We thought that Datel's Wii Freeloader saved the day for importers. Up until now, it allowed you to play any Wii or Gamecube game, regardless of region, without modification.
Importer Play-Asia is informing customers that this device will not work with the import version of Mario Kart Wii. According to Nintendic, these messages are sent to those who have pre-ordered an import copy of the game.
This is an important e-mail update regarding your pending preorder Mario Kart Wii (w/ Wii Handle) (Nintendo™ Wii Japan, NTSC J)
We received the first small delivery today for testing and unfortunately we have to inform you, that the game is not compatible with the Datel Freeloader (US and PAL Version).
And, on Play-Asia's Freeloader product page, they warn that they do "not take any responsibility on possible future incompatibility of upcoming Wii game software or incompatibilies caused by Wii system updates."
It seems that Nintendo is on top of their game, literally and figuratively. I don't like how they keep their consoles region locked, and I think that they're actually forcing console modification by blocking Freeloader. Hopefully Datel can figure out some way of working with Mario Kart Wii.
Did any of you importers get kart-blocked by Freeloader? Or are you patiently awaiting the domestic version of the game?
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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Contest:
12:28 PM on 04.08.2008
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>:(
this, as of now, is where Sony is smart and killed region locks for PS3.
but we'll all have it soon enough :)
Since if its pure luck, not much can be said about the big N, but if there's faul play involved...
regionlocking is retarded anyways... the don't do it on DS or PSP, so why the fuck on the other consoles?
its not like importing is piracy...
"Since if its pure luck, not much can be said about the big N, but if there's foul play involved... "
What foul play? If they actually did add a fix to prevent freeloader, they're within their rights to break a 3rd party hack to circumvent region locking.
Actually the freeloader is 100% legal so no they are not necessarily within their rights to break it. In fact it could possibly even be an illegal move by Nintendo although I doubt anyone will contest them on that.
I think everyone kind of knew Nintendo would let the freeloader get away but this is kind of an extreme way to get rid of it and my god that was fast!
Regionlock = Fail
Hopefully Nintendo won't cripple that freeloader I bought a few weeks back to play Smash Bros too soon.
I'm getting a PAL Freeloader just so I can import the US Smash Bros Brawl. Why the hell should I have to wait for months AND pay a bloated price (around 60 euros, most likely) for the game anyway? Just so I could choose between Spanish, French, German and English? I'm Finnish, I've played English games all my life and don't know a word of French, German or Spanish, so, personally, I'm fine with the NTSC release.
I'm still buying the damn game and giving Nintendo money, just not from Europe. It's not like I'm some big mean selfish hacker-pirate.
You know, I had big hopes for the Wii (and still have SOME left, really). However, with all this stupid shit going on regarding limited online play, release dates and now THIS, Nintendo is starting to look as stupid as Sony in '06.
1) It makes publishers more money by preventing gamers from importing titles from another country where they can get it on the cheap due to the different values in currency.
2) Different companies are often awarded the distribution contract for games in various countries.
3) In the case of licensed titles, copyright holders can differ from country to country, allowing importing them cuts these people out of the revenue on an IP they own or paid money to license.
4) Since portable systems are more likely travel with their owners from country to country, it makes more sense for portables to be region free (allowing people to pick up new games where ever they go) than it does for consoles.
Does this suck for the gamers? Yes. But it's not just a simple matter of "Game companies being greedy." It's no different than region locking on DVDs. But in that case you can pay a little extra for a region free player. Gamers don't have that option. Lame, but don't expect it to change anytime soon.
I've got my preorder paid in full, so fuck it, I'm gonna play it. Then again, with my luck, it'll be like Smash and the actual retail copy won't work for me. Dickheads.
PS. The online seemed to work great with no lag or issues for me. Hope it stays that way.
On the other hand, blocking this seems to be pretty pointless past pissing off a few people. Its not like everyone in the US has a freeloader. The market is pretty large, and most people will wait for US release.
Nintendo's antiquated 'we tell you what to like' business model needs to die. How about listening to your customers every so often??
There's no confirmation of this though.
Nice racing, buddy!
I see what you did there.
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