DS region question.

BioMotor_Unitron

BioMotor_Unitron

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So if I understand correctly, there's no region lock-out on the DS and DS Lite, but there is on the DSi.

Are the DS games coded with a region? For instance, can a UK/Euro DS game play on a newer handheld like a DSi or 3DS from another region?
 
DNSDies

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some DSi enhanced and DSi exclusive DS games may be region locked on 3DS, but standard DS titles will play on anything that accepts them, like New3DS, 3DS, or DSi.

I have Zelda Mugen no Sunadokei (phantom hourglass) and it plays just fine on my north america 3DSxl.
Great game for learning kanji. You can touch kanji with the stylus and it will show the reading for it in kana.
 
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Long list incoming:

•1000 Cooking Recipes from Elle a Table
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To my knowledge DSi enhanced games will still play on a DSi/3DS/n3DS from another region, but DSi features won't work. For instance, Pokémon Black(EU) works on my Japanese 3DS but the camera doesn't work.(unlike on my EU 3DS)

DSi exclusives are fully region-locked, but I can't think of a single game you would be missing out on.
 
Electric Grave

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OK, so I have a DSiXL and a 3DSXL, I only have 2 JPN DS carts; Ketsui & Jump Super Stars, both games play flawless on both systems. Hope that sheds some light.
 
Last edited:
pulstar

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As far as the games I have, any that are DSi enhanced do not work other region 3DSes. For instance, my Solatorobo Euro doesn't work on my Japanese 3DS, and my Fire Emblem: Shin Monshou no Nazo Hikari to Kage no Eiyuu doesn't work on my Euro 3DS. Not quite sure what the deal is with Pokemon Black and why that would work...

What DSi exclusives? I thought the games just had enhancements and that there were no games that would run on a DSi and not on a normal DS.
 
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Ray

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pulstar said:
As far as the games I have, any that are DSi enhanced do not work other region 3DSes. For instance, my Solatorobo Euro doesn't work on my Japanese 3DS, and my Fire Emblem: Shin Monshou no Nazo Hikari to Kage no Eiyuu doesn't work on my Euro 3DS. Not quite sure what the deal is with Pokemon Black and why that would work...

What DSi exclusives? I thought the games just had enhancements and that there were no games that would run on a DSi and not on a normal DS.
Click to expand...

I looked it up, and apparently Pokémon B/W/B2/W2 were exceptions to the rule, most other DSi enhanced games are indeed fully region-locked on the DSi/3DS/n3DS, but do work on original DS models in any region. There doesn't seem to be a comprehensive list of which games work, I guess most of the DSi enhanced games just weren't very popular.

As for DSi exclusives, 4 of them exist. They were all released physically in stores, and rely on the built-in camera.
 
BioMotor_Unitron

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pulstar said:
As far as the games I have, any that are DSi enhanced do not work other region 3DSes. For instance, my Solatorobo Euro doesn't work on my Japanese 3DS, and my Fire Emblem: Shin Monshou no Nazo Hikari to Kage no Eiyuu doesn't work on my Euro 3DS. Not quite sure what the deal is with Pokemon Black and why that would work...

What DSi exclusives? I thought the games just had enhancements and that there were no games that would run on a DSi and not on a normal DS.
Click to expand...

Damn, that worries me. I ordered a Euro Solatorobo as it was much cheaper than the U.S. version. Haven't received it to test yet, though.
 
GhostSeed

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If it helps the region locked DS games start with "TWL" on the side next to the barcode. Where as the region free stuff starts with "NTR".
 
pulstar

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GhostSeed said:
If it helps the region locked DS games start with "TWL" on the side next to the barcode. Where as the region free stuff starts with "NTR".
Click to expand...

I never knew that...but I've now seen it on my Solatorobo and Fire Emblem:Shin Monshou no Nazo Hikari to Kage no Eiyuu.

BioMotor_Unitron said:
Damn, that worries me. I ordered a Euro Solatorobo as it was much cheaper than the U.S. version. Haven't received it to test yet, though.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately you're going to have to play this on a DS/Lite to get it to work, unless you have a Euro DSi/3DS or whatever.
 
R

Ray

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GhostSeed said:
If it helps the region locked DS games start with "TWL" on the side next to the barcode. Where as the region free stuff starts with "NTR".
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure the "TWL" just stands for being DSi enhanced, Pokémon B/W/B2/W2 also have this yet aren't fully region encoded. Apparently it was up to the developers to include a region flag which wasn't mandatory, but most did include them. "NTR" games are normal DS games.

Anyway, I wish Nintendo would just do away with region encoding altogether. Sure, it would be cheaper for the Japanese and Europeans to import from the US, but did importing really hurt sales all that much with the Game Boy, GBA or DS? I know plenty of people who would import Japan-only titles if they could, or physical copies of games which are digital-only in others.(SMT IV for example)
 
Vectorman0

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I have heard that DSi region locked games will play on any region original DS or DS Lite (since they weren't programmed with lockout in mind). Can anyone confirm or deny this?
 
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Vectorman0 said:
I have heard that DSi region locked games will play on any region original DS or DS Lite (since they weren't programmed with lockout in mind). Can anyone confirm or deny this?
Click to expand...

Yes, they work without any problems apart from losing DSi features.(which I honestly doubt anybody will really care about since WPA2 functionality is useless with Nintendo Wi-Fi being shut down)
Since older DS models also get a GBA port and full flashcart compatibility, I would advise any new buyer to go for a DS phat/Lite over a DSi.
 
pulstar

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Ray said:
Yes, they work without any problems apart from losing DSi features.(which I honestly doubt anybody will really care about since WPA2 functionality is useless with Nintendo Wi-Fi being shut down)
Since older DS models also get a GBA port and full flashcart compatibility, I would advise any new buyer to go for a DS phat/Lite over a DSi.
Click to expand...

This is correct. Any region DSi enhanced game will play on any DS/DS lite. I would definitely not recommend a phat DS over a Lite. The difference in screen quality is amazing. Plus, phat's are pretty hard to come by (in the UK least) compared to Lite's which are everywhere and dirt cheap.
 
F4U57

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Ah, I was just wanting to know this myself.

So, if I'm looking at picking up Card Fighters Clash DS Euro, it'll work on any DS?
 
pulstar

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F4U57 said:
Ah, I was just wanting to know this myself.

So, if I'm looking at picking up Card Fighters Clash DS Euro, it'll work on any DS?
Click to expand...

Card Fighters Clash will work fine because it is a standard DS release. Euro 3DS/DSi games might even work as standard on your 3DS...I know Australia is a PAL region but I'm not sure how Nintendo work out their 3DS/DSi regions.
 
F4U57

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pulstar said:
Card Fighters Clash will work fine because it is a standard DS release. Euro 3DS/DSi games might even work as standard on your 3DS...I know Australia is a PAL region but I'm not sure how Nintendo work out their 3DS/DSi regions.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up, I only own an OG DS, no 3DS or DSi:emb:

But I'll look at grabbing a Euro release of Card Fighters Clash!
 
pulstar

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F4U57 said:
Thanks for the heads up, I only own an OG DS, no 3DS or DSi:emb:

But I'll look at grabbing a Euro release of Card Fighters Clash!
Click to expand...

With a phat DS/DS Lite any region DS game will work without a problem, even 3DS enhanced games. You'll only have a problem if you playing these on either a 3DS or DSi.
 
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