Nintendo is making it clear they do not support playing pirated or non-region approved games on the 3DS. Japanese retailers have been warned, Nintendo will disable any 3DS console that has illegal games detected on it. The console would be bricked via firmware update. The 3Ds launched last week in Japan and the American release will take place at the end of the month. I'm sure we can expect to see a similar warning from Nintendo once it hits shelves on March 27.
Many retailers in Japan have already warned their customers; issuing their own warning, stating they will not buy back a 3DS with custom software. According to GoNintendo, Japanese game chain Enterking posted this warning on their site.
The flier roughly translates to:
"Dear customers who resell Nintendo 3DS "
"non purchase able 3DS system"
In case if you use equipment which is illegal or unapproved by Nintendo or if you do customization which is unapproved by Nintendo, there is a possibility that Nintendo 3DS become non bootable by system update.
- From Nintendo 3DS terms of agreement
Because of terms of agreement above, Enterking refuses to buy 3DS system with record of illegal or unapproved equipment.' "Request to format before you sell"
Do you think Nintendo should be able to disable the 3DS if they detect illegal software? The 3DS won't be able to play games that aren't approved for your region. Could you have your 3DS disabled for playing an imported game, even if you payed for it?
Source: GoNintendo
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Comments
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ness42153
And how does this protect against emulators that im fairly positive will be created for the computers? I admire this strategy, but still not good enough (double post fail XD )
pr0n_cocktail
I pirate most games first, to see if I like them. I pirated Mass Effect 2, beat it, then bought it when the price dropped to what I thought was reasonable ($30 instead of $60). Games are too expensive to take the risk of not liking them. I'm not going to shell out $40 for a 3DS game when I may hate it. If I download a game I don't like, I'll delete it immediately. If I like it I'll buy it. It's the worst feeling to lose so much money on something that's potentially fun for 20+ hours, but turns out to be crap. Most DS games are crap now that nintendo stopped approving games before they're released and I am very thankful for my AceKard. Plus, All the DS games I've bought take up space and require cases to carry them around. So I just leave them in the box, put them in a drawer and download a ROM. 100 games on one card is very convenient. Plus, if I never remove the shrink wrap I can resell it as mint.
WizardStan
Just to point out, this warning is just that: a warning. It doesn't appear to be a threat from Nintendo of malicious intent. They are literally saying that if you have custom or otherwise unauthorized software or mods, you run the risk of a future, entirely normal, system update corrupting your firmware. A similar warning is in the Wii and PSP (and probably PS3) EULAs, for good reason: both consoles have been rendered inoperable by system updates after custom firmware and mod chips were installed.
Enterking then goes on to say that, because of the very real possibility of a system update bricking the system, they will not buy them back if there is evidence of any sort of unauthorized modification to them. They conclude by suggesting you wipe the system before trying to sell it to them.
To repeat, this is not Nintendo getting tough on piracy, this is Nintendo making a very real warning: mess with the system in a way we never intended and you risk breaking your system in a way that will not be covered under warranty. I would actually be surprised if they didn't do this since, as I said, they already have a similar warning in the Wii, quite possibly the DSi was well (though I haven't read that particular EULA)
WizardStan
Umm... I appear to be the only person to have noticed, but the warning is just that: a warning. It isn't a threat from Nintendo that they will willfully break your system. It actually says that if you have custom software on your 3DS, a system update might render it unbootable. A very similar warning is given for the Wii and PSP, both of which have had this very thing happen: custom firmware or mod chips that interfered with a system update and bricked the system. Enterking then goes on to say that they will not buy back systems with any modifications to them, either in hardware or software, for the very real possibility that a perfectly ordinary system update could brick the system. They close by suggesting you remove any such modifications before attempting to sell.
Once again, Nintendo isn't threatening to maliciously brick your 3DS if they detect unauthorized software, they are simply warning you unauthorized software may cause your firmware to become corrupt during a regular system update and if such a case is detected you will not be covered under warranty. This is perfectly normal and I would be shocked if it were any other way.
thejman85
i can really care less and people that are bitchin what are u gonna do buy a 3ds here then buy some chance be in another country and buy a 3ds game does that make sence
vash989
I think I remember something about a year ago about the US passing a law that basically said consumers have the right to mod/jailbreak any hardware they buy. If people want to do this, according to the US government it isn't illegal. Now, Nintendo can release new software updates to prevent this, but I don't think they are allowed to permanently disable your hardware.
RockieOllie
What if i'm playing Jump Superstars (Japanese DS game that came out before games started being region locked.) would my 3DS get bricked too?
Blatzy
I think this is just stupid
theantigzus
couldnt you just buy 2, 1 for regular use and the second for whatever u wanna do like play different regions games or what have you
Phoenixxx1974
I think this is a smart way to combat piracy, R4 stuff, and homebrew firmware updates. The only want to play a imported 3DS game is to hack your 3DS which also allows the use of pirated games so i personally think it's pretty smart.
I read an interview about questions about the 3DS and they said the DS games are still region free and you can play a European DS game on your japanese 3DS and so on it's just the 3DS has different parental controls for different countries which is why they had to region lock it. So it kinda makes sense and cover their ass you know?
MasterOfWeed
Oh no they block you with a firmware update?! People will destroy the 3DS and their bans will be useless since they appear to be added with client sided firmware which if so makes Nintendo's banning method obsolete.
Symicide
They need to scrap the DS in general and focus on a legitimate console. dumbasses
UNEMPLOYEDxxxxJEDI
On the plus side this should stop people from making pirated games for the 3ds, but most likey, there going to find a away so nintendo can dectect pirated games.
JCJones004
If I were a game developer I would like to see the anti-piracy come into action, but I would like for my games to be available to whoever wants to pay for them, no matter their region.
RandyMercer
How come when Sony said they were gonna do this people said they were wrong? Like I said before they should protect their product(s).
bigevilworldwide
Yes you do own the hardware you bought that item, but your hardware is dependent on the makers software to run, they DO NOT HAVE TO LET YOUR HARDWARE ACTUALLY RUN USING THEIR SOFTWARE, the way I see it if they brick your hardware it's just their way of telling you they no longer want their software on your item.The only thing you own is the box and the pieces inside of the box you don't own the program that makes that console run.
Bigparr
will this be exlusive to 3ds games? or does it extend to original ds games? can we not play original DS ROMS from an SD card anymore?
OldSchoolRPG70
let the bricking begin!!
jafarm66
Bricking for playing pirated games I can understand but I don't really think its a good idea.
Bricking or modifying it ie 3DS Homebrew type games is wrong.
Bricking it because somebody in Japan legally bought a game available in the US and wants to play it is not right. This is a great way to anger and lose customers.
Toady909
Will you be able to play Japanese regular DS games on the 3DS though?
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