Like Operation Region-Free on Facebook!

Post on Nintendo's official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Nintendo

Tweet at:
@Nintendo
@NintendoAmerica
@NintendoEurope
@NintendoUK
@NintendoES
@NintendoFrance
@‏NintendoDE
@‏NintendoItalia
@‏NintendoPT
@‏NintendoAT
@‏NintendoBE_NL
@‏NintendoNL
@‏NintendoCH_DE
@‏NintendoRU
@NintendoAUNZ

3. Follow @EndRegionLock on Twitter!

4. Please sign this petition! Now with over 30,000 signatures!

5. Please provide media coverage, or ask your favorite gaming journalist for coverage! We need as many people to ask Nintendo about this at E3 as possible.

6. Ask your gaming friends for their support in this campaign! Talk about this issue on your gaming podcast! Do YouTube videos! Cross-post this on other forums!

7. Don't be a Debbie Downer and say that it doesn't affect you or you don't care about this issue. Even if you don't import games now, you may want to for some future game. You, as a consumer, don't want to be prevented from having the chance to buy and play any game of your choosing.

8. If you can help us out with a Facebook page or with a website, please contact us!

9. Talk about the games you've imported that you wouldn't have been able to play had there been region-locking.

10. Ask your favorite publishers to talk to Nintendo about going region-free.

FAQ: Can region-locking be removed from the Wii U and 3DS?
We are operating on the assumption that it can be removed through a simple firmware update.

Media coverage

GimmeGimmeGames

Wii U Daily
 

Madao

Member
hopefully the pressure they're having now makes them consider this seriously this time.

all the best wishes for the campaign.
 

Soulflarz

Banned
Ill follow this campaign. I dont even care about importing games on a wii u or a 3ds personally, but fuck the idea of region locking my consoes.

Wait. Project Diva games. Okay. I just remembered this is personal.
 

HUELEN10

Member
I am all for this, and fully read the OP, but wouldn't the logical first step towards this be a non hardware-locked account system? Not being number 7, I want to see region free 8th gen Nintendo more than anyone, but in order for that to happen, doesn't the account thing have to be target first? Should we also all tweet Scott Moffitt or something (he was the first employee of ANY Ninty branch to admit that the system was flawed and it needed to get better)?

I want this to work, but I think how it connects to the other areas should be considered. I don't think it's a realistic hope for this generation, though I hope my gut is wrong, but I want to see it happen! Signing that petition, best of luck to us all.
 

ignata

Member
I would love to see this work. If the GBA wasn't region free, I would have missed out on games like Rhythm Tengoku and the bit Generations series.
 

erpg

GAF parliamentarian
I've pretty much given up on Nintendo ever creating hardware and services that I'll enjoy using, but best of luck to all of you. The company definitely needs a kick in the ass and an audience that pushes them forcefully towards positive changes.
 

gorfyako

Banned
So it's all just an assumption that region locking can be removed with a simple firmware update? Is there any proof anywhere that this is possible? I mean, I'd love for the 3DS to not have region locking, but I'm not convinced it's as easy as flipping a switch.
 
I'll make a couple of posts tonight on Miiverse. Have a few dedicated followers so they might pick it up, as well.

Let's unlock this.
 

Brannon

Member
Let us all remember why the Souls series of games are a thing in the first place.

Then realize that Nintendo's policies actively hurt developers' chances to even have a glimpse of another market.

Then Please Understand that their two competitors have region free by default so just what in god's fuck Nintendo?
 

Hatchtag

Banned
So it's all just an assumption that region locking can be removed with a simple firmware update? Is there any proof anywhere that this is possible? I mean, I'd love for the 3DS to not have region locking, but I'm not convinced it's as easy as flipping a switch.

Well, maybe it shouldn't have been there in the first place.
But I'd bet it's not too hard. I'd be surprised if there isn't some way-official or not (probably not)-of playing games from other regions by the end of this gen.
 
I did my part! I even created a Twitter account for this! Is it only Nintendo doing this? Playstation and Xbox are region lock free right?
 
So it's all just an assumption that region locking can be removed with a simple firmware update? Is there any proof anywhere that this is possible? I mean, I'd love for the 3DS to not have region locking, but I'm not convinced it's as easy as flipping a switch.

Considering there is CFW that removes region-locks on the Wii, 3DS, and soon enough probably the WiiU, yes, region-lock can be removed by "flipping a switch".

Hardware level region locking stopped being a thing around the time HDTVs made them unnecessary due to the NTSC-PAL differences being bridged, which is why the Xbox 360 and PS3 (As well as their successors) did away with region-lock.
 

random25

Member
I will fully support this. But if it didn't happen in the 3Ds and Wii U's lifetime I will just accept it.

Hope for the best and good luck with your campaign! :)
 
D

Deleted member 13876

Unconfirmed Member
Nice. Not sure if there's a good catalyst around at the moment. The SMT4 thing is fairly shameful, but otherwise I can't think of anything current that really gives it a tangible dimension.
 

Toad.T

Banned
I understand the concept. Trust me, I do. I wouldn't have bought a 60 gig JPN PS3 if I didn't understand the nuisance of region-locking. But in terms of the Wii U, wouldn't it be more trouble than it's worth? There's not many Japanese exclusives to begin with that can't be played on other, more malleable systems. (DQX is coming to PC's worldwide IIRC, Yakuza 1 and 2's original versions were released over here on the PS2, PuyoTetris is playable on the region-free Vita, We've gotten the superior MonHun release, ROTTK 12 was released elsewhere, IIRC)

I totally support the campaign for the 3DS though. Sure GCCX3 was a bust, but other good games may be coming down the line.
 
Whoever thought region-locking was an acceptable restriction can go region-lock them self. Some will disagree, but i believe region-locking to be 10x worse than DRM or online passes or any of the stuff we've complained about for the past eight years.
 
But in terms of the Wii U, wouldn't it be more trouble than it's worth? There's not many Japanese exclusives to begin with that can't be played on other, more malleable systems. (DQX is coming to PC's worldwide IIRC, Yakuza 1 and 2's original versions were released over here on the PS2, PuyoTetris is playable on the region-free Vita, We've gotten the superior MonHun release, ROTTK 12 was released elsewhere, IIRC)

Just because there might not be foreign games you want on a system now doesn't mean there won't be in the future. This is not a good rationale to keep region-locking.
 

Verelios

Member
I'll be with you every step of the way OP. It's absolutely aggravating how I need three different 3DS's if I want to experience a total Nintendo generation. Why? Why is this so hard?

Especially miffed because I prefer my Inazuma in English. Europe gets it but I don't have a EU 3DS. And I really dont want to cf my 3DS. Just pisses me off, and gives me more time to stew.
 
good luck with your mission! I'd join you on this one but I'm currently locked in a whole other battle with Nintendo :p

If you could please post a YouTube video on this issue, it'd be a great help! It certainly wouldn't need to run into any Content ID flags if it's just you talking to the camera.
 

meanspartan

Member
I'm in, but this won't be easy. If we can convince Nintendo to make a change like this, we can probably end world hunger.
 

Jhoan

Member
E3 is right around the corner so now is the perfect time revive it. I've never played imported games/bought another region console but I fully support this. Nintendo has their head in their asses with this. Now that I have a Twitter account and a 3DS, I'll contribute to the cause.
 
Yeah'd and Liked and Followed what I could. Hope this changes.

Also, I'd like to sign the Change.Org thing, but I don't really feel comfortable giving out my Street Address to sign it. Is there any way you could change the settings or something on that? I'd hate to use a fake address....
 

Clefargle

Member
I'll be there for you
(Nintendo we'll implore)
I'll be there for you
(Like on Miiverse before)
I'll be there for you
(Region equality rules!)
 
I would love this but after begging for Bayo 1 port to WiiU I can't dream about region free nintendo is a total asshole for this locking shit tho
 

mothball

Member
Did something happen in the past year that would make Nintendo any more receptive to this campaign now than they were back then?
 
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