DSi games to be region locked

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 7th October 2008
Comments (15) Stumble
DSi games to be region locked

The new DSi platform will have two cameras, an SD card slot and a region locked firmware.

In a move that's sure to annoy many Nintendo fans, the company has just revealed that games for the new DSi will be region locked. While the standard DS games will not be, the DSi cartridge games and those which are to be made available through the DSi's new online functionality will be.

Nintendo announced the new DS a short while ago, revealing that the new model will have two cameras built into it, improved WiFi and online downloads and a new SD card slot. The GameBoy Advance cartridge slot however will be absent.

Nintendo has already disappointed a large portion of the market with the announcement that non-Japanese markets will not be getting the DSi for a while, so the announcement that the platform will be region locked too may be a major blow for importers. While the handheld goes on sale in Japan this November, it won't be coming to Europe until Spring 2009. The US won't get the DS until later in 2009 either.

According to the companies official announcement the DSi platform will be completely region locked in regard to the software made especially for the DSi, though the actual DS firmware is region-free. In other words, regular DS games can be played regardless of region on either the DS or DSi, but the downloadable games and DSi SD card games will be only compatible with the DS. There'll be no option to transfer or port the software.

"The DSi is region locked because DSi embeds net communication functionality within itself and we are intending to provide net services specifically tailored for each region," said an official announcement.

"Also because we are including parental control functionality for Nintendo DSi and each region has its unique age limit made by different independent."

Gutted that you won't be getting the DSi for months, or could you care less? Let us know what you think in the forums.
Quote proxess 7th October 2008, 12:15
I'd still rather a Pandora anyhow.
Quote CardJoe 7th October 2008, 12:16
Can't I have both?
Quote proxess 7th October 2008, 12:17
Wouldn't you rather play ZSNES online against me on a Wifi connection?
Quote mikeuk2004 7th October 2008, 12:18
So they too are removing backwards compatability and region locking it. Great eh?
Quote CardJoe 7th October 2008, 12:25
Quote:
Originally Posted by proxess
Wouldn't you rather play ZSNES online against me on a Wifi connection?

You can do that on a DSi?! ;)
Quote Joeymac 7th October 2008, 12:46
Nintendo are really doing everything they can to increase piracy for the DSi.... maybe they just don't like money.
Quote Mentai 7th October 2008, 12:59
Haha yeah my first thought was, fine then, I'll just find a way to circumvent it. Might as well download a few games unavailable in my region while I'm at it... Again giant corporation, Stop Penalising Your Paying Customers, arg!
Quote mmorgue 7th October 2008, 13:25
Yep, I agree. The harder they try to lock these things the down, the more incentive they give people to hack it.

For example, if Sony hadn't region locked the PS (or PS2 or PS3) for games, then I wouldn't've pirated the StreetFighter Zero series as I wanted a Japanese version, not the PAL/NTSC versions.

I would have paid the full price and import costs to purchase a fully legal, authorised Sony game, albeit from Japan. I don't see how Sony would have lost out in that respect. But then, I guess as a dumb consumer, what do I know?
Quote proxess 7th October 2008, 14:28
Quote:
Originally Posted by CardJoe
You can do that on a DSi?! ;)

You can, but not all games. Also N64. And Megadrive. Something you can't do on the DSi is play ePSXe and play some Gran Turismo 2 anywhere.
Quote Narishma 7th October 2008, 14:42
Quote:
Originally Posted by mmorgue
Yep, I agree. The harder they try to lock these things the down, the more incentive they give people to hack it.

For example, if Sony hadn't region locked the PS (or PS2 or PS3) for games, then I wouldn't've pirated the StreetFighter Zero series as I wanted a Japanese version, not the PAL/NTSC versions.

I would have paid the full price and import costs to purchase a fully legal, authorised Sony game, albeit from Japan. I don't see how Sony would have lost out in that respect. But then, I guess as a dumb consumer, what do I know?

The PS3 isn't region locked.
Quote Dreaming 7th October 2008, 17:30
Have to agree with the general consensus this is just going to make people download the games and flash them onto memory cards now it's going to be that much easier :/. I mean it's about push and pull factors when someone pirates a game and they're just giving the pirates and legitimate users another reason to not pay.
Quote benjamyn 7th October 2008, 18:29
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joeymac
Nintendo are really doing everything they can to increase piracy for the DSi.... maybe they just don't like money.

Course they do, they make tonnes of it, much more profit than Microsoft or Sony (Games divisions only)
And the DSi will almost definately get them oodles and oodles more cash.

You should have said "maybe they just don't like their fans/consumers" :p
Quote Mentai 7th October 2008, 22:43
Quote:
Originally Posted by benjamyn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joeymac
Nintendo are really doing everything they can to increase piracy for the DSi.... maybe they just don't like money.

Course they do, they make tonnes of it, much more profit than Microsoft or Sony (Games divisions only)
And the DSi will almost definately get them oodles and oodles more cash.

You should have said "maybe they just don't like their fans/consumers" :p

I think that was his point. By pissing off their fans/consumers they'll make LESS money than they could have. Of course it'll still turn a mega profit, but why settle for less than you could have?
Quote DXR_13KE 8th October 2008, 00:25
what Nintendo wants to say is:

"PLEASE PIRATE MORE!!!"
Quote mmorgue 8th October 2008, 09:39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Narishma
The PS3 isn't region locked.

I stand corrected. Ta!
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