Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[DSi-only software is region locked]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/dsi-only-software-is-region-locked/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/dsi-only-software-is-region-locked/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/dsi-only-software-is-region-locked/#commentsFiled under:

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."

JoystiqDSi-only software is region locked originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSdsijapannintendo-dsinorth-americapalregionregion-lockedusMon, 06 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Homebrew community releases region changer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/homebrew-community-releases-region-changer/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/homebrew-community-releases-region-changer/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/homebrew-community-releases-region-changer/#commentsFiled under:


For those of you who have a dead Freeloader or can't be bothered with any other solution that isn't a homebrew solution, you're in luck. The community just released a homebrew Region changer, which should allow you to enjoy some import goodness on your console. Or, you know, you could just pick up a Japanese Wii and have it shipped and use this to change its region to that of your home country.

Of course, the question is do you really want imports? For those of you in Europe, before Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart Wii released, the prospect of importing probably looked pretty good. Now, with the lack of releases on Wii, we can't imagine you folks wanting to import anything. But hey, that's just us.

JoystiqHomebrew community releases region changer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityeuropejapannorth-americaregionregion-changerThu, 31 Jul 2008 12:22:00 EST<![CDATA[VC gift feature takes region-locking a step further]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/vc-gift-feature-takes-region-locking-a-step-further/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/vc-gift-feature-takes-region-locking-a-step-further/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/vc-gift-feature-takes-region-locking-a-step-further/#commentsFiled under: ,

Many sources are reporting that the new gift feature that allows Wii owners to send Virtual Console games to their buddies is, unsurprisingly, region-locked. That we expected; after all, VC games release on different schedules around the world. But what is surprising is that the function seems to be country-locked as well. Posters at NeoGAF are reporting being unable to send Virtual Console games between Canada and the United States, though no one has yet -- to our knowledge -- tested sending VC games between two European nations that both use the euro as currency. We don't know yet what the lock is based upon; it could be currency or just blanket national lines. We'll keep you updated as we learn more, but for now, reconcile yourselves to only sending gifts to people who live under the same flag.

JoystiqVC gift feature takes region-locking a step further originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>countrygiftlockregionTue, 11 Dec 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 is region-free, but there's a hi-def catch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/ps3-is-region-free-but-theres-a-hi-def-catch/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/ps3-is-region-free-but-theres-a-hi-def-catch/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/ps3-is-region-free-but-theres-a-hi-def-catch/#commentsFiled under:

Though the PlayStation 3 is not locked by any particular region, meaning a Japanese PS3 should play European titles, there is one caveat as far as technology is concerned.

Jem Alexander, a new writer for Joystiq sister PS3 Fanboy and the owner of a US PS3 living in Europe, recently picked up a European copy of F.E.A.R. only to get a discouraging message: "This game not supported (80028F10)." You don't need to be fluent in hexdecimal (and if not, why are you wearing those t-shirts, hm?) to feel confusion and resentment towards the supposedly region-free console.

The problem is much less sinister. North America and Japan use NTSC television standards, or 480i, while Europe uses PAL standards, or 576i. Hence, the US PS3 isn't configured to handle the extra 96 lines of imaging. (You might remember a similar problem being noted with European Genesis releases for the Wii Virtual Console.) The solution is simple but costly: all PS3 titles support 720p, so buy an HDTV set.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

JoystiqPS3 is region-free, but there's a hi-def catch originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2007 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europentscpalPS3regionsonyMon, 07 May 2007 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Region free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/ds-daily-region-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/ds-daily-region-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/ds-daily-region-free/#commentsFiled under:

We know some of you import, or have at least been tempted once or twice, and we're curious about the motivations behind such a desire, regardless of its strength. Do you simply get tired of waiting for regional releases? Sometimes there's no telling when a game will come to your local store -- particularly for European gamers -- and the waiting is tough when you know someone else, somewhere, is enjoying that very game right now. And then there's the issue of games that just aren't likely to see release in certain regions, for whatever reason. Sometimes, the temptation for something like Jump Ultimate Stars is just too great.

We're also curious if that's a new thing for you, the temptation (or practice) of importing. Do you import for other systems? It's our experience that once you start importing games from another part of the world, for whatever reason, you often continue to do so. It's just the first time that's a little daunting. But if you've never done it before, or given the practice much thought, why now?

JoystiqDS Daily: Region free originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSdsdimportNintendoregionThu, 12 Apr 2007 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Sonic-branded Wii Giveaway]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/sonic-branded-wii-giveaway/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/sonic-branded-wii-giveaway/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/sonic-branded-wii-giveaway/#commentsFiled under:

Sega's branch in Germany is hosting a contest to celebrate Sonic and the Secret Rings' release, offering up prizes like figurines, signed memorabilia, and a Sonic-Team-branded Wii. The winner of the limited edition Wii will also receive a German copy of the game -- a cruel reminder of the hardware's region lock.

We're not sure how faithful the customized console will be to the mock-up pictured above, but the simple stamping of the blue hedgehog's head on both the system and the Wii remote is a lot more attractive than we expected. Entering the contest is as easy as sending an email to Sega's offices with the German title for Sonic and the Secret Rings. They will be accepting entries until March 23rd, so don't put your Google-searching off for too long!

JoystiqSonic-branded Wii Giveaway originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customcustomizegermanynintendowiiregionregionlocksegasonicsonicandthesecretringssonicteamwiiFri, 16 Mar 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pulling the old switcheroo: changing console region]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/14/pulling-the-old-switcheroo-changing-console-region/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/14/pulling-the-old-switcheroo-changing-console-region/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/14/pulling-the-old-switcheroo-changing-console-region/#commentsFiled under:


Some Wii owner over in New Zealand decided he was fed up with his country's lack of VC games and did something about it. In changing his region from the aforementioned New Zealand to the UK, he unlocked several VC titles that were unavailable before. We know what you're thinking and before you go trying it out, know that this does not work on Japanese and US consoles. Bummer ...

Continue reading Pulling the old switcheroo: changing console region

JoystiqPulling the old switcheroo: changing console region originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bypassregionlocklocknintendonintendowiiregionwiiThu, 14 Dec 2006 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[FreeLoader GC doesn't work in our Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/freeloader-gc-doesnt-work-in-our-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/freeloader-gc-doesnt-work-in-our-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/freeloader-gc-doesnt-work-in-our-wii/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Despite a report to the contrary, we can't get the GameCube FreeLoader to work on a Wii. We've tried to use FreeLoader to play GameCube titles from other regions, but the sad, unrecognized-disc screen taunts us over and over.

We're using FreeLoader 1.06B -- alleged to be the right version by internet posters -- and a fully updated Wii (2.0U). We've tried inserting the disk when the Wii is off, then restarting. We've tried cleaning the disc. We've tried a special dance and blew in an NES cartridge slot as an offering, but nothing gets our FreeLoader started.

Datel told us that it doesn't yet have a Wii for testing and couldn't offer any more help. The company is also waiting for a Wii to determine if it can make a FreeLoader for Wii games.

Readers, have you gotten a GameCube FreeLoader working with a Wii? If so, how?

See also:
Wii not even remotely region-free
NOA's Reggie Fils-Aime skirts region issues

JoystiqFreeLoader GC doesn't work in our Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DatelFreeLoaderGameCuberegionWiiFri, 01 Dec 2006 19:05:00 EST<![CDATA[First-party Wii games will be region-free [update 2]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/14/first-party-wii-games-will-be-region-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/14/first-party-wii-games-will-be-region-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/14/first-party-wii-games-will-be-region-free/#commentsFiled under:

After tactfully cornering Nintendo's VP of Marketing at their NYC event, Joel Johnson from Wired News was able to extract a rather valuable tidbit of information that will likely please gamers all across the world. Perrin Kaplan casually confirmed that all first-party Wii games will be free of draconian region locks, thus allowing them to run on a Wii system purchased from Japan, Europe, America and everything in-between. The same doesn't hold true for third-party games yet, but one can only hope they follow the glorious example and do away with an annoying system that has long since been dropped in handheld platforms.

If you can surmount the language barrier, feel free to gleefully bring Nintendo's next turnbased roommate adventure Pokemon dating card RPG to America, even if they won't.

[Via Game|Life]

[Update 1: Gamesindustry.biz reports that Nintendo UK says the Wii is region-locked. This is contrary to Perrin Kaplan's statements, though her exact comments may have been misinterpreted to begin with. It's possible that Kaplan implied first-party games would specifically be region-free -- which is not the same thing as saying the console is region-free. After all, one can play region-free DVDs on a region-locked DVD player. Not that the Wii can play DVDs anymore...]

[Update 2: It was too good to be true.]

JoystiqFirst-party Wii games will be region-free [update 2] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NTSCNTSC/JPALPerrin KaplanPerrinKaplanregionregion-freeWiiThu, 14 Sep 2006 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to get the Chromehounds demo in the USA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/30/how-to-get-the-chromehounds-demo-in-the-usa/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/30/how-to-get-the-chromehounds-demo-in-the-usa/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/30/how-to-get-the-chromehounds-demo-in-the-usa/#commentsFiled under: ,

Still pissed that the Chromehounds demo isn't available in the good old USA? Several of our readers report you can snag the demo simply by creating a new Silver XBL account  and setting your location in the UK or Japan. The demo itself is not region encoded, so download and enjoy the satisfaction of playing on American soil. Then again, plenty of people say it sucks anyway.

[Thanks Morgshrum et. al.]

JoystiqHow to get the Chromehounds demo in the USA originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jun 2006 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromehoundsdemoregionFri, 30 Jun 2006 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In case you were wondering about import demos...]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/29/in-case-you-were-wondering-about-japanese-demos/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/29/in-case-you-were-wondering-about-japanese-demos/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/29/in-case-you-were-wondering-about-japanese-demos/#commentsFiled under:


Overly optimistic reader Duscrom downloaded the demo for Namco's weird first-person soccer title, Love Football, to an American 360 via his Japanese XBL account. He dejectedly reports that, while Marketplace isn't blocked, "import" demos are indeed region encoded (Not very surprising, but you can't knock a fanboy for trying). It's a fact made more frustrating by the knowledge that piles of NTSC-J games are collecting dust on store shelves as I type, ignored by infamously picky Japanese gamers. Why not make these demos available to the rest of us, if only to create buzz and international goodwill? I'm sure there are plenty of appreciative, paying customers who would love to give, say, Bullet Witch a shot.

JoystiqIn case you were wondering about import demos... originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demoimportnamcontsc-jregionsoccerThu, 29 Jun 2006 06:00:00 EST