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NEWS: Nintendo CEO: Next Console May Be Region-Free


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Jajanken



Joined: 23 Jun 2014
Posts: 680
PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 5:48 pm Reply with quote
Insert BOUT DAMN TIME JRPGS HERE I COME GIF
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Pokenatic



Joined: 24 Jan 2012
Posts: 578
Location: Neo Venezia
PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 5:57 pm Reply with quote
How is unlocking the 3DS (plus the Wii U too, but I'm more focused on the 3DS) a problem? They frequently get software updates. What, is the region lock hard coded into the system without some on/off switch and no way to patch it out? As much as I like Nintendo, I hated how after only region locking DSiWare on the DSi (I don't see a problem with that since the only way to play DSiWare that is only available in another region is probably by pirating or having a DSi for that corresponding region), they just fully region locked the 3DS.

Last edited by Pokenatic on Thu May 14, 2015 5:59 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Mr. Oshawott



Joined: 12 Mar 2012
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PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 5:59 pm Reply with quote
Oh, yes...I learned about this not too long ago.
I can imagine the day in which some future Japanese-only titles will see larger sales numbers as a result of the NX being region-free (assuming that it will be region-free, that is).
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pokenar



Joined: 04 Aug 2012
Posts: 45
PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:00 pm Reply with quote
Pokenatic wrote:
How is unlocking the 3DS (plus the Wii U too, but I'm more focused on the 3DS) a problem? They frequently get software updates. What, is the region lock hard coded into the hardware without some on/off switch and no way to patch it out? As much as I like Nintendo, I hated how after only region locking DSiWare on the DSi (I don't see a problem with that since the only way to play DSiWare that is only available in another region is probably by pirating or having a DSi for that corresponding region), they just fully region locked the 3DS.


Its not a hardware or software issue, its a business issue. its not hard in the slightest to make systems to be region free (its actually harder to make them region locked), so every time Iwata talks about the hurdles of it, they mean business wise.
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Madoka...AYUKAWA!



Joined: 14 Jan 2015
Posts: 158
PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:00 pm Reply with quote
"marketing constraints and circumstances in each country, and the fact that the license needed to sell games have not always been granted globally."

What BS. The games will not be sold officially by anyone if not localized for a specific countries or territory, only then, they need to see circumstances in that country or territory.

Gamers (or unofficial importers) will import and sell unofficially so taking into account circumstance is irrelevant and DO NOT APPLY. Don't tell me this senile guy thinks by making it region free he needs to check circumstances in all countries in existence as if all games were to be sold officially in all countries? BS.

This guy just cannot find the proper excuse to maintain region locks on games and consoles.

Any importer be it a gamers themselves or unofficial seller/importer(s) know quite well if a product is not officially sold in a certain country, there wont be any local support or guarantee nor nintendo has to provide any support or mind any countries/regions rules as games will continue to be sold for the intended market.

Only reason to region lock comes down to keep controlling prices and probably fear that for example japanese gamers of Europe gamers will import games cheaper from other regions (i.e buying from amazon USA, which would be cheaper in many circumstances than buying locally). This is the only and real reason to region lock consoles and games, other than this, all LIES.

The truth is that even with region free consoles and games not many will import anyway, even if cheaper, people will always prefer buying locally. It does not make much difference for companies only to gamers that want to play mainly games that will never be released on their territory or that cannot wait long to play, or to buy limited editions, etc, but this kind of gamers do not make a lot in reality and wont impact sales much be it positively or negatively.


Last edited by Madoka...AYUKAWA! on Thu May 14, 2015 6:04 pm; edited 1 time in total
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pokenar



Joined: 04 Aug 2012
Posts: 45
PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:03 pm Reply with quote
Madoka...AYUKAWA! wrote:

Only reason to region lock comes down to keep controlling prices and probably fear that for example japanese gamers of Europe gamers will import games cheaper from other regions (i.e buying from amazon USA, which would be cheaper in many circumstances than buying locally).


And that`s exactly what I mean when I say business issues.
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Pokenatic



Joined: 24 Jan 2012
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PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:04 pm Reply with quote
pokenar wrote:
Pokenatic wrote:
How is unlocking the 3DS (plus the Wii U too, but I'm more focused on the 3DS) a problem? They frequently get software updates. What, is the region lock hard coded into the hardware without some on/off switch and no way to patch it out? As much as I like Nintendo, I hated how after only region locking DSiWare on the DSi (I don't see a problem with that since the only way to play DSiWare that is only available in another region is probably by pirating or having a DSi for that corresponding region), they just fully region locked the 3DS.


Its not a hardware or software issue, its a business issue. its not hard in the slightest to make systems to be region free (its actually harder to make them region locked), so every time Iwata talks about the hurdles of it, they mean business wise.

But the thing is, their handheld consoles have been completely region free for 20 years until the DSi, and that's only for the downloads. The 3DS is their only handheld ever to region lock physical games.


Last edited by Pokenatic on Thu May 14, 2015 6:07 pm; edited 1 time in total
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consignia



Joined: 06 Jul 2011
Posts: 394
PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:06 pm Reply with quote
Mr. Oshawott wrote:
Oh, yes...I learned about this not too long ago.
I can imagine the day in which some future Japanese-only titles will see larger sales numbers as a result of the NX being region-free (assuming that it will be region-free, that is).


A rise in sales is not going to be significant. Importing has never been a huge thing, always just a few niche people. Which is why it's been stupid to lock in the first place. It's just a few thousand people at best have to buy separate hardware.
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MadHi



Joined: 10 Mar 2014
Posts: 188
PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:15 pm Reply with quote
I'm not ready to celebrate yet. PS3 games are region-free but the DLCs are not. I bought Tales of Xillia from the US and played it on my EU PS3 account and while the game played just fine, none of the DLCs I bought would install. After doing some research, and a very tedious one too since I was not sure what to search at the time since nothing readily comes to mind for newbie gamers like myself back then, I found out that I had to create a 2nd PSN account and set it to US region in order to get the extras.

I think the concept and any implementation of region-coding is stupid, cumbersome, and a huge waste of time. I have all my hours on ToX not recorded on my main account.
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Joe Mello



Joined: 31 May 2004
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PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:18 pm Reply with quote
Madoka...AYUKAWA! wrote:
The truth is that even with region free consoles and games not many will import anyway, even if cheaper, people will always prefer buying locally.

You must not have a Walmart where you live or access to Amazon Prime.

Reverse importation is a risk for any product sold internationally because not everyone prices items the same. A reliable way to make sure that money boosts your bottom line locally is to make sure it has no way to leave.
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Hameyadea



Joined: 23 Jun 2014
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PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:18 pm Reply with quote
About time.
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Madoka...AYUKAWA!



Joined: 14 Jan 2015
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PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:21 pm Reply with quote
consignia wrote:


A rise in sales is not going to be significant. Importing has never been a huge thing, always just a few niche people. Which is why it's been stupid to lock in the first place. It's just a few thousand people at best have to buy separate hardware.


Yea, unless this guy believes a mafia will rise that will import USA games in huge quantities to sell in japan.

So far it has not happened with to SONY in Japan, so stupid fears or reverse importing are unfunded. This is probably what this guy fears. That the precious status quo of controlling how much games cost in japan, europe and USA breaks and liberates hostage markets and consumers.
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Hoppy800



Joined: 09 Aug 2013
Posts: 3331
PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:24 pm Reply with quote
Yes please, also the ability to transfer my Japanese NNID is a must so I can just continue where I left off. Region locking is antiquated and not needed anymore (and wasn't needed in the 90's either with the Duo being region free for CDs except for 2 crappy games that needed a Japanese version of the 1.0 and 3.0 system cards and the arcade card games which needed the arcade card which never came here, the Neo Geo AES/CD, the Game Boy, Game Gear, and the 3DO which only stopped at 1 Western game with a Japanese localization and an adult title that had a special Kanji script on them).
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Madoka...AYUKAWA!



Joined: 14 Jan 2015
Posts: 158
PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 6:30 pm Reply with quote
Joe Mello wrote:
Madoka...AYUKAWA! wrote:
The truth is that even with region free consoles and games not many will import anyway, even if cheaper, people will always prefer buying locally.

You must not have a Walmart where you live or access to Amazon Prime.

Reverse importation is a risk for any product sold internationally because not everyone prices items the same. A reliable way to make sure that money boosts your bottom line locally is to make sure it has no way to leave.


What does having walmart and amazon prime has to do here? With importing?

No. I have seen that this makes no impacts, like I said importers, gamer, are few.

You have the same wrong idea this guy has.

I already said, unless you tell me and demonstrate there is a huge mafia, say, in Japan, reverse importing games and causing a headache for the local market.. you are WRONG, you and Iwata.

I dare you to show me the that region free ps3, vita an ps4 has caused reverse importation in japan, can you? I dare you show me! because its enough that sony also made de ps4 and games region free and I do import quiet a lot from japan and its HARD to find USA games (or from europe) sold there, be it online or in physical stores.

Region free does not means games form other regions will compete with the locla market

If you are on the US show me you can eaisly find eurpena games there or japanse ones, or shoow me Japan has USA/EUR games competing with local games there, etc!

If you are in europe you have a hard time finding USA or Japanese games sold locally, if you are in USA you have hard time finding EUR/JPN PS games, and the same goes in Japan, so?

You are evidently wrong...otherwise I would not see so many european fans complaining having to wait for games to be released locally when they could import form usa for example. Why? They still think its hard to import from USA, with amazon is easy! other US retailers only sell locally thou, but amaozn is good for importing. Also the language could be a barrier and need to wait for a release in their language. Language is still a barrier, this is a huge reason people give up on a japanese games never to see the light of day: language barrier. By reverse importing japanese fans will find most games are NOT in Japanese be it dub or sub, so its meaningless to reverse import a game they wont understand, believe me the majority of japanese fans do not understand english.
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AnatorayLizard



Joined: 14 May 2015
Posts: 1
PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 7:55 pm Reply with quote
I would imagine this has more to do with apps and such then games. Isn't Sony still region-blocked when it comes to Blu-rays and apps like Netflix?

What I want to know is why is there still a separation of PAL and NTSC systems. Technically analog broadcasts are gone, and digital televisions are fast becoming the norm. Remove this issue and it wouldn't matter if region-locked still exists in the gaming world.
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