4th Gen HG/SS Game Corner Changed - for EVERYWHERE outside Japan

[bobandbill]

Well at least that's what serebii.net states. Info in the quote:

Finally, the final bit of information is in regards to the Game Corner. The Game Corner has changed in all regions outside of Japan. Instead of the slot machines, they have added a minigame called Voltorb Flip. This game is reminiscent of games such as minesweeper where you have to flip tiles and you get a variety of bonuses of multipliers (x1, x2 & x3). However, in addition to that, you may also find Voltorbs which are placed randomly in each set. You get shown how many Voltorbs are in each row and column and your task is to get the multipliers and not hit any Voltorb tiles. As you progress without hitting Voltorbs, the levels get harder, more Voltorb tiles appear and the higher coin multipliers become more abundant. If you keep hitting Voltorbs, you will end up back at the bottom level.

So it looks like not just Europe, and not even just them and Australia, but everyone has changed slots this time around. Isn't that the greatest? But on the flip side at least they did something better than what they did with Europe's Platinum and added in a different game instead. Now that's a way to bypass gambling laws and... idk, higher game ratings on the gambling aspect and the such for other places, I suppose?

Discuss.

 

[Wings Don't Cry]

I don't really mind, the Pokemon Slot Machines failed to other Slot Machines from other Nintendo Games.

 

[Guy]

Okay, so everyone got a change. I can't say it wasn't a bad shift in idea as I rather introduce something new than block off a certain aspect of the game. Plus, it bypasses the new law for Gambling Influence in Europe therefore allowing no one to miss much when comparing the game from region to region. This mini-game for the Game Corner at least sounds intriguing and I wouldn't mind trying it out once released. For the very least, it made the game fair for everyone instead of having fans worry if they would close off or alter the Game Corner for Europe and Australia compared to the US Version.

It'll just seem a bit awkward at first without the traditional Game Slots that was usually brought into the game. It only questions what could come in the future however, as mentioned by Jake above.

 

[demonmike]

Wait, "new law for Gambling Influence in Europe"? What's this law? Got a citation for that?

Its part of PEGI's rating scheme. It had become apparent at the Platinum rating survey that there were certain things obtainable via slot machine winnings that were not obtainable any where else.

I contacted PEGI shortly after the EU release of Platinum, and they said the instance above is recognised as encouragement to gamble. If Nintendo kept it in, it would face a 12+ rating.

EDIT: I'm still importing a copy anyway. Get it at least a week faster, and £10 from the looks of things, cheaper. Go import! Screw NOE and their 'DS games must now be £35RRP'

 

[Masterge77]

Does that include America, the horror of it all, maybe it was that law involving casinos in Ohio (which is where I live)

 

[Guy]

Wow, I should've expected that sort of thing to happen. And I thought it was just the USK that had gone rotten, but damnit, it's PEGI as well, huh. I don't see how Europe should affect NoA eitherway though, because the ESRB hasn't objected (has it?) and if Nintendo wanted to keep things consistent, I'm sure The Pokémon Company International would've had a say in how this works…

(Wait, NoE's also charging more? They charged less before?)

So, do I still have to cite you on that? o_o; Or are we good?

Anyway, it isn't so much about any gambling law, it's really keeping the game in which it is rated low enough for all ages to say. It's lame how they saw any gambling influence in the first place much less since its been through so many generations of Pokémon. Regardless, a change is a change and for those who pre-ordered the US Version hoping they still have access they can take part in the Slot Machines at least they have the benefit of receiving the game at least a week earlier than the EU and Aussie release dates.

Does that include America, the horror of it all, maybe it was that law involving casinos in Ohio (which is where I live)

Yes, it does include American as well. Noting how it says everywhere outside of Japan, America is no exception. I'm sure there will be some mixed feeling about the situation though. :\

 

[Kikaito plush]

What ??
is this for real, screw them if it is true..

 

[Crysta Blade]

Now for some overblown rage, as seen on another forum.

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!? Way to go, whoever removed the Game Corner in Europe. You ruined it for the rest of us.

And that just had to replace it with a game I suck at: Minesweeper. Not only does this earn a shaking of my fist, it deserves a raising of both of my middle fingers. For the love of everything that is holy...

 

[BakingBluePotatoe]

Now for some overblown rage, as seen on another forum.

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!? Way to go, whoever removed the Game Corner in Europe. You ruined it for the rest of us.

And that just had to replace it with a game I suck at: Minesweeper. Not only does this earn a shaking of my fist, it deserves a raising of both of my middle fingers. For the love of everything that is holy...

JUST BE GLAD WE EVEN HAVE THE GAME CORNER

Besides, if you don't like it, don't play it. Nothing in the gamne says you HAVE to play the Game Corner. =/ .. right?

 

[Lati-Fan95]

oh boy, who has keeps removing the Game Corner out of our Pokegames? I loved the game corner (although I bought coins most of the time, but sometimes I played with the game machines and it was pretty fun!^^) in every region (especially the cards), and why did they replaced that with a game I suck in? But screw it, I hope they (chetaz! xD) will find a cheat to activate the slots and the cards again, just like one of my firends did in Platinum!^^

 

[Superjub]

This is awesome for me! :D

At least Europe has a Game Corner this time. Sure, we dont have Game Machines, but at least we have something to play. Also, minesweeper doesn't sound that bad. ;)

 

[Pokestick good times.]

It doesn't really matter to me... I don't think tha game corner's THAT important for me...

Well, I haven't really been there since the european Platinum BETRAYED me... So... I guess this is a plus for me, atleast we get as much as americans do when we pay...

Haha...

But ah well, I hope the minigame-arcade turns out well too. I could just play Diamond if I wanna lose my money on slot (DX).

 

[Shadow Chaos]

T-The purpose of the Game Corner was the slots... ;A;

 

[demonmike]

[S-HIGHLIGHT]JUST BE GLAD WE EVEN HAVE THE GAME[/S-HIGHLIGHT] CORNER

Besides, if you don't like it, don't play it. Nothing in the gamne says you HAVE to play the Game Corner. =/ .. right?

Nuh-uh, although I appreciate the heads up this time, I'm still dissapointed. As a consumer who intends to buy the game, like many others, I'm well within my right to still be annoyed.

As far as I can tell, the gambling problem is only under scrutiny in Europe. I may have to contact the ESRB for their game survey procedure much like I did with PEGI to see if they too have changed the rules as to what constitutes gambling encouragement, or if it even exists in ESRB rating system.

Call me a liar, but I've always enjoyed the slots, never accomplished my goal however, which as to max out the coins without the easy method of just simply buying them. I'm just glad I'm learning Japanese at university, knowing my luck though, Japan will suffer next (even though their rating system is awesomely lax).

Still keeping to my publisher boycott for Nintendo's European releases however. Not only did they raise the RRP for Platinum, but I also paid more for less and to wait longer. I'l import both versions of HG/SS, get them a week earlier and £10 cheaper each (thats about $18 for those in the US, quite steep for each game right?)

 

[The Cynic]

Minesweeper....woo..........:tired: That games about as exciting as.... as..... well lets just say that if someone removed everything from my laptop except minesweeper and purble place.... I would play purble place.

Its not too bad though. I never really used the game corner. I only used it in earlier generations to aquire dratini.

 

[Dillon_68]

I like Minesweeper, a similar game is way better to me than those tricky slots!

 

[Sora's Nobody]

I'm gonna contact the ESRB BASTARDS right now!

 

[Åzurε]

It's... certainly a bit screwy. Thanks, Europe Guy. >:/

Question! Does this replace the Celadon Slots too? I am correct in assuming there were two Game Corners in GSC, right?

 

[tobi-ksla]

It's the older human generation's paranoia. They're afraid that the newer generations will make the same mistakes that a lot of people in their own generation have committed, so they're doing all they can to prevent the newer gen from making them do those mistakes.

[sarcasm]... Gee, I wonder what makes them think the new generation can't handle themselves?[/sarcasm] (Did you know that this is the first time I used the sarcasm tag? No serious.)

I'd go on about ethics and morality, but I don't want to waste time quoting words from dead philosophers whom few only care about. (Oh, and Heidegger, a philosopher, was a Nazi.)

Going back to the Game Corner thing... It doesn't affect me that much since I never really liked playing the slots. I just can't seem to win in these games. I just go earn loads of money and buy the coins I need. There. I get my prize.

Seriously, how many people decide to bypass the Slots by buying the coins?

... Now, we have another reason why Nintendo took out the Slots and replaced them with a Minesweeper-esque thing.

... Wow... I never expected I'd make a reply as big as this. Serious.

 

[Sora's Nobody]

Well finished writing the message that im gonna send off to ESRB, is it to harche?

"This is a question regarding Pokemon Heartgold and Soulsilver; Apparently from what i have read, You have done the exact same thing PEGI made Nintendo Europe do in Pokemon Platinum. Removing the gameslots to apparently keep it within the "appropriate" rating. The reason it was done in Europe was apparently that a new law was inplied making "Gambling" exposure in games illegal. Was such a rule inplied in the U.S, or a you just following The PEGI way of succes to dissapointment and low game rating?"