Humble Bundle Issues Official Statement About Region-Locked Nintendo Promotion

I hate this thing. US always get all good bundles and Europe is always behind. Nintendo is doing very wrong and I won't buy any eShop game in near future. US spare more then 50$, that I must pay? No way!

" and we apologize if the games are unavailable in your country."
Not accepted. it's blocked by an invisible anti bullpoopitypoop wall in the ocean.

As Nintendo fans, there are constantly times when the grass is greener on the other side, this just happens to be the latest time. Whether it's releases delayed in one region, VC games missing in one region, bigger game selections for some promotions, better eShop sales, or even specific colors/models of hardware not making it to one region or the other.

For what it's worth, I'd happily give up this humble bundle (which I did buy) for a NA region small n3DS.

[how things should be in a reasonable world]
"What do you think of an Humble Indie Bundle for the eShop?"
"Good idea! But remember to choose only games that are corrently available in all regions so we can sell them worldwide!"

I can understand people's frustration. Humble Bundle has offered PC games, mobile games, books and comics and never restricted it to one region like this. Yes, Nintendo tried, but it didn't work. You have to remember how the vast majority on here react when other companies say they can't get something working. "Try harder", and "Lazy" gets thrown around.

As long as the rest of the world can eventually get round this region locked nonsense then I'll be happy.

I know these are Indie games but I am glad Nintendo is involved in bundling them for charity.

Also this only gives me confidence that Nintendo are willing to try new things.

PS if the bundle was available worldwide it would have passed $1,000,000 by now.

Fingers crossed this becomes more of 'a thing' in the future....and goes worldwide next time!!

I've brought quite a few Humble Bundles and I would have definitely got this one if it wasn't region locked. It's a shame for sure but at the same time it's awesome that the bundles are now including consoles. Hopefully the next time they do this it can be global. If you have a NA Wii U and 3DS and haven't got it? What are you doing?

They should of either delayed the bundle until they could do it worldwide, offered an alternative eshop bundle for the rest of the world that america can't get, or as an absolute last resort, if worldwide was ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE not do it at all. Worldwide distribution of the bundle should of been one of those thing Humble should not of budged on.

"we also explore services like Steam"... Guys, i have been buying Android Humble Bundles since day of availability. The PC games bundles are 75% of the time Steam keys. This is why i do not buy those bundles.

Shame it's region-locked, but I'm not gonna complain... I'm pretty sure we'll get a Humble Nindie Bundle in Europe soon enough!

Sounds like people are jelly we got this bundle :3

Typical non-answer. "We agree that region-locking is not ideal. But without it, we may not have had this opportunity to promote these great indie games on dedicated video game platforms." How?

@nyoci i think your comment was censored

@Koapa GROW UP!

I still posit that Nintendo could save face by offering unregionlocking as a paid eShop service.
"Don't want to drop in excess of $300 for a J-region console? Pay $100 to make yours multiregion*!
_
*- Carts only, no J-eShop access possible at the time of this writing."

They would earn SO MUCH MORE than they currently do on people who import consoles.

Yeah, because putting an additonal button with "US Bundle" and "EU Bundle" is so hard...

Wait, so it was more Humble BUndle that were the stumbling block than NIntendo?

@Koapa This seems like a fake troll comment

Jeez, with all the whining over availability we can't control, you guys are either extremely charitable, or kinda greedy. Sounds to me like the latter, like you're just aching to get a bunch of games for only a couple of pounds, or Euros, or whatever.

I want to say I'm shocked by the vitrol over this but it is the internet after all... They don't have to do humble bundles and it is the first one Nintendo has done. We have no idea what companies have to do to make these happen. Also let's not forget that the point behind this is CHARITY. If you want the games that badly that this is the end of the world for you just buy them on the eshop (And yes I owned most of the games in the bundle but I still bought it anyway for charity and to give codes to others).

Otherwise just chill out...I'm sure Nintendo will make more of these and find a workaround.

@Koapa you "must" pay? No one is forcing you to buy the games. Besides, think about the amount of sales Europe was given while North America never saw any.

I certainly hope that more eShop bundles come in future and I hope that this current bundle and any future ones are distributed globally.
I do understand that there are different licensing deals in place in the various territories, but it seems like it should not be an insurmountable challenge to have the bundles be as widely available as possible. Surely the clear demand for this bundle in regions outside of America is proof enough that people want it so it is clearly worthwhile making the effort!

I'm all for encouraging women and "underrepresented students of color" entering the computer science field. But, don't you dare call that a charity, Nintendo and Humble Bundle. Charities save lives; they prevent cancer, cure diseases, cure blindness, provide water to third world countries. If I decide to buy a bundle, I'm giving all the money to the developers so they can make more awesome games.

To those fussing over the exclusivity I respectfully ask that you get a hold of yourself and look at the big picture. Already, they had a few people point out and apologize over the region locking. This obviously with it doing well and many people voicing their grievances is more fuel to the get rid of region locking fire. It's great Nintendo has jumped on the Humble bundle bandwagon, great that it's raising a good chunk of change, and great that there are people voicing at desire to participate(i.e. not pissing and moaning like a two year old). Anything that concretely shows Nintendo that it's not worthwhile to have region locking is great and if it takes a limited humble bundle or two to finally end it then it would be more that worth it.

@ALinkttPresent you talk of charities saving lives... Yet you claim that you will only give your cash to the devs to create more games... Why did you not buy the titles when they were full price to support them? Also, the beginning of your post, is sexist/racist at best. what you said was "I'd rather underpay devs than give one dime to women or minorities". I'd rethink that statement, as no matter how you read it, you come off like a jerk.

Its just games. It was nice to donate and get my codes. It was nice to finally try Guacamelee. However. If I wasn't able to get this, it wouldn't add or subtract a day from my life span. I'd like Europe's Wii games on the eShop. I really want Pandora's Tower and Kirby's Return to Dreamland on my external hard drive. Hasn't happened yet though. I'll be ok.

When I got an e-mail yesterday I just woke up and went to University, but I kept thinking about this bundle like from 4am till 9pm, and when I just picked my card from the wallet it striked me: "due to region-lock..."
;(

@Vader_MIB Every Humble Bundle I have downloaded has allowed the game to be directly downloaded DRM-free from the Humble Bundle site. When I started, most of the games did not have Steam keys (granted there was no Steam on Linux which I was using at the time). They offer the Steam Keys as a convenience for those that want them, but they are not required.

@Platypus101 Stop with the sexist/racist argument, there's nothing wrong with what he said. Clearly (and understandably) for him Code.org is not as important as a charity for, let's say, preventing ebola or having access to clean water. So what, because you don't find this organization worthwhile, you don't have the right to be part of that offering and freely give your money to whoever it may please you? Just stop with the rhetoric.

@Marec409 so.. I may not have an opinion? I guess since I'm a minority, my opinion don't matter so I should sit down and shirt up? You can understand him, but not me? I said more than that one sentence (which you jumped all over), why no mention of the lack of real Dev support on his end? Oh wait, you believe the way he does... Cool. Next time though STFU.

@ALinkttPresent

I'm sorry but you're taking this charity statement way out of context, in which it simply refers to a free-will offering. Just because people choose to support other initiatives in our world doesn't mean you can talk down to them like a bloody loon. From what you've said I guess Humble Bundle's many other truly generous charity drives have escaped your eye. I find your stance most uncharitable in regards to causes other than your own.

@Platypus101 It's not an opinion, you're attacking his. This organization is important for you? That's perfect! It's not for him? That's perfect too! No need to point fingers and claim racism/sexism where there's no offence. And you being a minority or not has nothing to do with this argument. And about dev support, when you buy a game at full price on eshop for example, you're not giving 100% to the developper, you're paying the publishing rights, a part goes to the shop on which you bought it, etc. It's no less real to support devs on Humble Bundles than buying the games full price.

@Marec409 sorry... We got off on the wrong foot. As a parent that has sent his child to school for game design (if that's even a field... He's claims there's work at the end of the tunnel) and hearing about the sexism in the gaming industry, I have a bit of a skewed view. Supporting underrepresented people is a charity, because if someone didn't help us, we would still be without voting, or rights

@OptometristLime thank you for clearly stating what I was trying to say (I failed, I was offended, and in turn offended the offensive party)

@Platypus101 That's perfectly fine! And yes supporting underrepresented people is a charity, but the point is not every organization may be worthwhile for everyone and that's not a sign of racism/sexism. For example, I would much prefer give to an organization that encourages women and minorities in the political sphere than in computer sciences, so for me Code.org isn't that important. It's just that racism and sexism are very serious offences, and in the long run, using such harsh claims to describe someone's opinion when nothing was meant to be offensive undermines the real problems in people's mind.

and here comes the Wahmbulance, back for another spin....

@Marec409 as the OP of this "debate" hasn't chimed in yet, I'm holding off any further comments concerning said subject (I get your point, I just feel we got trolled)... And yes, Sexism/Racism is a serious accusation, still don't mean people don't think that way. I, along with other minorities deal with it on a daily basis... On to the actual news: Did you pick up the bundle? since its for charity (and the only time I've given to charity is 1$ at the market, and I believe that was only twice) I was looking at 3$ per game with a 2:1 split in favor of the charity (since I own all but 2.5 of the titles already, one on Wii U but not 3DS)!

@Platypus101 I haven't yet, but I might get it only for The Fall, since I already own every game except Woah Dave! and Moon Chronicles (which doesn't interest me much). So I was waiting until next Tuesday when they'll announce the other games coming, but yeah I'll surely get it and give the extra codes to family/friends.

Ahm... don't they know Nintendo? Because if they would, they should know that Nintendo has a region lock feature unlike Sony and Microsoft (who only allow devs to use to region lock their games and not their consoles). But this is exactly what buzzes me about Nintendo since the event of the Mighty Gunstrike demo and some other games, which never came to Europe. This damn region lock is no good thing for anyone... well, Nintendo believes that it helps developers to get their share for the game in their countries, but they hurt people in their way of getting games as they want it. Importing games should NEVER be an obstacle or hinder people, because it only has the effect that those people will drop the Nintendo console and go to the rival company. This is why I so DAMN MUCH HOPE that the next Nintendo console will be finally region free (just like the Gameboy or the DS was). Sure, region free consoles are a magnet for pirated games like on the DS, but this is a matter that Nintendo has to solve and not damn the player to one REGION. There were pirated games before and there will be pirated games in the future, but to ban people from other regions to prevent this is not an option. But I digress.

This is again a poor example why things like Humble Bundle does not fit with Nintendo. I agree that we can't get some games on Stream here in Europe like in NA (censored or forbidden), but Steam allows to share gift codes, so that people form Europe could play the NA version. This is not possible with Nintendo and that is the reason why people so mad with Nintendo. Again, I really... REALLY hope that Nintendo will change this with NX and let us choose to buy the games WE want and not force us to follow the same region we live in. We are connected through the internet worldwide, why can't we go and choose where we want to buy a game? I think, it is time to break down this border and unite gamers from all over the world to let them play what they like to play. Let them allow to buy games from NA region, from EU region or J Region... but let them choose their own free way.

And yes, even though I said (and agree) that I have already most of the games and it would not pay off for me to buy this bundle, I'm sure that many EU gamers would love to do so. But this is so disappointing and needs to be changed for the future, because it can't go on like this.

@Noelemahc
No, they'd get $200 less per person.

@ryanator008 Not really. This is a checks and balances thing regarding the disinterest curve. The number of people who are willing to pay the $300 is smaller than the number of people who are willing to pay the $100, AND would most likely be sufficiently larger to cover the missed opportunity from those who would have gladly paid $300 but now won't, because for some folks, it's a matter of getting a Japan-exclusive N3DS with unique cover plates at least as much as it is a matter of getting a J-region console.

Much like ignoring the "try before you buy" benefits of piracy, however, corporate entities keep thinking that coercing people to pay is more lucrative than seducing them into paying.

@Noelemahc All I know is Valve found out if they drop the price by 75% gross revenue increases approximately twentyfold. (That is why they kept doing it).

@CharlyDunst The issue is entirely Nintendo (Humble Bundle handled different keys for different regions just fine for the Deep Silver bundle).

These games are trashy indie games no good games have come out since the Snes Genesis Era these are modern trash games they are like free cell phone games with a controller

@Tsurii897

All of you "stop complaining" idiots are the reason why Nintendo has gotten away with screwing European gamers over since the NES days. This ISN'T a matter of entitlement or jealousy or just wanting to buy games at a discount, it's the fact that there's no real reason whatsoever for Nintendo to do this other than they're stubborn traditionalist pricks and they're either too lazy to find some way to make the bundle available worldwide and still keep their stupid region-lock, or as usual they don't care about Europe. Every single game in this bundle is available in other regions, there is no excuse. Stop being "I don't see the big deal, gamers are just entitled" morons and enabling them to do this. Or continue to just be a lapdog to Nintendo. Your choice.