3DS is Watching You: Activity-Logging and Anti-Piracy Features

[Steppin Razor]

Look, on the Wii you can let Nintendo monitor the games you play, how long you play them, what channels you go to, etc... but you get to choose. With the 3DS, I am getting the impression that you won't be able to choose.

Don't buy it then. It's as simple as that.

On topic: Hmmm..... it logs everything, you say. Does the 3DS have internet browsing capabilities? 'cause if it does, I'm going to buy one and only use it to go on /d/. Take that Nintendo!

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

I like how Nintendo are making big threats about piracy yet have built a device that steals unsecured bandwidth... Nice one, guys.

 

[lacktheknack]

What do they mean by "how many steps you've taken"? If it has an accelerometer they could track your movement but that seems too far for me. I don't think that's ok. Do you think they are just going to sit on the information they gather? Waste "space" on some server farm for that?

They don't take that information. They simply included a pedometer on the 3DS for people who have walking goals for each day (5000 steps, etc) that Nintendo has no use for, and thus will not be taking it from your system.

 

[kjh242]

Really, you agree to monitoring by buying the thing. They've told us the consequences, they can very much lock your DS if you break contract. Why complain unless you're a pirate? (not accusing, just saying)You don't like it? Too late, you've agreed by handing over your 250 bucks. Besides, it'll probably be very easy to appeal a wrongly bricked DS- customer's don't like it when you do shit like that, and Nintendo knows its customers VERY F**KING WELL.

You think it's wrong? Take it to court, not a forum Nintendo will probably never see.

 

[lacktheknack]

I really can't believe so many people support this. It is akin to Ford remotely breaking your car if you go over the speed limit, it can't be legal. There is a law against vandalism.

No... it's more like Ford remotely breaking your car if it's reported to contain contraband or stolen goods. And they'll fix your car if you ask politely and remove all said goods from your car.

And there's a law against stealing digital goods as well as vandalism.

 

[Infinatex]

Yeah cause DRM has never screwed over the legitimate customers, it only screws over the pirates. Right?

You know as well as I and everyone else on this forum that because of DRM, the paying customers end up with the most headaches and the inferior product. This is going to be different how?

There is more to privacy that your bank account or your home. Look, on the Wii you can let Nintendo monitor the games you play, how long you play them, what channels you go to, etc... but you get to choose. With the 3DS, I am getting the impression that you won't be able to choose.

I never said that all DRM works out fantastic. There have been a multitude of DRM cock-ups in that past. What I am saying is that this seems to be one that will work seamlessly, without the legitimate consumer having to jump through hoops to get their games to work. By buying the console you will be agreeing to allow them to monitor your shit. If you don't want them checking out what you've played (or pirated) then I suggest you buy something else. That is your choice right there.

I will be watching this feature (and yes I believe it to be a feature and not a hinderance) closely to see how it works in combating the ever-present threat of pirates.

 

[kjh242]

I don't see this as being too intrusive to the regular person though. It's not as if they have to connect to the net to play a single-player game or anything like that. I won't be hacking mine so couldn't give a shit. Go Nintendo, GO!

It's attitudes like yours that makes Nintendo think it's ok to go this far. You do know that there is a very real chance of false positives and innocent people getting their $250 investments bricked, don't you?

Further, in order for Nintendo to know what you did on YOUR 3DS, they have to violate your privacy. Apparently the 3DS logs everything you do and sends it to Nintendo. It's ok though right?

I hate captcha!

Uhhh, what. No, it's people pirating shit coz they are to cheap to buy the games and use the systems properly that cause companies like Nintendo to implement these kinds of things. They have to do it to protect their investment. Also there is no indication that false-positives will be an issue. I mean if you are not pirating shit this won't be a problem. The only people should fear this are the nutters in tin foil houses and genuine pirates (and users of pirated software).

As for invading my privacy... it's a DS. A DS! It's not my bank account or my home. Plus by buying it you are agreeing for them to do this.

Yeah cause DRM has never screwed over the legitimate customers, it only screws over the pirates. Right?

You know as well as I and everyone else on this forum that because of DRM, the paying customers end up with the most headaches and the inferior product. This is going to be different how?

There is more to privacy that your bank account or your home. Look, on the Wii you can let Nintendo monitor the games you play, how long you play them, what channels you go to, etc... but you get to choose. With the 3DS, I am getting the impression that you won't be able to choose.

...DRM applies to DIGITAL media, not the physical game carts and such. that's why it's called DIGITAL rights management.

also, why do you care that nintendo knows you walked half a mile yesterday and played pokemon for an hour?

 

[Zaik]

I guess they're not counting on some ingenious individual taking the initiative to open up the case and do something crazy like disable or remove the device causing involuntary internet access.

In comparison, pirating a game for a 3DS would likely be much harder. It's not like they are going to assume everyone with one of these has internet access, so I doubt that it'll require internet connections to function.

 

[Leg End]

I don't see this as being too intrusive to the regular person though. It's not as if they have to connect to the net to play a single-player game or anything like that. I won't be hacking mine so couldn't give a shit. Go Nintendo, GO!

Damn right! the only people these security measures will offend is the pirates and massive collection of assholes that simply aren't satisfied with a product as-is, you don't like a product as-is don't f^&%ing buy it.

I am sure a lot of legitimate customers are re-thinking their pre-orders right now (or will be when they read this piece of news).

I certainly am. This seems a wee bit too intrusive.

But... Nintendo, my bro I grew up with... ejsjfsjaehrshrjhQFSWHWwrtjvsj.

AAAAGGGGGHHGHGHGHGGHHHHHH, I cannot take it!

I'll... still buy. Miyamoto is mah bro fo life.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

...DRM applies to DIGITAL media, not the physical game carts and such. that's why it's called DIGITAL rights management.

DRM covers the usage of digital devices as well.

 

[Leg End]

Look, on the Wii you can let Nintendo monitor the games you play, how long you play them, what channels you go to, etc... but you get to choose. With the 3DS, I am getting the impression that you won't be able to choose.

Don't buy it then. It's as simple as that.

On topic: Hmmm..... it logs everything, you say. Does the 3DS have internet browsing capabilities? 'cause if it does, I'm going to buy one and only use it to go on /d/. Take that Nintendo!

(O_O)

Now planning to use it to go on /cake/, Lolibooru and 99chan's /pika/.

I love being an evil bastard.

EDIT: Add /neko/ to that list. XD

Also, just for kicks, /sm/. XDXDXD

And I cannot forget /fn/. XDXDXDXDXDXD

EDIT 2: Fuck it, it'll just be my primary browser for the various *chans.

 

[Therumancer]

Sorry, that's going too far, I have a right to my personal privacy. Nintendo has no right to track me via my video game system and compile information about me or what I do.

Let me be honest, even if one was to assume that this merely starts out as an anti-piracy measure, it won't be long before they start using this information for "marketing purposes" and then even if they claim they won't do it, they will doubtlessly start selling that information.

What's more, how long will it be before goverments start using this kind of "always online" activity checking system to start tracking people, and finding ways to get their 3DS to spy on them? I mean logically they can't put everyone under surveillance (nobody could monitor all of that) but with the information being collected I could see this as being a backdoor way of wiretapping people, or getting similar kinds of information to what ISPs are pressured to avoid.

Heck, this system could tell them which internet connection I was closest too, in my house, or at a local starbucks where I hang out, or whatever else.

Sorry, they have no right to do that.

I think that at least in the US the goverment should force Nintendo to disable that portion of the system.

I'll also be painfully blunt, this is a case where the company is officially being worse than the pirates are. As I frequently point out, I think both the pirates and the gaming companies are crooks, however this system (if true) has just caused the gaming industry into super villain-like territory.

I'm sure Nintendo will be reassuring us all that we can trust them implictly and this system will never be abused...

 

[lacktheknack]

I really can't believe so many people support this. It is akin to Ford remotely breaking your car if you go over the speed limit, it can't be legal. There is a law against vandalism.

No... it's more like Ford remotely breaking your car if it's reported to contain contraband or stolen goods. And they'll fix your car if you ask politely and remove all said goods from your car.

And there's a law against stealing digital goods as well as vandalism.

1) Ford can't legally break your car for that reason either.

2) Nintendo has not been deputized. They cannot take the law into their own hands and even the real law enforcement officers don't break your property.

It's a bad example. Nintendo are not BREAKING your 3DS, they are DISABLING it. Big difference right there.

 

[SyphonX]

First they came for the PC gamers, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a PC gamer.

Then they came for the Console Gamers, and I did not speak out --
Because I wasn't a Console Gamer.

Then they came for the Handhelds, and I did not speak out --
Because I wasn't a Handheld gamer.

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

 

[Zakarath]

Well, there is another reason not to buy a 3DS. And I'm not a pirate, I just despise intrusive, privacy-violating DRM.

...And what if you (like me) live in the middle of nowhere and there sure as hell isn't any Wi-Fi? Does the device lock itself after a while?