Topic: 3DS Region Lock Reasons Explained

[NWR_Karlie]

The latest statement suggests that some software will not work due to particular features and restrictions.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/24758

A recent statement from Nintendo suggests that some Nintendo 3DS software titles may not work on consoles from another region due to languages, age rating, parental control functionality, local laws in each area, and network services. Nintendo has said that to provide the best gaming experience, the possibility exists for some software not functioning properly when used on hardware from another region.

While this doesn't so far necessarily mean a blanket policy where all titles will not be playable out of region, it does seem that some titles will indeed be region locked. The 3DS will be released in three variations, for Japan, North America, and Europe/Australia. The statement finishes with the fact that hardware and software packaging will be marked with guidance for regional compatibility.

Previous reports from Japan indicated the implementation of region locking, with an e-mail support newsletter saying that software purchased in Japan will only be playable on Japanese 3DS consoles. 

More exact details are expected at tomorrow's 3DS preview events, with a live stream for the EU event on Nintendo of Europe's website.

[oohhboy]

If reasons given were even remotely true, they would divide it up by languages (Japanese, English, EU/Quebec, Asia, not the now arbitrary regions that are left overs from a bygone era where TVs displayed pictures differently.

Networks are networks unless your in China and local laws have never be a real issue when it comes to selling software unless it's Germany or Australia. Age content ratings are controlled at retail not at the console so I have no idea why they want to take on that extra liability.

If they throw in a disclaimer of some sort if you play some out of region game, think it might be a workable compromise although still piss weak since all this is BS. But seriously "Best gaming experience" my ass.

[KDR_11k]

Yeah, if it was local laws or age restrictions they'd have to single out Germany.

The only real reason is the weak dollar that lets Europeans import games from the US for cheap but the weak pound means these days we can just import from the UK instead.

[JasonMaivia]

B.S.


Kiss My Butt, Nintendo!
Being Region-Free was why I love the Gameboy consoles and my DS!!


Unless they're commited to releasing all games from all regions to every part of the world, then they shouldn't have done this to the 3DS.


I can't believe I'm saying this, but now I'm rooting for hackers to find a solution.
I DON'T want to have to buy another expensive 3DS just to play Japanese and European games!

[Shaymin]

I'll say what they want to say but can't:

"You'll put up with our shoddy localization patterns because this device is going to build us money vault # 32."

[MaryJane]

Did anyone bother to read the article? It says that not all games will be region locked, and that only those that fall into the restrictions listed will be.

Also, what does anyone know about the 3DS network? What if a game can score you Nintendo points? Is NOA supposed to honor the points you get for a Japanese only game that promises Japan only swag? What if an American system looks for the server a Japanese game tells it to look for, doesn't find it, and crashes? What if because of the different wireless spectrums of each country, StreetPass has to work differently?

For now, how about taking Nintendo at their word until some actual evidence (not random speculation) surfaces?

[oohhboy]

Unless you are using Chinese Wifi protocol WAPI, a network is a network is to a network.

Also the DS can boot to 6 different languages including Japanese with no ill effects makes the whole language "issue" nothing more than smoke. Parental control is easier to implement than 6 different languages and age restrictions are done at retail, not to mention you can now update those rule sets should the laws change! Surely they can spare some of that 500MB in their OS for some simple lists.

The whole local laws deal is a non issue with Australia just not getting the games(R18?! LOL) or Germany(NAZIS!) getting a "Special" version which most of Germany ignores and get the EU/Austrian version.

To even suggest region locking in todays global environment is nothing more than penny pinching. The fact that there will be 3 "versions" to be released based on antiquated geo-economical borders tells you everything you need to know about what Nintendo is thinking. This is not being done to benefit our "Gaming experience".

So no, I will not take them at their word and until they announce otherwise, given the evidence already shown, this is not speculation. If this is all a spectacular hoax staged in order to gauge the reaction to region locking on a handheld, my hat is off to them, well played, but Nintendo doesn't do that.

[MaryJane]

OH!
I didn't realize that a Wifi network (a, b, g, AND n) was the same as a Bluetooth network, which is the same as both a CDMA and UMTS 3G network, which is obviously the same as an LTE, WIMAX, and HSDPA+ 4G networks, which is compatible with both the 700Mhz and 900Mhz spectrums, which also works with infrared, AND the IEEE spectrum. That isn't even all the wireless networks out there, and then there are still wired networks.

But those are all the same right??? It doesn't matter that Nintendo could being using a proprietary radio for the 3DS network or three different radios for the three different regions? But, we don't yet know any of this (maybe we will in a little while).

And beyond all that is Nintendo alleging that not all games are going to be region locked. Whatever your speculation on why Nintendo is region locking, not all games are going to be locked. All those arguments you gave mean little because, NOT ALL GAMES ARE GOING TO BE REGION LOCKED. You have no idea (and neither do I) which games will be locked, nor can you know from the outside why they will be locked. The actual evidence I referred to would be a region locked game. All of this, even my presumptions (besides the fact that networks are all different, and not all games will be region locked) is just speculation.

[Caliban]

Oh no. I just remembered that I have the Tingle's game that I imported from the UK. I hope it still works on the 3DS because I want to trade in my DSi.

[UncleBob]

Oh no. I just remembered that I have the Tingle's game that I imported from the UK. I hope it still works on the 3DS because I want to trade in my DSi.

Should be okay - I think the game itself has to have the region coding in it, otherwise the system won't know what region the game is...

[oohhboy]

Now you're being pertinacious. You know that the 3DS uses WIFI IEEE802.11 B,G with WPA/WPA2 for security. These are standards worldwide and don't change(except China). These facts are no in dispute.

What makes the 3DS so special as a computing device that it requires such locks that nothing else needs? Nothing, because the idea is BS and always has been. These limitations have always been artificial and are never there for the benefit of the end user.

[MaryJane]

I know that it uses Wifi to connect to the internet, but I have no idea what it uses to connect to other 3DSs locally, which is what my point was. And I don't know of any computers that use a StreetPass like system, do you? And one more time: not all games are going to region locked.

[Caliban]

Oh no. I just remembered that I have the Tingle's game that I imported from the UK. I hope it still works on the 3DS because I want to trade in my DSi.

Should be okay - I think the game itself has to have the region coding in it, otherwise the system won't know what region the game is...

I hope so too.

[Mop it up]

Nintendo had plenty of opportunities in the past to region-lock their handhelds, and they didn't. That, coupled with the fact that not all games will be region locked, leaves me to believe their explanation is legit, rather than making excuses just so they can region lock the system.

[oohhboy]

If they came up front and stated what exactly makes the 3DS so special instead of releasing a laundry list of non issues then I might be convinced.

For all we know it's because Nintendo still hasn't figured out how to create a worldwide unified store to sell DLC to retail games regardless of the handhelds current location, so they half arse it and call it a day. Hell they only recently finally got things down to a single friend code.

If this is about selling 3D horse armor, well, picardfacepalm.jpg will do.

[Enner]

Hopefully publishers and developers will be just as lazy and not bother putting in region locks. Then again, I don't know whether it's easier to have region locking or not for a 3DS game.


Seeing how the Xbox 360 has voluntary region locks for its retail software, the Playstation Portable has no region locking for its games, and the Playstation 3 has no region locking for its games, this course of action by Nintendo looks like a backwards move and a hassle for them and everyone else. Hey, I guess that's the Nintendo MO?