Nintendo resisting urge to smash 'R4' device

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 26th 2007 at 5:17PM }

"We are keeping a close eye on the products and studying them. But we cannot smash all of them," a Nintendo spokesperson tells Times Online. The R4 chip, found in a Chinese-made device being sold in Japan, essentially plugs into the Nintendo DS and allows illegally downloaded games to be played from a removable flash memory cart. Though homebrew and other applications are made possible through its use, Nintendo is primarily concerned by its facilitation of easily pirated games -- and we know Nintendo doesn't like those in the slightest.

Smashing all the devices would likely be a tempting prospect, was it not for the fact that it's entirely legal for stores to sell them. Times Online notes that they're available throughout Tokyo's chief electronics district, Akihabara, with retailers shouting its availability from the rooftops, if not its exact function. "New R4 shipment has finally arrived! You know what it does! Absolutely no questions will be answered concerning this product . . ." is how one sign skirts around the issue.

As it's suggested that the R4 (hardly the first or last of its kind) might take a noticeable ~~byte~~ bite out of Nintendo's profits, perhaps the manufacturer should simply purchase all the chips in the district and then smash them back at the office. Perhaps not the most effective method of attack, but it's sure to bring some release to those frustrated Smash Bros. Brawl programmers.

Tags: Japan, Modding, R4

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 26th 2007 5:20PM

jaja funny pic.

Nesagwa @ Nov 26th 2007 5:27PM

The R4 isnt a mod chip. It is a flash cartridge.

Ethan @ Nov 26th 2007 6:05PM

It's a microsd reader!

I have something similar to this, but I do still buy games. Mainly I used it for playing ScummVM games, but it basically isn't worth it for much other than pirating.

Which is why nintendo needs to bring out their own which will do virtual console and some wiiware-style extension that'll do all the cool homebrew-type stuff, just without the ROMs.

I'm normally a big advocate for trusting the consumer, but for some reason piracy really is rife in the games industry, and hurting both developers and consumers. So it'd be nice to stop that. And 2nd hand games sales.

sheppy2.0 @ Nov 26th 2007 6:35PM

Ironically enough, the people I know who WORK in game studios are the biggest damn software piraters I know. Music, movies, games, they steal it all.

Ben Hobbs @ Nov 26th 2007 11:00PM

Nintendo is more successful than it has ever been in its entire history, the games industry is up 50% in sales this year alone.

How pray tell is piracy hurting developers and consumers so much?

Brad Lee @ Nov 27th 2007 12:21PM

Because 99% of the public has a hard enough time learning how to use Microsoft Word let alone pirating things.

I've bought an original DS, a DS Lite, and well over 20 games for it, so I'm a consumer that's weeeeeeeell into their profit margin. If they get all pissy that I'm pirating a few games here and there on my R4, then they can blow me, especially since I would never buy Fashion Designer or Hannah Montanna anyway. (both games suck btw, in case you were wondering).

And considering how pro-money Nintendo is, I'm sure the only reason why they haven't cracked down on the R4 is because a long, wrought-out legal battle, or simply buying out the company, would both be more expensive than letting a few nerds here and there pirate some software.

LesbianHam @ Nov 26th 2007 5:27PM

Buy out the R4DS/M3 Simply companies, patent the designs, ???, profit.... ?

No idea if that has any weight to it, but I thought i'd post it anyway lol

And I have an R4DS of my very own, it rocks :D

Mr Khan @ Nov 26th 2007 5:42PM

If they bought out the company, and then used the flash-card stuff to allow VC games to be downloaded to DS

That would be win

modified @ Nov 26th 2007 7:42PM

Or better yet, let you download legal DS roms to a Nintendo made memory card. Some people legitimately like these cards because they don't have tote around a library of memory cards(DS games). How many people would want a PC laptop that didn't have a hard drive and required you to use an individual SD card for each program?

Jhongerkong @ Nov 27th 2007 12:29AM

there will never be full vc support on ds, period!

nes: of course itll work

genesis: the only way to get decent genesis emulation is to remove sound

snes: no freakin way its happening

n64: youre stupid to even ask

t_m @ Nov 27th 2007 10:03AM

With actual insider info I don't see why they couldn't get Genesis and SNES games working on the DS. I used to have homebrew Genesis and SNES games running fine on a GP32 5 or more years ago, and the DS is more powerful.

Nintendo are idiots for not having some for of downloadable content for the DS for years now. They should have had it since well before the Wii, and its such a no-brainer since the Wii that its unbelieveable they have only just gotten around to demos.

Security is the main issue, i'm guessing. But if they could figure that out then they should bundle the DS with a nintendo branded flashcart and memory card.

Open up the full library of GBA, DS and VC games to be downloadable onto the DS. Add music, books and video. Sit back and watch it print even more money.

(if they wait too long they'll lose the space to mobile phones. My au phone can already download music, video, tv, books and video games direct-to-phone, and the video games are starting to be of DS quality. (in terms of graphics, if not controls).

ShortFuse @ Nov 26th 2007 5:29PM

i have one of such chips. i like the convenience of having 10 to 15 games. i used to have to pick a game or two i would want to play before leaving the house. unfortunately, it's really easy to pirate with it :(

Silent Xenocide @ Nov 26th 2007 5:32PM

Yea I have an R4. Awesome thing. I never download games and put them on though. That would just be wrong :(.

Ken Seang @ Nov 26th 2007 5:35PM

Wow joystiq you just told those few saps how to play ds games for free! But anyways, even if Nintendo tries to take down the R4, there are a million of others like it to take its place ala Supercard!

JJ Rooster @ Nov 27th 2007 9:31AM

This is the ironic part of bringing news to the people! The article just lit a bulb over thousands of clueless heads and created a new wave of pirates. I think I learned about MP3's from a news article back in the early 90's. Thanks information society!

Blast Processing Megadrive @ Nov 26th 2007 5:40PM

Hm, I prefer the M3 Lite flash cart. Works in both DS and GBA modes, fits perfectly in the DS Lite's Slot-2 (and I have an Enamel Navy shell for it, so it looks just like the regular slot cover), and works with GBA/DS with the GBA-sized shell.

Even though I have a flash cart, I still prefer buying legit games. Pride of ownership, and shows support to the developers who make good games. I primarily use it for homebrew apps, trying out Japanese games before the US release, and movies/music.

R4 (as well as M3 Lite) uses standard microSD cards as its storage. Which have become dirt cheap lately. Good times.

ps3 rocks! @ Nov 26th 2007 5:51PM

Fuck nintendo! It's all about the ps3. I wish nintendo would stop ruining the gaming industry with there shitty games. Nintendo needs to stop making games before they ruin gaming for the hardcore crowd. This is only the beginning. Ps3 will once again be victorious and the lame ass wii and the crapbox will fall behind. Ps3 dominance has just started

Silent Xenocide @ Nov 26th 2007 5:53PM

What you say!?

rv @ Nov 26th 2007 5:54PM

...

scratch @ Nov 26th 2007 6:00PM

you sir are an idiot. i love my ps3, but people like you give all fanboys a terrible name. go jump off a bridge, your ps3 is waiting for you at the bottom.
on-topic: it seems like nintendo is flush with cash atm, i would probably just buy out the companies, patent the systems, and squash it.
seeing as i hardly use my ds (cept for puzzle quest) i dont care either way...

thethirdmoose @ Nov 26th 2007 5:59PM

yea... about that...

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 26th 2007 5:59PM

That's the most pathetic comment I ever seen...

I guess he is definitely trying to justify his money wasted on his useless PS3.

Poor little guy... go to n4g.com

FidliousWong @ Nov 26th 2007 6:02PM

I wish I could say something more humiliating than your original post. But it's like trying to find a better dunce cap than one somebody already put on.

gonk @ Nov 26th 2007 6:03PM

that sounds like something name123 would say

Batzarro @ Nov 26th 2007 6:12PM

That relates to this how? Friends don't let friends drink and comment...

Legal? HWATH? Then why couldn't Bleem live?

ThornedVenom @ Nov 26th 2007 6:38PM

I don't think this poor nub really means it, he just appreciates the mass-reply attention from all of the Joystiq bigheads. =)

Anyways, anyone noticed that any white-off'd guy ensures a triple-heart for the imaginative counter-attack bitchslapping reply?

jackbauer @ Nov 26th 2007 6:45PM

interesting theory ThornedVenom...
quick someone be a troll for a moment and write a comment.
i want to make a wiseass rebuttal and get 3 hearts, hell i might even throw a pop culture reference in there for good measure

[.sm0ke.] @ Nov 26th 2007 8:56PM

...says the guy who hasn't bothered to change his avatar from a NINTENDO CHARACTER

ps3 rocks! @ Nov 26th 2007 6:02PM

Joystiq is full of crapbox and lame ass wii fanboys that no wonder ps3 fanboys don't come here. All I have to say is that I'm fucking pissed that my crapbox 360 died like what 9 times on me this whole year. Gosh microsoft can't make good hardware anymore or never did as a matter of fact. Nintendo? Fuck it. Lame ass gimmicks and shitty console not worthy. Anyonw who buys a nintendo wii is either gay or doesn't know what a true console is. Ps3 has all the 4d graphichs I will ever need and with finalfantasy 13 and metal gear solid 4 the dominance will continue. Ps3 forever! Now if you excuse me I'm going to play ratchet and clank. It looks so fucking awesome like a pixar movie.

gonk @ Nov 26th 2007 6:04PM

you should do stand up dude

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 26th 2007 6:04PM

I guess that the WiFi included in the PS3 don't produce autism, it produce stupidity.

finnith @ Nov 26th 2007 6:08PM

He's like a carbon copy of SDF.

jackbauer @ Nov 26th 2007 6:39PM

i will reply with an equally immature and unsophisticated statement..

your mom.

ThornedVenom @ Nov 26th 2007 6:39PM

Awww... lameass copypasta leftovers again?

captainawesome @ Nov 26th 2007 8:11PM

Don't feed the trolls, guys.

Farseer (GDI) @ Nov 26th 2007 9:29PM

@ps3 rocks!:

For your sake, I hope the ps3 fails (I'd rather it didn't, but this is for your sake, mind you.)

If the ps3 fails, you may have a little more time to devote to worthwhile things, like building social skills, or maybe developing your education.

(sorry captainawesome, I had a handful of troll food, and I just couldn't help myself)

willferal @ Nov 26th 2007 6:01PM

It's Akihabara.

AtomicPlayboy @ Nov 26th 2007 6:03PM

Ummm, how is this news? I've had an R4 for like six months now, and I didn't need to go to Akhibara to get one. Did someone at Nintendo just leak the story to the uninformed press so they would bring some visibility to the piracy concerns they have?

OM @ Nov 26th 2007 6:09PM

I don't think Nintendo can stop them any more than the music industry can stop the sale of blank CDs.

bm @ Nov 27th 2007 6:32AM

That is some bullshit. Blank CD's are an industry standard. CD-R developers haven't had to hack/reverse-engineer anything. The R4 is a device that hacks into the DS. There's no comparison.

Besides, please, we don't have to pretend we all don't know what everybody uses the R4 for. At least for CD-R's it can be argued that they're used for everything and anything, as many different applications as people use the PC for. The DS is a gaming console.

Jamar @ Nov 27th 2007 6:53AM

@bm- ... and a music player, and a decent document viewer, etc, all because of homebrew. Without it I wouldn't have bought a DS Lite- the PSP did everything, even the Phoenix Wright games I so desired (Chinese fan-translation is done from the original GBA version, of which there is an emulator for PSP). But with homebrew, the DS can make phone calls over WiFi, give me a memo pad to scribble on at the spur of the moment, and more.

Try to be a bit more open-minded, would you?

bm @ Nov 29th 2007 11:31AM

I'm sorry, but you're the exception, and like I said, please don't try to pretend you're not.

The very reason the PSP doesn't sell as well is BECAUSE people want to play games and the DS is just better for that.

I'm not going to be called close-minded simply for pointing out bullshit when I see it.

finnith @ Nov 26th 2007 6:09PM

@Fernando

Doesn't the Wii come with WiFi too?

P.S. sorry for double post, it will never happen again

Jamesology @ Nov 26th 2007 10:58PM

The Wii does not come with WiFi. You have to buy the WiFi Adapter. It's like 39 bucks. I don;t know what are the specs are for the Wii Wifi.

Geist @ Nov 26th 2007 11:08PM

Er. What? The Wii is wi-fi compatible, but only with a certain type of security. The wifi adapter he speaks of is basically a small, thumb-drive-sized thing you plug into a usb slot to turn it into an instant wifi hub, only for DS and Wii.

a.j. @ Nov 26th 2007 6:12PM

they should be more concerned with the 20+ websites (that I know of) that allow you to freely download every single NDS/Gameboy game ever made. i mean, it's one thing to make a product like this, it's another to have a blatant site that people can download ANY game, ANY time with zero problems. it always strikes me as odd, Nintendo have to know about these sites, so how do they still operate freely?