Wii games to be region-locked

Wii News | Perrin Kaplan got it wrong.

In the past week, we reported that the Wii would be region-free games. Sadly, it now seems that this is not the case

Speaking to IGN, Nintendo UK General Manager David Yarnton has declared that NOA's Perrin Kaplan was mistaken. "The Wii will be region-coded," Yarnton stated. When questioned about Kaplan's earlier comments, Yarnton shrugged, "No, that was a mistake… games and online services will be region-coded."

Yarnton continued by discussing the Wii launch in Europe. "We've been working for a long time to try and ensure that the European launch is as close to simultaneous as we can," Yarnton stated. "Europe is now, I think, reaping the benefits of the success that we've had here. We've sold six million DS units in Europe already, but another classic example is Brain Training - where here we've sold half a million units in five weeks, as opposed to in Japan where it took seventeen weeks. The success we are having in Japan, we are replicating here, and in some instances bettering. Europe is a very important market for Nintendo."

To take the region-locked issue further, GoNintendo are reporting that they’ve acquired a press release which states: "Despite conflicting reports, Wii will be region encoded, as will first-party software."

We'll keep you informed on any new developments concerning the Wii being region-free or region-locked.

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37 Comments

Jeremy

5 years ago

1. Will wait for some real word (i.e. from Japan) before taking this as fact
2. If it is true, Perrin needs to be sacked immediately
3. If Perrin is right, David needs to be sacked

Dare

5 years ago

There goes my 'import the console from the USA' option

HeDanny

5 years ago

Why Dare? Just import the games as well. You will get them cheaper and sooner than the local version that way.

döppelgangbang

5 years ago

If Nintendo still harbor I'll will toward Action Replay (or was it game genie?) and the lawsuit they lost trying to outlaw cheat cartridges siting breach of copyright (at the time: meh, now that every valuable comoddity in an online game has be WRECKED by such devices: god damn it!) non region coding would have gone a long way to put AR out of a job. sigh. I'll just have to wait till someone finds a way around it.

Qbert

5 years ago

Jeremy wrote

1. Will wait for some real word (i.e. from Japan) before taking this as fact
2. If it is true, Perrin needs to be sacked immediately
3. If Perrin is right, David needs to be sacked

Agree with everything you posted Jeremy.

chriharr

5 years ago

I knew this already, It Makes perfect sense to region lock the console!!

Eyce

5 years ago

Gamespot did their rumour control and said that the Wii Will be Wii-gion free.

*dodges thrown bricks after crap pun*

Cerebral

5 years ago

It sucks, but Kaplan's still alright in my books.

Ellegarden

5 years ago

That sucks, it'll be good if its optional regional locking like xbox or it only works in some regions. Now I wouldnt be suprised if sony are gonna do the same, but that totally affect their games and hardware sales.

Jellyfish

5 years ago

UmbrellaCEO wrote

Now I wouldnt be suprised if sony are gonna do the same, but that totally affect their games and hardware sales.

No it won't, the average person does not import or keep up to date with the latest games coming out of gaming shows. I personally think Sony will be using region encoding since Blu-Ray movies have it.

admeister

5 years ago

I already posted the information in that article, but there it is again..

?oe?oe

5 years ago

My head hurts. It is region free, it isn't region free, it is region free, it isn't region free. What was with the report of first party games being region free, but it was up to third parties to make their games region free?

But having it region coded makes it a more smarter business move. More money or in other words, safer money.

Gtpod

5 years ago

Bring on the Fwiiloader.

Thank you and goodnight.

ZNMS

5 years ago

I now hate Nintendo.

DancesInUnderwear

5 years ago

chriharr wrote

I knew this already, It Makes perfect sense to region lock the console!!

To who? As I've said in that big Wii launch details thread, it benefits Nintendo, and Nintendo only, and leaves fans stuck with having to put up with whatever ridiculous prices the local Nintendo branch throws at us.

I agree with Jeremy wholeheartedly. Also, if this is true, then I'm definately importing the console from the US.

Rush152

5 years ago

Quote

"No, that was a mistake… games and online services will be region-coded."

wait wait... so online services will be region coded?

lol does that mean we won't be able to play online games with the yanks and japs either?

oh the joy continues..

Ellegarden

5 years ago

nikack wrote

UmbrellaCEO wrote

Now I wouldnt be suprised if sony are gonna do the same, but that totally affect their games and hardware sales.

Well thats true for most consoles, except the price of the ps3 is far from average and some people are looking into imports now. Like me and quiet alot of others, I did import my psp, (actually I brought it abroud) which was much cheaper (and plus when I brought my psp it wasnt out). And about Blu-ray its definantly region locked, same thing with DVDs but the games arent.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

How would you like to lose your job for making a mistake, bit harsh don't you think?

Also as if Nintendo weren't gonna region lock the console? They've gone out of their way in the past to stop piracy, regoin coding software is just a small logical step or them.

It's great that people are thinking of importing the machine, as Nintendo of Australia are in my bad books and maybe small incidents like this will cause them to change their stance on a couple of things here, or atleast treat aussie gamers with a bit of respect, because they need us....not the other way around.

So import away! I'll definately be getting an import because I don't really see myself buying much Wii software...so it won't be too much of a hassle.

Jeremy

5 years ago

There's been a lot of hate for Nintendo of Australia lately, some of it substantiated and some not.

However, it should be remembered that a lot of their shortcomings are a direct result of the neglect that they suffer at the hands of Nintendo in Japan. Sure it would be much more reassuring if it appeared that they were actually doing something, rather than appearing like they are sitting on their hands but the truth is that they are heavily restricted by the lack of support from the higher ups.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

The moment NOA fix the crack on my DS-Lite under the warranty then all is forgiven. I don't care about their internal problems, the customer shouldn't have to deal with that... if they do...then the customer is free to take their business elsewhere....which is what I will be doing.

Also since the crack incident I haven't spent a cent on Nintendo.

Nev

5 years ago

DancesInUnderwear wrote

it benefits Nintendo, and Nintendo only

I can just imagine that emblazoned on one of those inspirational posters in Nintendo's head office.

"For Nintendo's benefit, and Nintendo's only."

- beside the other one that reads:

"MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!!"

LeonJ

5 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

Haha, your a tough man Boot. It's just a small crack!

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

^Man, don't even go there.I'm being serious.

I love ya ugh that's why i haven't said anything about you and your crack(heh) since.......that day.......