Wii upholds Cube region lock

By Tom Bramwell Published 3 October, 2006

More on VC, peripherals, too.

Nintendo UK has confirmed to Eurogamer that the Wii's region locking will extend to GameCube games.

A company spokesperson also said that Virtual Console game releases would not be universal - in other words, European gamers will get European versions of the games.

The news paints a slightly clearer picture of the circumstances surrounding Wii's backwards compatibility in the run-up to the console's 8th December launch.

The console is known to be compatible with all GameCube software, and peripherals including controllers and memory cards, while Virtual Console will deliver titles from systems including NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64, Megadrive and TurboGrafx at the rate of around 10 per month.

In answering our queries, culled from some of your recent forum threads, Nintendo also said that it expects to release RGB and component video cables that fit current pricing models.

It declined to comment on recent reports, supposedly surfacing in Nintendo Power, that Virtual Console will also host Commodore 64 games in future.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (103) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Dr.Mott #1 5 years ago

    FIRST!!! We all know how shit our versions of games usually were. This is quite depressing. :(

  • Stakker #2 5 years ago

    Oh no :-( PAL versions of games often still suck, but back in the 8/16-bit days they were much worse... Only a few games were properly ported to PAL, the rest just ran too slow and sometimes had some graphics issues. Usually even the music runs too slow too thanks to realtime synth chips and syncing to screen refresh. (This is true in almost all cartridge-based games.) The slower frame rate is also very noticeable in PAL versions of N64 games, because the frame rates are often really low by today's standards.

    I wonder if I can get the Virtual Console to work if I import an NTSC Wii...? Anybody happen to know anything about this? (Wishful thinking :-)

  • Hench #3 5 years ago

    What? So the wii is region locked only to gamecube games? Why do that?

  • ProtoformX #4 5 years ago

    There's not much point in region-locking these days. A few years ago, it made sure that people in different marketing territories had to wait for the products to arrive in their area before they could play them. But now with the Internet and everything, you can easily get an Action Replay, Freeloader, etc. Or even just import a foreign version of the console.
    I'll still be patient and buy European though. It seems that whenever I buy anything from overseas I get hit with such disproportionately large customs fees that the imported product ends up being more expensive than the European version.

  • ekko #5 5 years ago

    Screw you Nintendo UK for fucking everything it up and giving us over priced and late shoddy products. You might have gotten away with this 5-10 years ago but you can't these days, it's a global industry. Don't you wonder why Nintendo never does as well in Europe? Because you treat us like shit.

    Fuck it, I'm going US.

    /gets back onto the special brew.

  • Hog-lumps #6 5 years ago

    Nintendo UK has confirmed to Eurogamer that the Wii's region locking will extend to GameCube games.

    Does this mean region locking ONLY applies to gamecube (and virtual) games - is that right? I.e will the Wii games be region free? it's not clear to me anyway!

  • NegativeZero #7 5 years ago

    There goes my Wii preorder completely. Fuck you, Nintendo.

  • Cappy #8 5 years ago

    Thats a pity. On the N64 the States got a few games Europe missed out on like Harvest Moon and Ogre Battle which would have been nice to finally see. On the SNES we are missing Chronotrigger and a lot of other classics.

    A PAL only Virtual Console has very little appeal actually. I'll just haul my old consoles out of the cupboard if I get the urge thanks.

  • Hog-lumps #9 5 years ago

    So if the wii games themselves ARE region free, isn't it better to get an american console so you can play the non-european virtual games? Afterall, it will probably be cheaper to import than buy one over here anyway!

  • Nobuo #10 5 years ago

    "Does this mean region locking ONLY applies to gamecube (and virtual) games - is that right? I.e will the Wii games be region free? it's not clear to me anyway!"

    The word "extend" makes it seem like the Cube region lock comes in conjunction with a Wii one to me. Which is a pity I suppose, I'm not entirely sure I understand the reasons in favour of region locking but in this day and age it seems quite pointless.

  • Aretak #11 5 years ago

    "Does this mean region locking ONLY applies to gamecube (and virtual) games - is that right? I.e will the Wii games be region free? it's not clear to me anyway!"

    Nintendo confirmed some time ago that Wii games will be region locked.

  • Toothball #12 5 years ago

    Wii games are region coded. They announced that a while back: http://ww w.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...

    Edit: Three at once? That must be a record?
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 09:13

  • spongebob #13 5 years ago

    Cube will die anyway in a few years so why on earth they would still retain the region lock? Damn haters.

    And region coding Virtual Console games? That's just plain stupid. Stupid stupid stupid.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 09:16

  • Cappy #14 5 years ago

    The Wii games are not region free. Where has this misinformation been coming from?

    /Kicks the internet

    Nothing is region free. Confirmed in this very article, Wii games, Gamecube, you name it. All region locked. If you buy a Wii from the States you are locking out content from Europe and visa versa. Its likely an equivalent to Freeloader won't be seen for 18 months minimum, or it could be even longer. Region Locking is getting more sophisticated every time.

  • Darren #15 5 years ago

    I was looking forward to downloading Wave Race 64 on the Wii Virtual Console but if it's the poorly optimised PAL versions with those HUUUGGGEEE borders and slower framerate then I don't think I'll bother.

    It really sucks to live in a PAL territory doesn't it... what with the Xbox 360's VGA compatibility issues with certain backward compatible Xbox games (as well as that stupid 60Hz thing with some 360 games requiring you to change the standard definition video mode to 60Hz in order to play games in hi-def!) and now this news.

    *sigh*

    I suppose the fact remains that I'm mainly buying the Wii mostly for its own games not retro titles but it's still disappointing news.

  • Nomgle #16 5 years ago

    Erm, why aren't you all just importing your Wii consoles from the US ?

    If you don't like the PAL-restrictions, then don't buy one ! You're free to get your Wii from any supplier you like :)

    > There goes my Wii preorder completely. Fuck you, Nintendo.

    Now that's just ridiculous.
    If you want the American versions, then BUY ONE ! Nobody says you have to get the EuroWii !
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 09:32

  • Eighthours #17 5 years ago

    So they're going to release component cables. Good. But at launch?

  • Blerk #18 5 years ago

    That's.... depressing. Everyone buying a US machine, then?

  • Bitkari #19 5 years ago

    The long march of globalisation is being dragged along by the feet of the consumer.

    Beware.

  • Cappy #20 5 years ago

    Erm, why aren't you all just importing your Wii consoles from the US ?

    If you don't like the PAL-restrictions, then don't buy one ! You're free to get your Wii from any supplier you like :)

    Because locking out Europe when you live in Europe isn't exactly great either. Nintendo will no doubt make some efforts to stop users from getting Virtual Console content from outside their region. There are plenty of other problems also like none of your PAL Gamecube software working, meaning you have to cram the Gamecube in next to the Wii and whatever else you have. Oh, and consoles from the States only have a six week warranty. Nice.

  • andrewwd #21 5 years ago

    Does this mean that we won't be getting any PC Engine/Turbografx games? The Turbografx was never 'officially' released over here.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 10:28

  • Kelduum #22 5 years ago

    Oh, and consoles from the States only have a six week warranty. Nice.

    I bought a Jap DS on release, and it has a stuck pixel. Once they launched here, I called Ninty up, and they quoted me £27 to get a replacement DS, no matter what had happened to mine, even though it was from japan.

    Its not like the Wii is a 360, either - lot less to go wrong in there than the 360s, with not quite enough thermal paste, cooking their GPUs.

  • peterfll #23 5 years ago

    Bllocks.

    I have an US Gamecube with a large collections of games. So I will be buying a US Wii now, and cancelling my UK Wii pre-order.

    I was actually looking forward to being on an equal footing for once with my Nintendo platform, like it is for the 360. You know, the 360 games here run in the same optimised fashion as the US, and if I feel like picking up a game on a whim from a shop I can do.

    Now I'm back to importing, and my US Wii will go on to join my US GC, N64 and SNES.

    Thanks Nintendo, you're lucky your games are worth the extra effort, but this is really backward in this day and age, and your European arm should be ashamed of themselves.

  • tomwhitaker #24 5 years ago

    I'm not sure that this story should be cause for all the concerns people are having. We may get English-language versions but will they necessarily be the craply-optimised PAL releases that were sold on cartridge in this country?

  • peterfll #25 5 years ago

    Well, I wouldn't trust Nintendo at all on this point. They're previous record on optimisation is pretty crap.

    What is easier for them? Optimise Virtual Console releases for the European market? Or flog them in their current state?

    Whay annoys me is they should be investing the time and money on regional lockout on PAL optimisation.

    Blimey, this has really wound me up. I thought Nintendo were turning the corner with regards to Europe......

  • Cappy #26 5 years ago

    The difference is that the DS is recognised by Nintendo as a region free console. The Wii isn't. And it doesn't sound that great when you have to pay £27.

    I've had plenty of experience of their service with my Gamecube. Three times in fact. They try every trick in the book, you actually have to lie and tell them you never use third party memory cards or thats an excuse for not fixing a broken DVD-Rom. By the time my fourth Gamecube was dying I had already invested in the tools to crack the case and solve the problem myself without the hassle of dealing with them. Getting told off for playing imports was not exactly what I expected when I ring them up to get my console fixed.

    Don't expect any help from Nintendo Europe for imported Wii's.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 10:48

  • Skeletor #27 5 years ago

    Region locking sucks big time! Especially when it comes to 8 and 16Bit soft, many PAL titles back then ran at a slower speed and/or had black bars. I had a bootleg NES from Hong Kong in order to play US games and I modded my Mega Drive in order to play MK and Thunder Force IV in original speed without black boarders. I seriously hope Nintendo gives those old games some kind of overhaul or otherwise I'll just stick to my good ol PC emulators.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 10:49

  • Pooley #28 5 years ago

    Hang on then, is this correct...

    My GC was a US version, and I have lots of US games, I also have a Freeloader for the odd UK game that I've bought here.

    Are you saying that if I buy a UK Wii, I won't be able to use my US GC games?

    If this is correct, I'll have to cancel my UK Wii preorder and go buy from the US! Ridiculous!!!

    This can't be right, can it?

  • Pooley #29 5 years ago

    @Cappy

    You've had bad luck with your GC. My GC has worked faultlessly from day 1 and I've never had problems with it during extended gaming sessions. This is why I prefer consoles over playing games on a PC, zero hassle.

    What problems have you had with it?

  • peterfll #30 5 years ago

    Yes Pooley, it seems so.

    I have literally just cancelled my Wii preorder with Play.com and submitted a fresh one with dvdboxoffice.com in Canada.

  • Cappy #31 5 years ago

    DVD-Rom died every single time. Its easy to fix if you have the right tools but not something you would do if its still under warranty.

  • karlidog #32 5 years ago

    Eurogamer, please, please do what no other site or magazine seems willing to do and interview Nintendo Europe about this stuff. Sit them down and literally ask them why they're intent on treating us so badly.

    Ask them why certain DS games have had six months between their US and UK releases, why they've decided Europe isn't allowed progressive scan output from the Wii (assuming the emails people have had from Nintendo's associate company are correct and we aren't getting it - a bit of clarification there would be nice, Nintendo) and why they're apparently giving us slow, bordered downloadable games they're quite happily sitting on full-speed, full-screen versions of.

    Don't let them talk about how great the Wii is or how many DSes they've sold to the elderly until they explain what the fuck is going on.

  • brainbird #33 5 years ago

    Nintendo could get away with region locking on the Wii (like all console manufacturers, unfortunately), but for the retro downloads? That's just ridiculous. We'll dust the old games off and play "super probotector" instead of "super contra" again on the SNES, thanks.

    And +1 for what andrewwd said. What about the PC-Engine, Nintendo? Thanks for nothing (again).

  • Pooley #34 5 years ago

    @peterfll

    Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

    Why? FFS why?

    This is so dumb, thanks a lot Nintendo. Way to go to alienate the hardcore supporters of your systems.

    This has, for the first time, really made me question my decision to get a Wii. Zelda on launch day kind of made my mind up for me that I had to have one, but I'm sorry as now I'm seriously considering cancelling my preorder and just getting the GC Zelda when it's released.

    I'm going to have to go and think about this.

    So, so unnecessary...

  • Matsuo #35 5 years ago

    Nintendo is losing momentum ever since their worldwide conference huh? Nothing major news there actually and with each consecutive clarification, it just gets worse, doesnt it?

    Region locking the Wii games are to be expected, still sucks though. But region locking VC games? Hell no! I want my Castlevania: Blood of Rondo on the PCE, Sin & Punishment on the N64 and the NTSC version of Wave Race 64, not the slowdowned en bordered PAL version.

    Here's hoping they're gonna optimize the games this time and translation the odd gem for the European market. Wishful thinking huh...?

  • Pooley #36 5 years ago

    Wow. Just checked prices on dvdboxoffice, and the Wii is significantly cheaper! £136.50 compared to £179.99 in UK. Anyone know how much the import duties would be?

    Best news of all is that the GC Zelda is only £30. So including postage, hang on I've just checked and it includes free airmail shipping. Sorry Game, looks like you've just lost my preorder.

    Thanks for the tip, peterfll.

    Does anyone know how the Virtual Console work in this situation? If I do decide to buy a US Wii, but I'm connected in the UK, would you be accessing the UK Wii VC or the US one? So many questions...

    Oh, and to Nintendo UK - goodbye... /waves

  • Pacman8MyGhostkart #37 5 years ago

    If I cried over things like this I would, but tbh I thought region free Nintendo gaming in Europe with all the trimmings (60Hz from the get go, Chrono Trigger running on a UK console) was far too good to be true. The DS Lite was my first PAL console bought on launch day since the Super Nintendo because it was REGION FREE, safe in the knowledge I wouldn't have to mess about with convertors and passports and that other nonsense. I guess it's an import Wii to go with my Panasonic Q. In all honesty all region coding does nowadays is hurt European consumers, the Japanese could mostly give a stuff about non-Japanese games, America gets most of the good J-RPGS and niche titles so for them it matters a little but for us in Europe it's like being bummed in the gob.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 11:43

  • chupachups #38 5 years ago

    Region locking the Wii games on the Wii might or might not have benefits to Nintendo, but how does region locking the GameCube games on the Wii help them? The Cube will be a dead console for most of the Wii's life, so it's not like they'd be affected by locking one way or another.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 11:48

  • Dexter #39 5 years ago

    I second karlidog's call for a decent interview with NoE. We want answers!

    At this rate I may have to get a US Wii as well as my UK one :/

    @Pooley, if you get caught by customs (and you probably will), they'll stick 17.5% VAT on top of that. You'll also get charged an 'admin fee' by the courier for paying it on your behalf at the point of entry into the UK.

  • Royal Fool #40 5 years ago

    Okay, now I'm pissed.

  • peterfll #41 5 years ago

    @ karlidog, brainbird, chupachups, Dexter ++++1

    I couldn't have put it better.

    Come on Tom, if you're really reading this you need to give NoE a real hard time over this. Don't pander to pre-launch PR campaign/

    @pooley

    Yes, as specified, you run the risk of being caught at Customs. My PSP from the US passed through OK last year, but the risk of getting caught is still high. If you get caught as correctly pointed out - you'll be charged the 17.5% + an admin fee.

    I also had no idea the Eurpoean Wii won't support progressive scan. That alone would have had me ordering a US model.

    NoE - shame shame shame on you, clearly you know very little about the market and what matters.

  • spongebob #42 5 years ago

    I don't understand why Nintendo would region lock games that will be released through Internet. It makes no sense at all.

    XBLA games are not region locked. PC games (Steam or any other games you can buy online) are not region locked. It's just not in the nature of the whole damn thing to do so.

    Virtual Console. Hah. People are going to go back to homebrew retrogaming fast if Nintendo doesn't fix this.

  • peterfll #43 5 years ago

    "I don't understand why Nintendo would region lock games that will be released through Internet. It makes no sense at all. "

    Because quite clearly Nintendo are unaware that the market has moved on in the past 5 years. They clearly think applying a 5 year old marketing strategy will still work.

    Their continued ignorance makes me choke.

  • gamingdave #44 5 years ago

    I think a lot of you are reading thigns that are not there.

    Component: In the article it says that they WILL be releasing a component cable. This would say to me that Wii games will be in prog scan, but that PAL Cube games will not, just as they wern't on the Cube. The games were not made to run in prog scan in the first place in PAL regions.

    Playing US Cube games on a PAL Wii: Not really suprised that the region lock still exists on Cube software, though it really shouldnt be needed. But if the PAL Wii's Cube mode is the same as a PAL Cube, then the freeloader should still work, so you can play your NTSC Cube games on a PAL Wii the same way you would on a PAL Cube (using a freeloader).

    The VC issue: This is a worry, I dont want PAL (bordered and slow) versions of all my VC games, but saying we will get "European versions" does not neccaserily meen we will get the original versions, but maybe newly optimised ones. Still its a bit disapointing, as others have pointed out, not all games are released in all regions, and because of that theres stuff on the VC many PAL gamers wont have played and so would download. Worth pointing out though that Live Arcade varys from region to region, not all content is global.

    More clarification is needed all round, but im not cancelling the preorder just yet.

  • kenty #45 5 years ago

    EUROGAMER PLEASE PLEASE find out from your Nintendo 'spokesperson' what exactly they meant by 'European versions of the VC games'.
    Does this mean horrible slow bordered PAL ROMS? Or will they run at 60hz? We need to know, this is really important because if true then many people will be forced to import a US Wii if they want to play VC games as they were originally intended (fullscreen, and more importantly: fullspeed)

  • Caimbeul #46 5 years ago

    Good lord. you think they would have learnt by now. X360 region coding is at developer discretion, PS3 (as far as I understand) will be region free for Games and Nintendo's very DS is region free and part of its phenomenal success is due this very fact.

    There is absolutely no justification that Nintendo can offer against the following decisions:

    1) No Progressive Scan for PAL - WTF!!!??? isn't this the age of HD? a vast number of TV's capable of displaying a progressive image - I would have understood this if we were still in the 16-bit era but not now. This alone would make me buy a US version over a UK any day (my UK Wii pre-order has been cancelled BTW Nintendo). They do not actually have to disable progressive scan, all they need to do is sell the cable separately, if people can and want to run it in Prog-scan they can simply buy the cable. it costs absolutely nothing for Nintendo to allow this. not one fcuking penny - cables work anywhere and indeed they would make a lot of money out of it as most people would want the best possible picture available.

    2) Region locking GC Games - for the love of god are you insane? virtually no shops (with the exception of Game's single shelf at the back of the store on the left) sell GC games anymore anyway and barely anyone makes games for it either. What sense is there is restricting the very people who supported you and who are the very reason you are still around by fucking them over like this?

    3)Region locking and/or PAL versions for Virtual Console. Digital distribution should NOT, I repeat NOT be subject to regional coding, I goes against the very principles of the system. Why on earth should we pay for shitty PAL versions of games when the NTSC versions were so much better? Why not just distribute the one version globally, that way everyone is happy. Also why should we miss out on games that were never released here eg: Chrono Trigger & PC Engine/ TurboGrafx games?

    How about we all buy second hand consoles and get out games that way and Nintendo get fuck all money from it? A better I idea for all concerned is just to release the best version globally and leave it at that and do not region lock it.

    4)Finally, Region locking the Wii - in this day and age it really is a STUPID thing to do. again no reason for it but is not the end of the world IF (and this is a big IF) releases are done globally (at least as far as the UK and US are concerned) and the option for both full and PAL speed is available along with Prog-scan.

    - - - We are paying more than anyone in the world for the console and its games - why should we then be treated like this on top of it? - I have had nothing but praise and admiration for the Wii since it was announce ages ago, I have raved about how great it is going to be to all who would listen and today I have had that all completely destroyed in one foul swoop by Nintendo themselves.

    I WILL BE STARTING AN ON-LINE PETITION TO HAVE THESE MATTERS RESOLVED BEFORE RELEASE (not that it will make much difference given Nintendo attitude towards UK/Europe) and post a link once done.

    Also to Eurogamer -> I also would like to see an interview with Nintendo facing Harsh questioning over their idiotic decisions.

    I really hate Sony and their arrogance but today at the moment I really hope they kick the shit out of Nintendo now (unless they reverse their decisions)

  • varsas #47 5 years ago

    @karlidog: I think the main reason for US to UK delays is that the UK gets the European release i.e. the translations to French, Germand, Spanish etc... need to be included. However 6 months is a bit long considering translation can be done in parallel with production...

    @Pooley: From the sounds of it we can't use non PAL games on the PAL Wii console.

    Personally I think this is incredibly idiotic because the main reason for the lock is to make sure consumers buy games from their region BUT we're talking about playing games we have already bought w.r.t. GC games...what's the point? It's not affecting sales!?!

  • Scribble #48 5 years ago

    I placed my Wii preorder today.

    I think I'll not be cancelling.

    Because despite the lack of progressive scan, the 50Hz VC games, the late Euro games... One thing scares me more...

    I'm thinking Nintendo can lock Wii Connect24 by IP block, so the UK IPs can use the EU Wii Connect service. I'd be afraid to get a US/JP Wii in case it turns out all the online stuff gets disabled. It'd be easy enough to do and no one could suggest Nintendo aren't dumb enough to do it!

  • ecureuil #49 5 years ago

    Scribble - exactly. I haven't cancelled my pre-order.

    People who cancelled today and placed a pre-order on a US system are playing a dangerous game. It'd be simple for them to lock an imported system from going online, I'm going to have to wait and see before I cancel my order.

  • peterfll #50 5 years ago

    @Scribble

    I agree this is a risk, and I weighed it up against playing inferior PAL conversions and still the decision to go with a US came out winning. The majority of my time on the Wii will be spent on playing offline games from disc, as much as I'll be majoorly agrrieved in I find I'm locked out of the Connect24 service.

    However, I agree with you in that I would not be surprised one bit if Nintendo decided to lock based on IP address. Why not? They committed almost every other sin in the regional lock out book of tricks.

    I have no idea if there are ways around it; I believe there are, but would need to find out.

    @Caimbeul

    I hear your pain. Post your link to your petition, I for one will sign it.

  • darkphoenix #51 5 years ago

    Nintendo is evil.
    They really want to keep hurting European consumers.

    They can shove PAL Wii right up their arse...

  • Psi #52 5 years ago

    very very very bad news :(

    christ on a bike, this must be essential or something, dist rights payments or summik. why would they screw us over!!

    im in the situation where i MUST have prog scan on my wii. I'm not gonna settle for less than that!

    but i have uk cube games!... bastards!

    i'll keep my pre-order on there, or until there are clear details on what the problems are.

    so it's us wii with prog scan decent classic games with the risk of no online service
    or
    uk wii with no prog scan hacked classic games with uk online service...

    honestly still getting one at launch but there is already a bitter taste in my mouth if above is true.

  • jimbob101 #53 5 years ago

    @ Kalidog

    Fat chance. They just like every other publisher/manufacturer wouldn't agree to it. If EG tried to to sneak the questions into interview they would be brushed over, and EG wouldn't get an interview again. But with all video game interviews full of soft questions, they're dull, therefore unread and a waste of every one's time.

  • peterfll #54 5 years ago

    Yep, you've summed it up quite nicely.

    US Machine: Fully optimised games. 480p support. Slighter cheaper (discounting any import duties). MAY not work online if so no VC titles (!)

    UK: Machine: 576i support only. PAL titles may run without opitimisation. More expensive. However, will work online albeit may have crappy VC titles from the "European Black Borders and Slow Running" Nintendo catalogue.

    I've just realised that one needs two Wii's - clearly that's the answer isn't it Nintendo?

  • karlidog #55 5 years ago

    I agree that the possibility they'll lock out the online stuff is a bit of a worry, although realistically I'd be absolutely floored if Nintendo US did it - there's so little gain in it for them, and I imagine it'd require a daft amount of effort on their part.

    To be honest, I wouldn't advise anyone to go for either region until next year. Nintendo's good old slack-brained policy of secrecy about their hardware means there's not a chance in hell I'd buy a Wii at launch. There are too many unknowns, and I don't want to be fooled into buying a crippled console. Give it a couple of months for the dust to settle, and if there's a clear winner out of the two regions, that's the one I'll get. If the choice really is between a UK console with late releases, interlaced output and broken VC games or a US one with no online service, they can fuck right off until the modders come up with a way to get the best of both worlds.

    This is so, so shit. I'm a big fan of Nintendo games, and I'd absolutely love to be sitting here with a pre-order and getting excited about playing Zelda and Excite Truck on day one, but I like to at least vaguely know what I'll be getting when I buy something, and with the Wii that just doesn't seem possible yet.

  • smelly #56 5 years ago

    Me thinks there are some sony/msoft fanboys in this thread claiming this news has somehow stopped them buying a wii?

    Of course they're going to be region locked! They're trying to keep it user friendly and understandable to everyone!

    If some little old granny downloads snes mario, she'll want it to work straight away, she wont understand that it wont work on her 50hz tv. Or why the version she's downloaded is in japanese will she?

    Dont talk nonsense!

    As for cube games being locked.. Like you dont expect that with the ps3's backward compatibility? Or indeed the ps2? I wont mention the 360's back compat as it's pretty much non existent anyways.

    As for importing a US wii.. I think you'll be a bit disapointed when you try to take it online!!!

    As for me.. I'm moving to the states in 2 weeks.. so HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHA

    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 14:16

  • peterfll #57 5 years ago

    @Smelly.

    Good for you - pss off to the Staes you smug git - you will be banned from posting on EUROgamer hencewith!

    OK, you're right, for the most part. The situation re: backward comp with the 360 and PS3 is not going to be much better. HAVING SAID THAT. MS have produced a UK console that works with games from multi regions just fine - I download from Xbox Live using UK and US accounts.

    I really doubt it has anything to do with keeping things "understandable and safe" and more to do with using an old, outdated marketing policy.

    @karlidog

    I can't disagree with a word you've said, although I have succumbed to early adopter addiction (yet again dammit!).

  • karlidog #58 5 years ago

    Smelly, are you really saying there's no way Nintendo - sitting there looking at their archive with an unoptimised PAL Waverace and the original US version - couldn't somehow manage to offer UK gamers the US version instead? It's still in English, it'll look and play much better than the PAL one for the majority of people who have a telly that supports 60hz, and given that the PAL version was unoptimised, if Granny's left the console defaulted to 50hz it'll run exactly the bloody same as the one they released here!

    Or - and here's a thought - why not offer both? NES, SNES and N64 games are not big files - just give us both versions, and have the console pick the relevant one for the user's output settings. Or put the US and Japanese ones behind a 'pro gamers' section or something to warn Granny off, and everyone's happy. All it would take is a small effort on Nintendo Europe's part. If it's a licensing issue, where are the first-party developed and published games?

    As for the online stuff, correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I'm aware a console manufacturer has never, ever blocked connections to their online service originating from a different country to the console's region. You could import PS2 FFXI, you could use Live on the Xbox, you can use a US 360, US DS games and US PSP games. There've been issues with non-US credit cards in the past, but we know you can buy points cards for the Wii anyway. This whole 'will it work online?' business with the Wii is nothing but a paranoid rumour, as far as I can see. So yeah, while I wouldn't necessarily tell anyone not to worry at all, I don't expect importers will be disappointed at all when they try to take their consoles online, thanks.

  • ]Gangsta[ #59 5 years ago

    Region lock on GCN software - how stupid is that?
    That's lame...

    December? that's lame , but 250 E ? Are you out of your fuckin mind Nintendo?

    Europe says: F U C K U TOO !!
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 15:14

  • gamingdave #60 5 years ago

    Smelly I agree with you. Definately some fanboys in here just posting rubbish. Peterfll, you say you have a US Cube/64/Snes, so why are you so bothered. just play your old games on those.

    Anyone complaining that their PAL Cube games wont run in prog scan on the Wii, well they didint on the Cube either did they?

    We dont know if VC games will or wont be optimised yet.

    Reading between the lines, they have said they are releasing a component cable for the PAL Wii, which would suggest PAL Wii games run in prog scan.

  • spongebob #61 5 years ago

    What they should do is keep the VC (why didn't they call it WC or something to go with the whole Wii theme) games region free and give people the option to buy any version they want when they go online.

    If a person knows English he/she can buy the NTSC VC game, if a person knows Japanese he/she can buy the JAP PAL VC game. If the person doesn't know these languages, he/she could wait for the European release.

    I guess in the end it boils down to the fact that Nintendo is a small company and they need to control their market to survive.

    Doesn't mean that people are going to love it when some VC games will never see the light of the day in Europe or will be released here 6 months later than USA.

  • gumshoe #62 5 years ago

    Do you think my japanese GC games will work on U.S. Wii ???

  • smelly #63 5 years ago

    Its not as if either the cube or wii take up much space. If yer THAT bothered about keeping your foreign cube games. Keep your cube.

    Having both the cube and the wii under your tv is still going to take up less space than a ps3.. :-)

  • smelly #64 5 years ago

    @Zero_Cool : I think you've mistaken the word "nintendo" for "sony".

    Easily done though.

  • peterfll #65 5 years ago

    @ Smelly and gamingdave

    I want to play my GC games through one console that is capable of doing it (i.e. a Wii) but clearly this isn't going to work for me as it has been specifically locked so it can't.

    I don't want a Wii and GC connected up to my 42" plasma - I have already run out of connections what with my 360, DVD, Sky HD et al.

    There's a convenience issue here and - as I think I've already said - I would be interested in buying N64 \ SNES games that I never bought or have resold years ago, but might pay a fiver for again now. This should be great news for Nintendo.

    I want to play these games on the one machine, on my 42" plasma, with one set of controllers and one set of leads. The damn Wii has been designed for this purpose!

    I'm pissed because Nintendo clearly have they heads stuck further in the ground on this issue than - well - at least MS who have sorted out their UK console so it gives us equally optimised games AND I can get online to XBox Live with a US account if I really want to from here in the UK. With Sony - only time will tell..... I actually don't have a huge back catalogue of PS2 games hence I can't get pissed with them in the same way although the sentiment is exactly the same should they use the same draconian measures with the PS3.

    Heck, I never thought I'd say this but it even pisses me off more than the BC issue with the 360. And I thought MS had done a pretty piss-poor effort on that. But I really believe we *might* have seen a different Nintendo, one that was committed more to Europe. News likes this proves things haven't changed that much.

  • Pooley #66 5 years ago

    Well, I've still not made my mind up whether to cancel my Wii preorder or not. I find it difficult to believe that they would block UK IP's for the US VC service, but on the evidence of what they've done with GC region lockouts, there is a possibility it could happen.

    480p or 576i - in this purely down to the connecting cables, or do the UK PAL Wii's use a different chipset that therefore does not support 480p?

    C'mon Nintendo - you called the damn console "Wii", meaning "for everyone". I think you're being a bit harsh with some of these decisions.

  • Chim_chimma_nee! #67 5 years ago

    You're really pushing your luck now you lovable but annoying company.
    I wish I could stay angry at you but...meh.

  • peterfll #68 5 years ago

    @ Pooley

    No, internally the Wii's will be globally indentical i.e. natively they all will be able to support 480p. Nintendo will localise the machines for each region via the firmware i.e. whether the 480p option is available or not. If it is enabled, it's then up to each game disc whether it supports 480p or not, so down to the developers and publishers.

    Easy to understand eh?!

  • twinbee #69 5 years ago

    Does this mean that PAL VC games will giant borders? :(

  • ekko #70 5 years ago

    If Nintendo can do things two ways, one which doesn't screw European gamers and one which does - which one does it usually choose?

  • secombe #71 5 years ago

    Surely Virtual Console games will be based on the territory you are trying to download them in. I can't imagine if you have a US Wii that it will automatically download the US game for you, as I'm sure NoE will have different titles etc on the VC in Europe and we wouldn't even see the US titles.

    So I don't see the benefit in getting a US/JAP Wii really, unless you purely want to play games from that territory. Annoyingly 75% of my GC games are Japanese, so not only can I not play them, but based on that fact I assumed I would be importing lots of Japanese Wii games, but it looks like I won't!

  • Pooley #72 5 years ago

    Depressingly, I think I will cancel my preorder, there are just too many unanswered questions for my liking. Anyway, there's a good chance they're not going to sell out as Nintendo seem to have plenty available, so a preorder may not be necessary. I'll wait until some people have got the console, or it's a bit closer to launch and the VC questions have been answered.

    So, anyone know when the US GC Zelda is out? Least he'll be holding his sword in the correct hand. ;-)

    It was so much fun to get my US GC on import a few days after it was launched, looks like I'm gonna miss out this time.

  • smelly #73 5 years ago

    Oh dear. Are you guys really serious?

    sometimes I wonder about people I really do.

  • gamingdave #74 5 years ago

    peterfll, PAL Cubes are not firmware locked to not play in prog scan, its an option when creating the disk. Thats why on a PAL cube with freeloader you can get NTSC games running in prog scan.

    Why why why do you assume Nintendo will teritory lock the online servce, when as you say MS dont on the 360. And considering you say you have imported all your older consoles why is this an issue at all to you?

    And your still ranting as if Nintendo have said that the PAL Wii wont do prog scan, and they havent said that at all. The very fact they are releasing the component lead suggests they are, they didnt release that lead for the Cube.

  • Pooley #75 5 years ago

    Yeah, we're serious. Well, at least until we actually get a Wii and start waving our arms around whilst playing games.

    I would prefer a US Wii now, specifically so I can still play my US GC games (40 or so) without having to have *another* box under the TV.

    But the slight issue of VC access is a concern...

  • haowan #76 5 years ago

    yep, US Wii all the way... pending online fun confirmation

  • technofranki #77 5 years ago

    This was not good. Nintendo would not loose anything if they made the Wii region free. If you import a game, they get your money in any case.

    I hope Nintendo will change their minds. Some games are only released in other regions.

    --------------
    You can also read my blog post about this matter at:
    http://technofranki .blogspot.com

  • yagisencho #78 5 years ago

    I was really hoping to pack the CUBE away when Wii is released. But now I guess it'll sit right next to its sibling. The real bummer though is that I'll likely need to pick up a Japanese Wii as well. At least they're thin.

  • Nikanoru #79 5 years ago

    So. Who's to say the Cube Freeloader won't work on the Wii? Stop pissing your pants in panic, jesus christ.

    And the VC is an emulator for gods sake, all retro games are going to run in fullscreen! I mean, unless they're going to go out of their way to actually add the borders in emulation.

    And you know what? I'm willing to bet the games will just be running at 60hz too. I don't know if any of you own a SNES console with a 50/60hz switch, but almost all PAL games work perfectly when sped up to 60hz.


    Cancelling preorders.....hah.



    Only a few games were properly ported to PAL, the rest just ran too slow and sometimes had some graphics issues. Usually even the music runs too slow too thanks to realtime synth chips and syncing to screen refresh. (This is true in almost all cartridge-based games.)

    ROFL. Stop talking out of your ass, self proclaimed little expert you. Music has always run at the same speed regardless of region. The SPU's are never over- or underclocked. Amd graphics issues? Bullshit.

    The slower frame rate is also very noticeable in PAL versions of N64 games, because the frame rates are often really low by today's standards.

    More ass talk. Many games of that generation ran independent of screen refresh rates, like PC games. And if they didn't, they'd usually (with some exceptions) run at 25 or 30 FPS, just like, oh, Resident Evil 4. Or Shadow of the Colossus, which most of the time runs even more slowly than Mario 64 ever did. So just SFTU already.

  • peterfll #80 5 years ago

    Hi (gaming)dave,

    Yeah, I ranted, I've calmed down a bit since earlier on, a few drinks in front of the TV you know? When it comes down to it, I just don't trust Nintendo.

    I don't really debate anything you said in your last posting. I don't know for 100% sure if the UK Wii will not support progressive, just like I don't know 100% that the online service will or won't be locked down. I just.......... don't trust them.

    I believe the Wii will use firmware like most modern consoles do for localisation, I stick by that.

    I'm not trying to implore others to do the same as me. I was just using the board to vent my frustration. I am going for a US Wii. I hope I'm wrong, and that the Euro Wii will support prog scan and have PAL optimisation etc. That would be the right thing to do.

  • peterfll #81 5 years ago

    @nikanoru

    To me the most important thing is to play games at their best; fully optimised at the best resolution possible. To date this has only been possible out of the box (no swapping disks, no Freeloader) with a US console. To date, all my Nintendo consoles have been imported. So far, I haven't regretted that decision. But, you know, each to their own, I'm certainly not condeming anyone for purchasing a Euro Wii.

    The additional element added by the introduction of the Wii is the VC service. I'll be pissed if I can't use it with my US Wii from the UK. It's a risk I'm willing to take to ensure I'll be getting my games as they were intended to played at full optimisation.

  • smelly #82 5 years ago

    Wooooahhh There!

    PAL is a higher resolution than NTSC.

    According to some of you guys, higher resolutions are more important than framerates.

    So surely having the pal version of these downloadalbe games is preferable, as they're higher res?

    If framerates are more important than better quality graphics, then surely that makes shit loads of 360 games apparently crap?

    Which is it to be?

    :-D

    PS : Congrats to Nikanoru for the best most researched most thought through comment on this thread!
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 22:44

  • peterfll #83 5 years ago

    Evening Smelly.

    :-)

    Oh yep, PAL is superior to NTSC in many ways. Until......... in my experience you arrive at video gaming. Then it's not, it's well below NTSC on the pegging order. IN RESPECT of Nintendo and what their consoles support - to date.

    I would love to agree with you and Nikanoru. But I seriously, I would also love to challenge you to put two GC consoles, one PAL and one NTSC, side by side running their native localised versions, identical output equipment, but with the NTSC model supporting Prog Scan and see what looks best. Clearly from my perspective I'd say the NTSC is going to come out on top.

    Of course, for DVD playback, I'll keep my PAL 576p over NTSC 480 thank you. On this, PAL is the superior format.

    Ooopps, forgot to mention that when it comes to the 360, the PAL and NTSC issue is almost dead with the arrival of the standard HD formats. Hence, I know my 360 games running in 720p or 1080i are going to be the same whether I'm sitting in the US or the UK using a US TV or UK TV.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/06 @ 23:03

  • smelly #84 5 years ago

    >it comes to the 360, the PAL and NTSC issue is almost dead

    Did i say otherwise? Erm, of course unless you're using a standard tv (which lets face it most people still are.. Personally Im not upgrading as I think games look worse on hidef sets - you notice jaggies more, etc, and for standard tv I cant tell the difference when im sat back at a decent distance away from screen.. But erm, I'll shut up on that one as it'll only invoke shit loads of fanboys telling me how wank worthy their 2k purchase was)

  • Nikanoru #85 5 years ago

    I would love to agree with you and Nikanoru. But I seriously, I would also love to challenge you to put two GC consoles, one PAL and one NTSC, side by side running their native localised versions, identical output equipment, but with the NTSC model supporting Prog Scan and see what looks best. Clearly from my perspective I'd say the NTSC is going to come out on top.


    Well I don't know about progressive scan, haven't mentioned it, and I can't say I really care. Like somebody else said, you can see the jaggies better on current gen consoles anyway....but regardless, it'd be foolish to start making any decisions when we don't even know if it'll support it. Although I'm going to go out on a limb and say with both other consoles running in high def and Nintendo receiving some slight criticism on graphics as it is, it seems likely that they would include progressive scan at the very least.

    NES and SNES games, however, would only suffer from it. At 256 x 240 (NES) or 256 x 223 (SNES) you don't want every pixel to be emphasized upon by making it sharper. When running my SNES side to side with an emulator on my PC screen, I know which one I prefer. That is, the one that doesn't amplify the already huge pixels into even more noticable proportions. Regular old TV's (preferably smaller ones) at standard definitions make low res graphics into an image as opposed to ruining them.

    Don't even begin mentioning 2xSai or HQxX or I'll kill you. :(

  • Nikanoru #86 5 years ago

    Something else I just thought of: peterfll, haven't you tried the Cube's RGB cable? My friend has one but I've never seen it in action to be honest. I do own one for the PS1/2 (only because those consoles don't support PAL60 and my TV doesn't support NTSC) and it's very sharp.

  • Stakker #87 5 years ago

    Nikanoru,

    I'm not, in fact, talking out of my ass, but out of years of experience. 8/16-bit cart-based games usually synced everything to screen refresh, including music. This is a well known fact in old school video game music hobbyist circles.

    I ran http://www.kohina.com (the only multi-console old school game music radio on the planet) for over five years and I have a massive collection of old video game music recorded from actual hardware. Not emulation, but real hardware. The current Kohina playlist is over 60 hours. Many of the recordings are made by me personally, many by friends. At Kohina, we always make sure we have proper recordings from Japanese (or US) consoles, because PAL machines usually run the music too slow.

    Nintendo actually was different and managed to make some proper 60Hz ports back in the day, but the situation truly got better really only after CD standardized as the main format. I'm not that familiar with current hardware, but I'd guess that music mostly nowdays runs on its own timer.

    If you wish to find out more about this matter, I suggest you discuss it with some hardcore VGM experts on the kohina.com forum. There's always somebody eager to help.

  • smelly #88 5 years ago

    But pal nes/snes games were higher res than their n64 counterparts.

    And we ALL know that higher res = better - that's why msoft/sony have moved over to hdtv.

    So shut up :-)

  • peterfll #89 5 years ago

    Well, there in finishes my input in debating with you Smelly.

    I can't be doing with "HD denial" for those who don't want or can't afford a HD TV. You're right, I reckon you want to believe HD is rubbish and that I'm desperately wnking over my 42" plasma. Makes you feel better? Cool, whatever rocks your boat. Personaly I think you're talking rubbish, as to my eyes my 360 games look breathtaking. As does my Sky HD.

    Perhaps you got insecure thinking I was criticising Nintendo's decision to stick with Standard Def for now? Nope, I think that's fine too. I was just saying I want a UK Wii to output progressive scan seeing as the damn thing IS capable of doing it. In the meantime, you can continue to patronise me and everyone else who have upgraded to HD if you want. I care not, I wouldn't change my eyes for yours clearly.

    @ Nikatoru

    I have used RGB Scart leads yes. I agree you can get a really great, sharp, colourful image from it. However, on my TV progressive scan component input has a real edge over RGB Scart. You can’t get progressive scan with RGB Scart unfortunately.

  • Scribble #90 5 years ago

    I have a very stupid reason to want component output...

    Progressive scan is NICE, but it's not the real reason I need it.

    I live right beside a giant FM aerial and a giant AM transmitter. All Scart signals in my house have odd rolling diagonal lines across the screen, worse on RGB.

    When I use Component / HDMI - they go away!

  • Psi #91 5 years ago

    there were plus sides Nikanoru running a uk version of maz kart on an imported superfamicom meant that you could get much faster times :D

  • Caimbeul #92 5 years ago

    @ Smelly and Gaming Dave. Grow up, fanboyism is not the issue here. if you knew these forums you would know that most people are gamers. they dont care what format a game is n as long as it is good.

    To all who wish to sign the petition to Ninetendo over these matters you may do so here http://ww w.PetitionOnline.com/Ninty/peti... its a bit lengthy but...
    Edited by 3 at 04/10/06 @ 10:25

  • Nikanoru #93 5 years ago

    Stakker:

    That's great and all. But there are such things as FACTS. One of them being that Neither NES, SNES nor N64 music ran any differently between regions PERIOD. THE END. You must have not really looked at PAL consoles before starting your recordings from japanese systems, or something like that.

    If you don't believe it, go ask people who have reverse engineered the consoles.

    I still play my SNES to this day, btw.


    But pal nes/snes games were higher res than their n64 counterparts.

    What makes you think that?

  • Pooley #94 5 years ago

    @Nikanoru

    Are you sure that the Freeloader will work with the Wii? I'm not sure how Freeloader does it's magic, but I can't help feeling that Nintendo wouldn't want to support this. Until a new version of Freeloader is released of course...

    Has anyone seen the VC in operation? Will it work like the GameBoy emulator for the Cube, in that it displays the game in a windowed box. This may be preferable for old games displayed on bigger screens. Just wondering...

    See, lots of unknowns, which is why I've decided to hold off on the Wii at the moment. As far as cancelling my preorder, why not? Although I believe the Wii will be incredibly popular, I can't really see it selling out at all of my local gaming shops on day 1.

  • paulb_nl #95 5 years ago

    Nikanoru:

    I own different regions of NES/SNES/N64, so I can tell you that your "FACTS" are nonsense.
    Music is played differently between regions.

    You don't believe it?
    Go play PAL Street Fighter 2 on a PAL SNES and then play the USA version on a USA SNES.

    Then tell me if you still think the music is not played differently.

  • secombe #96 5 years ago

    Of course if the DS is anything to go by and Nintendo get their own way and do really really well with the Wii, 99.5% of people are not going to give a damn about regions locks, frame rates, PAL vs NTSC etc etc.

    If the Wii is to be a success it needs to be bought by people who don't care about any of that stuff, people who just want to have fun.

  • knocker #97 5 years ago

    "That's great and all. But there are such things as FACTS. One of them being that Neither NES, SNES nor N64 music ran any differently between regions PERIOD. THE END. You must have not really looked at PAL consoles before starting your recordings from japanese systems, or something like that."

    I love it when people are so damn assertive at the same time as being so damn wrong. As mentioned above Streetfighter two sounded quite bizarre on the PAL version.

  • Nikanoru #98 5 years ago

    Are you sure that the Freeloader will work with the Wii? I'm not sure how Freeloader does it's magic, but I can't help feeling that Nintendo wouldn't want to support this. Until a new version of Freeloader is released of course...

    Since the Wii hardware is made to run Cube games as is, there should be no technical reason it won't work (though there might be some reason I don't know of). Whether they'll explicitly prevent it from working? I hope not. Either way, like you said - if so, I'm sure there will be a new version.


    Nikanoru:

    I own different regions of NES/SNES/N64, so I can tell you that your "FACTS" are nonsense.
    Music is played differently between regions.

    You don't believe it?
    Go play PAL Street Fighter 2 on a PAL SNES and then play the USA version on a USA SNES.

    Then tell me if you still think the music is not played differently.




    I love it when people are so damn assertive at the same time as being so damn wrong. As mentioned above Streetfighter two sounded quite bizarre on the PAL version.


    Wow. One game? ONE game is all you guys base your entire argument upon? As opposed to, oh, the rest of the entire snes library?

    LOL

    I own about 24 PAL SNES games and none of them sound any different whatsoever. Doesn't matter what you think you hear anyway. The SPC700, like I said, is NOT underclocked for PAL and that's the end of it. I don't know what else to tell you.

  • paulb_nl #99 5 years ago

    "Wow. One game? ONE game is all you guys base your entire argument upon? As opposed to, oh, the rest of the entire snes library?"

    I just need one example to let you know you are wrong.
    If the PAL versions sound the same then why is street fighter much slower?

    I dont think you ever compared the sound of your 24 PAL games with the NTSC versions. Or you never tried to run them on an NTSC SNES.

    You are right the SPC is not underclocked for PAL Games but it is synced to the PPU and thats why it runs slower in PAL mode.
    Some PAL games were adjusted to run like their NTSC versions like mario world.

  • Nikanoru #100 5 years ago

    Ever try to run games on a console whose region they don't belong on? You get desync. That's right. The music runs at the same speed and the game speed changes.

    Of course, normally this isn't a problem as in game music usually loops arbitrarily anyway. But in certain sequences like intros where events happen to cues in the music you'll notice it right away. Take FF6 for example, if you trun it on a PAL SNES the intro will be wrong, the logo will come up way too late. And the famous opera scene? Ruined. Mario RPG, the intro, well once you see that no explanation will be needed, music cues won't make sense and stuff will be happening long after the music has silenced.

    Also, bugs happen in these games when you run them on a PAL SNES because their programming relies very much on timing. For example, in FF6 you often get a black item screen. In Secret of Mana, the title screen becomes corrupt if you let it sit for a while. And many others.

    And while I don't have an NTSC SNES mine has one of those speed switches. Setting it to 60 instantly fixes FF6, Mario RPG, Secret of Mana and various other NTSC games that I try to run on it, including the music sync, and the aforementioned bugs, PROVING that it does, in fact, behave like a real NTSC machine.

    And guess what? The PAL games that you try to run at 60hz retain the exact same music speed even though gameplay is 20% faster.

    But I guess you are still going to insist that this does not count as running them on a real NTSC machine, so how about this one: al my PAL games' music runs no differently from game soundtracks found online....including Stakker's Kohina.com which takes so much care to record music from the "correct" consoles.

    So, no, one example is not all you need because if that example contradicts all the other proof there is then the conclusion would be that there must be something weird going on with Street fighter II. Maybe, instead of trying to reprogram game speed to fit the music, they reprogrammed the music speed to fit the game. Who knows! Fact remains that none of the things mentioned above can be contested in a similar way. Your one example is way too unreliable to base your entire standpoint on. Don't be silly.

  • Nikanoru #101 5 years ago

    *checks thread days later*

    You were so quick last time.

  • paulb_nl #102 5 years ago

    Did you miss me?

    Because I don't have access to the real hardware right now I tested some SNES games in emulators and they confirm what you say, the music is played the same way if I change the region.
    I will test it on real hardware in a few days.

    It's possible that the music of Street Fighter was made slower to fit the slow framerate but I can't test that yet.

    Though I'm sure that NES games did play the music differently when you play them on a different region.
    I have tested this in real hardware and in emulators.

  • Nikanoru #103 5 years ago

    I missed you terribly.

    I only have one unmodified PAL NES right here and I don't own any NTSC NES games, but I have never heard any difference between my PAL games and the NES music I download online (and hear everywhere else like flash movies etc), or the music I hear in emulated NTSC NES games. The Super Mario Bros ditty that I've known since childhood seems to be the same as everyone else's around the world (and yes, I would be able to hear it had it been different, as described below). Though if you wish I could hook the machine up again and do a direct comparison running them side by side. I doubt the results would prove me wrong, however. :p

    Same for the N64, but that should speak for itself since it is a comparatively modern console (and the PSX also, but that's not relevant to a discussion about the Wii's VC).

    And to be honest, I really can't imagine this would not be the case for most other consoles either. The reason I'm guessing this is because I've heard music played at 5/6th its speed while trying to sync a SNES emulator running NTSC games to my ancient 50hz PAL TV, for the purpose of getting a smooth framerate (by turning emulation speed throttling off and just letting vsync/triple buffering do its thing). Slow gameplay and slow music is so much more unbearable than merely slow gameplay with normal music. I just had to force the game into PAL mode so that the music at least ran normally, timing-related ingame errors be damned (though luckily I got a 60hz able TV later). This is why I think most console manufacturers just left the music speed as is. But, I'm just speculating here.