3DS Region Lock Confirmed

If part of your excitement in owning a 3DS is seeing a sequel of one of your favorite DS imports being released on the new system or a completely new title that you know will never see the light of the english language then I'm sorry to say butthis video shows that the 3DS is in fact REGION LOCKED.

In the video, a North American copy of Super Monkey Ball 3D is popped in a Japanese 3DS but unit does not even detect it. It just shows an empty slot. Replacing it with a Japanese version of Nintendogs & Cats and poof, like nothing happened (which is in fact the case).

For some, it'll sound like the worst new ever. For most, we'll probably just get a "meh" out of them. I for one am saddenned by this news. Ossu Tatakae Ouendan 1 and 2 are 2 of my favorite DS titles (no, I do not like Elite Beat Agents and their popping balloon sound effects) and I was expecting that the 3rd game would be released on the 3DS since it was hinted at the end of the 2nd game. I was also looking forward to some Japan exclusives since a lot of good DS titles never get the greenlight for translation.

Owners of imported DS games, do not fret because they will still work fine on any 3DS.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSONr0_zzII&w=640&h=390]