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Nintendo DSi Software Is Region Locked, So Don't Import One Unless You Know Japanese
Posted by Matt Buchanan at 3:44 AM on October 7, 2008
Nintendo has confirmed that both downloadable games and DSi-exclusive software will be region-locked, meaning Japanese games won't play on an American DSi and vice versa. Regular DS games, on the other hand, will continue to be universal, and you'll still be able to play Japanense imports of regular DS games on say, an American DSi. That sucks, because it means if you import a DSi from Japan to skip the longass wait for the US version, you're going to be stuck buying Japanese DSi games forever, not to mention killing the import market. Maybe there's hope yet lurking in that SD card slot though. [CVG]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Soulgenesis
Posted 5:29 AM 7/10/08
@TBM-Fan: quite true. :) my DSlite is currently using flashed firmware. it was pretty easy to do as well. (required steady hands though xD)
i'm sure there will be a way to flash this one as well. though we may have to wait for the US version before a flash for the JP edition is made. i assume it'll just copy the US firmware to the JP machine.
w/e. i'll still buy it :)
Soulgenesis
Mmsupermario
Posted 5:27 AM 7/10/08
This is such bullshit. I want a black one, and I know Nintendo will screw the US and just give us white.
Mmsupermario
m-p{3}
Posted 5:20 AM 7/10/08
I'm pretty sure this will limit to the DS Shop, not the physical DS games.
m-p{3}
TBM-Fan
Posted 5:12 AM 7/10/08
Everything that is region locked can be unlocked (or changed into a different region)
if that's not possible you can change the region code so it will work on your device
maybe we get a program like AnyDS, so we can play any game from any region
So not all is lost
TBM-Fan
Rabid Penguin
Posted 5:08 AM 7/10/08
@Kaiser-Machead's LEGO WALL-E: Do you import a lot of Nintendo products? I usually just wait until it comes out in the US anyway.
Rabid Penguin
Kaiser-Machead's LEGO WALL-E
Posted 4:59 AM 7/10/08
What happened Nintendo? You used to be cool.
Kaiser-Machead's LEGO WALL-E
Lyrai
Posted 5:52 AM 7/10/08
@m-p{3}: What this person said. It's been the same thing on nearly every console. What's on their electronic shop is locked.
Lyrai
photophile
Posted 6:12 AM 7/10/08
This is just a dare for it to be hacked. As soon as it's available, I give it one week until it's unlocked.
photophile
Numerous
Posted 6:50 AM 7/10/08
@Mmsupermario: My black DS Lite is a fingerprint magnet. It actually pulls fingerprints off other objects and onto its own surface just by being in proximity to them.
Numerous
NotHellTempest
Posted 6:43 AM 7/10/08
Watch Nintendo, your shit is going to get hacked in a couple of days. Watch.
NotHellTempest
Rabid Penguin
Posted 6:42 AM 7/10/08
@crapcakes: The only reason I could see getting it is for the download-able games... if that services is any good. If you can download a backlog of old gb/gbc/gba games I might get it.
Rabid Penguin
crapcakes
Posted 6:38 AM 7/10/08
So, is there really any reason to get one of these if you already have a DS Lite?
crapcakes
NotHellTempest
Posted 6:37 AM 7/10/08
@Kaiser-Machead's LEGO WALL-E: It all started with the Wii, when they started avoiding their core fanbase like the plague.
NotHellTempest
MobileMilitia
Posted 7:28 AM 7/10/08
@Kaiser-Machead's LEGO WALL-E: and just like that, the chances of me buying the dsi have slimmed. i bought my ds lite in japan, and was planning on getting the dsi there if it's not out in the states before i go back there.
here's to hoping they are saying this just to test the waters on their fanbase's reaction to such a horrible decision.
MobileMilitia
Ajh
Posted 7:16 AM 7/10/08
Locked?! On a nintendo PORTABLE?! They had a reputation of NOT doing this. What happened Nintendo?
Ajh
Ajh
Posted 7:15 AM 7/10/08
@crapcakes: No. Not unless they release something you REALLY WANT for it. The battery life is CRAP, the screen is just bigger, but not actually BETTER. At least the lite's screen was better than it's predecessor.
Ajh
MrTroy
Posted 7:34 AM 7/10/08
I dunno, I guess the region locking only applies to the DSi games so it doesn't really bother me as much. Only thing that this really does, it FORCES me to wait for a US release. Their reason behind doing this sounds like complete BS though honestly...
MrTroy
Dakota Courtois
Posted 8:27 AM 7/10/08
This is utter bullshit.
If Ninty wanted to make some cash, get rid of the region lock and let 'em import them from Japan.
Holding back until the middle of 2009 is a BAD FUCKING IDEA.
Trying to milk out the most they can out of the DS Lite is really fucking retarded - they could be getting way more cash by selling the DSi NOW!
Dakota Courtois
CutePuppyz
Posted 9:21 AM 7/10/08
@NotHellTempest: Im not so sure on that. It did take a while to get homebrew loading on the Wii and that had an SD card.
CutePuppyz
kanon
Posted 10:50 AM 7/10/08
@Ajh: Lawyers.
kanon
kanon
Posted 10:50 AM 7/10/08
@Kaiser-Machead's LEGO WALL-E: Lawyers.
kanon
judacris
Posted 12:16 PM 7/10/08
That's another nail in the coffin! I'm sticking to my DS Lite FOR SURE now.
judacris
PigVenus
Posted 1:01 PM 7/10/08
@crapcakes: @crapcakes: Yep, it will keep all your friends from asking to play Guitar Hero on your fancy new DSi. Because it can't. It has no GBA slot.
Give me a DSLite with a flashcard anyday - I can play all the old school GB, GB Color games and not have to worry about download play or whatever there new fangled extortion method is for charged for old, washed up games (instead of using some creativity and make new DS games).
PigVenus
shade-black
Posted 2:34 PM 7/10/08
i wouldn't get one if it were in my own language.
shade-black
Aaron Martin-Colby
Posted 5:24 PM 7/10/08
Hacked in a week.
Aaron Martin-Colby