Secondhand buyers able to nab some freebies
Nintendo’s obsession with tying game purchases to hardware may have bitten it in the keister, with word that secondhand Wii U systems are able to redownload software purchased by the previous owner. Oh Nintendo, you so Nintendo!
A NeoGAF user by the name of DSN2K made the discovery after buying a wiped Wii U system, setting up a fresh Nintendo Network account, and nabbing a load of free stuff.
“Whoever owned the console before me purchased multiple games, meaning all the games he purchased are available to re-download for free,” he said. “This is with a new account I set up as well. Games are clearly linked to console itself.
“Advice to those buying a second hand Wii U … check all the games on the Store … you might be in for some ‘free’ games!”
Other GAF users have followed with stories of their own secondhand hauls. Try it yourself! It’s like a videogame lottery.
The irony — Nintendo couldn’t resist exerting an unnecessary restriction on the end user, and has only found itself less in control. While the company has made significant strides in the online realm, things like this indicate how out of touch it still remains, and how much farther it needs to go the join the rest of the world.
The idea that any user who wishes to transfer content needs to get Nintendo to do it, like the parent of a child using scissors, was pretty ludicrous to begin with. I like the Wii U, but I like it more when a stupid business move backfires, even if it’s in a rather small and petty way.
