Nintendork Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 Nintendo say they want to lower production costs.. ideally making one international unit. But they want to keep it region locked too.. how will they do it? If in the factory, they make one unit.. then pack it in a box, with the localised manuals, cables and start up disc. They could trick people into putting their region in this start up process.. thus localising it by the user and saving Nintendo money on the production line. I'll explain, for each region you will get a start up disc. Nintendo Europe will bundle a European disc in with the international Wii.. when you plug it in, to set up the Wii you have to enter your country, name.. etc. This data is then registered to the Wii, and you have regionalised your console without knowing it. Nintendo simply puts different discs into the console box, installs the OS and it's locked for life (or until a reset perhaps) Lets say, some nice American puts the disc image of the American disc online.. Europeans download it, burn it and put it in their Wii. What is the chance that the Wii will accept this, regionalise it as a US console. Following that allow you to download US virtual consoles and play NTSC games? Obviously there are some hardware limitations.. and I know a burnt disc off the net might not work (how about importing one direct from a friend or eBay) It makes sense.. it lowers production costs, and resolves regionalisation problems. The only thing that made me think of this is because a firmware update before the system is released smelt fishy.. why would they flash the BIOS with a non tested operating system?
Phube Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 Interesting... if you're a region free fan!! But I'll just stick to Europe thanks!!
Nintendork Posted November 4, 2006 Author Posted November 4, 2006 I have European Cube games.. but I am sick of the waiting, Nintendo USA is more succesful for a reason.
Phube Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 I have European Cube games.. but I am sick of the waiting, Nintendo USA is more succesful for a reason. I understand, but I really can't be bothered with the hassle of importing. My own lazy fault really!!
Shyguy Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 I stick with buying a Europian Wii as the more EU Wii's we sell, the more NoA may pay attention and make NoE better
Jasper Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 You know, NoA doesn't pay attention to Europe - they don't haave anything to do with Europe, thaat's why we got NoE. And what's with all the blaming of NoE? They've being doing a great job since they opened real European offices, and yes, they don't have the resources nor the power to become better than NoA, but that will change. Just give it another generation and they'll show their true power. And if Leipzig might be the new E3, Europe will get more resources. Just wait. And by the way, I don't think we've got that much to complain about concerning Wii, the launch and the region lock. It makes perfect sense, and it's a great line-up. You all just wait.
Nintendork Posted November 4, 2006 Author Posted November 4, 2006 This thread has nothing to do with my personal attacks against Nintendo Europe. It is to do with the start up disc.
conzer16 Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 That seems like a very reasonable way of keeping costs to a minimum and getting the consumer to loacalise their own machine. If indeed it is what the start-up disc does, then be prepared to see American and Japanese discs on eBay in the very near future.
Charlie Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 What would happen if you put in the US startup disk after you've installed the PAL one?
Haden Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 What would happen if you put in the US startup disk after you've installed the PAL one?
conzer16 Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 It probably wouldn't read it. US disc being region specific to US Wii's, once the Wii is locked to Europe it can't read Jap/US Wii discs
Emasher Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 you forgot about one thing nintendork what if i put the disk image online then it would be some nice canadian that would do it (we have ntsc too) Not going to happen ninty wouldn't risk somthing like this the start up disk is just for re-instaling you consoles os if the system crashes i also would recomend making back ups of all your vc games and save files on your mac/pc using an sd reader.
Nintendork Posted November 4, 2006 Author Posted November 4, 2006 No way. European Wiis are European Wiis. Just like a lady boy is a lady. Back your statements up guv.. my theory has some kind of sense to it. Where as yours contradicts the idea that Nintendo wants to lower development and production costs. This would explain the confusion at the last minute regarding the system being region locked. Pump out a disc and region lock the system.
KingOfHyrule Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 What would happen if you put in the US startup disk after you've installed the PAL one? HAHAHAHA! Loved it!
xernobyl Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 Lol. You're totally clueless about hardware That would lower as much the production costs as changing a ROM in the factory and would make hacking the machine too easy
LazyBoy Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 I just want a FreeLoader Yeah same here, i'm just gonna wait till we get a freeloader.
Jasper Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 I doubt freeloader will get you Japanese or English VC games - and I think that's the major reason people are wanting an American Start-up disc (or japanese one, either way). Anyway, I'm getting my Wii in europe and not waiting for an American nor japanese startup disc to pop onto ebay. Not willing to pay €100 for it either, so I'm gonna go with the official stuff. I've never really complained about not being able to play import and Europe has always served my needs. Late, but that's better than never.
DCK Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 Just like a lady boy is a lady. Back your statements up guv.. my theory has some kind of sense to it. Where as yours contradicts the idea that Nintendo wants to lower development and production costs. This would explain the confusion at the last minute regarding the system being region locked. Pump out a disc and region lock the system. No, I really don't think so. Truth is that the Wii will be edited to European seizure warnings, PEGI ratings, timezones, languages and PAL settings in its firmware, like any European console would. The European Wiis will actually be different to the US ones in that sense. Using a startup disc to initialise all of this because you could potentially brick your Wii before even having played it. Also, Nintendo can't test the consoles they have because they wouldn't have firmware. I don't think that a different firmware per region is going to radically drive up the development costs; it's just a different portion of data pumped per region. The risk Nintendo would take by releasing empty Wiis would cost them more. We don't know about this 'startup disc' anyway, except some boxshot that could also mean Wii Sports.
Jasper Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 Oh, and the console gets packed for Europe too, so why wouldn't the OS be installed on it? If they have to pack it in different packaging, they probably won't find it a hassle doing that...
SpinesN Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 No, I really don't think so. Truth is that the Wii will be edited to European seizure warnings, PEGI ratings, timezones, languages and PAL settings in its firmware, like any European console would. The European Wiis will actually be different to the US ones in that sense. Using a startup disc to initialise all of this because you could potentially brick your Wii before even having played it. Also, Nintendo can't test the consoles they have because they wouldn't have firmware. I don't think that a different firmware per region is going to radically drive up the development costs; it's just a different portion of data pumped per region. The risk Nintendo would take by releasing empty Wiis would cost them more. We don't know about this 'startup disc' anyway, except some boxshot that could also mean Wii Sports. Actually that could all be done very easily. Instead of loading new firmwares perhaps the disc just activates one of many firmwares that are already on the wii. I Think dork may be on to something here
Jasper Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 I seriously doubt and I don't see the point to bother with it. I'de be happy just to be able to use the Channels for now...
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