It’s Time For Region Locking To Go Nintendo
Region locking has been a thorn in the side of all gamers since the dawn of time. Australian gamers though, with our isolation have in the past, had it even harder. However with thanks to this thing called the ‘Internet’, we’ve discovered there’s more to the gaming world than just what is released in the local EB Games store. It’s also the Internet and Nintendo’s own social network that we can get the company’s attention.
In recent years with our powering Australian dollar and the increase in parallel importing, we’ve been able to sample the world’s games a whole lot easier (and in most cases cheaper) at least on the portable side of things. Home consoles are a different beast but where there’s a will, there’s a way and we’ve been able to get around most region locks whether it be by software or hardware modifications.
That was until Nintendo decided to lock the Nintendo 3DS. A decision that still baffles the mind today, a portable console that you’re meant to take to many places is locked. It’s been out for three years and every week there’s a new game released in Japan or America, we can’t get our hands on them.
We’re somewhat lucky in Australia – well, for the moment. With the European gaming market in dire straits, overstocks are being sold to importers and that means cheaper games for you. If you’re willing to wait of course.
Region locking isn’t just about cheaper games, it’s about the freedom to choose. The freedom to be able to buy that hot new Japanese title even if you can’t completely understand it. The freedom to buy a game from the US on holidays.
We’ve been used to region locking for so long that it doesn’t seem like the world could be any different. But it is. The PlayStation 4, Vita and Xbox One are all region free. Now if Microsoft, the company with some of the most prolific DRM in and out of gaming can have a region free console, Nintendo can too.
A new fan driven campaign to Nintendo is appealing to Nintendo remove the region lock for both the Wii U and the 3DS. Nintendo’s held firm on region locking for nearly 30 years, so just how can we reach them and get them to at least comment on the situation?
Firstly, why not join over 10,000 fans who have signed a petition to get region locking removed. Too vanilla for you? Why not contact Nintendo directly? If that doesn’t take your fancy, then you can do what many others have done, and take to Miiverse to display your disapproval of region locking with some artwork.
Earthbound is heading to the Virtual Console in the west thanks in part to complaints and discussion on Nintendo’s social network. If Nintendo are at least reading our posts and protests, maybe something could happen? Be sure to keep it ‘on-topic’. Miiverse doesn’t allow for off topic discussion so keep it in generic community and keep it tasteful.
If you can’t do any of those then you can tweet your support to the campaign, by using the hash tags #EndRegionLocking and #NintendoRegionFree
Nintendo hasn’t officially commented on the campaign as of yet, but you can sign the petition and show your support.
Region locking on the 3DS constitutes a violation of the Trade Practices Act.
There is no practical reason for it, only for manipulating market pricing.
How is it a violation of the Trade Practices Act? Annoying as it is, I can’t see how it is illegal in any way.
I could see how Nintendo might justify it in Australia as it prevents playing of games that aren’t classified but that isn’t why they do it.
What if they said you could only fill your European car with European petrol at European prices and you had to buy the petrol directly from a European petrol company.
I know its far fetched, but look at how the record companies have been banned from using their copyright to restrict parallel imports of CDs and the like. That was not too long ago.
I don’t disagree that it sucks, but I have read a couple people claim that it is illegal and I can’t see how. I would like to know.
It isn’t quite like parallel importing. Nintendo can’t stop anyone from importing games or consoles from another country or region. Region locking doesn’t prevent that and several retailers are parallel importing games for sale.
“What if they said you could only fill your European car with European petrol at European prices and you had to buy the petrol directly from a European petrol company.”
I would buy a different car! The situation isn’t quite that bad though.
If it was illegal then why are all BluRay players still region locked? including the PS3?
I think Nintendo may remove region locking once they revamp their account system not being tied to a console and make it centralised across th world, because atm if you buy games from Europe some of them require you to have a EU account to play (like Ninja Gaiden).