12 replies to this topic

[Nintendo.fan]

One of the main problems for me on the wii is the region lock, its so annoying u cant play games that u bought in a trip to other continent. Do you think that the wii U needs to be region free?

[Brian6330]

I'd like it to be region free, but with Nintendo's history it's highly unlikely...


Reason that video game systems/consoles aren't region free:
The reason is that a game costs more in one continent or even country than another. e.g. A DS game in the US is around 39.99US$ (or less) in Switzerland it's 69.99 CHF which is around 50US$

The same is with Mexico and the US... do you know how much money a person could save if video games weren't region locked? The problem is that then Nintendo Of Wherever you're buying the game will earn less money, which is not what they want.

[BassDropper]

I'd like it to be region free, but with Nintendo's history it's highly unlikely...


Reason that video game systems/consoles aren't region free:
The reason is that a game costs more in one continent or even country than another. e.g. A DS game in the US is around 39.99US$ (or less) in Switzerland it's 69.99 CHF which is around 50US$

The same is with Mexico and the US... do you know how much money a person could save if video games weren't region locked? The problem is that then Nintendo Of Wherever you're buying the game will earn less money, which is not what they want.

The majority of modern consoles aren't region locked though, Nintendo are just being greedy.

[Victorious V]

The majority of modern consoles aren't region locked though, Nintendo are just being greedy.

XBOX and PS3 are region locked, if I recall correctly.
Plus, this isn't Nintendo being greedy. My uncle reminded me that they had region locking back in the days of the SNES, and their minds were blown when they realized they had missed out on 3 final fantasy's

[Caius Casshern Sins]

XBOX and PS3 are region locked, if I recall correctly.
Plus, this isn't Nintendo being greedy. My uncle reminded me that they had region locking back in the days of the SNES, and their minds were blown when they realized they had missed out on 3 final fantasy's

Actually the PS3 isn't region locked.

I do not think Nintendo will make the Wii U region free. SInce the Nintendo's history has always been region locked. The Nintendo 3DS is the first Nintendo handheld to become region locked so the chances are slim for them not to do it on the console.

[Ponkotsu]

Third parties have actually complained about losing money over a lack of region-lock in the past too. These days, I tend to look at region lock - and its introduction in the 3DS, as disappointing as that was - as a matter of appeasing third parties. I can live with it if it means more support, and the 3DS is definitely seeing a fantastic rush of that at every turn these days, especially compared to the region-free Vita, which shares most of its library with the PS3 and has virtually no exclusives that will move hardware. I pretty much look at it as something of a somewhat-necessary evil these days, and I'm expecting the trend to continue with the Wii U, as much as I'd love region-free Nintendo systems.

In the end, if I want to import games, I'll just have to import a system, and I can live with that if anything comes out that misses North America that I can't stand the idea of missing. If anything, I'd just like to see their upcoming online network integrated in all regions, with North American, European, Japanese, Australian, and all other regions' players' profiles, stats, and so forth shared on a common network. And more quirky WiiWare/Wii U Ware/DSiWare/3DSWare titles from Japan making it west - along with, ideally, more import Virtual Console releases, and a general revival of the VC with more regular releases (Which I don't expect to see much of until after the Wii U launches), with more work put into getting a lot more of the smaller name and niche NES, SNES, Master System, Genesis, Neo Geo, Turbo CD, arcade, and N64 games on the platform, considering how many hundreds of worthwhile games those systems are still missing. I'm hoping to see the likes of the Sega CD, Saturn, and Dreamcast on the VC - I'd love to finally have another shot at buying and playing Shenmue after missing out back in the day, if not outright Wii U or 3DS rereleases of the first two games and a final game to end the series from Yu Suzuki on either platform - and expecting we'll see the Gamecube on there too. (Just as I'm looking forward to the Game Gear and Turbografx 3DS VC support and I'm hoping to see Neo Geo Pocket Color and Virtual Boy support in time.) I'm just hoping the new Virtual Console platforms don't drown out or otherwise stymie a new flow of games to the Wii VC's platforms still missing huge numbers of good and great games.

[AMAC]

Although I'd rather not have a region locked Wii U, I think it will be region locked. With the 3DS having it, I think that region lock is here to stay, in Nintendo consoles at least.

[Auzzie Auzzie Auzzie]

Long Post

You made a long post. YOU GET A LIKE!

Person: "Did you even read the post properly?"
Auzzie: "I got lost halfway through."

[Jonke]

As many have said before.. It will probably be region locked( we know Nintendo by now ) but i honestly hope they change their minds before the release of the WiiU.

[StreetPassWanter]

Sorry man, but I'm 90% positive: No

[Merchiodos]

YES!

Edited by Merchiodos, 24 October 2011 - 12:59 AM.

[martoparto]

I think it will be locked, but I'm not sure. It's 60-40.
They could make it region-free, because more people will buy it.

[Zuperman]

I've never been bothered to buy a game or system from another country in the first place.