There are elements of the DSi that are region-free -- you'll be able to surf the 'net wherever you are in the world, exchange photos with friends in other regions, and still play non-local DS games on the DSi -- but it looks like we can forget about importing Japanese DSi software. It simply won't work.
Nintendo's messenger says this is because the DSi "embeds net communication functionality within itself" and provides "net services specifically tailored for each region." The fact that each region has unique age limits is also mentioned. What a thoroughly depressing start to the week! We're off for coffee and extra donuts.
_cg_oct22_kjgfdhd_thumbnail.jpg "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
10-06-2008 @ 1:59PM
torokun said...
BOO~
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10-06-2008 @ 2:00PM
Zealot said...
Boo to you, Nintendo, and your irrational, anti-competitive policies. You're only going to shoot yourself in the foot by forcing some importers into outright piracy.
I'll also be the first to say that we should all brace ourselves for a region-locked DS2, whenever it comes about. After the GBA and DS being region-free, there's no way that this move is just because of some strange hardware anomaly that's going to go away with the next iteration.
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10-06-2008 @ 2:01PM
RupeeClock said...
To be fair, I'm not concerned that DSi games and DSi downloads are region locked, I'm thankful that all my existing and future DS games will NOT be region locked.
This puts my mind at ease. :)
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10-06-2008 @ 2:05PM
Schnuff said...
Boykott. Outright. Just canceled my purchase-plan. Just *ß?" yourself Nintendo. I'm sick wid it.
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10-06-2008 @ 2:15PM
Damian said...
I simply can't fathom why anybody would want one of these whom already owns the DSLite .
A cheap camera and built in snail browser .
Fair enough for people who have never had one but I don't get all the excitement for a tiny upgrade .
People are so excited that i originally thought this was an outright replacement ie DS 2 or whatever the next Nintendo handheld will be called .
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10-06-2008 @ 2:17PM
Tyrran said...
I'm honestly quite disappointed and disgusted with this move by Nintendo. One of the great things about the handheld generation (at least in regards to Nintendo) was that the lack of region locking actually encouraged more sales of the handheld. People were apt to pay silly amounts to import the games that didn't come over instead of merely downloading the rom and playing it on their computer. Despite the prevailing elements of flash cards everywhere, the DS has continued to do fantastic, and this locking with the DSi is a screaming, flailing step in the opposite direction. If anything, I feel like Nintendo is now openly coaxing people to try and find an exploit within the new built-in SD card in order to experience games that are not legally released in their area. Hell, I *bought* copies of Ouendan and Mother 3 because I have the option to play them on my system. Now it feels like the only thing I can do is either a.) buy two systems or b.) pray for more games to be released in the US.
Shame, Nintendo. For shame.
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10-06-2008 @ 2:40PM
Almadi said...
So Nintendo have taken pity on the PSP and are adding handicaps to their systems now?
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10-06-2008 @ 2:54PM
Jordan said...
O...O...
OUUUUUUUUUENDAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!
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10-06-2008 @ 3:03PM
KirbyMeister said...
The more I hear about this DSi the less I like it. It's not compatible with all DS games, and they're planning DSi-only games (outside of the DSi-shop) which is just going to fracture Nintendo's handheld base making us decide between two different, largely intersecting but still somewhat separate, pools of software.
The thing was already small enough; they didn't need to make it any smaller. All signs point to the DSi being a quick attempt at curbing piracy, imports, and homebrew; the three things that console manufacturers hate since it ruins their business model of charging developers for protection against piracy and the global market.
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10-06-2008 @ 3:04PM
Ihar `Philips` Filipau said...
LOL. Region locking in this age is hilarious.
Can't wait for R4/M3/Cyclo people to crack DSi - then I might consider buying it.
What else can one want if s/he lives in Europe? The region, most hated (and reaped off) by Nintendo...
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10-06-2008 @ 9:21PM
Kefka said...
It's kinda sad - the DSi seems to be Nintendo's answer to the PSP - a handheld that you need to hack the crap out of before it's any good!
10-07-2008 @ 2:46AM
aj said...
....but the PSP doesn't have region locks.
I know NA PSP's say "region 1" on them, but you can pop any UMD in and play it, European, Japanese, or Norte Americano.
So what's the deal with the DSi going lock-out?
10-06-2008 @ 3:08PM
FantomRedux said...
OK, now I'm DEFINITLY waiting until someone porves flash cards still work.
Damn you Nintendo, I was gonna go legit too T_T
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10-06-2008 @ 3:31PM
Kimiko said...
Games being region free was one of the best features of the DS.
Dawn their oily hides!
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10-06-2008 @ 3:34PM
scissors125 said...
Well, it looks like Nintendo isn't getting my hard earned money now.
Well, at least the Wii has some strong titles coming up.
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10-06-2008 @ 3:39PM
RootiePatootie said...
I've been reading all I can find about the DSi and all kinds of comments, etc. etc. because I was, AT FIRST, really excited by it all. Finally though, with this latest news, I'm ready to say something and that is this: BAD move, Nintendo, BAD. In fact, with every new bit of info I read I became less and less excited by the DSi.
All the things mentioned above and more are reasons I'm fast losing interest. And I fully agree that this latest bit of news will possibly push the pirate market harder to find ways to do what they do so well.
A couple things that I particularly am not impressed with is making the device smaller. I'm a female but I'm not one with tiny hands and I've found that in the almost year I've had my DS Lite that it is painful to use at times and I keep going back to my dimmer screen DS "Phat" because of that. Also, a 3 mega pixal camera is crapola in this day and age, certainly NOT something to get excited about IMO. All in all I'm really feeling that this is, as someone above said, just a "filler" for the time between the DS and whatever comes next. Bah!
Anyway... my $1.02 worth. I'll keep reading about this device but at this point I've zero intent in buying one and will wait and see if they come up with something REALLY exciting with a DS2 or whatever they'll be calling it.
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10-06-2008 @ 3:43PM
db73 said...
Well I might have considered a DSi on import if I had actually decided to buy one. But that's obviously gone for a burton now!
Man, this is really dissapointing news. In the past I've bought games from the States (I'm in the UK) so I don't have to wait forever for them to come out over here. I'm happy to do that but I won't be able to with the DSi. So what's the alternative? That would be pirated games I guess. Cracked to run on any DSi.
I felt Nintendo where really moving things forward with the region free DS. We live in a Global market/economy so why the hell shouldn't we have games from anywhere in the World if we choose? C'mon Nintendo it's 2008 FFS! What is this shit!? Your going backwards with this idea.
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10-06-2008 @ 3:55PM
ELightshow said...
That sucks. Region free makes things so much easier. Who cares if I want to import a couple games, it's not like putting a region lock is going to discourage piracy. So whats the point?
--
www.Twentysack.com
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10-06-2008 @ 4:10PM
Lanceh said...
So it's just DSi software? Hasn't put me off then if I can still play JUS and Ouendan on it.
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10-06-2008 @ 4:25PM
gary yo said...
there is only one thing left to do...
... to hack the dsi and prove to nintendo that we are ready to go to extreme measures to un region lock our dsis
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