Several UK independent videogame retailers are joining the London-based Entertainment Retailers Association in the R4 sales ban. It seems that the popularity of the piracy-friendly device has snatched away DS software sales revenue.
"Since the appearance of these cards we have noticed a downturn in the sale of our DS games," said indie shop owner Steve Pooler to MCV. "It is frustrating as we could make decent margins on the DS. Sadly this has now been eroded with the growth of these cards."
In my experience, it seems that the only place to find an R4 is in these independently owned game stores. If the rest of the world follows the example of these stores it may be even more difficult to find an R4 or any other similar devices.
Of course, the one store that bravely continues to sell R4s stand to make a serious profit, as these bans will only increase demand.
ERA Representative Kim Bayley said: "We expected that the piracy suffered by movies and music would make its way to games, and it's something we all need to get a grip on."
Do you think Nintendo and retail associations will ever get a handle on the sales of these devices?
[Via CVG]
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:
10:51 AM on 07.23.2008
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Here is an idea, stop shoveling shit into our faces, and we will buy the good stuff.
Ridiculous, the worst part is that they "claim" to be independent stores, independent my ass if they were in the past they were probably threaten with lawsuits already to remove em and are just not saying that.
These cards are never going to go offsale, for the simple fact that they allow a capable and talented user to write their own DS aps and games. Its always the way of these fools to cry piracy for sales they think they are missing, which in itself is created by problem Nintendo etc create themselves.
What am I talking about? The fact that the U.K are english speaking/reading gamers, but still to this day have to wait months for games, while they get translated for languages we don't use.
Despite the powers that be always painting a negative picture of these cards, I really don't see anyone being taken to court over such piracy either. They'd surely have to prove you aren't buying any games at all (many of us still do so, despite having an R4 etc) and just pirating and not using your DS card for other means. If you are writing your own DS games/aps, and the fuckers at Nintendo won't sell you a license, because of their draconian prices and the fact you aren't a pro, then these cards have a right to and will exist.
I'm against piracy in general, especially for profit, but there's this grey area of personal bedroom homebrew development that's always glossed over by the games industry, and to some degree criminalised. Now if the powers in the industry were to look at the situation in a fair and even way, including the homebrew and import games side, I'd happily listen to them. Somehow so far, I have less confidence in this becoming so, which is a real big shame for an games industry that should be nuturing such talented homebrewers and their fans.
Give up my anonymous card?? Are you kidding? Come back and tell me that after you've painted in Colors DS, messed with the joys of Nitro Tracker or had serious fun with Still Alive DS. All great stuff being created under the radar, for free and out of love for games etc. Take that, Nintendo. On top of that, I can sample the bull shit from the gold games immediately, then buy them. Once i can do this with all DS games coming out (this currently requires a Wii or DS Station which I don't have, just to do a small test selection of titles). If you really want to kill piracy, do this, and card piracy dies a death quickly.
This also raises another question, is piracy okay when a consoles life cycle is up (IMO more so yes)? And why is this never talked about or highlighted enough?
By the way, I still buy official and import games often, just not at extortionate prices Nintendo loves. What were my latest purchases? The awesomeness of Trauma Center 2 and The World Ends With You.
Okay, I'm off to play some long forgotten GB/GBA games no longer on sale. Thanks for listening.
I also own an r4, but I don't really like to play many games on it, theres something about having the cart and box I enjoy.
Did these game sellers take into account that they charge way too much for the games and importing is much easier and much cheaper nowadays??
And finally, I bought my r4 off an online auction site, not from a gamestore, what will stop people importing the r4??
It's just easier for people to say that pirating the cause of the downfall... There are a lot of people that cry wolf but there are always the few that are really getting mauled...
Buy it if you like it... end of story...
iedge card