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Nintendo to clamp down on DSi imports with region-locked games

by Parm Mann on 7 October 2008, 10:03

Tags: Nintendo DSi, Nintendo (TYO:7974)

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Facing high levels of piracy on its hugely-popular handheld DS system, Nintendo will be hoping to prevent large-scale infringements on its next portable console; the DSi.

The company's first such anti-infringement countermeasure comes in the form of region-locked software - a means to prevent the import of games from overseas. A Nintendo spokesperson, speaking to CVG, confirmed "DSi software is region locked, for example European DSi software can only be played on European DSi consoles."

The announcement will come as a surprise to owners of current Nintendo handhelds such as the DS and Gameboy - both of which have steered clear of any region-specific restrictions.

Nintendo's primary explanation is that the "DSi embeds net communication functionality within itself and we are intending to provide net services specifically tailored for each region." Potential customers, however, may be put off by the inability to buy and play games when travelling between regions.

Despite the region-locked DSi software, Nintendo has confirmed that the DSi hardware itself, along with backward-compatible DS titles, will remain region free.

We'd expect Nintendo to introduce further infringement countermeasures to the DSi, but it remains unknown as to whether or not the widespread R4 DS flash card will function on DSi - allowing users to download and play games illegally.



HEXUS Forums :: 3 Comments

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Region locking does seem's to be a step in the wrong direction to me although I can fully understand the reasoning behind Nintendo doing it. Still I do not think that this will really stop piracy to any real degree on its own, how long will it be before pirates release something to bypass the regional locking? Yet legit customers will still end up being the ones that lose out, as sadly some of the best games on the DS can only still be obtained as imports in England.
What a good idea. Give people a reason to get their device modded and it's a small step from there to start downloading pirated games.

Way to go Nintendo. Maximise your profits from the honest majority and push the dishonest towards the pirates.
Its these exact kind of things which make piracy more logical when it comes to ease for the consumer.

Piracy - The easier solution™

Sad buy true :(