Gaming How can I cross-region purchase on the Virtual Console?

TeeR

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Would I be able to cross-region purchase on the Wii through the Virtual Console channel? Specifically to download Panel De Pon and SMB2 Japan (cheaper) via the japanese Virtual Console channel. And haven't they changed to a cash system? Basically, I'd just want to know:

How/If I'm able to cross-region purchase
When I should add Wii Points
If I can leave with no Wii Points left unspent.
If I'd lose any money or games.

If someone were to help me with this, thanks in advance.
 

Foxi4

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I'm pretty sure that you can't purchase cross-region content in any legitimate way, mainly because of the PAL/NTSC division which is still instituted for some reason.

...you're free to install illegitimately-acquired WAD's though, if that answers your question.
 
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Maxternal

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I've spent points and downloaded free content with a 4.2 system menu using the shop channel from 4.3 so they're not that good about telling what system menu you have.
BUT
I think your shop account IS tied to the specific console ID so I wouldn't know if they have records or pay attention to what region you were the last time you connected. I also don't know if there's an independent system per-region or not. If there is then you'd simply create a new account for each region.
I also remember reading somewhere something like "if you format your Wii please delete your shop channel account first." but I'm not sure if that means multiple accounts with the same Wii is possible or not.
How/If I'm able to cross-region purchase
Maybe just no-one's been gutsy enough to try this but you could always try installing the shop channel for different regions and see what happens when you log on. If you're points are still there from the last time you added points or it just asks you to create a new account for that region, GREAT, you'll be fine.

When I should add Wii Points
If it has you create a new account for each region then you would only be able to add points in each shop channel you plan to purchase in since the points wouldn't carry over (but you may be able to give game as a "gift" to your other account.) If the points carry over it's probably safer to add points in the chop channel of your home region.

If I can leave with no Wii Points left unspent.
I don't know what you mean by "leave" here. If you're saying "go back to the system menu" or "turn off the console", yes, points you add to your account will stay there until you spend them. They'll be there waiting for you the next time you connect with the shop channel.

If I'd lose any money or games.
- If you're talking about when you "leave" the shop channel, no. The shop channel account remembers what games you've downloaded so you can download them again if you delete them off your console. Points stay on your account until you spend them.
- If you're asking if there's a risk in trying to purchase something out of region, maybe, maybe not. The worst thing I can see them doing is deciding that it's a sure sign that you're a hacker and deleting your account and banning your console. (and voiding your warranty if it's not already void.) In that case I'd assume any points you have on the account would be lost. It would also no longer remember which games you'd downloaded so if you had deleted any that you'd purchased and were no longer in the console or in an SD card, they'd be lost, too.
This is all speculation, of course.
 

tueidj

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You can't purchase from other regions unless you're willing to delete your shop account, that means you will lose all purchases you've already made. Then if you ever wanted to change back to your normal region you would have to do the same thing again.
 
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