Nintendo defends region locking

[lee4]

Fans Petition Nintendo To End Region Locking
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/...region-locking

Nintendo's President Discusses Region Locking
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/...region-locking

[Demonic722]

"There are many different regions around the world, and each region has its own cultural acceptance and legal restrictions, as well as different age ratings. There are always things that we’re required to do in each different region, which may go counter to the idea that players around the world want the freedom to play whatever they want."

I'm not for it, but I'm not against it. Most games, TV shows, cards, etc. that originate in Japan are always tweaked to appease the US when ported because of the "offensive content." To put it simply: If you don't like something in a game, don't play it; if you don't like something on TV, don't watch it. While that's a little ignorant since I don't understand how business works, it's a straightforward answer to ending region lock for those who are against it.

[47iscool]

The DS was the only region free system they ever made. The only way to get region free is a soft/hard mod, like priiloader for Wii.

[final kaoss]

Originally Posted by Satoru Iwata
[COLOR=#333333][I]"There are many different regions around the world, and each region has its own cultural acceptance and legal restrictions, as well as different age ratings. There are always things that we’re required to do in each different region, which may go counter to the idea that players around the world want the freedom to play whatever they want."

In other words, it sounds to me like the message trying to be made here is what maybe legal in a EUR version of a game may not be considered legal in a different country like let's say japan. The age ratings are different? I think it's about time the age ratings become the same globally. Imagine if let's say teens are permitted to play rated R games in japan or china and the other regions say no, teens can't play R rated games.

[lee4]

Nintendo list the 3 main reasons for their region lock

cultural acceptance (religion & taboo)
legal restrictions (copyright law)
different age ratings. (age restrictions)

The DS was the only region free system they ever made. The only way to get region free is a soft/hard mod, like priiloader for Wii.

NES = region lock by 10NES chip & output pin connector, can be bypass with pin converter
SNES = region lock by cart size of plastic, can be bypass with slot converter or break the plastic tab
N64 = region lock by cart size of plastic, can be bypass with slot converter or break the plastic tab
Gamecube = region lock by disc header, can be bypass with freeloader disc aka disc swapping
Wii/vWii = region lock by Game ID, can be bypass with homebrew (gecko) software
WiiU = region lock by Game ID, should be able to bypass with homebrew software
Gameboy, Color, Advance = region free
DS = region free
DSi/3DS region lock by rom header, should be able to bypass with homebrew software

[final kaoss]

What about region locks for the virtual boy? Where there any? :P

[lee4]

What about region locks for the virtual boy? Where there any? :P

users on gamefaqs says its region free
http://www.gamefaqs.com/virtualboy/9...swers?qid=1484

[rimsky82]

I have a virtual boy, and a japanese vertical force cart. It's region free.

[lee4]

Nintendo President Consider Removing Region Locks
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/11/...g-region-locks