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Nintendo 3DS region locked
jkh13 \| 7:19 AM on 01.11.2011	16 comments

First came the high price...

Then came the 3 hour battery...

Now apparently the 3DS is region locked as well.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=418359

Keep in mind that traditionally portable consoles are kept region free as they aren't exactly confined to one location and they have no regional hardware differences such as PAL and NSTC. The first region locked portable console was the DSi which locked the DSiware games and DSi specific software. No one really gave a shit though as DS games where still region free on the DSi and no notable DSi only software was released.

It seems kind of backwards for Nintendo to region lock the 3DS considering that Sony has made all their recent consoles completely region free and Microsoft have given the publishers the choice whether to region lock their software or not.

The primary reason behind the region lock is most likely so Nintendo can ensure a "consistent" online experience by making sure users in one region don't share an online experience with users in another region. The "official" reason why Nintendo put region locks on their consoles is to reduce piracy, this is a load of bollocks though as putting a region lock on a console surely encourages homebrew/hacking.

I have since cancelled my preorder with playasia and am awaiting a hack for the 3DS so I can go back to my importing ways.

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14 comments | showing # 1 to 14

MyLittleHero

It really isn't a big deal for me.

Aurain

More uninteresting and expected news presented as scandal. meh.

If you didn't expect it to have a short battery life, high cost and everything possible to reduce piracy, you were deluded.

doifX

Yeah, I saw this coming. Sucks that I won't be able to play the games that don't get released in Europe, the SMT games in particular.

Nic128

Aw shucks.

I want japanese games sometimes. :(

HandsomeBeast

Too bad all those pirates kind of ruined it for us honest people. At the same time, though, the region lock isn't that important to me. I still want a 3DS

watermanx

Since I'm not really interested in Japanese games, this doesn't bother me at all.

RenegadePanda

Nintendo is probably smart enough to realize that if you region lock a system (like the Wii did), then importers will more often than not drop money on a second system from that region to avoid having to mod and face complications. I've thought more than once about importing a JPN Wii and 360, but it's just too expensive when I also have to import the games.

On the flip side, PS3 is region free and Japan has almost no games that the US doesn't. And what they do have is mostly uninteresting. Some Japanese board games, an RPG or two and an MMO that isn't playable over here anyway. Generally nothing of interest.

SephirothX

DSi has a 3 hour battery when you max out its settings too. So boo hoo.

Region locked? Oh well. I'm not overly saddened by this news.

Kaggen

Meh, I don�t like region locks, we Europeans usually get the finger when it comes to release dates :( I mean where�s my Epic yarn already ? ;D

rexwolf2

I don't import, so it doesn't really affect me. Anyway, I actually thought that it was already announced, seeing as the DSi is region locked.

Corduroy Turtle

Ignorance is bliss. I just don't bother looking over the fence at shit Japan gets that we don't.

Daxelman

I can't read foreign languages.

Importing games also seems a tad bit more expensive than my taste allows.

Therefor, importing is the second most idiotic thing I could do, next to offing myself because the Cowboys aren't going to the Superbowl.

That being said, sucks for all the importers. Think of it this way, you'll be able to trade Pokemon with yourself when you nab that Japanese 3DS to go along with your NA one.

sheppy

This was known since the system was debuted

Winged Kirby

Well this is a blow to me as I like playing some games before they come out in the usa if the wait time is unbearable

Guess I will have to wait for a 3ds flashcart

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