WiiNintendo




Nintendo speaks out against mod chips April 24, 2007

Filed under: News — hey_suburbia @ 6:56 am

mod chipsN.O.E.:

Perhaps you are not familiar with mod chips, but nevertheless we would like to draw your attention to some important information.

Modification microchips (mod chips) circumvent the security embedded into Nintendo’s products. To install a mod chip into a Nintendo hardware system, it is necessary to dismantle the product and, in some instances, remove components.

The use of mod chips voids the manufacturer’s warranty. In addition, the installation of a mod chip can damage the functionality of a Nintendo console, sometimes rendering it incapable of repair. Mod chips have been adjudicated to be illegal in various countries around the world, including the Unites States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Most European countries have also already adopted laws prohibiting the circumvention of technological measures for copyright protection. People caught installing or selling mod chips may be subject to criminal charges.

Via Nintendo of Europe

This is hot off the heals of Nintendo coming out stronger against piracy in China:

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has filed for formal consultations with China regarding its failure to meet World Trade Organization obligations concerning intellectual property protection and enforcement in China.

Following the filing, Nintendo of America issued a statement offering “strong supportâ€? for the office’s actions. Nintendo points out that more than 7.7 million counterfeit video game products from more than 300 Chinese factories and retailers have been seized during the past four years.

According to Nintendo, China has continued to be the leading production site and exporter for counterfeit Nintendo products, and has the largest domestic consumption, and in 2006 alone the company estimates that the overall industry lost $762 million due to piracy.

Commented Nintendo in a statement: “Despite the millions of counterfeit Nintendo products seized from retailers and manufacturing plants in China through the years, there has only been one criminal prosecution. Numerous factories, where tens of thousands of counterfeit Nintendo products were seized, escaped with only trivial fines or no penalty at all. And often these production sites continue to operate after products are seized. In order to avoid punishment, many counterfeiters are sophisticated and keep stock levels below the criminal thresholds and avoid keeping sales records.�

Via Gamasutra



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  • huxtona
    Two words: Fuck China.
  • you can buy mod chipped wii's on ebay. they claim they are japanese region free versions but there is no such thing so its got to be a mod chip.
  • Elisabete
    Well, I'm planning to buy a Wii -- that would be my first game console ever (and I'm 25). I'm from Brazil and AFAIK there won't be a "version" of wii in Brazilian Portuguese. So (logically) I'll buy the USA version, but I want to play games that are from Japan too. I specially want to play Bleach, but I even don't know if there'll be an American version! So unfortunately I'll have to install a modchip, something I really don't agree to, just to play some games that I like, but in some cases won't ever get to the American market...
  • i have to agree with all of whats been said. ive always had an issue with the fact we (UK) have to wait for them to translate it into french, german, spanish and so on. why not give us the US version and stuff the rest of them. i almost bought a US Wii for this reason, you can get games imported for easy enough and they are cheaper than what we but them here for. you guys (USA) pay $50 for a new game, we (UK) pay about $80, which is a joke. why make handhelds region free and not the consoles!? AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, it makes me sooooooo mad.

    *end of rant*
  • Australia is in the same position as Uk, if not worse. We are a PAL society, and we can get things sometimes a month after UK or a month before. We can't import, it doesn't work on Wii. We're a bit pissed.

    //Noodle93
  • Will
    I think most companies with intellectual properties dislike China. Try to find a movie on Ebay and you're taken aside by all the knock offs. Personally I understand the debate on both sides and obviously companies aren't coming up with a compromise appease everyone and instead opt for a blanket statement against anyone who has a modchip. I think Nintendo would have a lot to gain to cater to the homebrew crowd they can even benefit by featuring them on a Wii Channel. Ultimately though mod chips are predominately used to pirate software, we all know it, and Nintendo would be foolish to support that. I do believe that some countries are too lean on copyright infringement(China) and deserve to be targeted for falling behind.

    C'mon, games are more affordable than ever with retail competition, online auctions, and used outlets, there's really no excuse for it. We even have Gamefly now if you really have to get your hands on every game for a bargain. Back in the day, as a kid you were pretty much screwed. You had to be resourceful and go play different games at your friends house or swap and borrow (hoping you got them back) and in a way I think there was value in that. That's why we have our VC's because those kinds of memories are tied up in them.

    As for worldwide releases, I don't understand why logistically this hasn't been made possible. I'm not wise to the expenses and time it takes to "regionalize" a title not only by machine but language and format. Better even, is it in their financial interest to release games in this way. Maybe they would have to delay a launch to support the world with a title. If I'm not mistaken, Halo had a worldwide release(I could be wrong). I see games with online support benefiting from a mass launch. I guess this would be a great question for Nintendo to address.
  • WickeD
    I think mod chips are more than just playing ripped games too. It unlocks a whole new world! With out modchips and the ability to enhance a product you all ready paid for would just piss me off. If Nintendo were really smart they would back companies (not just datel) in the production of hardware to play homebrew and other apps. I would not be half as happy with my NDSlite w/out a flash cart. Use it alot for viewing manga/comics, movies, mp3s, pda app, other homebrew. Speaking of datel to you can modify most their products to play illegal copies of games and they are sold in the US at best buy. So wtf is with that eh? I think they just dislike China.
  • raikov
    in mexico we do it, cause of economical problems we buy a pirate game in 3 dollars and they sell the original in 600 dollars now you understand why piracy is famous in mexico
  • Paul
    Callidus, that's exactly what I came here to say! It's worse for us in the UK as we have to wait for a Europe-wide release for games - presumably due to translation into local languages - when there's no technical reason why the US version shouldn't be available (apart for PAL/NTSC, both of which can be handled by all modern equipment).

    Nintendo - you create a market for a product (hype is not region-specific), restrict its supply then act suprised when people circumvent the artificial restrictions you have created. I can understand the piracy issues, but many people want mod chips so that they can play games legally. Just let us do it!
  • Callidus
    I think Nintendo are missing the point!

    If they [Nintendo] got their act together and released titles in the UK and Europe at a comparable time to Japan and the US then there would be a lesser demand for mod chips, And therefore a lesser teptation to pirate. For some titles the UK has to wait 6 MONTHS longer than Japan and the US.

    For example: Amazon.co.uk Title: Super Paper Mario

    Availability: This item will be released on November 30, 2007. Pre-order now! Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.

    Link: Amazon Example

    Unacceptable!