Wii U/3DS anti-region locking campaign gaining momentum ahead of E3

Like last year a fan campaign to get Nintendo to stop region locking on 3DS/Wii U has been ignited just in time for E3 and its getting very popular with over 30k signatures and a massive outburst of support on social media and Miiverse.

[ThePsychoGamer]

It's a shame Nintendo is too arrogant to actually go region free, it's such a great feature.

[randomass171]

I think ignorant would be more accurate than arrogant. They probably don't understand the need due to their more traditional ways. They haven't been catering to gamers for an entire generation, so it doesn't surprise me that they wouldn't have ending region locking on their radar.

Fingers crossed that that will change though.

[ChickeyCantor]

You're both wrong. It's about business. It has nothing to do with arrogance or traditional way of doing things.

This way they control where and when games get sold. Also when western gamers buy Japanese games it pretty much adds noise to their sales figures. ( and vice versa obviously )

FYI I am for region free systems.

[rdgneoz3]

"Also when western gamers buy Japanese games it pretty much adds noise to their sales figures. ( and vice versa obviously )"

A game sold is a game sold. Overall sales are more important than regional (when many games never set foot out of Japan for years if at all). Also, there are some gamers who will gladly put down money for a 2nd copy when it finally goes on sale in their area.

[GameSpawn]

@rdgneoz

Agreed.

Region Locking just hurts the Japanese developers. By being region free you gain a few more sales via exports/imports.

It MAY have something more to do with politics and economics versus exports and imports, but a freaking game is not going to have a drastic effect on your country's GDP (GDP increases or decreases with exports and imports and also effects the power of the country's currency with inflation and deflation). We aren't talking MILLIONS of exports on games with region free consoles; usually, if it is a lot, we are talking hundreds of thousands, not millions which again on a $60 USD (or equivalent) product it will not have as drastic of an effect to GDP as say a TV, Blu-Ray player, or even a car being exported or imported.

So, Nintendo... Get off your high horse and let those outside Japan that can read and speak the language to export out your games and not have to own two systems. There will also be less reason for people to hack your console (since their only legal defense to the hacking is that they want to play imports -- a BS excuse for console hacking, we all know it is really for piracy).

[ChickeyCantor]

" game sold is a game sold. Overall sales are more important than regional (when many games never set foot out of Japan for years if at all). "

It's not that black and white. You need to understand where your sales are coming from. It's how you invest and make plans for your next products ( trends, demands etc ).

Again it's mostly about control.

[Dgander]

Ask for the eshop to be accessible to consumers outside USA and Canada. I cant even get to play certain digital games because Nintendo cant figure out how to price in different regions but a shitty company like Blackberry can. Also cross game chat, better notifications and easier messaging system. Anti region locking is not as important as these issues right now.

[Dunban67]

After the Tomadachi life situation, I think it will make them dig thier heals in even more

[DualWielding]

Last time people made this campaign they country locked the 3DS eshop, who knows what Iwata and Reggie would come up with this time to screw fans for advocating for this right, they really seem to like to screw loyal customers for lulz

[bjmartynhak]

Glad that this discussion is back.

I'm a nomad. I really need things to be region free. The DLCs being region locked are stressful enough.

[LAWSON72]

They need to go region free so I can get and use that badass Charizard 3ds

[snookiegamer]

Oh Nintendo, you were a big part of my Childhood....and you're resigning yourselves to stay there ;(

[tigertron]

The fact that the GBA and the DS were region free were great. Nintendo needs to ditch the region lock and follow Sony.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

yeah that explain why we never got localize version of Tales of Hearts til Vita came lol

[Trunkz]

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

They advertised this at one of the E3's (could of been last year) but because the Region lock I can't play it, bite me Nintendo and follow the PSP way, you might get confusing sale figures, but you'll gain more fans and more respect FROM them.

[KonsoruMasuta]

Eh, doesn't bother me. I have a Japanese 3DS along with my American one.

[Trunkz]

You shouldn't have to buy another 3DS just to play games of your preference, it's not fair for gamers.

[kingPoS]

Eh... You want to play our culturally different games in the US! Go buy two of the same handheld... (says Nintendo)

And you did.

Good for you.

Gateway MT6706 2008

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Okay there no need for Nintendo or Third Party to bring us anymore games from Japan.Llets just buy only Japan software and watch the western Nintendo sales decline.

So no localization of
Yokai Watch 1 - 2
Bravely Second
Shin Megami Tensei IV (Europe)
Dragon Quest VII
Senran Kagura 2

Region lock exist for reason. The reason isn't to prevent you from playing it.

If it never existed we would had never gotten Bravely Default. SE wouldn't had considered going back to its JRPG roots, Nintendo wouldn't never seen it success or would the creator would had been happy with the sales in the west.

[ThePsychoGamer]

What nice mix of ignorance and hyperbole.

You clearly know absolutely nothing about the issue, so please don't talk about it unless you are going to do some research.

To further my point here are facts that prove that was nothing but hyperbole.

The PS3 was Region Free, it was also the go to home console for JRPGs,

Being region free didn't effect localization or the success of Ni No Kuni, Tales of Graces F, Tales of Xillia, Tales of Symphonia Chronicles nor has it stopped localization of Tales of Xillia 2 or Tales of Zesteria

Disgaea and the Atelier series have both pretty much stuck to region free consoles, and despite this, their foothold in Western markets is much stronger than when they were being released on the region locked PS2.

I'm sure you will also not like the fact that the Neptunia series, a JRPGs series that have only ever released on region free hardware, has been so successful in the west it prompted Idea Factory to open a western branch.

Vita and the PS3 is region free certainly didn't stop Xseed from bringing over Akiba's trip 2 Senran Kagura: Shnovi VS or Bon appetite.

Thee fact that the PS3 is region free not only didn't hurt localization of Demon's Souls, but is actually credited for helping the game come stateside.

Well, I think I've sufficiently proved facts show you have no real point.