If I lie about my region in my 2DS's settings, and input for example, Japan as the region, will my device be able to access the superior Famicom and Disk System versions of E shop virtual console games (and more of them) like typing a google search in hiragana when in the UK, or are there failsafes in place to stop that happening?

I ask because I hate the crappy NES titles it gives me and I want the FDS and FC versions of them that haven't been censored and generally have better writing. (yes I know about "other methods" and I'm way ahead there as these can also be fan-subbed, but I mean in a portable environment, like the Mother 1+2 and 3 fan subs on cartridge which I own)

I'm learning Japanese too, and getting help from a friend who is Japanese herself, so language barriers eventually shouldn't be a problem.

Same goes for the Switch when it comes out this month.

It's the hardware that is region locked. Changing your location won't change much. If you want to play Japanese imports you need a Japanese 2DS. The original DS did not have region locking.

The Nintendo Switch will not be region locked. The problem is that it costs at least 100 dollars over what it should be priced.

I agree I would have loved a 200 dollar price tag.

Uhh...why the "off topic" note? This is general discussion. Anything goes in here.

I didn't know if the "no off topic chatter" in question topics applied to this area as well, so I would have changed the post to a "help me" question topic after confirmation if it was OK, but I found out too late that I can't edit it to be a question post. The "off topic" marker was to avoid drawing any ire. I didn't really think it through properly and forgot to take it out. It's going to be around £200, £250 or more here which is stupidly overpriced for a console that has only a paltry number of games for it right now. Mario Odyssey is what I'm mainly looking forward to, besides the Portable switching thing, as it does resemble Sonic 2006 to some degree, that being a game I like. (and can't wait for the debugged PC fan remake)

Still, I recently saw in trailer footage that Mario is far too small compared to normal humans in the game, which is weird because he is supposed to be a normal human. (Sewer Mushroom "trips" to the Mushroom Kingdom notwithstanding)

At least I can get imported Japanese versions and play those. If Nintendo are smart, they'll have language options in all of them for any English speakers in other countries and vice versa so I'll have a backup for before I become good enough at にほんご.

I think that would defeat the purpose of region locking. I apologize if I sound too negative. I'm not trying to be captain bringdown.

I see your point. Region locking sucks.

I always thought the purpose of it was to deny English speakers the good things from the Japanese versions graphically etc. besides just more interesting's bits of dialog, because western retailers etc. have an outdated opinion of what they think kids should see whereas the Japanese have a realistic viewpoint and just don't care, so long as you don't copy anything dangerous or stupid from the games at home.

I was actually referring to the Switch that time, which is not going to be region locked, according to the post I was replying to.

£280 here, I believe it was confirmed a couple of months ago. I can't imagine it'll come down in price any time really soon, seems to have launched well so far even with a game drought.

FYI, payment methods for the Switch store *are* region locked. You'll have to find a site selling Japanese wallet cards in order to buy from the Japanese store without a Japanese credit card.

Nintendo just loves running into steel posts, it seems, as every time I think they've finally done something logical, it turns out there is a stupid ass backwards catch.

Haptic rumble: Not actually in the main unit and is called by dumb name, when "HD" isn't even buzzworthy anymore.

Multiplayer: ??? It's more confusing that the plot of Kingdom Hearts with less excuses as to why. Nintendo has had multiple generations to get it right or even outright copy everyone else, but nope. They're going to their own drum and it sounds like total crap. What's more, you'll be paying for the crap.

Joycons: No d-pad (not even on the PCB or molding), off center analogue stick, one joycon has more features than the other, and they're still about as ergonomic as the Wiimotes, except now with the finger cramping joy of the Gameboy Micro. The regular controller for human hands costs more than the competing controllers on market.

And so on...

Yeah, the best ways to describe that company are Konami Lite Edition and Console Apple post Steve Jobs' death.

Basically what I'm saying is:

http://68.media.tumblr.com/759c86eae30f727539ed892e1ef709c3/tumblr_oloucsL41S1t7bqfso1_1280.png

(Jim Sterling can use that image as a basis for Nintendo Jimquisition title cards in the future if he wants)

Isn't it in the controller... where you'd want it?

there is a way to softmod the system with lumia & A9LH to allow you access to the freeshop. I have never changed settings from the us region but I would assume you can do it holding select or something. I do NOT think the Japanese eshop will have what you are looking for-at least with english text. Softmodding is I think the only way to change region.