Nintendo launch mass lawsuit against R4

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 29th July 2008
Comments (29) Stumble
The R4 device for the Nintendo DS allows users to load games onto a MicroSD card easily.

The R4 device for the Nintendo DS allows users to load games onto a MicroSD card easily.

Nintendo has recruited a total of 54 other companies and is launching a new lawsuit against the makers and distributors of the R4 Revolution device for the Nintendo DS.

The R4 is essentially a firmware override and MicroSD adapter for the Nintendo DS. Using the device gamers can load custom software on the DS by loading them onto a MicroSD card. The R4 then bypasses the Nintendo firmware and loads a new custom version which allows access to the SD card.

The R4 is typically used for running homebrew games made by bedroom coders, but can also be used to run pirated games and emulators - all of which Nintendo frown on.

Nintendo's new lawsuit is aimed at stopping the manufacture and sales of the R4 and the court case is being supported by companies such as SNK, Capcom, Square Enix, Tecmo and The Pokemon Company.

Nintendo is alleging that the R4 is "causing severe damage to our company and software makers, and this is something that we cannot possibly overlook."

The new courtcase has been filed in the Tokyo District Court and is using the Unfair Competition Prevention Law as the legal grounding for the case, according to Kotaku.

Have you used an R4 beforehand, or do you want to know more about the types of homebrew games and applications out there for the Nintendo DS? Well, if so then you can check our Guide to DS Homebrew article, or just let us know your thoughts in the forums.
Quote cjoyce1980 29th July 2008, 14:50
hurting them.... aint this Nintendo DS the biggest ever selling console in the world currently.

me thinks nintendo is being greed
Quote badders 29th July 2008, 14:53
Quote:
Nintendo is alleging that the DS is "causing severe damage to our company and software makers, and this is something that we cannot possibly overlook."

Shouldn't that be
Quote:
Nintendo is alleging that the R4 is "causing severe damage to our company and software makers, and this is something that we cannot possibly overlook."
Quote Omnituens 29th July 2008, 14:58
R4's sappin' my DS sales!

I have a similar cartridge that I use for music, videos and homebrew. I don't use it for illegal roms or I'd get shot at work.
Quote sotu1 29th July 2008, 15:21
Quote:
Originally Posted by badders
Quote:
Nintendo is alleging that the DS is "causing severe damage to our company and software makers, and this is something that we cannot possibly overlook."

Shouldn't that be
Quote:
Nintendo is alleging that the R4 is "causing severe damage to our company and software makers, and this is something that we cannot possibly overlook."

haha! down with the DS!

actually, i'd like to know exactly on what groudns Ninty are going in on. From what i know, the R4 and other units are a legal unit. it's like torrenting, the software is legit, the downloads aint.
Quote Timmy_the_tortoise 29th July 2008, 15:23
Quote:
Originally Posted by sotu1
Quote:
Originally Posted by badders
Quote:
Nintendo is alleging that the DS is "causing severe damage to our company and software makers, and this is something that we cannot possibly overlook."

Shouldn't that be
Quote:
Nintendo is alleging that the R4 is "causing severe damage to our company and software makers, and this is something that we cannot possibly overlook."

haha! down with the DS!

actually, i'd like to know exactly on what groudns Ninty are going in on. From what i know, the R4 and other units are a legal unit. it's like torrenting, the software is legit, the downloads aint.

Except in this case: the Hardware is legit, the Software ain't.
Quote CardJoe 29th July 2008, 15:29
Quote:
Originally Posted by badders
Shouldn't that be

Quote TreeDude 29th July 2008, 15:32
I guess i better get one while I still can...
Quote Krikkit 29th July 2008, 15:36
Seems pretty fair to me. It's a device that allows the general masses to get something for free, i.e. why pay £25-30 for a game when you can download it, stick it on a cheap memory card like that, and play it without worry.
Quote aggies11 29th July 2008, 15:57
This is a *serious* problem. I hear Nintendo is almost losing money on the DS now.... wait a sec.

How about we spend less time filing lawsuits and spend that effort on making more quality games for the Wii?
Quote legoman666 29th July 2008, 16:01
Quote:
Originally Posted by TreeDude
I guess i better get one while I still can...

There's about 10 different companies that offer similar products. So if the R4 disappears, there are plenty of other choices.
Quote zimbloggy 29th July 2008, 16:07
heaven forbid that there should be custom software on something that we ourselves own.
Quote SNIPERMikeUK 29th July 2008, 16:36
Nice!!! Good Luck with that Nintendo, R4 is the popular choice, but there are soooo many more similar products, and running Lemmings and Quake on a DS is fantastic.
Quote Krikkit 29th July 2008, 16:37
Quote:
Originally Posted by aggies11
This is a *serious* problem. I hear Nintendo is almost losing money on the DS now.... wait a sec.

How about we spend less time filing lawsuits and spend that effort on making more quality games for the Wii?

There are plenty of good games out there, why bother if everyone just pirates them?
Quote zeroinfinity 29th July 2008, 16:52
Nintendo has gone the way of evil corporation since the explosion off the Wii's popularity. Better get an R4 now before it's too late.
Quote GoodBytes 29th July 2008, 16:59
They must... if they don't game companies will say "What gives! If that is the case, then we wont' make DS games anymore"
Quote CardJoe 29th July 2008, 17:21
On the plus side, coder PapaFuji has just released the DS port of the Frotz interpretter - bringing a whole world of freeware interactive fiction to my DS. Joy!
Quote Cthippo 29th July 2008, 17:34
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoodBytes
They must... if they don't game companies will say "What gives! If that is the case, then we wont' make DS games anymore"

The logical extention of that is that since ALL digital media can be pirated, the no one will make anything anymore. Somehow I can't see that happening. I think Nintendo earns a fail for this move.
Quote The Infamous Mr D 29th July 2008, 17:59
Wow. My R4 turned up this morning. Talk about timing!!!
Quote Jordan Wise 29th July 2008, 18:39
such a shame, i love the few homebrew games i have on my DS. Nintendo should fight fire with fire, do their own version, so all games can have been carried on one cart, and have a Steam like service built into the firmware so you can get the games through wi-fi. I doubt they'll do it with the DS now they've starting this lawsuit, but they better think like that when the next handheld comes out
Quote GoodBytes 29th July 2008, 19:00
The problem with the Steam idea, is like Yahoo music store. How many can't play their purchased music, because they re-installed their system, or moved to a new computer and don't know ways around it before they perform such task. Imagine is Steam or a Steam like service closes... what happens to your games that you purchased?! Doesn't mean you played it, that you will never play it again. Also how about resell of the game?
Example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Chrono-Trigger-SNES-with-manual-and-posters-Square-RPG_W0QQitemZ280248359257QQihZ018QQcategoryZ139973QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/Freespace-2-WIN-95-98-NT-NIB-NEW_W0QQitemZ130169695288QQihZ003QQcategoryZ139973QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

Steam doesn't give you that possibility.

And what if you ant to play a game? with Steam, if you don't have the game you have to wait until it downloads, wasting valuable download bandwidth on your quota (unless you are lucky enough to not have such thing), and then install it (for PC). If you have the game, you just put the cartage in and your set. Way faster!
Quote Jordan Wise 29th July 2008, 19:21
yeah but come on, you can't compare the file size for steam games with nintendo ones, i believe the carts are maxed out at 32mb, thats hardly going to take long is it?
Quote TreeDude 29th July 2008, 20:06
Steam is awesome. There is a back up feature for installing on a machine which is not connected to the web and all single player games can be played without an internet connection. About the only thing you loose is the ability to resell. Big whoop if you ask me.
Quote DXR_13KE 29th July 2008, 20:40
a steam system for the DS would own.....
Quote B3CK 29th July 2008, 23:56
I think the real issue here is that this lawsuit represents a huge failure of the whole invention and patent process. Since when is it illeagal to make an accessory or improvement to an already existing item if your not using the original in your product/idea?
Just because it fits the DS so nice, doesn't mean you can't use it with an adapter to plug into your pc or any other device. I do believe that this lawsuit would be alot harder in the US to prove, and that Nintendo is using the Japanese laws to get a better leverage on the lawsuit.
Quote woodshop 30th July 2008, 00:07
well a big number (54) is good weight... so is the quality..
Code:
The Pokemon Company
that not helping them..
Quote sotu1 30th July 2008, 07:33
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy_the_tortoise
Except in this case: the Hardware is legit, the Software ain't.

meh, i made a cock up! that's what I meant! the hard ware is legit, the software aint!
Quote sotu1 30th July 2008, 07:46
actually this is a shame in many respects. the hombrew scene is really booming and theres's a few games that are really worthwhile on homebrew, and the continued development of them will drop considerably. Lone wolf series is damn amazing and I'd like to see it finished, and card fighters clash 2 (OMG, most addictive and coolest game EVAR!) has just been translated and ported. however, totally understand where ninty are coming from on this angle. the R4 has gotta be hurting software sales which is the main profit driver, especially for 3rd party devs and small independent devs, and at the end of the day it's still money that should be paid to them
Quote liratheal 30th July 2008, 09:08
Go, Legal team, I choose you!

I could understand if they were losing a lot of money through this, but unless I'm mistaken, the Wii is pretty damned popular, and so are the games aren't they?
Quote pizan 30th July 2008, 18:39
"Unfair Competition Prevention Law"...isn't this lawsuit the one preventing FAIR competiton
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