Anti-DRM Group Sends Nintendo 200 Bricks

[MiketheBassMan]

My mind is completely fucking blown by the people who think this is OK. When you purchase hardware, it is never OK for the vendor to render it unusable for any reason that they choose. You are not licensing the console, you are purchasing it. You own it. It's yours. It does not matter what you do with the console, and Nintendo has no bearing over how you modify the hardware.

What they could reasonably do is ban you from their systems and servers, making you unable to play online games through their systems, access software downloads, etc. It is patently ridiculous to think that they should be allowed to brick your device for any reason at any time, and even more so that they own any and all content you produce using the device.

Let's abstract an example. You purchase a high-end synthesizer with a proprietary Unix-based operating system that allows for networking. Everything you do with that synth is now the property of Roland, or whoever the manufacturer is, and they reserve all rights to your content. If you attempt to modify the synth's hardware in any way, they reserve the right to remotely brick it. lolwut?

Or even more relevant: You buy a new Dell laptop. Dell wants you to use Windows, which was bundled with the computer. You attempt to reformat the drive and change operating systems, and the computer is no longer able to boot. No one would ever find that acceptable.

It makes no sense. Arguing that cell phone carriers can restrict you in a similar fashion is not a good comparison, because phones are often distributed at a greatly reduced price based on a contract and service plan.

 

[Twilight_guy]

If only Nintendo cared. Guess what guys, so long as there are pirates companies that makes consoles are going to put in ridiculous clauses to protect themselves. Pirates are just that bad that if you give them an inch of leeway they are going to exploit it to hell. How about we deal with pirates too instead of just saying that companies suck shall we?

 

[Canadamus Prime]

In related news, Nintendo seen offloaded a large shipment of cardboard bricks to a recycling center and then presumably resuming business as usual.

 

[Psycho Cat Industries]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/3306-NOT-a-Security-Episode
All discussion is ended.

 

[koroem]

What is wrong with you people? This isn't about piracy, it's about owning the things you pay for. The terms of service here make it very clear that you don't own the device, they do. You're just paying for the right to use it. If that's how they want to do it, then fine. The device shouldn't cost any money though, because I'm not buying, I'm just renting it. I shouldn't have to pay such a high price for something I don't even own. And to all of the idiots saying "ZOMG STUPID PIRATES LOLZOR!!!" Modding=/=Piracy

Exactly 100% this. Furthermore, why aren't more people upset over this:

Along with Nintendo owning rights to video or pictures captured with the device, tracking user activity, and forcing non-optional updates,

That alone is enough for me to say fuck off Nintendo. It is as bad as Facebook claiming ownership anything you post on your Facebook page. I hate Facebook but Nintendo doing this now highlights how companies are becoming more and more aggressive at attempting to sell people licenses to use rather than products to own, and attempting to take their personal lives and spin them for profit. Then they can force updates in the future to further increase the amount of snooping they can do?

There should be laws against this kind of perversion.

 

[Distortionfile]

On the one aspect, claiming trade rights on your media is just evil. But wanting to protect their hardware from software piracy is completely legitimate. If pirates wouldn't religiously thwart every effort at DRM, they wouldn't have to take such extreme measures to prevent it.

 

[Himmelgeher]

Who would have thought that Nintendo has the right to limit your use of their device when you mess with it? =P

God, I wish life didn't overstock on the idiots when it did.

Who would have thought so many people blindly accept that a device you paid for is owned by the person that sold it to you?

Admittedly, I should have phrased my first sentence better. But when 98% of the people who "Modify" a game console do it for pirating, I don't feel too bad for NOT rephrasing it. Fact is that almost everybody who modifies their game consoles do it for piracy. I understand why Nintendo is doing what it's doing with the 3DS. And so far it appears that most gamers aren't too pissy about it except for this anti-DRM group, which are probably a bunch of pirates themselves.

Do you have a single fact to back ANY of that up? Because I'm willing to bet you're a self-righteous, self-important little brat who doesn't care about the actual issues at hand and for some inexplicable reason wants to stand up for some faceless corporation's "right" to invade your privacy and tell you that you don't actually own the things that you pay good money for. Because, from my experience, virtually every single modder I've ever met, online or off, does so for increased functionality and not for piracy. But what do I know right? I'm only basing my argument on "facts" and not sweeping generalizations based on idiotic and untrue stereotypes.

 

[1337mokro]

Thank god for European Laws. I'd hate to live in American where a company could legally burst into your house and break your shit if you install a mod that let's say allows you to play Japan only games on your Nintendo or other system.

Not to mention that if your kids get their hands on a 3DS Nintendo has the right to use whatever video they capture. Be that of daddy on the toilet or of their friends and it's completely out of your hands.

Can you believe that?

 

[MisterColeman]

This is really hurting the retailers more than anything. They ordered the 3DS in mass quanities under the assumption that it is a Nintendo Handheld, it has to sell.

Clearly the consumer response both to the gimick and the licensing agreement are causing the sales to be underwhelming. I have over 12 gamestops in town, they all have a wall full of the things either on display or hidden shamefully in the small storage office.

 

[EternalFacepalm]

Very many ignore the fact that it's possible to mod it to do something that isn't pirating.
Now you can't.

Also, it's ridiculous that it records every image, every video, EVERYTHING. I don't see why that would help against piracy.

 

[Thyunda]

I seriously can't believe I'm the only person to notice this. The 3DS gives automatic ownership to Nintendo for anything you capture with it. That's got nothing to do with piracy, that's just being a dick.

 

[V8 Ninja]

Admittedly, I should have phrased my first sentence better. But when 98% of the people who "Modify" a game console do it for pirating, I don't feel too bad for NOT rephrasing it. Fact is that almost everybody who modifies their game consoles do it for piracy. I understand why Nintendo is doing what it's doing with the 3DS. And so far it appears that most gamers aren't too pissy about it except for this anti-DRM group, which are probably a bunch of pirates themselves.

Do you have a single fact to back ANY of that up? Because I'm willing to bet you're a self-righteous, self-important little brat who doesn't care about the actual issues at hand and for some inexplicable reason wants to stand up for some faceless corporation's "right" to invade your privacy and tell you that you don't actually own the things that you pay good money for. Because, from my experience, virtually every single modder I've ever met, online or off, does so for increased functionality and not for piracy. But what do I know right? I'm only basing my argument on "facts" and not sweeping generalizations based on idiotic and untrue stereotypes.

Okay, I'll admit; I am stereotyping to a degree. But all of the real-world "Modders" I've met mod their consoles so that they can play pirated games. And I don't trust modders on the internet because it's as easy to tell a truth as it is to tell a lie.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Maybe every line in the terms n conditions after the first ten should cost them 1% of the RRP, the more they pad out their terms with ridiculous BS, the cheaper the machine gets

Or maybe a checklist with a discount next to each one, you tick the ones you agree to,and get a code you can send in for a rebate, or you pay full price and get to use the damn thing you paid for how you like.

Seems fair to me, the less use you get out of something, the less expensive it should be.

Am I really reading this right, if I used a DS to film a section of an indie movie for youtube or the like, Nintendo now own my work?

Kodak, Nikon and the like need to get the hell on this bandwagon, I can just see them sending James Cameron a mail - 'BTW, Jimmy, Avatar 2? We actually own that as you used one of our cameras and just scrolled thru the terms n conditions and hit 'accept' like everyone else does. Thanks for the free money.'

I can't believe Apple haven't jumped on this, how many authors use a Mac?

The latest Extra Credits makes some good points on privacy, the idea that between Sony and Google storing your private information, while both need to,to be able to offer the services that they do, Google did it right by being completely upfront and open about it, and not hanging onto stuff they no longer need.

 

[raankh]

Ah, the wonders of neoliberal capitalism. Well, that's what happens when you deregulate everything in some utopian dream that companies will regulate themselves to satisfy the demand of the Consumer.

Here in Europe we aren't quite as far off the cliff as you people across the Atlantic, at least in some regards, but that's just a matter of time I think.

Although, Greenspan and his gang have admitted they were wrong and their ideas of self-organizaton and "structural reform" were just imaginary constructs, nobody want's to be defeatist, right? Onwards, towards WIN!!1

 

[Atmos Duality]

My main point, which is surrounded by asterisk still stands. Pirates will always pirate, you're only slowing them down. I hate pirates, to be honest. They're the ones making me type this, and making people work around DRM. But the thing is, I hate ignorance more. As well as incorrectly labeling moders as pirates.

I know this post isn't directed at me, but people who keep equating modders to pirates are committing a fallacy by default.

Suppose I accused every person who owns a firearm of being a killer?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/3306-NOT-a-Security-Episode
All discussion is ended.

This is relevant to the topic how?
Sorry, but I'm just looking for the point you're trying to make.

 

[ThisNewGuy]

So wait what are they supposed to do with the bricks?

Same thing you do with all 3DS right now. Collect dust.

 

[Xanthious]

Oh Nintendo, it's so cute you think this is going to matter one little bit in a few months from now. It's not a question of IF it's going to be worked around but a matter of WHEN. Furthermore, when you commit dick moves like this it only encourages some people to bust your little system open that much further and work that much harder on it.

Also, if you wonder why legitimate paying customers often times side with the pirates against the big faceless corporations you only need look at shit like this or Apple's latest PR nightmare that's being reported every hour on the hour. And as they cheer for those damn dirty pirates they begin to see their side a little more until the day comes when you've pulled one dick move too many and a few more people decide that stealing your products is just some round about form of karma and you've no one to blame but yourselves.

In the end customers are ultimately like sand. The tighter you squeeze the more of them that slip through your fingers.

 

[rapidoud]

Even though bricking stuff is illegal, which is why MS don't do it (that, and so pirates are still willing to pay for a new HDD).

At least, in Australia. I paid for a DS, you remove that from me and you owe me my money back.

 

[Versuvius]

The point most people have missed while going OLOLOL PIRATES BUTTHURT PWND is that...it doesnt affect pirates. It takes one hacker to decide "fuck dis shit" and purge it off the system and share it, while the average consumer has a looming shadow behind them of Nintendo deciding whether or not they want to brick your console (Hell i wouldnt be surprised if they occasionally send out an update that bricked a certain range of serial numbers). So. Feel free to back Nintendo while they nazi over your content while i will sit and happy have the crap stripped out and rightfully own my device.

 

[Stormz]

So this is the direction the industry is going in. Colour me unsurprised. Looks like I won't be buying anymore consoles if anyone follows in their footsteps, or PC games with things like Steam around.