Nintendo unveils piracy-proof console (iQue) for Chinese market

You might know that currently most console manufacturers are making money on the games, while losing money on the game consoles. By have a large share of market presence with their console they are hoping the people will start to buy game and this way the console manufacturer generates its income.

But when people start to copy these games this means less profits for the manufacturers. Certainly in China, which has one the largest piracy rates in the world, this would become a major problem. Nintendo is hoping to have found a solution and will be the first to enter the Chinese market with, according to the company, a piracy proof console. The console will no longer use optical discs, but instead a memory card.

We plan to offer an affordable price so that the general public across China can play our games. This will eventually help foster the software industry in China," Nintendo spokesman Ken Toyoda said in a report in the Daily Times of Pakistan. The game device--dubbed iQue Player--is said to be capable of playing both SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) and Nintendo 64 titles, and will sell for 498 yuan (US $ 60), including the memory card, according to games web site Total Video Games. It will be sold from mid-October in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. Software can be downloaded onto the 64MB card at 48 yuan (US $ 5.80) per title at selected licensed shops, and 10 titles will be offered at the launch of the console, including Mandarin versions of the firm's trademark software title Super Mario series.

I bet for the hairs of Mario's mustache that this would also work very well in the US and Europe. The  move comes as part of Nintendo's global strategy to compete with rivals Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox

Source: ZDNet.com.au