While it's common to hear about the police or Nintendo itself going after hackers selling modified consoles, it's a bit more out of the ordinary for them to target someone hacking game files. In Japan, and as of a fairly recent law passing in 2019, editing video game save files is an illegal act, which is why a 23-year-old was arrested for doing so. The man had been "illegally" modifying his save data in order to obtain rare Shiny Pokemon, and then selling them. He managed to make over 1.15 million yen, or around $10,000 dollars by selling shinies to customers, being finally caught after he sold a Shiny Sobble to someone for $41 dollars. Arrested in Nagoya City, Japan, the suspect admitted his guilt, claiming he had been editing save files and profiting from it since November 2020.

Source: Asahi News - Translation Courtesy of Serebii

 

[cearp]

I wonder what his punishment will be

 

[Deleted User]

Team Rocket got arrested!
Detective Pikachu will get them all!

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Wow. I never thought I would see the day when someone got arrested for selling hacked Pokemon on the black market.
Although this law is completely ridiculous, it serves him right, since he was profiting from it, taking advantage of people gullible and desperate enough to pay for something like that.

 

[limpbiz411]

this is some next level lawsuit type stuff.

 

[FR0ZN]

Isn't this something everybody can do? I mean, when you look up where to buy shiny pokemon, don't you also find a step by step DIY tutorial?

 

[NoNAND]

Cucked country cucked laws.

 

[bobmcjr]

Ah yes, being arrested for selling numbers that were obtained by typing them instead of them being randomly generated. Good law, thanks Japan.

God Japan's obsession with RNG/Gacha bullshit is really starting to get to me. Arrested for "unfair competition" against a fucking RNG. Let the man sell his numbers if he damn well wants. If people want to buy them, let them.

 

[JuanMena]

The man had been "illegally" modifying his save data in order to obtain rare Shiny Pokemon, and then selling them. He managed to make over 1.15 million yen, or around $10,000 dollars by selling shinies to customers

This has got to be the most: "WHAT?! WTF?" thing I've ever read.

 

[Jayro]

OH GOD. OH FUCK.

I'm going to be arrested for selling Mews for $5 each using my GameGenie for Gameboy on Pokemon Red back in 1999.

 

[DKB]

"he sold a Shiny Sobble to someone for $41 dollars."

41 dollars? That's a lot of money..

 

[the_randomizer]

Nintendo being the litigious, greedy turds as always

 

[JFizDaWiz]

Nintendo being the litigious, greedy turds as always

I didn't see Nintendo mentioned in this, he broke Japanese law and Nintendo didn't arrest him.

 

[Julie_Pilgrim]

He should just be fined, not go to jail

 

[CrimsonMaple]

This is a bit extreme. It's nowhere near as impactful on people's experiences, it's just an aesthetic thing...
It's not like Korea where competitive games are seen as a legitimate career path and so things like boosting are heavily frowned upon...
Idk... This is just wildin'.

 

[tfocosta]

What a business man!

 

[Julie_Pilgrim]

I didn't see Nintendo mentioned in this, he broke Japanese law and Nintendo didn't arrest him.

Jesus Christ, Japan does not mess around when it comes to Pokémon

 

[Hayato213]

He should just be fined, not go to jail

The anti modding law over there allows the arrest, they can even imprison him for up to 5 years. Save editing, hard modding etc is illegal there that why shop like Katsukity and Cyber Gadget went out of business.

https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/01/game-modding-illegal-in-japan-punishable-by-prison-and-fines/

 

[the_randomizer]

I didn't see Nintendo mentioned in this, he broke Japanese law and Nintendo didn't arrest him.

Well Japan's laws are still BS in this regard, oh well

 

[Seliph]

Capitalism baybee