3DS will be region locked

[Icarus Moonsight]

There was region locked media produced for a region-free gaming system...
UMD movies. Yeah, follow that success story right to the stars.

I'm not saying I know anything about specifically why they choose to do this. I do know that differentiation from non-performers in the market is a first principle strategy. In their shoes, this is the best reason I can think of to do what they've decided. That's all.

[Leo_A]

There was region locked media produced for a region-free gaming system...
UMD movies. Yeah, follow that success story right to the stars.

I'm not saying I know anything about specifically why they choose to do this. I do know that differentiation from non-performers in the market is a first principle strategy. In their shoes, this is the best reason I can think of to do what they've decided. That's all.

I have my MBA and have never even heard of the first principle strategy.

I'd debate with you, but I'm not clear on exactly what you're getting at.

[Smoke]

Gay.


Why can't every company be like Sony?

[Icarus Moonsight]

No need for that Leo, it was just a thought. Apparently it wasn't very good or I'm not putting it into words well.

[Leo_A]

No need for that Leo, it was just a thought. Apparently it wasn't very good or I'm not putting it into words well.

I wasn't trying to be rude or dismissive, just wasn't familiar with the theory you were using. I'm assuming it's not a business theory or that I know it under some different name?

You very well might be raising an excellent point. I'm just not in a position due with my unfamliarity with what you're explaining to make a personal judgement on it one way or another.

[G-Boobie]

This and the battery life have greatly reduced my interest in the 3DS.

I'm almost certainty going to hold off until the lighter/cheaper version or to see weather the PSP2 is going to show up soon.

Amen, brother. Except for the region locking part. I don't really mind that so much. (see below)

[...] I don't think I've ever played an import game except that ROM of Wanpaku Graffiti I played on my NES emulator but I can see the frustration on the part of those who do.

I bought a JP PS2 specifically to play Melty Blood and a few other games, and started checking out import sites to find other titles to pick up. Since I'm not into visual novels or Gundam games, speak almost no Japanese, and don't sleep with a huge anime girl pillow, there isn't much that didn't come out here in the states that's worth playing; or at least paying ninety dollars plus shipping for. I suspect that trend will only continue with 3DS. It sucks for fans of visual novels and so on, but I'd bet most games worth picking up will be available in every region.

tl;dr: you aren't missing much my friend.

Gay.

Why can't every company be like Sony?

I can tell you have a long and illustrious career ahead of you here at DP.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I wasn't trying to be rude or dismissive, just wasn't familiar with the theory you were using. I'm assuming it's not a business theory or that I know it under some different name?

You'll be happy to know then that you weren't received that way! And I think that's it. BTW, "first principle strategy" was used by me as a descriptive term. First-principals from a philosophical perspective, then applied to a business strategy. If competitor A tried X and it didn't work, company B should try something non-X, in other words. I don't think that it is an explicit business term at all.

Nintendo, having problems with piracy on GBA and DS, is just trying something new to see what happens. Inexpensive all-in-one solutions are viewed very favorably by investors/shareholders and even consumers. Of course, since it seems to have already been found how to get around the measure, it might have already failed. It's possible that the fact that they ramped up and even tried to have more control over the device at that point can then serve as appeasement, because at least they tried something different that had a possibility of working, in theory. Even if bypassed, no one can say they didn't try to fix the problem... Does that make more sense? It is difficult, to say the least, trying to make sense out of nonsense.

[Leo_A]

Don't think it's been mentioned, but it appears that region locking will be up to each individual publisher. Hopefully most won't force it upon us.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I can count all of my Euro imports (all systems) on two hands and a foot, so no real loss for me there... From over the Pacific on the other hand, they seem to be a bit more voluntary lock-up happy. So, ouch.

[Swamperon]

Don't think it's been mentioned, but it appears that region locking will be up to each individual publisher. Hopefully most won't force it upon us.

I hate saying this, but source? Everything I've read so far seems to suggest a blanket region locking approach. Though obviously I would prefer the alternative.

[Leo_A]

I hate saying this, but source? Everything I've read so far seems to suggest a blanket region locking approach. Though obviously I would prefer the alternative.

Nintendo's own wording suggest otherwise, and many mainstream sites have reported it. It's been widely reported and isn't hard to confirm for yourself if you have any doubts.

They've stated that "there is the possibility that Nintendo 3DS software sold in one region will not function properly when running on Nintendo 3DS hardware sold in another" and to check the back of the game case to ensure that it will play in your 3DS.

That's being interpreted as placing region locking up to the decision of the individual publisher (Although I assume if a game takes advantage of the internet, it will automatically have to be locked such as like DSi Enhanced software).

[Swamperon]

Nintendo's own wording suggest otherwise, and many mainstream sites have reported it. It's been widely reported and isn't hard to confirm for yourself if you have any doubts.

They've stated that "there is the possibility that Nintendo 3DS software sold in one region will not function properly when running on Nintendo 3DS hardware sold in another" and to check the back of the game case to ensure that it will play in your 3DS.

That's being interpreted as placing region locking up to the decision of the individual publisher (Although I assume if a game takes advantage of the internet, it will automatically have to be locked such as like DSi Enhanced software).

Well some good news then. Although I'm sure all but the nichest of publishers will take the region locking route.

[Leo_A]

Well some good news then. Although I'm sure all but the nichest of publishers will take the region locking route.

Maybe, but for years, it's been widely viewed as best if handhelds aren't region locked so international travellers can purchase games without fear of their purchase not working.

So if publishers still believe that, maybe at least a healthy portion will choose to keep their software region free when possible.

[Aussie2B]

I bought a JP PS2 specifically to play Melty Blood and a few other games, and started checking out import sites to find other titles to pick up. Since I'm not into visual novels or Gundam games, speak almost no Japanese, and don't sleep with a huge anime girl pillow, there isn't much that didn't come out here in the states that's worth playing; or at least paying ninety dollars plus shipping for. I suspect that trend will only continue with 3DS. It sucks for fans of visual novels and so on, but I'd bet most games worth picking up will be available in every region.

tl;dr: you aren't missing much my friend.

I have to disagree strongly, and I take a little bit of offense at what you're implying a heavy importer would be into. At this point, yes, "most" worthwhile games will get localized, but I would say practically any given system, including the ones over the last decade, have lots of stuff worth importing, even if you're not a creepy otaku. Most importers I know don't care about visual novels or anime-licensed games and most aren't spending 100 bucks on their imports, so I don't think you know much about importing.

As for the DS discussion, I'm currently in region lockout hell myself. While I haven't really researched it, I would venture to guess that there are lots of DSi-enhanced games at this point. But if you want to talk 100% locked out of a foreign region, then it would only be those three aforementioned DSi-exclusive carts. Assuming the game can play on an older pre-DSi model, then it can play on ANY region of original DS or DS Lite. The older model has no way of detecting the lockout, as opposed to the DSi which will behave as if a game isn't inserted at all.

As for my problem, I bought Solatorobo, which is specifically DSi software despite that the only thing DSi about it is the ability to use a photo on the file selection screen. Even though I have an XL with its big, beautiful screens, it's a no-go, and I'm still in the process of trying to repair my old DS Lite. I ended up having to borrow a DS Lite to play Solatorobo, which was great, but now I have to deal with the issue of attempting to download the bonus missions with the DS Lite's outdated Wi-Fi abilities. The DSi supports WPA and WPA2, but the original DS and DS Lite are WEP only. I've been to two McDonalds and one Starbucks, and it appears that all of these places have upgraded their service since the days in which the older DS models would work there. I don't use WEP at home and don't want to either, so I'm a bit stuck. So there's yet another issue for importers forced to use older DS models to play DSi games.

[Snesguy666]

they should at least make say for example JP only games should have no region code so us western gamers can still play them. -without buying a second system- ((Mushihemesama LE on X-box 360)) the game is in japanese but hey, at least i can still play it on my Australian xbox without moding it.

Region codes and region exclusive games promote console moding/pirates