I really cannot hold this back anymore and feel I need to voice it out. Why doesn't Nintendo want to launch eShop in Malaysia? eShop/Wii Shop is important for every Wii, Wii U and 3DS user.

We need Wii Shop to be able to transfer data from Wii to Wii U when upgrading. We need eShop to be able to update SwapNotes and other apps in a 3DS and DSi. Also, since we're already spoiled by Sony and Apple, I feel it much more comfortable to carry multiple games in a single SD card than extra pouch with multiple cartridges.

Other companies like Sony and Apple, and even Microsoft, already launch stores for their consoles and devices in Malaysia. Why is Nintendo holding back?

Don't get me wrong- I like all four companies equally and am not taking any sides- I am still angry that XBL Malaysia has no Gold membership and thus cannot play online- but that's for another part of LYN. I also own a DS Lite and a Wii and will definitely get a Wii U once an Animal Crossing game comes out for it. But I'm just unhappy that I cannot officially download the migration tool to transfer my current Wii's game saves over to the Wii U, and not happy about how difficult it is to buy a downloadable game for the consoles, and as mentioned before I've been spoiled by Sony and Apple that I prefer to download everything onto one single SD card.

Yes, we can switch to a region with a store, but we cannot use our credit card or debit card - apparently the Brazil trick doesn't work anymore. But even though it can be overcome by buying prepaid cards from online stores, I feel that we're not getting a good deal, since each purchase tend to include full cost of card + whatever charges the shop want to charge us for. Plus it's technically grey market and we get no support from Nintendo.

Isn't it about time we all write to Nintendo and ask for them to launch eShop for SEA region?

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Jul 19 2013, 02:16 PM

I would always say Blame Singapore for this case. But there's no doubt, it's Nintendo's fault as a whole. Although we are regionally recognised and tied to the US in a way, the business proposition for all of us is not yet significant.

I wished it was as easy as incorporating a server in the country, but unfortunately, it isn't.

There is an "eshop" if you select Malaysia region in your 3DS with basically nothing. Well the market here just isn't attractive enough for them to put effort in it.

our country's reputation for being pirate kings doesn't help either

Brazilian hack doesn't work anymore, but Canadian "hack" works!

just set your eshop to Canada, same content with US eshop, can earn US Ninty club points too, best of all, they accept MY credit cards!
also canadian dollar are cheaper than USD, 3.080 vs 3.195, as per current exchange rate, pricing of canadian eshop is the same with us eshop!
anyhoo... every state in Can will impose at least 5% tax on your purchase, so in the end it's almost similar price that we pay for with US eshop


Also, Ninty won't launch an official eshop here in SEA has their own reason, current eshop aren't catered for a region, but specifically to a country, and what can and can't be sold on the eshop has to adhere to the current law of that country, and also copyright issue is another main culprit, not all games are copyrighted for worldwide release, hence the region lock thingy also
And judging from the user base of MY & SG alone is waaay to small for Ninty to even consider putting in resources just to create another eshop for this tiny market.
So basically in the end is: no money no talk

It doesn't really make sense tho. Pokemon is popular here (well, at least, was popular). In the past, everytime I visit a shopping complex, will see least one kid playing a DS or have a obvious DS pouch. Nowadays I see more Android tablets. It's sorta sad really, although I expect the reason to be because games are easier to get for tablets and that there's no cartridge to misplace/lose.

As for current law, well, I don't think many of Nintendo's games are actually that offensive. The only one on the top of my mind that will actually offend anyone is No More Heroes 1/2 and Conker's Bad Fur Day. Also, if PSN, iTunes App Store, Google Play and even XBox Live can launch in Malaysia, surely Nintendo, whose majority of content is very tame compared to PSN and XBL, will have no problem?

Licensing is another possibility, but again you look at PSN, look at XBL, iTunes App Store, Google Play, and again it raises the question- the competition can do it and are willing to take risks, why not Nintendo? The competition are also moving to region-free consoles and licensing their games for global distribution while Nintendo is still stuck in the age of region-coding.

And of course, in both cases, the games are also sold in cartridge format which are available in the country, so law and licensing issues are moot?

Nintendo should really rethink their strategy and move forward. Why let the competition have all the profits?

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Jul 20 2013, 08:34 AM

My opinion is if that's letting competition having all the profits then nintendo will be start making loses and will be force to make the change or die horribly


It's not only about law. Those game was create specifically for a region. So people not from that region mostly won't be getting it or will just wait for translation version. People that want that game will just buy it anyway.


As you say it's a risk. So why take risk when nintendo's way works for them.

DS and flashcarts must be uncommon in Malaysia. especially those kids (and others) who were carrying one with pouch playing Pokemon at shopping area.

asks the parent why .. ask the person who's doing it why

the tablets n its platform is godsend now... n I'm sure they are All paying for whatever they r playing on it

we r but a miniscule count of ppl who gives a damn abt gaming n its happenings. no matter how big the community seems here it is in no way representative of the reality in the country.

Nintendo has it's business model. can improve n all but to expect every company to act just like everyone else is not what I'd want either. they somehow think they have an identity to protect I suppose.

well, I would say just don't buy if you don't like what is offered. then as with everything else let the time n ppl decide. I'm sure some will be happy n some regret when everything is said n done...

in Nintendo we trust.

Well, I actually like Nintendo's offerings- big fan of Animal Crossing. Thing is I just don't like the idea of carrying around a lot of little cartridges anymore. What if I accidentally leave a game behind in a hotel room when I go traveling? In the past I'd put one GBA game and one DS game into my DSLite and get it over with- these will be the games I'd be playing until I get home. One time I bought a new game for my DSL in Singapore and nearly left behind the cartridge I brought with me when leaving.


I think they're very common, as someone mentioned before another possible reason Nintendo doesn't want to care about us

I've never cared about flashcarts, by that time I already wised up about piracy and only buy original. But I guess some people don't care

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Jul 21 2013, 01:28 PM

i tried canada, but didnt work. maybe because it asked me for SIX digit zipcode >__> what should i put at the 6th digit?

you'll need CANADA postal code


https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...&#entry58581014

I was reading somewhere that the japanese eshop foreign credit cards. But my maybank credit card didnt work when I tried it =.=;;

Could anyone tell me what malaysian credit card can be used on the japanese eshop?

I don't think N3DS/NDS is common in Malaysia... so that's why there is no eShop.. Most people ask what the heck is it when I said I'm playing 3DS.. Although I honestly don't get why there is a region lock and why the features only favors those who live in America. So bias man. So bias.

nds quite common, no?
i know most ppl all play pirated games, can they pirate games in eshop as well?

Various reason, software piracy rate in Malaysia is at 60%, hasn't gone down since a decade...one of the reason why even Microsoft don't want to bring in Xbox. That, coupled with weak enforcement and law.

Market in US is damn huge, launch a USD7 game ... by a week, there 1 million download...$7 million...I haven't bought any games yet on the eShop...won't put in my CC, prefer to go buy a giftcard but the games looks pretty awesome.

It's nothing personal, they won't invest if they can't recoup the investment.

Personal experience, i've tried with my three Maybank credit card and it works I got my JPN animal crossing with it...

Actually I'm still not binding my 3DS with any region because I scared that maybe (tiny possibility) that they will start launch eshop in Malaysia and thus void the purchase. And now even worse, they forced you to set and fixed NNID to a specific region and there is no turning back.

Even Apple did allow AppStore or any purchase in Malaysia, why would they chose not to be allowed here?

A platform should be granted, only then the eco-system will build up own its own. So I don't really think it is because of piracy issue..

Neither Singapore, nor Middle east have the appropriate servers to make that happen. The Sony PSN Store is capable of having one in Malaysia because they leeched of the Hong Kong store (so did SG). but if only the distributor was smart enough to tell Nintendo to place servers linking/leeching from the US one, then we would be ok (since our region is the same as US anyways).

No, I'm not blaming Singapore this time. I'm blaming Japan instead.

I'm not really sure but is there any regulation on online import/export for US or other region?
Think it's hard to setup online purchase in Malaysia especially US companies.
Probably you will need to go through some local enterprise to do that..
And even my iPhone I set it up as Malaysia but ended up with only Malay language.. (no choice of English selection).