will the dsi be region specific?

[samit]

I was wondering that will the dsi be region specific? Even Nintendo doesnt has an answer for it? I was hoping to get a DSI from my uncle from abroad but it seems that I will have to cancel my plans if there was a region coding done. However, would it be possible that the imported DSI to work in my country? Is there any tips or tricks to avoid regional codings? Thanks

[Hitman22]

"DSi software (software that is only compatible with DSi) is region locked, eg: European DSi software can only be played on European DSi consoles," a Nintendo spokesperson has told. They confirmed that this means BOTH download-able games and future DSi-only cartridge-based games would be region locked.

[Mario2]

This is due to the piracy of DSI consoles and games related to it done. Nintendo spokesperson said that "Clearly, the move is all about piracy," claims Steve Boxer. "The DS has been targeted by pirates, especially in the Far East - and you can't blame Nintendo for that."

"Nintendo isn't about to abandon the existing DS market, so it will be quite a while before region-locked DSi-specific titles are released in significant quantities."

NGamer's Nick Ellis is not so sure, arguing that "region-locking is unlikely to solve the issue of piracy."

[robodude]

DSi software basically is regular DS software in a slightly different package. I wouldn't be too surprised if it was sooner or later possible to even run DSi-"specific" software on a regular DS using a regular DS flashcard. DSi exclusives are online purchased stuff only.