1 Depends on the game. It isn't specifically related to region locking the entire game, as even unlocked games that work in all regions can still have different servers for US and Europe for online play.
2. All Wii U, Wii and 3DS games are region locked.
3. It means you can only play games that are from the same region (US, Japan or Europe/Australia) that your system is from.
It's easiest to start with 3:
There's different levels of region lock. These are:
Region locked consoles like all Nintendo consoles excluding the handheld line pre-DSi where you can't play games that weren't bought for the same region so lets say you buy a European Wii U, you can't play an American copy of Mario Kart 8 for example.
Region locked DLC like on the PS3 and PS4 where if you buy a game from a specific region you can't download DLC from another region so lets say you buy Rock Band 4 in Europe for PS4, it won't work with DLC purchased using an American Playstation Network account.
Region locked multiplayer like the 3DS games "The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes" and "Mario Tennis: Open" where you cannot play with anyone who has a different region console. For example if you own a European 3DS + Tri Force Heroes and you go on holiday to somewhere in America to meet relatives/friends, you would not be able to play multiplayer with them regardless of whether you were playing locally or online.
Microsoft opted for a mostly region free experience with both Xbox 360 and Xbox One, whereas Nintendo increased the region lock over the years and Sony has pretty much stayed the same.
@Grumblevolcano: Thank you very much! I "kind of" understanded until the last one
"Region locked multiplayer like the 3DS games "The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes" and "Mario Tennis: Open" where you cannot play with anyone who has a different region console. For example if you own a European 3DS + Tri Force Heroes and you go on holiday to somewhere in America to meet relatives/friends, you would not be able to play multiplayer with them regardless of whether you were playing locally or online."
My first games will be Splatoon and Super Mario Maker. Are they region-locked?
1 Depends on the game. It isn't specifically related to region locking the entire game, as even unlocked games that work in all regions can still have different servers for US and Europe for online play.
Hmm... which type are Splatoon and Super Mario Maker?
@BlupHox: No, provided you buy the games in the same region as you bought the console. (e.g. European console + European games, American console + American games)
@BlupHox: Splatoon and Mario Maker have so many Japanese players on regularly you'll look back in amazement that there was a point in your life when you thought you couldn't play with/against them same with the US too, I can play any Mario Maker course made in the US even though I'm the the UK as easily as a UK one, I just need the code and that's it. Though Splatoon's monthly Splatfests are different depending on your region, that is to say that if you're American you'll have a blast whereas us Europeans have the suckiest suck polls that suck harder than anything that ever sucked hard. Region locking is an annoyance that I would rather see the back of soon, but it shouldn't interfere at all with your enjoyment of an online Nintendo game, it just means that one can't even play on the Japanese version of unlocalised Nintendo games (lookin' at you The Great Ace Attorney) if you only have a non-Japanese 3DS.
@Chandlero: Perfect! Thank you! (Also no online-region-lock for all games? Sorry for these annoying questions, only bought Wii U yesterday, and because of Black Firday, will only recieve it later)
whereas us Europeans have the suckiest suck polls that suck harder than anything that ever sucked hard.
European Here ! That might kinda "suck", as I would love participating everytime in Splatfests? Examples of the "European Pollls" , please?
We got stuff like ''Sleeping vs Eating'', whereas in NA they had ''Transformers vs Decepticons''. It doesn't make a difference, as you're essentially only choosing a side. But people generally prefer the themes of the American Splatfests.
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Topic: Help me understand region lock!
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