"The news hit me like freight train going 100 miles per hour and sent me into another realm, all in the hope in trying to possibly understand what is going on at Nintendo these days." -GamerRider
(Industry, Nintendo, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360)
I know, most consoles are region locked, only the PS3 is region free that I can think of, PS1 & 2 weren't region free, i'm pretty sure anyway. Either the author is trying to bash wii u or he's daft.
Even if it is region locked, it will still sell. I know it is annoying for a select group of people, but for the most part, gamers don't really purchase games from other territories. Although I'm glad that the PS3 is region-free because I was able to play GOW Collection and MGS HD collection much quicker because it came out in US/Canada months before it came to UK.
sucks to be those living in AUS and JAPAN those markets have their games so expensive, they make eBay's "Buy Now" option looks like a bargain! I was in Australia back then and region free PS3 is like a present from god!
-bub for bad language last time w a disagree on top.. lost a bubble huh?
Damn, that sucks man.. well maybe u will learn to keep those fingers in check when u feel like acting childish & learn to express your thoughts in a more mature manner.. Dont feel bad, i lost one too for talking mess to fans.. Kinda like u
Any future console that's region locked, deserves to have very poor sales. I hope Sony continues with region free on the PS4 and Microsoft follows... region FREEEEEE FTW.
Really? Most people don't give a crap. I know I don't. I can't stand all that JRPG bull crap anyway. Plus this is a console that I will be getting for my kids who love the Mario and Nintedo character remakes year after year. Frankly I grew out of that awhile ago. Although it is nice to play some smash bros with them.
@Highlife Yup you certainly grew out of that. Right out of multiple Mario releases and into multiple CoD's, Halo's, God of Wars, Gears of Wars, Grand Thef Autos, Assassins Creeds etc
I'm not saying its bad, I love some of those games. But what your missing is a LOT of companies release sequels and in reasonably quick succession. The resin they do that is because the games SELL and LOTS of people but them.
They wouldn't make a new Mario every year if people stopped paying for them. If they are doing well, why would they stop? It's a hallmark of a popular franchise. If you don't personally like it then that's cool, but don't delude yourself into thinking Nintendo is the only one that goes overboard with sequels or multiple games in a franchise in quick succession, especially when they have said before the longer development main console 3D games are treated separately to the shorter development 2D games.
This is going to be a factor for some gamers though. The PS Vita isn't region locked and the Vita also works in conjunction with the PS3 (Maybe even PS4 too). I'd still be excited for the WiiU though.
The DS used to be region free then it changed with the newer models at they are now region locked. Although, some models that aren't locked can still read the games no prob.
Actually they weren't. I play imported games on my unmodded SNES all the time. On the SNES and N64 all you have to do to play imported games is remove some small plastic pegs in the cartridge slots. I think the GameCube is the first Nintendo home system with true coded in region lock.
I own two Wiis. TWO Wiis. Is that not the most ridiculous thing you ever heard? I hate region locking. It affects a small minority of gamers but that minority gets absolutely screwed.
That's the trouble though, they don't treat each region fair (if you take the word to mean equitably). Even aside from the price gouging, some regions get their games heavily delayed - if they come at all - or are only released in very small stock. Not having an international market to buy from is terrible.
No surprise there . It's aggravating and only make sure i either import consoles and games , or wait for region unlocking via cracking and modchips (wich i hardly want) .
lol and abandoning the loyal fans completely makes nintendo look bad this whole gen.
Nintendo hasn't successfully serviced the hardcore market since N64.. what year was that? Gamecube failed and wii was all casual. Now wiiU will be bad ass with it's reaction to the tablet craze of a controller! Looks cool though. But I am not surprised to see a next gen nintendo with not even 1 semi next gen game at launch.
Not sure why its a big deal that Nintendo is region locking the Wii U. The 360, PS3, Wii and pretty much every other system other than the Neo Geo were region locked. Nintendo isn't "losing it" but people are just looking for a reason to complain. I was hoping it wouldn't be region locked but c'mon who is surprised by this?
Well my bad. I was wrong. However I still don't think this is a big deal for Nintendo if they plan on localizing their games from Japan. I'm not big on gaming politics so maybe I shouldn't be commenting on stuff like this. I apologize for my misinformation. Have a great day!
Lol just read that back and that is cringe worthy.apologies for mad man ramblings.what I was trying to say is that if future consoles are to be released being region locked, it isn't really a issue, at least to me. I've only taken advantage of the region free capabilities of ps3 once and that was because I got a Japanese version of gow collection as a gift.
Most Nintendo products are region locked, dont know why though, but you dont see their products die off. Look at 3DS, its region locked but sells tons.
it's not a system breaker(although to some people it might be),but it's still hurting to the consumer ! my brother needed to buy a new Japanese 3DS just to play SD Gundam G Generation 3D which was Japanese,that's not consumer friendly AT ALL..!
If Nintendo fans are going to defend region locking for the Wii-U(or any Nintendo product) then I don't even know what to say..!
Region locking SUCKS! plain and simple ! if a new Gundam game or a Super Robot Wars game hits the Wii-U(or even any Japanese games that's not coming to US),I need to buy a new Japanese Wii-U just to play it ! this is BULL**** ! :|
That's why I'm happy with my Vita & PS3,both region free and I really hope Sony sticks with that or I'm going to write them a REALLY angry letter !
I was born into a Nintendo world. Afterall, they introduced me to gaming. Mario was a good friend until I moved away. Went to a new town called Playstation. Met some new friends like Spyro, Cloud. Soon I forgot about the town I was born in. Later, some new guys moved there too. Master Chief was the guy that stuck out. We all became great friends.
I still think about my hometown from time to time. Last year, about June, my friend Mario said he was going to come visit. He said he cant wait to see me.
Now that I see what his parents, Nintendo is doing, region locking games...
Even if he knocks on my door, Im not letting him in.
Sony leaves it up to the devs and has many region locked games. Sony also left online upto the devs to start then I guess decided it was a bad idea as ms was having success with live so psn was born after the console launched. Wi is taking the same steps and leaving online in devs hands.
Nintendo has always “Region Locked” its consoles so I expected this, but your right its pretty stupid and a pain in the a**! I was truly a huge Nintendo fan until March of 09 when I realized I was missing so many 3rd party games because of how under powered the Wii was, at which point I bought a PS3 and never looked back. The Wii U is what we should of got 6 years ago when every other console already had the capability/power to run HD and then it would of gotten every 3rd party game PS3&360 got. As soon as PS4&720 release Nintendo again will have a under powered last gen console compared to Sony and Microsoft. AGAIN! I’m done with Niny! Pii U something stinks! LOL
Thing is Nintendo have a more profitable business model they like to play it safe and make a profit on hardware by waiting 5 years till components are cheap enough to do so unlike sony who like to sell hardware at a loss and be the best right off the bat. microsoft sell inferior products and repair them when they have burnt out
Funny, because if it WASN'T region locked, it'd be a huge bonus.
Let's be honest here: it's not nearly as important for the 360, since it doesn't get many region-specific games(anymore). It's important for the PS3, as Sony has PLENTY of games that don't see a release outside of Japan that people elsewhere in the world like to play.
Nintendo is the same way: there are tons of titles that fans outside of Japan love to play; but the only way they can play them is to modify their systems or import the corresponding hardware.
Are we gonna have another Operation Rainfall again in the upcoming generation? Seems likely at this point.
Edit: Also interesting to see LX-General-Kaos isn't here with some PR statement.
That is really disappointing, though I am not at all surprised.
I've said it once, I'll say it a million more times. Region locking a console just leads to piracy. More often than not, gamers who don't want to shell out the cash for a second region specific console...which should be everyone in my book, will likely mod their systems just to play games from another region. Once modded, a gamer might start turning to piracy for software, rather than purchasing games.
what is everyone crying about or am I missing something?
was it not only Sony this gen that never region locked their console for the first time? Ms and Nintendo locked theirs and did it cause anyone any problems or harm? why would you not expect them to lock it? it seems just like Apple, when you are on top everyone who does nto have access to your product will have something to moan about. Get over it.
And this is a surprise why? Why if you are on a Videogame site, allowed to publish articles, that put such garbage out there? This is NOTHING new...It has ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.
N4G has a good nintendo support group that wont care.. Im sure none of nintendo fans will care about this.. I love japanese games & they get better 3rd party on nintendo than the west.. We had to fight just to get xenoblade, last story, & the US didnt even get pandoras tower on wii.. 3DS gets much better games too.. Oh well, when the day comes for me to get a wii u, its for 1st party anyway..
That sucks big time. Every platform should be region free. Some games never see the light of day in the West and gamers want to play them. Whenever something is region locked it takes freedom away from what the consumer has over their purchase. I disapprove.
<Some games never see the light of day in the West and gamers want to play them.>
Which happens to be a small vocal minority of gamers.
<Whenever something is region locked it takes freedom away from what the consumer has over their purchase.>
But by the same token it allows publishers and console-manufacturers to control their inventory and keep track of how many units they're selling in each region without import sales (and/or sales to outsiders) distorting the numbers. Why else do you think all 3 console-manufacturers have regional offices?
Wii U is actually current Gen in terms of tech. same as Wii was last Gen (Ps2 etc) why people are saying its next gen is beyond me. It will be hacked soon enough just chill. hacking wasnt all the rage when last gen launched you can bet itll happen quicker this time
Possibly because it has 4x the RAM and a GPGPU that far outperforms the PS3 as well as the 360. It may not be the huge leap everyone was hoping for, but don't judge based on launch games, all launch games on every console ever have never been the full potential of said console.
Also if you think that Sony and Microsoft are going to release something leaps and bounds above the Wii U then your fooling yourself. In the current economoic climate where people think the Wii U, one of the cheapest launches in ages is "too expensive", and where people just won't and can't afford to buy a $400-$600 dollar machine on a whim, you aren't going to get top notch tech. Not that there is ever top notch current tech in a console anyway due to trying to provide low cost to consumers.
Think PS2, Xbox, GameCube and you may have a more accurate idea of what this gen will end up like.
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Consoles and Portables.
those markets have their games so expensive, they make eBay's "Buy Now" option looks like a bargain! I was in Australia back then and region free PS3 is like a present from god!
If not I'm going to have to poke around inside.
Damn, that sucks man.. well maybe u will learn to keep those fingers in check when u feel like acting childish & learn to express your thoughts in a more mature manner.. Dont feel bad, i lost one too for talking mess to fans.. Kinda like u
Any future console that's region locked, deserves to have very poor sales. I hope Sony continues with region free on the PS4 and Microsoft follows... region FREEEEEE FTW.
Yup you certainly grew out of that. Right out of multiple Mario releases and into multiple CoD's, Halo's, God of Wars, Gears of Wars, Grand Thef Autos, Assassins Creeds etc
I'm not saying its bad, I love some of those games. But what your missing is a LOT of companies release sequels and in reasonably quick succession. The resin they do that is because the games SELL and LOTS of people but them.
They wouldn't make a new Mario every year if people stopped paying for them. If they are doing well, why would they stop? It's a hallmark of a popular franchise. If you don't personally like it then that's cool, but don't delude yourself into thinking Nintendo is the only one that goes overboard with sequels or multiple games in a franchise in quick succession, especially when they have said before the longer development main console 3D games are treated separately to the shorter development 2D games.
But yeah, this move come as no surprise
Especially since we didn't get half of Wii's good games in the EU/US from 2010 beyond. They were just sitting there in Japan.
Ninty Wii U is region locked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Save us! *sarcasm*
Nintendo hasn't successfully serviced the hardcore market since N64.. what year was that? Gamecube failed and wii was all casual. Now wiiU will be bad ass with it's reaction to the tablet craze of a controller! Looks cool though. But I am not surprised to see a next gen nintendo with not even 1 semi next gen game at launch.
I've only taken advantage of the region free capabilities of ps3 once and that was because I got a Japanese version of gow collection as a gift.
Hope that clears up my morning madness post :-)
Almost every major home console has been region locked. It would be news if the Wii U wasn't, but it is, so who cares?
Region locking SUCKS! plain and simple ! if a new Gundam game or a Super Robot Wars game hits the Wii-U(or even any Japanese games that's not coming to US),I need to buy a new Japanese Wii-U just to play it ! this is BULL**** ! :|
That's why I'm happy with my Vita & PS3,both region free and I really hope Sony sticks with that or I'm going to write them a REALLY angry letter !
I still think about my hometown from time to time. Last year, about June, my friend Mario said he was going to come visit. He said he cant wait to see me.
Now that I see what his parents, Nintendo is doing, region locking games...
Even if he knocks on my door, Im not letting him in.
Learn to fly straight and you might get some back.
-Disgeae 4
-Demons souls US and Asia
-3D dot game heroes
-Disgeae 3
So yeah i think its a important feature on any console.
There goes my japanese lessons...
Funny, because if it WASN'T region locked, it'd be a huge bonus.
Let's be honest here: it's not nearly as important for the 360, since it doesn't get many region-specific games(anymore). It's important for the PS3, as Sony has PLENTY of games that don't see a release outside of Japan that people elsewhere in the world like to play.
Nintendo is the same way: there are tons of titles that fans outside of Japan love to play; but the only way they can play them is to modify their systems or import the corresponding hardware.
Are we gonna have another Operation Rainfall again in the upcoming generation? Seems likely at this point.
Edit: Also interesting to see LX-General-Kaos isn't here with some PR statement.
I've said it once, I'll say it a million more times. Region locking a console just leads to piracy. More often than not, gamers who don't want to shell out the cash for a second region specific console...which should be everyone in my book, will likely mod their systems just to play games from another region. Once modded, a gamer might start turning to piracy for software, rather than purchasing games.
all nintendo consoles are region locked
was it not only Sony this gen that never region locked their console for the first time? Ms and Nintendo locked theirs and did it cause anyone any problems or harm? why would you not expect them to lock it? it seems just like Apple, when you are on top everyone who does nto have access to your product will have something to moan about. Get over it.
How about the fact that some developers don't even know how to feel about it? That's troublesome.
Every platform should be region free.
Some games never see the light of day in the West and gamers want to play them.
Whenever something is region locked it takes freedom away from what the consumer has over their purchase.
I disapprove.
Which happens to be a small vocal minority of gamers.
<Whenever something is region locked it takes freedom away from what the consumer has over their purchase.>
But by the same token it allows publishers and console-manufacturers to control their inventory and keep track of how many units they're selling in each region without import sales (and/or sales to outsiders) distorting the numbers. Why else do you think all 3 console-manufacturers have regional offices?
Also if you think that Sony and Microsoft are going to release something leaps and bounds above the Wii U then your fooling yourself. In the current economoic climate where people think the Wii U, one of the cheapest launches in ages is "too expensive", and where people just won't and can't afford to buy a $400-$600 dollar machine on a whim, you aren't going to get top notch tech. Not that there is ever top notch current tech in a console anyway due to trying to provide low cost to consumers.
Think PS2, Xbox, GameCube and you may have a more accurate idea of what this gen will end up like.
" is nintendo losing it " lolol what an idiot.