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Wii to be Region Free

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the wiiiiii dept.

Chris Kohler is making it a point to single out the fact that, like its cousin the DS, the Wii is to be Region-free. They also discuss how Virtual Console titles will associated with a console owner, and some details on the Opera browser. From the article: "Like the Nintendo DS, the Wii will be able to play games from other regions, such as Japan, without any restriction. Kaplan implied there might be a region lock that publishers would be able to flip on, but it doesn't sound like the first-party titles from Nintendo will be restricted."

6 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. Analogy time by truedfx · · Score: 4, Informative

    Regular DVD players aren't region-free just because there exist DVDs suitable for all regions, right?

  2. Re:I think we have a winner by Maul · · Score: 4, Informative

    No console released after the SNES had more than one controller, nor has any console after the SNES had a pack-in game at launch. Only one controller is the industry standard nowadays, and giving us a game with the thing is more generous than Sony or Microsoft have ever been. Remember that Sony is charging $600 for their console, which will no doubt only have one controller.

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    "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

  3. Re:aside from hurting your own sales... by pixel_bc · · Score: 4, Informative

    Traditionally, region encoding was implemented because sometimes a developer would use different publishers for different regions.

    Not so common anymore.

  4. Re:I think we have a winner by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 3, Informative

    I thought the GameCube controller can also be used? I've got about three of those.

    So just because it only comes with one Wiimote control set (paddle plus wand), you should still be able to play Animal Crossing until the new one comes out.

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    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  5. Missing from the summary: Controller prices by bomanbot · · Score: 3, Informative

    What the summary forgot to mention was a confirmation of the prices for additional controllers:

    $40 for additional Wii Remotes and $20 for additional Wii Nunchucks

    Well, thats not really cheap, especially the Remote+Nunchuck Combo, but about what I expected. It will be quite expensive to buy the full set for four players, I guess...

  6. Re:I'll believe it when it happens... by aliquis · · Score: 3, Informative

    I would have to call BS on this one. Just because blu-ray video discs will be region encoded doesn't mean all games will have that "feature" in case Sony doesn't want it. Also they can probably just ignore the region encoding bit aswell if it really is there on all discs. The PS3 will be region free for games.