Importing Should Be Legal

April 25th, 2003

I’m getting quite sick of this “crap that game publishers”:http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=ret&aid=1575 are dishing out these days:

Speaking to UK trade paper MCV, Nintendo UK general manager Andy Williams commented that “Nintendo is monitoring the situation closely and is prepared to take legal action against importers and retailers should the number become significant. The games currently on sale are not intended for sale within the EEA.”

Why shouldn’t gamers in other parts of the country import games? What is the difference? The publisher *STILL* gets their damn money, why do they care if someone buys the US version instead of the European version. So what if I want to buy the Japanese version of a game that will NEVER be released here in the states. It should be my choice as a consumer.

I’m sick and tired of reading about these stories were the three major hardware vendors and software publishers, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft; strong arming small businesses into not selling imported games. That’s total crap. They’re getting their money just the same. Heck, in some cases, I purchase both versions so they’re getting paid twice!

Usually only the hardest of the hardcore import games since they know how to get them to work and have the patience to wade through gobs of foreign text. If these companies are so concerned about importing, I suggest they get off their collective asses and start making games for all three major countries at the same damn time.

Grrr.

Entry Filed under: gaming