The Nintendo 3DS is region locked. Back in January we told you about a rumor the 3DS would have region codes. A Nintendo support staff member sent out this email, “There are no Region codes in DS and DS Lite, but DSi, DSi [XL], and 3DS have region codes. The region codes are installed in each game and the 3DS itself. … You can’t play if the region codes are different." Nintendo never officially commented on the rumor but now that the 3DS is on American soil gamers are confirming their imported games don't work. In fact, the 3DS doesn't even acknowledge the software.
NEWS: Nintendo Warns Against Playing Pirated Games On The 3DS; Threatens To Brick Consoles
A writer at Destructoid tested out the rumor for himself. He tried to play a North American copy of Super Monkey Ball 3D in his Japanese 3DS, the game didn't even register in the menu. Imported DS games will still work in the 3DS though.
Japan gets more than a handful of games before we do in America. There's an even bigger handful of games that never make their way stateside. Gamers who previously would import games will now have to buy a Japanese 3DS to play.
Source: Destructiod
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Displaying 1–17 of 17
crocodilius
just crack it open, de-solder a couple spots and im sure it will work!
anyway, why are they still using cartridge type systems?
remember when the GC used these mini discs? its like theyre scared to switch to discs. do Wii discs even hold as much as a dvd?
anyway, i hope you all enjoy your gimmick;
WTB PSP2.
Tylerr
It's things like this that make people want to hack and jailbreak crap in the first place.
ossiss
this is simply because nintendo caught wind of all those people buying blank cartridges and putting bootleg data onto them. want a early release of a game? bootleg it with english translation software.
itsjustme2
the ngp, like the psp, and ps3, will not be region locked....but bad move Ninfail
chuckleslaughs
Grr... And I thought Nintendo was cool... This just blows...
CareyGrant
I don't know the pricing in Japan off the top of my head, but I'd bet they do this to prevent reverse importation of 3DS and 3DS games back into Japan--they (usually) do so to protect the pricing structures for their domestic vs. international markets.
Basically, Nintendo doesn't want consumer purchasing a 3DS or game in the US for less than they sell it in Japan (the Japanese fans will and do pay ridiculous prices for games, systems, DVDs, manga, collectibles, etc.), or in any other country.
Again, I don't know what their pricing is, but I'd wager it's done to protect their pricing and markets internationally.
Greibach
Region codes are pathetic, plain and simple. They should not exist, and there is no real justification for them in my eyes other than ones involving greed (more money for exports/multiple buys).
DinoHaxxSaur
Ebay is a probable reason to this cause of the fact that they know they wouldn't see a penny of profit in this transaction. Nintendo, economy got you down? They should be happy that people are buying there product and in a strategical advantage to them having no regions would be benificial that in the long run these games would still have to come from the stores and your giving poeple a chance to play games that won't release in the US or elsewhere. Sometimes playing the games we get aren't good enough and some people want that Japanese only game because it's awesome. Why should I have to own 4 3ds's just to play lets say 10 games that I really like or what if I don't want to wait 4 months for the translation for an American release?
UltimaBlackMage
We in Australia get even less games then the US so we have to import to if, say we are a JRPG fan. Nintendo made a stupid descision making it region locked and they only did it because of the R4 cartridges you could buy. Now they'll have even more piracy on the damn thing and people will hack the crap out of it like they did to the Wii. Region locking invites pircacy because of certain regions only being able to get certain games. I know that's why piracy of video games in Australia is so damn high and most of the people here don't realise they are buying pirated games.
I'm going to import a US version 3DS in your summer when Zelda and Kid Icarus should be released.
kej_ironman
It has to do with money also folks. They know people will want to play games that are Japanese release only so the die hard gamers will shell out for a Japanese 3ds. So now they have sold two systems to one consumer
Blue_Vortex
It's only region blocked with 3DS and DSi Ware games. As for original DS games the 3DS will not be region blocked.
Bomblord
It's because of the vastly different rating systems in each country and to avoid things like the fiasco when people in britian were frekaing out when amazon was selling a japanese rape game in their region
TheStranger110
well now it looks like the 3ds could crash and burn just like pspgo
TKEmysterio
I still don't understand what the issue is with having a region free system. You're getting the money one way or the other.
camaro72toy
Where is a new Burnout by now? or a new Blaster Master? or a new Midnight Club at? come on game developers, get on it.I'm talking XBoX 360 and PS3 here
GatsuBlackSword
That's weak. I was hoping they were not going to make it Region Locked but had a feeling they would.
Griever2112
Why? WHY?! why all of a sudden does Nintendo give a damn about region coding it's handhelds?? it's not like they don't get the money from the game sales, what does it matter?? and the fact that they kept it under the table so that people who have bought imported games now need to shell out even more cash for either a new game or region specific 3DS... that was very scummy Nintendo.
Displaying 1–17 of 17