News: Nintendo News | No Region Free Wii, GC (or Virtual Console?) Page 1

Nintendo News | No Region Free Wii, GC (or Virtual Console?)

16.09.2006

New Update - In Cubed3's exclusive interview with General Manager of Nintendo UK, David Yarnton, it was confirmed that the Wii will indeed be region-coded due to the issues with ratings boards for different locations.

For this very same reasoning, GameCube titles played via the Wii will also stick with the usual region lockouts, meaning gamers should not discard their Freeloaders or Action Replays just yet (unless Nintendo finds a way to lock them out of the Wii).

Finally, the Virtual Console was discussed, and as all the details have yet to be finalised, there is no confirmation about whether games released via the system in Japan will be available in other markets. But from the sound of things it did not appear promising. So those eager for the likes of Seiken Densetsu 3, Sin & Punishment, Mother et al, could well be disappointed.

Stick with Cubed3 for the full live interview on Monday!

Original Update - Yesterday, Nintendo of America's Perrin Kaplan confirmed that the Wii would be region free, with first party titles Wii playable on any Wii, from any country - much like the DS (see original story below).

Today, some contradictory information comes from Nintendo UK where, according to Games Industry.biz, the console is region-locked and that the US section of the company had made a mistake.

A true mistake? A feature that wasn't supposed to be announced? Nintendo UK trying to save sales? We shall see once the Wii hits stores worldwide later this year.

For a company that makes great games, Nintendo should hire a few PR people with a bit more brains.

Original Story

James Temperton -

Quick News: Sent in by a Cubed3 reader with the hilarious title Wiigion Fwii, it would seem that the Nintendo Wii will be (in case you hadn't guessed) region free. According to Wired who spoke to NOA's Perrin Kaplan, she confirmed that it would be region free just like the DS, without any restrictions. Publishers will be able to activate a region lock but apparently Nintendo will not be doing that for first party titles.

We'll bring you any relevant updates just as soon as we hear something...

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Cheesing It Up 14.09.2006#1

Nice! Will make any possible imports easier.
(Unless all the 3rd parties decide to be BITCHES)

Raff 14.09.2006#2

I sent that by the way, I though it included your name automatically.
But bleh..

BLOODY AMAZING NEWS!

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.

HazukiSan 14.09.2006#3

T'would be interesting but surely harm sales if the launches are far apart.

Spydarlee 14.09.2006#4

OMFGWIIBBQ!

Hella yeah!

No more price comlaints now, everyone grab the

Cubed3 Staff [ Retro Editor :: Previews Editor ]

Raff 14.09.2006#5

No more price comlaints now, everyone grab the

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.

dojo 14.09.2006#6

That's pretty interesting news, although I do wonder how they will do it...Apparently both the NTSC and PAL versions of a game will fit on PS3 BDs, but Wii just uses 4.7GB discs, doesn't it?

Cheesing It Up 14.09.2006#7

HazukiSan said:
Twould be interesting but surely harm sales if the launches are far apart.

Exactally. It's further evidence that NOE have pulled their fingers out their ass and are doing their best to get the games out quickly!

On the other hand...I don't think Nintendo really care where the sale comes from, as long as they get the sale Smilie

Nintendo4Life 14.09.2006#8

I believe it's 8.5gb DVD9

Mason 14.09.2006#9

SCORE.

I'll still get the UK console just so I don't have to mess with step down converters, etc., but if they annoy me with release dates again they're getting the DS treatment and I'm getting stuff from Canada and Hong Kong.

Megadanxzero 14.09.2006#10

I suppose this kinda counters the fact that they decided to remove DVD playback...

But not really... At all...

Still a proud member of the 'omfg amazing water in games' society

The Croft 14.09.2006#11

Who cares about DVD playback, region free American Wii looking hot for me

Mike Gee of iZINE said, "...The Verve, as he [Richard Ashcroft] promised, had become the greatest band in the world. Most of the critics agreed with him. Most paid due homage. The Verve were no longer the question mark or the clich�. They were the statement and the definition."

nyaede 14.09.2006#12

Is it free for the Gamecube game too?

jb 14.09.2006#13

It better not be one of Perrin's dumb-ass coments, and actually be region free - not some PR "the Wii lets you play with others online" shite.

Cubed3 Admin/Founder & Designer

Megadanxzero 14.09.2006#14

I'd rather have something I'm going to use... I've never bought a console game from another country and I doubt I'll ever want/need to. I DO want to watch DVDs in my room though, and I'm not gonna buy a whole DVD player... I was really looking forward to the bloody DVD playback >.<

Still a proud member of the 'omfg amazing water in games' society

Spydarlee 14.09.2006#15

Is your hesitation to buy a DVD player due to price or size?

Because you can pick up a DVD player for about a tenner these days...

Admitedly it's a bit inconvinient to have two objects instead of one, but nowadays it's not really that big a deal.

And I thought you could buy an extra gizmo to add DVD playback anyway?

Cubed3 Staff [ Retro Editor :: Previews Editor ]

Raff 14.09.2006#16

dojo99 said:
Thats pretty interesting news, although I do wonder how they will do it...Apparently both the NTSC and PAL versions of a game will fit on PS3 BDs, but Wii just uses 4.7GB discs, doesnt it?

I doesn't really work like that. I can play USA GC games on my UK GC (with modchip) perfectly, and I can mod my MegaDrive to play PAL50 games at 60hz RGB.

The only problem would be for people on 50hz TVs (hardly anyone), because 50hz versions have to be optimised. But the Wii might not even support 50hz anymore so it migh not matter at all.

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.

Cheesing It Up 14.09.2006#17

nyaede said:
Is it free for the Gamecube game too?

Good point. To be honest I doubt it will be, which is a shame. Anyone thinking about importing should take this into account most definately!

The Croft 14.09.2006#18

fenno2001 said:
nyaede said:Is it free for the Gamecube game too?
Good point. To be honest I doubt it will be, which is a shame. Anyone thinking about importing should take this into account most definately!

Or you could just use your GameCube Smilie shock horror GameCube can play CUBE games

( Edited on 14.09.2006 19:08 by Mr.Ashcroft )

Marzeee 14.09.2006#19

Cool for the people who get games from abroad but thats not for me. I dont know why but ive alway prefered getting the proper UK versions of games. But brilliant news for people who do.

Raff 14.09.2006#20

Mr.Ashcroft said:
fenno2001 said:
nyaede said:Is it free for the Gamecube game too?
Good point. To be honest I doubt it will be, which is a shame. Anyone thinking about importing should take this into account most definately!
Or you could just use your GameCube shock horror GameCube can play CUBE games( Edited on 14.09.2006 19:08 by Mr.Ashcroft )

I think most people were looking forward to the idea of only needing one box to play GC and Wii games.

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.