Region-Locking...

[Steep]

Why do Nintendo feel the need to region-lock all their consoles?!
It's frustrating because I'm from UK, which gets pretty much the majority of games a LOT later than other regions.

For example, I'm actually quite fond of the Harvest Moon series, and even though the Tale of Two Towns is out in USA, we still haven't even got a release date and may not even get one at all!!

Does anybody know why they feel they need to do this?

[Mewtwo152]

Does anybody know why they feel they need to do this?

Likely the same reason DVDs have region locks: companies are paranoid of losing revenue to importing/reverse-importing. For example, some anime companies in Japan are or were notorious for giving out horrible looking masters so no Japanese fans would want to watch, or making them have no Japanese audio. It happens a fair bit with things like Dragon Ball, which has both good quality footage and Japanese audio in affordable releases here, where Japanese fans have the option of paying a lot of money for big boxed sets or a lot of money for a ridiculous amount of 3-episode single DVDs, but I digress.

As for Nintendo, every home console had region-locks until the PS3 and 360 came out, so the Wii just continues that. The 3DS is the first Nintendo handheld with region locking on it, for likely the reasons I've listed above. You could always just buy a differently region-coded system, or mod the thing to break region locking.

[Servant]

He doesn't really have the option of modding the 3ds to break through the region block as no one has been successful yet, taking into consideration his skillz may not be of a level to do it himself. Your best bet would be to go for a JPN or US 3ds, JPN 3ds are mad expensive and US 3ds are pretty cheap but the shipping can be a heart breaker if you can't get someone to get one for you.

[Retro Mario]

Yeah, I was pretty pissed off when I heard about the Region locking, I need to buy a US 3DS if I ever move back.
I'll keep my Japanese 3DS for the awesome titles they have here.

[Servant]

Yeah, I was pretty pissed off when I heard about the Region locking, I need to buy a US 3DS if I ever move back.
I'll keep my Japanese 3DS for the awesome titles they have here.

:( I envy you.

[Warubou]

Its the best thing nintendo has ever did. Its like spend more money.

[Steep]

I just don't see why it takes so long for it to be released here when it's practically the same game.
It's like with Diamond/Pearl.
Apparently it took them like 5-6 months to translate it from Japanese to English for the USA release, yet they took another 5 months after that to release it for UK?
It wasn't that bad because I just bought it from USA 2 weeks after it came out there, but still, why does it take another 5 months to get it to UK/EU?
It's not like they have to translate it all again!!

[Skuntank]

I am pretty thankful that the game I want that is coming out in Japan is a DS game. Its that one game where it has Pokemon and Samurai. It would be lovely if it got an American release, cause I can't read Japanese.

I really hate region locking as well, since I am in Norway and have an American 3DS, I have to wait till June to buy games I want for 3DS.

[Sleeper]

I am pretty thankful that the game I want that is coming out in Japan is a DS game. Its that one game where it has Pokemon and Samurai. It would be lovely if it got an American release, cause I can't read Japanese.

I really hate region locking as well, since I am in Norway and have an American 3DS, I have to wait till June to buy games I want for 3DS.

Norway?

OT: I think the locking is actually dependant on the producer.
Some companies have elected to make their games available to all regions.
It's a bit of a hit and miss.
There have been reviewer copies of Crush 3D, working on Japanese 3DSs, amongst other games.

It's odd, but it's nice to know that Nintendo have left producers with the option to leave region-locking off.

Edit: I just remembered Japanese copies of Pilotwings are not region locked. This could mean that we might be able to import some first party games.

[Servant]

Norway?

OT: I think the locking is actually dependant on the producer.
Some companies have elected to make their games available to all regions.
It's a bit of a hit and miss.
There have been reviewer copies of Crush 3D, working on Japanese 3DSs, amongst other games.

It's odd, but it's nice to know that Nintendo have left producers with the option to leave region-locking off.

Edit: I just remembered Japanese copies of Pilotwings are not region locked. This could mean that we might be able to import some first party games.

That sounds cool, as I was unaware of the fact some games were region free, but it seems like it comes with risks though. Unless you already own another region console you would be stuck with a $40 game you could only sell back for half the price and couldn't use yourself. It would be great if someone out there actually went through the trouble of compiling a list of tested games to make certain.