Nintendo's decades-long streak of region-free handhelds is coming to a close. In a statement to CVG, the company confirmed that Nintendo DSi-only cartridges and downloadable content will be locked to the region where you buy the Nintendo DSi. Web browsing, photo sharing and playing DS games will be region free, but US gamers hoping to import the console between now and "well into 2009" will probably have to brush up on their Japanese to enjoy the best new features.
We're not too worried, though. Something in our gut tells us that SD card slot will give region-unlocking ninjas in the homebrew community an easy "in."
Reader Comments (59)
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 12:37PM (Unverified) said
oh nintendo, how you continually disappoint me. I had the ds and bought games from both america and japan, and was happy i could do so... and for the first time since DK jungle beat we shared a bond of happiness. everytime you decided to actually put out an interesting game i was there ready to pick it up. remember phoenix wright? oh what fun times it was.
do me a favor and next time, stop being such a useless money grubbing attention whore will you? thanks.
Reply
do me a favor and next time, stop being such a useless money grubbing attention whore will you? thanks.
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 12:40PM (Unverified) said
Nintendo just pwned the dreams of importers. I can hear Reggie LOL'ing all the way here.
Reply
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 12:49PM (Unverified) said
So there are going to be games developed just for the DSi? I find that hard to believe... I hope N isn't that stupid to go ahead and fragment DS owners... but I have been surprised before.
Reply
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 12:52PM erwos said
At some point, Nintendo has to move on with their hardware platforms. With your logic, they should never have moved on from the Gameboy, because that damn GBA would fragment the market.
Think of it as _expanding_ the market. I, for one, would be far more likely to purchase a DSi game than the DS variant if it had strong multiplayer, due to the (so-far assumed) WPA support.
Reply
Think of it as _expanding_ the market. I, for one, would be far more likely to purchase a DSi game than the DS variant if it had strong multiplayer, due to the (so-far assumed) WPA support.
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:22PM (Unverified) said
This is just a message to all of you hardcore gamers out there.
Nintendo still hates you.
You get in the way of them having regular people adopt their games. They want you to go away so they can make Wii Music 2.
Reply
Nintendo still hates you.
You get in the way of them having regular people adopt their games. They want you to go away so they can make Wii Music 2.
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:27PM Vidikron said
@Erwos
But that sort of change is typically reserved for an entirely new system. I can understand Deeznutz's point... it's kind of lame to make such an tiny incremental change and fracture your fanbase with what is essentially the same system. I'm fairly certain he wasn't saying that they should release new systems at all.
Reply
But that sort of change is typically reserved for an entirely new system. I can understand Deeznutz's point... it's kind of lame to make such an tiny incremental change and fracture your fanbase with what is essentially the same system. I'm fairly certain he wasn't saying that they should release new systems at all.
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 2:13PM cuteSAVAGE said
More than likely it will just be small games that require use of the cameras. It will be stuff that NDSi purchasers would have wanted to play, and people who stick with the Lite or original model NDS probably want nothing to do with.
Reply
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 12:51PM Jonbo298 said
Why would a company make a game only compatible for the DSi? That's chastising your sales right there. Look at Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles for the Gamecube. That's how you lose alot of business by tying it to something that most (in retrospect) don't have with proper cables/hardware.
Reply
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:02PM (Unverified) said
is the dsi like going from gameboy pocket to gameboy color or like from gameboy color to gameboy advance?
Reply
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:32PM RobLink said
The Wii is region specific, and a good size chunk of the 360's titles are. Doesn't seem to have hurt their sales.
Not that I'm defending this, I love the fact that I can import JP and US DS games. Did you know, for instance, that Prof Layton isn't yet out in the UK?
Reply
Not that I'm defending this, I love the fact that I can import JP and US DS games. Did you know, for instance, that Prof Layton isn't yet out in the UK?
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 2:13PM aristokrat said
I think when you use the DVD format you are required to make it region specific, per the DVD Forum's (or whatever they're called) rules. UMD's, BD's, and whatever carts you make yourself carry no such specifications. So the WIi and 360 had regions imposed on them by the technology they chose, while the DSi is only region-locked because Nintendo is greedy.
Reply
Posted: Oct 8th 2008 5:42PM aristokrat said
So DVD's are only DVD's based on the encryption method, and not the actual physical media? I did not know that. So Microsoft could make a Blue-DIsc optical media solution for Xbox 720, using the same hardware with different data storage algorithms? Ah, the wonders of patent law...
Reply
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:11PM CheesecakeJones said
Somewhere, deep inside the internet, playasia.com sheds a silent tear.
Reply
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:19PM FernandoRocker said
mmmmm
The only games that will region locked are the DSiWare titles...
All the cartridge games are region free.
Reply
The only games that will region locked are the DSiWare titles...
All the cartridge games are region free.
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:17PM (Unverified) said
Not a big surprise. Not at all. Why would Nintendo do something awesome for their fans. I mean they didn't even release Mother 3 in the US, even though they would have made loads of money considering the number of requests they have gotten to release it.
At least we have Fan Translation. Wooo!
Reply
At least we have Fan Translation. Wooo!
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:18PM (Unverified) said
I was afraid of this. Moreso the DLC being region-locked. I didn't think Nintendo would actually region lock the DSi cart games too. Assholes.
Reply
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:25PM (Unverified) said
The Wii is region locked. DSi is region locked. The DLC is region locked. Your Nintendo points are locked to either the Wii or the DSi.
It's a common theme.
Reply
It's a common theme.
Posted: Oct 7th 2008 12:03AM (Unverified) said
I was comparing it to the common theme with the Nintendo handhelds being region free.
Reply
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:27PM (Unverified) said
The hell Nintendo? Fuck right off. Now.
Being a European gamer sucks enough ass as it is, we don't need region locking to take handheld imports away from us too.
I am not impressed.
Reply
Being a European gamer sucks enough ass as it is, we don't need region locking to take handheld imports away from us too.
I am not impressed.
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:33PM MrHashbrown said
Looks like PSP gets the upperhand in the importing department.
Reply
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:40PM (Unverified) said
You know I've always wandered what was the point of region locked stuff?
For example my x360 won't let me play Soylent Green (Awesome movie) that I bought here but it lets me play Zombie which I bought in Seattle. (Zombie sucks,the only positive thing about that movie are 1 shower scene and free naked scenes of women who are now probably in their 60s or something..yeah not to mention the worst "Shark attack" scene like ever)
So what? is just there to be effing annoying?
Reply
For example my x360 won't let me play Soylent Green (Awesome movie) that I bought here but it lets me play Zombie which I bought in Seattle. (Zombie sucks,the only positive thing about that movie are 1 shower scene and free naked scenes of women who are now probably in their 60s or something..yeah not to mention the worst "Shark attack" scene like ever)
So what? is just there to be effing annoying?
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 1:59PM Trilancer said
Hey, not a problem. As long as you can download the titles from anywhere. A lot of people buy US Wiis so they can purchase US VC games from the UAE or whatnot.
But if they over enforce it (like some other company) and do IP region verfication to pervent the purchase of a US game on a US system not located in the US, then I'll sik Q-Bert on them.
Reply
But if they over enforce it (like some other company) and do IP region verfication to pervent the purchase of a US game on a US system not located in the US, then I'll sik Q-Bert on them.
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 2:30PM (Unverified) said
I just hope this doesn't affects the potential remake FFVI.
FFIV Was awesome and for any JRPG fan this sucks.
Reply
FFIV Was awesome and for any JRPG fan this sucks.
Posted: Oct 6th 2008 2:53PM Bones3D said
Wow... DSi-only cartridges. Parents, welcome to system requirements hell.
I really thought Nintendo would be smarter than this. And, it says a lot about why we have the huge delay between Japan and the US. Nintendo probably doesn't have a system in place that would prevent accidental purchases of DSi-specific titles by non-DSi owners.
Most likely, this is going to require a renaming of the system to prevent confusion in our market and to increase demand.
Reply
I really thought Nintendo would be smarter than this. And, it says a lot about why we have the huge delay between Japan and the US. Nintendo probably doesn't have a system in place that would prevent accidental purchases of DSi-specific titles by non-DSi owners.
Most likely, this is going to require a renaming of the system to prevent confusion in our market and to increase demand.
Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.
Featured Stories
The most popular posts
in the last 7 days
- Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 220 comments
- Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 153 comments
- David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 108 comments
- Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments
- Battleship movie adapted into FPS by Double Helix 93 comments










