Nintendo confirms 3DS region-lock

Hmm.. the way that reads seems to suggest that the region-lock is down to the publisher more than anything, like the PS3. Hopefully like the PS3 most won’t bother.

Well here is hoping.

unless the eu gets treated with some damn respect i expect lots of games never coiming here as usual, hell if it wasnt for the fact the ps3 is region free demon souls never would have got its notice and praise like it did

Sounds like not only the software will be locked, but also the network functions. So if you buy one in the US, you won’t be able to access the European store, etc.

@trav it’s down to the publisher on 360. The PS3 doesn’t have region locking on games.

I’ll wait… and the more I hear about the 3DS, the less I’m interested in it…

IF the games are interesting, and IF Japanese publishers don’t “lock” their games to their own region, then maybe I’ll take one, if there are interesting games.
When I see my DS Lite, at least half of the games I’ve bought are Japanese and NEVER got released in Europe (Ouendan, Taiko no tatsujin, etc.)

I’m willing to bet that every single game is going to be locked. It’ll all be part of some new-fangled ‘anti-R4′ protection thingy to try and lock out the hackers, who’ll no doubt be onto this from day one.

@6 : I never bought a “R4 card” for my DS Lite and paid for all my games… but if this region lock is effective on all games, then I’ll have no other choice than buy such a device and illegally download games…

That’s REALLY a dumb move from Nintendo… Region free consoles don’t fully prevent piracy… but region lock HIGHLY encourages it (most of my friends got their PS2 modded to play Japanese games… and, as it was then POSSIBLE to play downloaded games as well, they jumped into it)

@orakaa Totally agreed.

I’m fine with Nintendo trying to cut off another R4 fiasco at the pass, but does region locking even help in that regard? As far as I can tell it merely annoys legitimate customers.

I’d never have imported Ouendan if it required me to buy a second DS just to play it.

Quite. The hackers will demolish the security in a matter of weeks anyway, and the legitimate consumers get pissed off for years to come. I never said it was a good solution.

Region locking is almost universally bad. The only reason it’s not such a big deal on the 360 is because practically everything gets a worldwide release. If Nintendo can commit to that then no problem. But they won’t – they’re Nintendo!

i’ll just like to point out the Etrian Odyssey trilogy

all 3 were released in the us, nintendo only released number 1 in the eu, that forced importing, now nintendo are saying fuck you, you dont deserve these games

@3: Hardly a surprise given that the DSi has region locking for the network aspects too afaik.

>:(
I’ll be investigating options other than those provided by NOE, as a result of their proven useless approach to software availability.

Not just Etrian, all of Atlus’ output will be off-limits to the majority, now. Which is something that will affect me quite a bit, as I import a lot of their games.

And yep, III’s the best Etrian and we’ll never see it in Europe. Pity.

YES. Atlus, that thought flashed acros my mind, too. I already had to import my Devil Summoner, but, at least I was able to play it once I did so! Horrid situation. Tomorrow, then…

This is me no longer buying a 3DS.

It would be pretty devastating now, if Sony announced the same thing for PSP2. Though i’d doubt it.

wait its the software that may be locked not the system itself?

Yeah the system stops working if you take it over a national border.

@19 dont be a dick, i’m asking if the system outright refuses to play other regions games or is on a case by case basis

Fucking region locking and friend codes. Really, Nintendo? This is the best you can do in 2011? :facepalm:

Typical Nintendo, always behind the times. I wish the firm would fuck off and go die in a corner somewhere.