Nintendo's Wii might come in region-free flavour. Or it might not. You see, Nintendo, flush with the success of the very much region-free DS, still isn't commenting on the issue.
In an interview posted this week, Nintendo of America's vice president of marketing and corporate communications, Perrin Kaplan, simultaneously hinted that the Wii might be import-friendly, while at the same time remaining entirely vague on the issue.
The following words came out of Kaplan's very own mouth: "Clearly, the success of Nintendo DS has offered a lot of lessons about what works in the marketplace, and we certainly intend to keep our fans satisfied. For the Wii system, we are finalizing all the relevant details and will be making announcements in the coming months."
She continued, "We know that isn't what you all want to hear but at least we are being honest! We will share a lot of ways people can play globally, regionally, without boundaries. You're right that the region-free approach has proved to be a successful and attractive feature for Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection on Nintendo DS -- we have even blown the doors off our own anticipated numbers! Cost, ease-of-use and player privacy are the three things that were a focus for us with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Those priorities also will apply to the Wii system."
So does she mean you'll be able to play against people from other regions or does she mean to use software that you've bought from Japan and sometimes America? Though usually Japan. Oh, and once even Australia but that was Animal Crossing PAL version. Still an import though.
Stay tuned for more blurry corporo-bot speak as we get it.
In an interview posted this week, Nintendo of America's vice president of marketing and corporate communications, Perrin Kaplan, simultaneously hinted that the Wii might be import-friendly, while at the same time remaining entirely vague on the issue.
The following words came out of Kaplan's very own mouth: "Clearly, the success of Nintendo DS has offered a lot of lessons about what works in the marketplace, and we certainly intend to keep our fans satisfied. For the Wii system, we are finalizing all the relevant details and will be making announcements in the coming months."
She continued, "We know that isn't what you all want to hear but at least we are being honest! We will share a lot of ways people can play globally, regionally, without boundaries. You're right that the region-free approach has proved to be a successful and attractive feature for Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection on Nintendo DS -- we have even blown the doors off our own anticipated numbers! Cost, ease-of-use and player privacy are the three things that were a focus for us with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Those priorities also will apply to the Wii system."
So does she mean you'll be able to play against people from other regions or does she mean to use software that you've bought from Japan and sometimes America? Though usually Japan. Oh, and once even Australia but that was Animal Crossing PAL version. Still an import though.
Stay tuned for more blurry corporo-bot speak as we get it.
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Comments
OptimusP 28 Jul 2006 09:28
1/4
I think they just re-confirmed that the Virtual Console will be region-free. As in you can download games from american and japanese servers (Sin of Punishment! Ogre Battle 64!) so us europeans can download and play japan-only games and stuff.
JonTart 28 Jul 2006 10:28
2/4
Perrin Kaplan sounds like a character from Animal Crossing
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Joji 28 Jul 2006 14:15
3/4
A real present to all gamer this will be if it happens like the DS. For a hand held its a lot easier but for a home console this would be real sweet.
After all those years of fighting gamers for importing games I think Nintendo have chill out their attitude over the years starting with the GC and Freeloader. Import games on GC didn't hurt the GC because perhaps a smaller percentage of hard core gamers (myself included) imported games. Those rare titles that never reached our shores. Majority of the mainstream won't bother doing this.
There's another bonus for Nintendo by being region free which is that it also eliminates the piracy side to a great degree. Nintendo would rather have us buy a genuine copy of a Wii game than a dodgy downoad off the net. Also because of the DS and now the Wii's unique interface even if some could download the games off the net, they'd then have major trouble playing them, which makes the reuslt more pointless. The result is low piracy.
I'm sure Nintendo will produce an adjusted game DVD format that's not easy to games copy like Xbox and PS2. Finger crossed anyways.
After all those years of fighting gamers for importing games I think Nintendo have chill out their attitude over the years starting with the GC and Freeloader. Import games on GC didn't hurt the GC because perhaps a smaller percentage of hard core gamers (myself included) imported games. Those rare titles that never reached our shores. Majority of the mainstream won't bother doing this.
There's another bonus for Nintendo by being region free which is that it also eliminates the piracy side to a great degree. Nintendo would rather have us buy a genuine copy of a Wii game than a dodgy downoad off the net. Also because of the DS and now the Wii's unique interface even if some could download the games off the net, they'd then have major trouble playing them, which makes the reuslt more pointless. The result is low piracy.
I'm sure Nintendo will produce an adjusted game DVD format that's not easy to games copy like Xbox and PS2. Finger crossed anyways.
SorelissLarethian 29 Jul 2006 13:08
4/4
"We know that isn't what you all want to hear but at least we are being honest! We will share a lot of ways people can play globally, regionally, without boundaries."
Exactly that phrase tells me that region free discs are a distant possibility... I certainly hope not :/
Exactly that phrase tells me that region free discs are a distant possibility... I certainly hope not :/