That civic-minded protector of the gaming community, Nintendo, has warned consumers against the evils of mod chips.
In a posting on it's European website, Nintendo warns:
Thanks 'Tendy! SPOnG would hate to have stumbled into criminal dealings due to our ignorance!
Of course, the real issue for Nintendo here is the damage mod chips can do to its business. As well as allowing consoles to play downloaded games that have been burnt to disc, mod chips can circumvent region blocks which prevent the playing of imported games
If SPOnG were feeling argumentative we might suggest that Nintendo shot itself in the foot on this one. Gamers modifying their consoles to circumvent region blocks isn't a problem for the PS3, since it's region free as far as games go. Similarly, it's not as big an issue for Microsoft as it doesn't enforce region-locking, although some publishers do opt for it.
Had Nintendo not made region-locking mandatory, then lovers of imported games wouldn't feel the need to go out and get their Wiis modified.
The only people really harmed by modding to play region-locked games are the regional arms of publishers. If Gamer X in Europe decides to get his copy of Super Paper Mario from Nintendo of America instead of Nintendo Europe, the cash is still finding its way to Nintendo, after all.
Before anyone mistakes us as claiming Sony's blameless in blocking the spread of global capitalism, however, we'd like to remind you of the time Sony stomped on a certain Hong Kong retailer for selling PSPs outside Asia...
SPOnG can only suggest that any Wii owners intent on modding move down to Oz, land of the free and the one true bastion of globalism, where scrapping your region locks is allowed.
In a posting on it's European website, Nintendo warns:
“The use of mod chips voids the manufacturer's warranty. In addition, the installation of a mod chip can damage the functionality of a Nintendo console, sometimes rendering it incapable of repair. Mod chips have been adjudicated to be illegal in various countries around the world, including the Unites States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Most European countries have also already adopted laws prohibiting the circumvention of technological measures for copyright protection. People caught installing or selling mod chips may be subject to criminal charges.”
Thanks 'Tendy! SPOnG would hate to have stumbled into criminal dealings due to our ignorance!
Of course, the real issue for Nintendo here is the damage mod chips can do to its business. As well as allowing consoles to play downloaded games that have been burnt to disc, mod chips can circumvent region blocks which prevent the playing of imported games
If SPOnG were feeling argumentative we might suggest that Nintendo shot itself in the foot on this one. Gamers modifying their consoles to circumvent region blocks isn't a problem for the PS3, since it's region free as far as games go. Similarly, it's not as big an issue for Microsoft as it doesn't enforce region-locking, although some publishers do opt for it.
Had Nintendo not made region-locking mandatory, then lovers of imported games wouldn't feel the need to go out and get their Wiis modified.
The only people really harmed by modding to play region-locked games are the regional arms of publishers. If Gamer X in Europe decides to get his copy of Super Paper Mario from Nintendo of America instead of Nintendo Europe, the cash is still finding its way to Nintendo, after all.
Before anyone mistakes us as claiming Sony's blameless in blocking the spread of global capitalism, however, we'd like to remind you of the time Sony stomped on a certain Hong Kong retailer for selling PSPs outside Asia...
SPOnG can only suggest that any Wii owners intent on modding move down to Oz, land of the free and the one true bastion of globalism, where scrapping your region locks is allowed.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
smelly 24 Apr 2007 18:08
1/4
actually on the ps3, it's only 1st party sony games which are gauranteed to be region free. publishers can decide to turn on/off the feature if they so wish.
And most probably will.
And most probably will.
realvictory 24 Apr 2007 19:59
2/4
I think region locking is a bit out of date nowadays - with the internet, and global whatever it is, the world is a single place now. Attempts to divide it back up aren't really going to work.
What they want to do is eliminate the true cause of the problem - the reasons people want import games in the first place - releasing games at vastly different times and prices in different countries is favouring particular countries over others, so they are in fact encouraging people to want to import.
If they released games in smaller timeframes between countries, with similar prices (and not only releasing specific games in specific countries), then there would be no problem, no reason to import.
I think the same as Spong, though - all the money ultimately goes to Nintendo, so there's no reason to blame people for importing. But I don't think Nintendo can righteously complain, when they are in fact encouraging importing.
What they want to do is eliminate the true cause of the problem - the reasons people want import games in the first place - releasing games at vastly different times and prices in different countries is favouring particular countries over others, so they are in fact encouraging people to want to import.
If they released games in smaller timeframes between countries, with similar prices (and not only releasing specific games in specific countries), then there would be no problem, no reason to import.
I think the same as Spong, though - all the money ultimately goes to Nintendo, so there's no reason to blame people for importing. But I don't think Nintendo can righteously complain, when they are in fact encouraging importing.
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Joji 25 Apr 2007 13:12
3/4
Lol, how dumb. Another Nintendo debacle, its been a while since we had the last one. Beware, here's comes the scorn again.
There's a clear case of turn coat double standards here (consdering GC used Freeloader and Nintendo didn't bat an eyelid at it), that's quite funny and tragic. Nintendo first said Wii was gonna be region free, then switched that decision. What they don't realise, is that fans built up a lot of hope on that region free aspect, and they won't give up on the dream of region free gaming until it happens.
It amazes me too, that in the 21 century, we still rely on this region lark. The means of power voltage and tv standard was once a problem, but those have been removed over time, leaving Sony, Nintendo etc with less reason to region lock. But they still continue this crap.
With these consoles becoming more PC like, this is one aspect that will always keep them consoles unless they remove it or just let us play our imports via Freeloader.
So there you go Nintendo, if you don't want us to use mod chips, to give us gamers, what you said you'd give us in the first place, and here's some ideas for you.
1: Next console is region free out of the box. No ifs, but or bs.
2: You don't want us to have mod chips, so promote Datel's Freeloader as a better alternative.
3: Promote import gaming over piracy, because you make us feel like criminals, for just wanting to import something you think you can't sell everywhere. At least with import games, you still get paid.
4: Perhaps a new import game sales abroad category, of their business might solve the problem they have with them.
5: When you say you are gonna do something, do it and don't turn coat on us.
There's a clear case of turn coat double standards here (consdering GC used Freeloader and Nintendo didn't bat an eyelid at it), that's quite funny and tragic. Nintendo first said Wii was gonna be region free, then switched that decision. What they don't realise, is that fans built up a lot of hope on that region free aspect, and they won't give up on the dream of region free gaming until it happens.
It amazes me too, that in the 21 century, we still rely on this region lark. The means of power voltage and tv standard was once a problem, but those have been removed over time, leaving Sony, Nintendo etc with less reason to region lock. But they still continue this crap.
With these consoles becoming more PC like, this is one aspect that will always keep them consoles unless they remove it or just let us play our imports via Freeloader.
So there you go Nintendo, if you don't want us to use mod chips, to give us gamers, what you said you'd give us in the first place, and here's some ideas for you.
1: Next console is region free out of the box. No ifs, but or bs.
2: You don't want us to have mod chips, so promote Datel's Freeloader as a better alternative.
3: Promote import gaming over piracy, because you make us feel like criminals, for just wanting to import something you think you can't sell everywhere. At least with import games, you still get paid.
4: Perhaps a new import game sales abroad category, of their business might solve the problem they have with them.
5: When you say you are gonna do something, do it and don't turn coat on us.
midiki 27 Apr 2007 16:05
4/4
did you know in the afircan region pepole would like the ps3z moded becouse cdz are expensive if the ps3 mod comes oyt more console sales will go high becouse of cheap cdz well lets see waht will happeen. the 360 mod is out salles here in africa are really good