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.
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
10-07-2008 @ 4:52AM
Honza said...
Currently we have two DS-Lites. One turqoise (my son's) and one cobalt/black (my own). The turqoise we bought in England for about $180, my own imported from U.S. for standard $130. In my home country, Czech Republic, DS Lite costs about $230. Same hardware, nearly twice as much...
In my comment for "Will you get it" article, I wrote that I like the new DSi features, but hoped for more. I also said that if some nice limited edition comes out, I might swap DS Lite for DSi.
Limited editions are so rare in Europe, and especially in our country. And I just don't want the ordinary design that everyone else has. Even now I have design that is not released for Europe. You may consider it strange, but design is important for me.
As DSi will be region-locked, this makes it worse. Importing it from US under such conditions? No - I probably could not play DSi multiplayer with other people here. Buy it ĺocally for double the price? Don't want that. And it's not so easy to import it from England, as their shops usually don't send hardware outside their mainland, so it would be just in case I would travel there for some other reason.
And the official reasons for region-locking? Mockery. You can easily do parental control and such things without hardware region-locks. Just lets user set the country/region in the options if you really want it. Region-locking is just a cash-cow.
Bad, Nintendo. You wanted to make more money from me not to import my next console from U.S.A. Well, seems I will probably not buy it at all then, so you will not earn more, but in fact you will earn less. I will not buy DSi and I will not buy DSi games...
What can make Nintendo revise region-lock policy? If DSi is commercially unsuccessful. If people don't buy it, especially in Europe (and probably continue buing DS Lite, if still produced), they may notice what they did wrong.
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10-07-2008 @ 6:22AM
shaffy said...
great I just sold my DS >_
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10-07-2008 @ 8:36AM
ryan said...
FlashMe
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10-07-2008 @ 8:40AM
Ameer said...
Well although I wont buy the DSi because a camera and a browser isnt much of an attracton for me.. But its stupid to region lock it... I live in south east asia.. specifically Pakistan.. what do I do since nintendo has ignored my country for the past 2 decades..
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10-07-2008 @ 10:05AM
Eponasoft said...
Hrm...yet another reason why this is not worth buying. The normal DS Lite works just fine; the DSi really doesn't bring anything new to the table except more gimmicks and fewer real capabilities.
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10-07-2008 @ 11:22AM
MarkShark said...
Okay, glad I read into this. I'll still be able to play Ouendan on it, so there's still a chance of me getting this at some point.
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10-07-2008 @ 2:51PM
RootiePatootie said...
I'll add a PS to my last comment: I find this region locking personally unacceptable because, like my DVD collection, I enjoy games from another country in another language. They help me with my second language and the hubby likes to be able to play in his native tongue. I'm sure I'm not the only one who will thus find the region locking a negative to the DSi and hopes that not ALL the new, really good games coming out will be DSi ONLY. I've no desire to buy a DSi in that country and only use it to play games imported from that country, plus try to live with that handheld in my country (US). UGH!
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10-07-2008 @ 6:56PM
Riis said...
Well, there goes my happy thoughts of Ouendan 3 on my future DSi. ._.;;
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10-07-2008 @ 7:19PM
Matdredalia said...
What in the hell are they thinking? Are they TRYING to lose money?
First they get rid of the GBA slot, which basically makes EVERY hardware accessory ever made for the DS completely useless.
Then they bring in region-locking?
Seriously, this thing is not going to print money the way the DS Lite has. They're screwing themselves.
Oh look, they're making a new Nintendo 64...
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10-08-2008 @ 2:23PM
KaBob799 said...
How many DSi games are they even gonna make that aren't gonna be training games? Unless they wait forever to release the DS2 I don't think there's gonna be that many games at all.
Did they even confirm that DSi games outside of DSWare were gonna be released? I never saw it mentioned but maybe I missed it. The Virtual Console is region locked also so that's not a surprise.
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10-08-2008 @ 6:44PM
chibi_wings said...
I don't use Virtual Console, but that's horrible. Region locking VC/DSWare is like restricting the internet based on your region. I'm sure most of us don't go on Japanese sites, (or play Japanese games), but if you were to ever want to, then you would not be able to, and for what reason? it just doesn't make any sense. But maybe I'm missing some important fact that justifies doing this.
10-08-2008 @ 5:18PM
Adam said...
I think if you Import a DSi from japan, and then also import software from Japan, I think it'd work just fine.
It's when you want to play NA/EU games that you'll have a problem.
It also means that if you like JP games, then you have to import, in order to play them.
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