Nintendo Speculation | Region Free Wii?

Speculation has begun to circle on the net on the Wii's region specifications. Will the Wii be region-free and be able to play games from any country... or does Nintendo mean online service being region free?

Arguably one of the best features about Nintendo's portables is the capability to play games from any regions, allow for a successful and thriving import market and for hardcore players to play their favourites a few days or weeks earlier then expected. In a recent interview with IGN, Nintendo's Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Perrin Kaplan, discussed the topic of being "region free", but this could refer to something different to what one would instantly assume.

"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. We know that isn't what you all want to hear (or read) 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."

Various publications have instantly jumped on the statement to assume that the Wii will have region free capabilities; however this seems very unlikely given Nintendo and other home console manufacturer's stances on the matter in the past.

It seems that instead of being region free hardware wise, Kaplan is stating that multiplayer on the DS is region free, i.e. not being restrained to a physical area to be able to play others for she specifically states that being region free has been an "attractive feature for Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection on Nintendo DS"