In the age old Nintendo tradition, we've just been treated to a little bit of good news. Then, just in case we got too excited, a little bit of bad news - just to take the edge off.
Firstly, the good news, Wired News' Joel Johnson managed to collar Nintendo of America's marketing head honcho, Perrin Kaplan yesterday who told him that the Wii will be region-free.
Johnson notes that "Like the Nintendo DS, the Wii will be able to play games from other regions, such as Japan, without any restriction. Kaplan implied there might be a region lock that publishers would be able to flip on, but it doesn't sound like the first-party titles from Nintendo will be restricted."
Now for the bad news. The Wii will not play DVD movies. Nintendo's reasoning here being that DVD players are as cheap as chips and everyone has them anyway. Which, to be fair, is a valid point. This writer picked one up from Tesco the other day for the princely sum of £14.59.
Plus, of course, Nintendo don't want to get involved in generating any negative publicity that would result from comparison with Xbox 360 HD-DVD and PlayStation 3's Blu-ray movie playback capabilities.
However, it is still a bit rubbish as we would happily got rid of the DVD player and cut down on the clutter, or have used our Wii as a spare DVD player to take into the kitchen or the bedroom when we wanted to. We'll get over it.
Firstly, the good news, Wired News' Joel Johnson managed to collar Nintendo of America's marketing head honcho, Perrin Kaplan yesterday who told him that the Wii will be region-free.
Johnson notes that "Like the Nintendo DS, the Wii will be able to play games from other regions, such as Japan, without any restriction. Kaplan implied there might be a region lock that publishers would be able to flip on, but it doesn't sound like the first-party titles from Nintendo will be restricted."
Now for the bad news. The Wii will not play DVD movies. Nintendo's reasoning here being that DVD players are as cheap as chips and everyone has them anyway. Which, to be fair, is a valid point. This writer picked one up from Tesco the other day for the princely sum of £14.59.
Plus, of course, Nintendo don't want to get involved in generating any negative publicity that would result from comparison with Xbox 360 HD-DVD and PlayStation 3's Blu-ray movie playback capabilities.
However, it is still a bit rubbish as we would happily got rid of the DVD player and cut down on the clutter, or have used our Wii as a spare DVD player to take into the kitchen or the bedroom when we wanted to. We'll get over it.
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Comments
Ditto 15 Sep 2006 17:52
1/6
Our friends at GI.biz are reporting that the Wii isn't region-free... Who's right?
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19686
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19686
Joji 16 Sep 2006 00:17
2/6
Dude they are they last site you should rely on. Go to IGN.com or 1up.com. They have more info on this point that I'm surprised was missed from the London Conference. Don't be shy Nintendo, you can share that info with u.k euro gamers too. Hope you aren't planning on not telling us this info.
If my Wii wasn't region free with u.s and japanese ones being, so I'd be very pissed indeed (especially after paying more for one too). I doubt this though. We won't know for sure til Wii is out in all regions.
I believe Nintendo officially said at the NY shindig, that that all of their Wii games would be region free, but developers can decide to make their games region free or not if they like. If you go to those sites and read I'm sure you'll be enlightened.
I guess Nintendo have a point though. To do DVD you have to end up gooing either Blu Ray or HD-DVD. Most folk do have normal players by now.
I'm sure many of us gamers would rather have a region free console over one that plays dvd, when we already have dvd players and PS2s. Win win for us I say. Region free all the way, thanks Nintendo.
If my Wii wasn't region free with u.s and japanese ones being, so I'd be very pissed indeed (especially after paying more for one too). I doubt this though. We won't know for sure til Wii is out in all regions.
I believe Nintendo officially said at the NY shindig, that that all of their Wii games would be region free, but developers can decide to make their games region free or not if they like. If you go to those sites and read I'm sure you'll be enlightened.
I guess Nintendo have a point though. To do DVD you have to end up gooing either Blu Ray or HD-DVD. Most folk do have normal players by now.
I'm sure many of us gamers would rather have a region free console over one that plays dvd, when we already have dvd players and PS2s. Win win for us I say. Region free all the way, thanks Nintendo.
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Ditto 16 Sep 2006 14:23
3/6
Joji wrote:
Dude they are they last site you should rely on. Go to IGN.com or 1up.com. They have more info on this point that I'm surprised was missed from the London Conference.
But GI.biz are claiming Nintendo UK told them, and I don't see why they're any more unreliable than IGN...
tg0006 17 Sep 2006 04:38
4/6
didnt nintendo say the wii could play dvds at e3? it might have been 2005 but im prity shure it was atleast at one of the e3's.
ozfunghi 17 Sep 2006 14:15
5/6
It's been twice confirmed and twice denied. I'd like some clarification as well. Because i'd seriously consider importing from Japan, with 3 pairs of controllers. It's a 80 euro price difference for the console, and 23 euro per controller pair. That's 150 euro's total. With shipping and customs, that's still quite a difference.
SCiARA 18 Sep 2006 16:12
6/6
ozfunghi wrote:
It's been twice confirmed and twice denied. I'd like some clarification as well. Because i'd seriously consider importing from Japan, with 3 pairs of controllers. It's a 80 euro price difference for the console, and 23 euro per controller pair. That's 150 euro's total. With shipping and customs, that's still quite a difference.
a difference i'm happy to take!!
I just cant see Nintendo or the big boys (EA, Ubisoft, ect ect) not locking them