Kotaku: bootleg

Nintendo: Super Small Number of U.S. DSi Owners Have DS Cart Issues

Brian Crecente — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:00:00 MDT

While looking into the issue of Nintendo potentially making the DSi's anti-piracy tech more robust, I also checked to see if it was possible that legitimate copies of DS games weren't working in the DSi.

The short answer is, probably not.

Based on the people calling in to Nintendo to talk about DS games they own not working in their DSi, Nintendo figures it most likely due to dirty game cards and not bad coding.

Here's their official statement:

As is common after the launch of any new hardware system, we have fielded inquiries from consumers about their games. To date, an extremely small number (about 0.025 percent) of Nintendo DSi owners have inquired about playing their licensed DS games, though the most common issue has been related to dirty game cards. Nintendo recommends that players keep their game cards in the original packaging, or in protective cases to keep them free of dust and debris.

Yes, they mean .025 percent, not 2.5 percent, as in 1/40 of one percent. If I were to do the math on that, based on Nintendo's announced first three days of DSi sales in North America, we would be talking about 75 people. Of course sales have to be higher than that by now, but it still a pretty small number it seems.

Where do you store your DS carts? Me? When they're not in LittleFoot's mouth or the washing machine, they're safely sitting on my desk.

Titanic 1912, the RPG: A Review

Maggie Greene — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:00:37 MDT

I just about died laughing at this lengthy and vitriolic review of the Shenzhen Nanjing bootleg/grey market Titanic 1912. It's long, it's funny, it's worth a read. The quality starts in the first few paragraphs:

I have a hard time imagining what possessed anyone to make this game. The board meeting probably went something like this:
President: OK guys, we have this terrible RPG engine for the Famicom. How can we squeeze more money out of it?
Developer: Well, Titanic has been popular with students studying English. What if we make a game based on the movie?
President: But how will it work? I mean, the only character you could play as would be Jack, and he dies.
Developer: Don't you see! An RPG where the player's character dies! It will be revolutionary!
President: Make it so.

Well, they made it so.

The result was the most unbelievably fucking awful game in history.

Bad game mechanics, wacky plot shenanigans, and a submarine (yes, an in-game submarine on the Titanic) all make an appearance. Go forth and enjoy (the other reviews of equally terrible Chinese knockoffs are also worth spending some time with).

Prepare yourself, for tonight we board IN HELL! [CinnamonPirate via GameSetWatch]

Square Enix Cuts Down Sword Pirates

Mike Fahey — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:20:18 MST

Odds are many of you already own one or more Final Fantasy replica weapons - and that frightens me - but at least they are generally of the more shoddy, unlicensed sword replicas you were likely to find on the cheap via eBay or Bob's Discount Cutlery Emporium. Now Square Enix is taking steps to get those sharp, pointy objects out of the hands of fans, having filed a federal lawsuit in the Central District of California against those whole would infringe upon their intellectual property. At least four manufacturers are named in the suit, which came about after the US Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol seized a crate of counterfeit swords designed in the style of famous Final Fantasy weapons. Square Enix investigated, and while many resellers ceased their rampant reselling, the companies targeted by this lawsuit refused to cooperate, calling down spiky-haired justice upon them.

Squeenix's general counsel Yasuhiko Hasegawa offers an apology of sorts to fans who lived for this sort of crap.

While Square Enix appreciates the enthusiasm of its fans, and values its relationship with them, it is also obligated to protect its intellectual property rights or risk weakening or losing the very rights that enable the company to continue to provide its fans with an exciting entertainment experience.

Now the companies, who have not been named specifically, will have to go to court, where Square Enix lawyers will take on their lawyers in classic, turn-based RPG style.

SQUARE ENIX Files Federal Lawsuit Against Alleged Infringers of FINAL FANTASY Franchise
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ — SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD., a Tokyo-based leading digital entertainment content company (Square Enix), announced today that it had filed a federal lawsuit in the Central District of California against alleged infringers of Square Enix's intellectual property. The lawsuit names at least four wholesalers of unlicensed sword replicas and their principals, which have willfully infringed four videogames and one CG-animated film in Square Enix's FINAL FANTASY(R) franchise. Additional defendants may be added to this lawsuit. By filing this lawsuit, Square Enix is stepping up its anti-piracy enforcement with aggressive initiatives against individuals and organizations involved in the theft and unauthorized use of the company's intellectual properties. This lawsuit follows multiple confidential settlements with various retailers of similar infringing items, each of which involved the payment of a substantial financial penalty.

The current lawsuit is a result of cooperation with the United States Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol, whose agents seized a crate of counterfeit replica swords. These seized swords had been designed to replicate the unique swords featured in Square Enix's FINAL FANTASY franchise. Square Enix conducted a thorough investigation to identify the primary wholesalers and retailers of these unauthorized products in the United States. The targets of the current lawsuit have refused to cooperate with Square Enix.

"We are actively pursuing those who commit intellectual property infringement against our company," said Yasuhiko Hasegawa, Square Enix's General Counsel. "Any illegal activities, including the sale and distribution of unauthorized replica merchandise and counterfeit jewelry, and the unauthorized copying of Square Enix games, music, movies, images, and other intellectual property, will be prosecuted. While Square Enix appreciates the enthusiasm of its fans, and values its relationship with them, it is also obligated to protect its intellectual property rights or risk weakening or losing the very rights that enable the company to continue to provide its fans with an exciting entertainment experience."