Noob question US vs Japan version wii

vemby · 2nd June 2008, 3:56 PM

Hi Guys,

I'm thinking of getting my first wii and have a friend who's currently travelling through Singapore and Hong Kong. When I asked him to check price there he came back with 2 quotes. One for the Japanese version and one for the US version. The Japanese version is the cheaper one.

I'm aware that for the Japanese version all the ingame instructions are in Japenese (fortunately my gf can read Japanese, so this shouldn't be an issue for me), but besides this is there any other downfall?

Essentially I just wanted to know all the pros and cons before buying it

Once again i'm a total newbie at this so any information will help.

Many Thanks,
V

rhysxanthis · 2nd June 2008, 4:45 PM

why not just get the australian version? then a freeloader to play US games?

so you can then play US region games (cheaper & come out earlier) as well as AU ones.

i would personally, if you want to buy with your friend however, choose the USA console. They have (generally) cheaper and more available games than Japanese, plus you can read them w/out your GF

Deeman · 2nd June 2008, 5:26 PM

How much do you really save?

It may be worth buying locally to save on power converters (US/Japan run on 110V, so you'd need to buy a converter, or an aussie Wii power supply), and then there's the warranty issues if something breaks...

vemby · 2nd June 2008, 10:01 PM

Thanks for all the input

May I ask what's a freeloader? Seems the general consensus here is to get the US version. Also with the warranty, I thought Nintendo have a global warranty? So if I bought the Wii at Singapore, do i have to send it back to Singapore if it died on me?

On top of head, I can't remember the price that my friend told me. I'll check my email again.

Thanks again for the feedback guys.

Regards,
V

vemby · 2nd June 2008, 10:23 PM

Also how much would a freeloader and power converter cost here? Just so I have a general idea how much it would cost all up.

Thanks,
V

pksw · 3rd June 2008, 10:43 AM

DeeMan edit: No discussing modchips or piracy whatsoever. PM me if you want the content of your previous post so you can edit it.

rhysxanthis · 3rd June 2008, 2:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vemby

Also how much would a freeloader and power converter cost here? Just so I have a general idea how much it would cost all up.

Thanks,
V

im not sure if you would need a power converter as most power suppliesthese days come 100-240V, you would just need a US->Aus plug converter, no more than $10.

freeloader is so you can play other version games on your wii console.

Deeman · 3rd June 2008, 2:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhysxanthis

im not sure if you would need a power converter as most power suppliesthese days come 100-240V, you would just need a US->Aus plug converter, no more than $10.

A lot of portable devices do, but from a quick Google, the Wii's power supply isn't multi-voltage.

Plug a 110V Japanese power supply into the wall in Australia, and you'll get a nice pop, and nothing else until you either replace the PSU, the Wii, or both.

vemby · 3rd June 2008, 6:56 PM

Thanks for the answers guys.

Regards,
V

pksw · 3rd June 2008, 8:35 PM

Well to summarize my long post that got deleted:

1. There are 3 regions to Wiis
a NTSC-Japan
b NTSC-USA
c PAL

a = All system menus are in Japanese
b = Comes with 110V power supply, but at least it's English
c = Australian/European model

The Japanese model was around $HKD 2300 in January (no games)
The USA model was around $HKD 3100 in January (with Wii Sports)

Off the top of my head, a new power transformer cable for 240V (to suit the UK/HK style plug) ranged from around $HKD 60 to $HKD 400. Depended on how well you could bargain. They tended to talk a lot of crap about some have "cleaner" power signal, or better safety etc. I just got the cheapest cable, and a $2 adapter to convert the plug to the Australian type.

Don't just get an adapter to change the US plug to Australian plug - you'll be plugging 240 V into it when it expects 110V.

Games are region locked, meaning you will only be able to use the corresponding region games. So if you buy an NTSC-J or NTSC-U model, you'll have to import games (eg buy from amazon.com), or as mentioned by others try to use Freeloader to bypass it. However, the exploit Freeloader uses may be patched soon, so it's not a guaranteed solution.

The controllers are identical, so definitely save around 50% and buy your extra Wiimotes and nunchucks from overseas.

vemby · 4th June 2008, 10:52 AM

pksw,

I can't thank you enough. Your information has save me heaps of reading time!!!

Regards,
V

Kiljaeden · 17th June 2008, 3:16 PM

Just thought I'd add, that a firmware update (3.3) has been released which makes the freeloader completely useless. So either don't update or prepare to have no more region free ability.

romanx · 17th June 2008, 3:42 PM

Customs will probably whack on a charge too. Better off buying locally, if you're Wii dies it has to go overseas to be repaired

Deeman · 17th June 2008, 4:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by romanx

Customs will probably whack on a charge too.

No they won't. Customs duty limit is $1000.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5549

Quote:

All goods (except for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) may be imported duty and tax free if their value is $1,000 or less.

pksw · 17th June 2008, 4:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiljaeden

Just thought I'd add, that a firmware update (3.3) has been released which makes the freeloader completely useless. So either don't update or prepare to have no more region free ability.

When was this released? - I have 3.2U firmware, and nothing updated as recently as last night.

EDIT - found a good FAQ on it - released June 16 for NTSC and PAL at http://wiibrew.org/wiki/June16_update

2nd June 2008, 3:56 PM	#1
vemby Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 43	Noob question US vs Japan version wii Hi Guys, I'm thinking of getting my first wii and have a friend who's currently travelling through Singapore and Hong Kong. When I asked him to check price there he came back with 2 quotes. One for the Japanese version and one for the US version. The Japanese version is the cheaper one. I'm aware that for the Japanese version all the ingame instructions are in Japenese (fortunately my gf can read Japanese, so this shouldn't be an issue for me), but besides this is there any other downfall? Essentially I just wanted to know all the pros and cons before buying it Once again i'm a total newbie at this so any information will help. Many Thanks, V

2nd June 2008, 4:45 PM	#2
rhysxanthis Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perth Posts: 3,669	why not just get the australian version? then a freeloader to play US games? so you can then play US region games (cheaper & come out earlier) as well as AU ones. i would personally, if you want to buy with your friend however, choose the USA console. They have (generally) cheaper and more available games than Japanese, plus you can read them w/out your GF __________________ Sport addict. Travel here, there and everywhere to watch. If there is a cure, I don't want to know about it. Last edited by rhysxanthis; 2nd June 2008 at 4:52 PM.

3rd June 2008, 10:43 AM	#6
pksw Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 680	DeeMan edit: No discussing modchips or piracy whatsoever. PM me if you want the content of your previous post so you can edit it. __________________ Q6600 G0@3.4GHz (9x380 @ 1.375V)/ TRUE-120 \| P35-DSP3 rev2.1 \| Gigabyte 5770 \| Corsair HX-620w PSU Successful trades: toXin, dalien, kr0k, dreammer, gbtaufae, chronisis, bigheadache, HuggyBear, tephra, akh10, karthik, Soarer GT, silentlightning, PapaRubbery, Reliancex, MelbTinTin, Jeffy83, Brad2k4, akumi, jclei, [md]#40, gumballguy, FireFox.exe, Viljar, ksyap, Quagnol, railer, daveaus, aiya_au, HmMz, Azzan, MoNk{LAH}, Oppressa, Jai, Dr Kildare Last edited by Deeman; 3rd June 2008 at 2:07 PM.

3rd June 2008, 8:35 PM	#10
pksw Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 680	Well to summarize my long post that got deleted: 1. There are 3 regions to Wiis a NTSC-Japan b NTSC-USA c PAL a = All system menus are in Japanese b = Comes with 110V power supply, but at least it's English c = Australian/European model The Japanese model was around $HKD 2300 in January (no games) The USA model was around $HKD 3100 in January (with Wii Sports) Off the top of my head, a new power transformer cable for 240V (to suit the UK/HK style plug) ranged from around $HKD 60 to $HKD 400. Depended on how well you could bargain. They tended to talk a lot of crap about some have "cleaner" power signal, or better safety etc. I just got the cheapest cable, and a $2 adapter to convert the plug to the Australian type. Don't just get an adapter to change the US plug to Australian plug - you'll be plugging 240 V into it when it expects 110V. Games are region locked, meaning you will only be able to use the corresponding region games. So if you buy an NTSC-J or NTSC-U model, you'll have to import games (eg buy from amazon.com), or as mentioned by others try to use Freeloader to bypass it. However, the exploit Freeloader uses may be patched soon, so it's not a guaranteed solution. The controllers are identical, so definitely save around 50% and buy your extra Wiimotes and nunchucks from overseas. __________________ Q6600 G0@3.4GHz (9x380 @ 1.375V)/ TRUE-120 \| P35-DSP3 rev2.1 \| Gigabyte 5770 \| Corsair HX-620w PSU Successful trades: toXin, dalien, kr0k, dreammer, gbtaufae, chronisis, bigheadache, HuggyBear, tephra, akh10, karthik, Soarer GT, silentlightning, PapaRubbery, Reliancex, MelbTinTin, Jeffy83, Brad2k4, akumi, jclei, [md]#40, gumballguy, FireFox.exe, Viljar, ksyap, Quagnol, railer, daveaus, aiya_au, HmMz, Azzan, MoNk{LAH}, Oppressa, Jai, Dr Kildare

2nd June 2008, 5:26 PM	#3
Deeman Back on the grid. Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 8,765	How much do you really save? It may be worth buying locally to save on power converters (US/Japan run on 110V, so you'd need to buy a converter, or an aussie Wii power supply), and then there's the warranty issues if something breaks...

2nd June 2008, 10:01 PM	#4
vemby Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 43	Thanks for all the input May I ask what's a freeloader? Seems the general consensus here is to get the US version. Also with the warranty, I thought Nintendo have a global warranty? So if I bought the Wii at Singapore, do i have to send it back to Singapore if it died on me? On top of head, I can't remember the price that my friend told me. I'll check my email again. Thanks again for the feedback guys. Regards, V

2nd June 2008, 10:23 PM	#5
vemby Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 43	Also how much would a freeloader and power converter cost here? Just so I have a general idea how much it would cost all up. Thanks, V

3rd June 2008, 6:56 PM	#9
vemby Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 43	Thanks for the answers guys. Regards, V

4th June 2008, 10:52 AM	#11
vemby Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 43	pksw, I can't thank you enough. Your information has save me heaps of reading time!!! Regards, V

17th June 2008, 3:16 PM	#12
Kiljaeden Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sydney Posts: 601	Just thought I'd add, that a firmware update (3.3) has been released which makes the freeloader completely useless. So either don't update or prepare to have no more region free ability.