Yet another 3DS model announced - the NEW 3DS

[Exhuminator]

So geeked.

Right there with ya brah.

[Tanooki]

Nintendo started the cowardly selfish region locking on their handhelds with the release of the DSi because they claimed they wanted to control the releases over the download networks on what people could get basically. From there it spilled after that with the 3DS into the physical games too.

I'm annoyed we're not getting it this year, at face value it looks like typical NOA embarassing ignorance, but actually when I thought about it after getting bugged by it it made sense.

My opinion on this one, they're trying to avoid what happened with the 3DS and the Wii with this one a bit. The AUS/NZ and Japan markets compared to the US(NA) and EU/UK market are tiny. They want it out, but they can't make enough to serve the markets, so they'll shovel out where they can in mass to capture some of those end of the year holiday sales. Another issue I'd think would be the fact I'm sure developers knew of it for a time, but it stinks of being another blindsiding Nintendo rushed launch. Great the Japanese have Xenoblade, and then what? What does the english markets get that's so great? Maybe if they delay it until March for the US the added 90-120 days they could finish up a lot of hardware to have the demand met while actually having some solid quality product in english and other languages(EU) so people see a reason to buy this new system.

[darsparx]

I can understand maybe doing digital media, but come on, if someone in the end is making money why should it matter if I buy a game from another region or not(especially if it's a game we'd never get...). To me it would be stupid to have to buy two 3ds's(or any other system) just to play the other region's stuff(at least vita and psp isn't that way). I've been half tempted to go the side of importing nintendo games but dang....this is ridiculous, and really just has never made sense no matter who I see or hear of doing it from time to time...

[MrPopo]

I can understand maybe doing digital media, but come on, if someone in the end is making money why should it matter if I buy a game from another region or not(especially if it's a game we'd never get...). To me it would be stupid to have to buy two 3ds's(or any other system) just to play the other region's stuff(at least vita and psp isn't that way). I've been half tempted to go the side of importing nintendo games but dang....this is ridiculous, and really just has never made sense no matter who I see or hear of doing it from time to time...

It matters because of regional pricing and the general economics thereof. For example, games are more expensive in Japan than they are in the US. If the US release of a game is playable on a Japanese console you can see Japanese players reverse importing the US release, which throws off all the business calculations companies use to turn a profit. And regional pricing arises from the overall economies of the various countries. It's not just as simple as convert everything to one currency and go from there.

[fastbilly1]

I can understand maybe doing digital media, but come on, if someone in the end is making money why should it matter if I buy a game from another region or not(especially if it's a game we'd never get...).

The difference between $40 USD and 40 Euro is about $8 USD. So depending on the day, it would be cheaper to buy and ship a copy of a USA game to Europe than to buy locally. Also there is the matter of local laws in regards to content - like how L4D2 was changed in Germany and Australia.

Edit:
And popo posted as I posted...

[darsparx]

Still if they're not going to have as same of libraries as possible, why bother region locking? It's stupid to lock us, or any part of the world out of playing decent(or even great) games...would be nice if it was as simple as breaking some tabs to be able to play another region though....

[ZeroAX]

Also there is the matter of local laws in regards to content - like how L4D2 was changed in Germany and Australia.

Yeah but a British uncensored version of a game would work on a German and Australian 3DS

[Opa Opa]

Not buying another handheld ever again; especially from Nintendo...
Pass.

Said the sad fool who just stood in line for an hour to purchase the Monster Hunter 4 New 3DS.

[casterofdreams]

Not buying another handheld ever again; especially from Nintendo...
Pass.

Said the sad fool who just stood in line for an hour to purchase the Monster Hunter 4 New 3DS.

It's okay. We all fall for that trap. I did with the Wii U.

[s1mplehumar]

Anyone grab the Majora's Mask version? I pre-ordered from Gamestop and then Best Buy just to be safe. The Monster Hunter unit looks pretty sweet, though...in a minimalist kind of way. Shame they didn't go the way of the original MH LL design.