In a less than shocking turn of events, Nintendo has decided to restrict online play in the new The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes game to players of the same region.

Although it's supposed to be to reduce latency and improve the game experience, this means you won't be able to play with your online buddy across the pond when the game hits shelves on October 22nd. This is coming from the only game company that still deploys region locking restrictions on its other consoles and games.

What do you think of Nintendo's region locking practices and is it time for them to rethink their policies?

Source (Pocket Gamer)

 

[xwatchmanx]

Mario Kart 8 gives you the option to matchmake with other players either locally or internationally. Why can't they do the same, here? Stop assuming all your fans are babies, Nintendo, and allow us to make our own decisions.

I was looking forward to maybe playing this with my girlfriend, but she lives in the PAL region and I live in the NTSC-U region, so looks like that won't be happening, now.

 

[Selim873]

Still nowhere near the level of Sega, but a very close second.

Totally. They announced PSO2 to the west, then they go completely silent. It won't happen especially because of the fact that they have so many Japanese culture tie-ins and cameos, the licensing issues wouldn't be worth it.

 

[ironmaster49]

Why is this? So it reduces latency in games by playing in your region, well for example a region using PAL format and being in another country like Australia or place like South America or Africa that is far away from Europe will have high latency still if the servers are in Europe only or maybe it asks you your region and it has servers appropriate to that place via 3ds settings location. The disadvantage is if you have a friend across the world who wants to play with you you can't, but i think it should be like mario kart wii, and you can choose which locations you can play with or if you want to play nationally or internationally etc.

 

[The Catboy]

Do I have to take a sign pic with my copy of my game now for my comment to be justified?

For all I know you can be bullshitting on your experience as well with the game, please dont make assumptions about me just like that other guy.

I am just saying that I don't hear a lot of complaining from most people on connection issues with Splatoon, nothing like SSBB. I wasn't assuming anything, I simply asked if you actually played it since there has become too large a percentage of gamers complaining without actually playing them. Most of my online games rarely have issues with lag or disconnecting because I really good internet, the only time I have issues is often on the other person's end and not mine.

On topic, region locking is still just a dumb relic of the past that really needs to end for all games.

 

[SomeKindOfUsername]

This is coming from the only game company that still deploys region locking restrictions on its other consoles and games.

Don't the PS4 and XB1 also allow for region locking, leaving it up to the developers to decide if they want it? I could've swore many titles have restrictions like that for random match making at the very least (and even if they do go the latency/ping route chances are it'll connect you to somebody nearby anyway).

Not to detract from the issue here, they should definitely allow for region/worldwide options like they've done in the past (that's what really boggles my mind) and at the very least allow friends to connect globally. It's just kind of funny how most are likely overestimating how often they connect to somebody from across the pond.

 

[HaloEffect17]

I am just saying that I don't hear a lot of complaining from most people on connection issues with Splatoon, nothing like SSBB.

Actually, I get my fair share of connection issues with Splatoon, and yes, I have the game. You're right about Sm4sh in terms of it having more connection errors, though (very frequent).

 

[The Catboy]

Actually, I get my fair share of connection issues with Splatoon, and yes, I have the game. You're right about Sm4sh in terms of it having more connection errors, though (very frequent).

I guess because I am comparing to previous online attempts with Nintendo, this one seems to be the most stable. Other attempts, even recent ones, are pretty awful, Splatoon seems to be most stable one right now.

 

[Drak0rex]

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!

 

[Margen67]

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!

It's Nintendo. You just have to or else the fanboys will come for you.

 

[deinonychus71]

Today there is also a decent number of people travelling or living in other countries. Im stuck with a EU Wii u and 3DS in the US, and this region locking just prevent me from gaming online.
They could just ping filter the servers instead of this BS.

 

[codezer0]

Still nowhere near the level of Sega, but a very close second.

Sega seems to have the opposite problem, especially with regards to Sonic.

In trying everything to not seem stale, Sega can't seem to stop trying to reinvent him so he's always fresh and with attitude. Instead, it's just made for a very schizophrenic release quality.

When Sega still made hardware, what they ran into was more a problem where SoA, SoE and SoJ barely spoke to each other, let alone let each other know what they were up to. While it is true that led to Sonic 1 for genesis being followed up with the excellent Sonic 2 (and then CD for Sega CD), it also led to a lot of missed and ruined opportunities with regard to the add-ons to the Genesis and the Saturn, which eventually led to Sega bowing out of hardware completely.

At least if they were still around, we'd have a next gen era full of color, instead of brown garbage everywhere.

 

[ultimatetemper]

Well, AFAIK all online games (except Pokemon) have their online play region locked, so this isn't new.
Tested on Bravely Default US on an EUR console.

 

[Blaze163]

So we have a technology that brings the whole world together to enjoy this kind of thing, but old man Nintendo is afraid of all the unwashed masses out there and want to keep up some completely pointless walls between us?

 

[Ericzander]

See and here I was thinking... Man Tri Force Heroes sounds great. I wonder how Nintendo will screw it up.

I love Nintendo guys... I'm a full on fanboy. But they make it hard sometimes...

 

[XDel]

This game has the WORST video game trailer from Nintendo yet.

 

[Deleted User]

This sort of thing is why I import US consoles from now on. Most/all of the people I would play a game like this with are in the US and the PAL version of Wii Sports Club is just downright unplayable online whereas I can play the US version online without any lag.

Given how Splatoon players seem to disconnect often from matchups it may be for everyone's best interest to play within our own respective regions. I can see why this would upset others but at the end of the day you should want the best gameplay experience possible and this will help ensure that.

Splatoon demo works fine for me

Don't the PS4 and XB1 also allow for region locking, leaving it up to the developers to decide if they want it? I could've swore many titles have restrictions like that for random match making at the very least (and even if they do go the latency/ping route chances are it'll connect you to somebody nearby anyway).

Not to detract from the issue here, they should definitely allow for region/worldwide options like they've done in the past (that's what really boggles my mind) and at the very least allow friends to connect globally. It's just kind of funny how most are likely overestimating how often they connect to somebody from across the pond.

I'm pretty sure they just optimize searching to within your region, but will still search outside your region.
Then again, I got tons of Australians on Halo Reach but I've yet to see an Australian on MCC so maybe it's console region setting based on XB1?

 

[tony_2018]

multiplayer game meant to play with others, but is restricted....not smart.

 

[03bgood]

I find it bullshit that the three Links aren't even clones. They were in Four Sword and it's GCN sequel, Four Swords Adventures. I'm sorry but translating what Japan says it weird sometimes. I'm pretty sure the evil witch splits Link into three. It happened in Kirby: Mass Attack!

 

[xerochrono]

it's a spinoff with an online gimmick that nintendo will gimp so... hard pass

 

[ElyosOfTheAbyss]

What a bummer i was looking forward to playing this with my uncle in Dubai.