Join the movement to make Nintendo consoles region-free!

[MrPopo]

I'd argue that China's overall dickishness is a good reason to remove region locking. If they want to be a global power then they get to experience the entire globe.

Nah, companies aren't willing to do that, because China is seen as having massive potential due to their large population. And the Chinese government cares very little about piracy of non-Chinese goods, so Nintendo will probably do their best to appease them to get whatever chance it has in their market. They've already appealed to the Chinese government by hiring a Taiwanese individual to head their Chinese front corporation, iQue.

I know, but a man can dream can't he?

[Ziggy]

I wouldn't say this the end. Nintendo has acknowledged the fact that the fans have a problem with it. The seed has been planted. Seeing as they probably like keeping their fans, they might work on a way to solve the issue. Maybe they'll localize more games. Or maybe they will eventually lift the region lock. I'm happy they at least paid attention to the outcry.

This is definitely not the end. Nintendo didn't say flat out NO. They just said they have no plans. So that obviously doesn't rule out the future. I would say this isn't the time to stop and give up, it's the signal to keep going! Keep getting the petition signed. Keep making noise about it, make it clear we want region free consoles. Even if they don't patch the U and 3DS, at the very least it could lead to their next console and/or handheld being region free.

[TheRev]

I hope that's the case.

[marurun]

This is definitely not the end. Nintendo didn't say flat out NO. They just said they have no plans. So that obviously doesn't rule out the future. I would say this isn't the time to stop and give up, it's the signal to keep going! Keep getting the petition signed. Keep making noise about it, make it clear we want region free consoles. Even if they don't patch the U and 3DS, at the very least it could lead to their next console and/or handheld being region free.

Nintendo said there are market and cultural reasons for their region lockouts, and that it's not just them wanting to be dicks, essentially. That doesn't bode well for them removing the lockouts.

[Ziggy]

Nintendo said there are market and cultural reasons for their region lockouts, and that it's not just them wanting to be dicks, essentially. That doesn't bode well for them removing the lockouts.

Oh, I know. I argued the exact same thing in the argumentative posts that were spliced from this thread and put here.

Also, I posted this in response to this.

[Gamerforlife]

I don't see Nintendo ever changing their stance on this. Sony is much more lax about this sort of thing. The Vita plays imports easily. Owning one makes me not so sore about the 3DS having region lock out. Plus, the 3DS already has tons of great localized stuff. It ain't so bad really.

Besides, I'm sure there are....methods for playing import stuff on the 3DS. Or there will be eventually. People cracked the DS without too much trouble with those flash carts. Another reason why I don't worry too much about region lock outs.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I think Nintendo has learned their lesson with the flash carts, though. The 3DS can detect DS flash carts and refuse to play them. When you download a 3DS system update, it warns you that your console might be bricked if you've used unauthorized software or peripherals. That kind of fear tactic could keep a lot of people from using whatever gets released in the future.

Interestingly, the DSi security has proven tougher to beat than the PSP's by a long shot. Before the system was released, everyone assumed there would be no need for flash cards and the SD card slot would be hacked. Not so - we still can't use that slot for homebrew and it's still impossible to pirate DSiware games.

[TheRev]

I think Nintendo has learned their lesson with the flash carts, though. The 3DS can detect DS flash carts and refuse to play them. When you download a 3DS system update, it warns you that your console might be bricked if you've used unauthorized software or peripherals. That kind of fear tactic could keep a lot of people from using whatever gets released in the future.

Interestingly, the DSi security has proven tougher to beat than the PSP's by a long shot. Before the system was released, everyone assumed there would be no need for flash cards and the SD card slot would be hacked. Not so - we still can't use that slot for homebrew and it's still impossible to pirate DSiware games.

Give it time, once people are pissed off enough about this Region locking Bullshit they are going to get relentless.