Ask Joystiq: On region-free downloading, Xbox streaming and Karnov

by Kyle Orland { Apr 4th 2008 at 6:00PM }

This week on Ask Joystiq, we look at downloading foreign content to a foreign system, streaming content to an Xbox 360, and identifying one --or possibly two? -- obscure Argentinian NES games.

If you have any burning questions, unsolved gaming mysteries, or just a desire for musings from our knowledgeable cadre of writers, drop us a line at ask AAT joystiq DAWT com (and yes, we write it that way for a reason).

Q: I might be going to Japan towards the end of the summer and might pick up some games or a system. If I get a system, how would that work when I bring it back to the states and log on-line for a Wii, PS3 or 360?? Would a Japanese Wii let me log in to only US servers or would I be able to download Japanese games from the marketplace. Same question applied to the other systems...
-- iwantmymtv

A: For the Wii, the region of the console corresponds to the region of the Wii Shop Channel -- Japanese systems will access the Japanese store, no matter where you plug them into the intertubes. You have to buy Wii Points that correspond to the system's region too, which means using a Japanese credit card or getting some Japanese Wii Points cards imported. [source]

Any PS3 will play downloads from any region, but each PSN account is locked to a specific region when you create it. Luckily, it's relatively easy to set up "dummy accounts" for each region you want to buy content, as long as you have a credit card from that country. Be warned, though: there is a significant language barrier for navigating the Japanese store.

Xbox Live users can also create dummy accounts to get around regional restrictions, but there are reports that Microsoft has been blocking downloads from accounts where this practice is detected. As always, let the international buyer beware.
-Kyle Orland

Q: When I was a kid in Argentina we didn't have the original NES console, we only had Famicom clones and cartridges so sometimes I don't even know what was the name of some games because I had a pirate Chinese version or something. I remember a Chinese game that had a Phoenix on the cover (with flames and everything) and it was about a guy that had spears, I can't remember if he just used to hit enemies with it or also could throw them. The main guy was a little fat and could possibly throw spears, and he could also grab some weird orbs with flames inside that game him more power.

I would really like to play that game again but I can't remember the name... can you help me with that?
Thank you very much!
-- DAGO of the WireD

Pirated cartridges are definitely a gray area for game-hunting, as a lot of times details like box art, title screens, and even in-game graphics get heavily altered from the original releases. Rather than focus on variable elements like artwork, we decided to focus on the gameplay elements you describe: fat dude with spears, and weird flame orbs that give you power.

We found two games that each match several elements of your description, and we think it's possible you're conflating the two. The first is Jaleco's 1991 NES platformer Whomp 'Em (Saiyuuki World 2 on the Famicom), which starred a spear-wielding Native-American protagonist in the American release, and the Monkey King Son Wukong from Chinese mythology in the Japanese version (both of whom ARE a little on the pudgy side). The game has "totem balls" which the player is tasked with collecting, although each features a different icon in the center. And no phoenixes in sight.

The other title we found was the 1987's Karnov by Data East, which features no spears or phoenixes, but has plenty of dragons, and a rather buff (read: fat) main character. Karnov attacks by spitting fireballs, and can collect red orbs to upgrade his fireball attack.

Are either of these titles bringing back waves of nostalgia? Let us know in the comments if we hit our mark.
- Scott Jon Siegel

Q: Hey guys, Ive looked everywhere but cant seem to find any answers. Do you know if a 360 can play movies from a network attached hard drive? I have a 500GB external hard drive attached to a Airport Extreme and want to play movies from it. Is it possible? If so, how? If you can send me a link to a site that explains it that would be fine. Thanks in advance!
-- Eric B.

Since you talk of Airport Extreme, I'm going to take a guess that you're an Apple user. To answer your question, it is possible, but not directly. You're going to need another computer open to do so, and if it has Mac OS X, we suggest you invest in Connect360, which allows streaming of music and movies (including DivX and Xvid) from your iTunes account to the Xbox 360.

If your iTunes folder is set to the network attached hard drive, it should work, at least theoretically. (Note that we haven't personally tried this method ourselves, but there's a free demo you can use to try before you buy, anyway). For Windows users, the ability to stream is built right into the operating system. Xbox.com has an official guide here.
- Ross Miller

Do any readers have more advice for Xbox 360 streaming? Let us know your experiences in the comments below.

Tags: ask-joystiq, connect-360, connect360, famicom, HDD, karnov, region-free, streaming, whomp 'em, Whomp'em, xbox 360, Xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Yuccadude @ Apr 4th 2008 6:36PM

My 360 detects separate sources for the same files through my WMP 11, Zune, and Orb softwares. It will also play music from a USB drive, and the Zune and Ipod if you connect them. As far as I know, you just have to enable it in WMP's menu under library, and the Zune software needs it enabled as well.

Dragonwyntir @ Apr 4th 2008 6:40PM

TVersity and Orb are both great options if you are a Windows user (or have a Windows PC on your network). I'd recommend you have AT LEAST the specs listed on the sites, but they are great free options for media streaming, and they have some cool perks to boot.

Brandon @ Apr 4th 2008 6:44PM

In response to the 3rd question, if you're working with an external harddrive wouldn't it be easier to just plug that directly into your 360? Eliminating the middle man seems like the easiest solution in my book, as long as you don't need to shuffle back and forth too frequently.

343 Guilty Fart @ Apr 4th 2008 8:23PM

I agree, that's the easiest solution.

Phour ZwanZig @ Apr 5th 2008 2:14AM

Question was a network'd external drive.. Meaning a drive in a box that isnt really attached to anything but wireless or Enet.

Which the post answered the question very well..

Otsego_Undead @ Apr 4th 2008 6:45PM

If Karnov ever makes its way onto the Wii Virtual Console, I might consider buying a wii again.... that at Pilot Wings for the SNES.

Richard @ Apr 4th 2008 7:47PM

Thank you joystiq and thank you Kyle Orland. You guys rock!!

Paperboy @ Apr 4th 2008 11:34PM

In regards to the 3rd question, all I can say is maybe. In order for my 360 to detect anything, I had to use MP11 to import my movies into it's library. I haven't yet had any luck just setting up a shared folder and getting the 360 to detect it. The way I see it, unless the airport has the ability to properly setup shares with a 360, I doubt you'll be able to stream the files w/o a computer. Then again, I don't know if your mac can view devices plugged into the router as devices directly plugged into it. But if it can, you might be able to set up the drive that way. As mentioned above, you could always plug the hard drive directly into the 360 but I don't think thats what you were going for.

tman360 @ Apr 5th 2008 2:35AM

Windows 7 is going to be awesome and icorporate this

http://lightonedge.blogspot.com/

t_m @ Apr 5th 2008 9:32AM

Oh dear. Last time they did a quick windows update it was ME... shudder.

Synner @ Apr 5th 2008 4:09AM

God, question 1 just pisses me off!

Fuck You MS for blocking downloads, you stood to make money off of south park season 11 + 12, but now I'm just going to download them off torrents.

Way to screw your American customers living overseas guys...

t_m @ Apr 5th 2008 10:10PM

Wonder if the comments will work today...

I'm in Japan and region controls have been highly annoying. I was definitly on the Wii hype bandwagon when it launched.. but as my japanese isn't great I was stuck - buy a local japanese one and I can't play any game in english, import one fromte US and i can't play local games, and get trouble with the VC, points and the shop channel. Sigh.

By now my excitement has faded and nintendo have probably lost a sale, plus the games i'd have bought.
I've basically moved entirely to PC gaming and Steam, as its the best way to get foriegn language games while abroad.

(but maybe we should mention that various modchips now apparently allow the Wii to be region free, maybe the other consoles too... )

Craig @ Apr 5th 2008 9:02AM

If you want to set up a media drive for your XBox (read: external USB drive directly connected to the console), you have to format the drive as FAT32. Did a test a couple weeks ago and the 360 would not recognize my 500GB external when formatted NTFS. However, when I went to FAT32, it was good; music, movies (remember, even DivX!) all played. You'll have to use special partition software, though; XP doesn't format externals to FAT32 (at least I couldn't get mine to do it). I used a bootable CD of GParted (Linux partition manager). After you format, copy the files over to your drive, plug it in the XBox, and you're good to go!

DAGO @ Apr 5th 2008 10:08AM

Wow, thank you very much guys.
It seems that the game I had was a pirate version of Karnov, I remember the character being much larger but the gameplay seems to fit.
I'll wait until it hits the VC in my region to check it out.
Thanks again, I really appreciate it.