This was originally a post I had on GameFAQs (UPD: They deleted it for “trolling”… wtf) but I thought I would also appeal to my users to contact Nintendo as well. I myself have not been contacted by Nintendo, nor have you probably, but we can still help try to rectify this situation because it affects everyone. I don’t want to be in fear of putting up information and you as fans probably want continued coverage across ALL fansites. Please take the time to contact Nintendo here.
On the drop down list you can choose ‘Corporate Questions‘ and in the second drop down ‘Trademark/Copyright Questions‘. If you are too busy to write out your own message to them (I HIGHLY recommend you try) you can copy this message that I have written and put your name at the bottom:
Dear Nintendo,
I’ve seen several Pokemon fansites take down their images of the newest Pokemon Black and White games at your request. I just wanted to write in to express my dissatisfaction with this request. We as fans would like to know all about the games that your company publishes and would like to fully appreciate the long hard work Game Freak has put into this new generation of Pokemon games. It seems uncharacteristic for Nintendo to be so harsh on sites that only wish to see your games thrive and help build the community around them. It hurts not only fans, but also our image of Nintendo as a company. We hope you would reconsider your recent actions taken against sites such as Serebii (http://serebii.net) and PokeBeach (http://pokebeach.com).
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
X
I don’t think I have to remind everyone here that if we all want to be able to receive the best coverage (or in my case give the best coverage) we need to work together as a community to ask Nintendo to allow us to continued access regarding BW screenshots and images. This would take at max 5 minutes of your time. PLEASE HELP!
<3 pokejungle
ps- Anyone with experience skinning InvsionPower Boards? :3
sorry I’m late to the fray, but I was gone all day. Anyways I was wondering if the same letter was sent to the webmasters of these rom sites?
My guess is the images from roms and the roms themselves, was the main reason for the letters. This makes sense because your basically downloading the game for free and having thousands of people download is bad for business. Hackers, free downloads, and informants could be a potential risk. Nintendo does not want a major marketplace like the U.S. to slip in sales. Some fans in the States aren’t as loyal as the fans in japan.
Diamond & Pearl were WIDELY distributed roms, to the point that IIRC they were the single most downloaded game for a very long time. Did that hurt nintendo’s sales much? No. It was still also the #1 game sold, when it came out. Roms don’t significantly hurt sales.
As far as letters being sent to rom sites, the answer is yes and no. Nintendo started their crackdown with roms a while ago, sending messages to all those type of sites demanding basically all DS roms except homebrews be taken down. However, they made (as far as I know) no distinction which games needed to come down.
Yo, i did that email thing and i got a reply, heres what i got:
Hello,
Thanks for contacting us about our request regarding Pokemon Black and White images. I wanted to let you know that Nintendo supports and appreciates the efforts that Pokemon fans go through to create fan sites. In most cases there is no issue with the content that is posted, but on this occasion we had to contact a select few websites to ask them to take down confidential images.
I also wanted to let you know that your comments have been documented and made available to other departments to use as they see fit. Thank you for taking the time to share them with us.
Sincerely,
Sharon Matheny
Nintendo of America Inc.
(and then there were some links to nintendo support and stuff)
Its not like we can’t find images elsewhere. Give it a month or two and this will all blow over, sprites will be posted back up, followed by screenshots from the official site. Then, upon the US release, I would imagine no action will be taken against the sites.
Its a little odd that they chose this generation to act out, as the use of ROM’s has been common practice for a while, but I understand their reasoning. They’re just protecting themselves, and they have every right to do so, since ROM’s are illegal, nevermind what people use them for.
Still, I will copy-paste the petition when I get home, purely for the fact that you guys need strength in numbers, and I just don’t have faith it will be very effective. (Then again, lets hope Nintendo doesn’t fuel the wrath of its largest fandom…..these are people who go apeshit over the inclusion of another Fire monkey, or another Fire/Fighting).
Done! 😀
I suspect Nintendo is just getting shitty over the leaks, as they were colossal, the whole listing was released prior to the game’s. Serebii DID have the right idea withholding information. I think Nintendo is making a stand so that the leaks do not happen again, by attacking the two more major sites(Serebii and Beach) and the one leaking it all(Pokexperto).
Do I think they are doing the right thing? Indifferent, Nintendo did want it to be ‘Red and Green’ all over again, with everything being new, and between those three and PokeJungle, it was ruined, but they deserved it. In this day and age, a worldwide simultaneous release, especially for such a major title, is NOT such a big ask, hell, even a faster release than 6 months is not too much to ask, it has been in dev since 06. FFXIII and Metal Gear Solid 4 were both big and heavy worded releases, they were simultaneous or damn close to it.
Nintendo should have started localisation as it was being developed, if not when then announcement was done, or sent all major sites a ‘FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT SPOIL THE SURPRISE’ message and made sure it did the rounds. Again, the four sites ruined the feel Nintendo was going for, but Nintendo had it coming.
As for the roms, doesn’t matter, its not like Serebii and WPM didn’t say they didn’t have them coming in the mail.
i bit off topic but what’s the ice cream used for in Hiun city.
Gets rid of status conditions. It’s the Lava Cookie of this gen.
well everyone loves lava cookies and ice cream 😉
wonder if the ice cream poke has a chance of holding it
I did it! 😛
OK, I did it. I really hope this helps with the copyright problem (what’s with that? You aren’t saying that you made the games or anything) but could you send a few of the pics (I know that you would still have them) to my email address please? Thanks for reading.
here is my letter
Dear Nintendo,
I have been one of the biggest pokemon fans, and I am very shocked about you’re new power trip! Asking innocence sites to take down pictures of black and white Pokemon, is just crazy! I know you have every right but still it doesn’t hurt anything. If it wasn’t for the pictures I wouldn’t evend n want a pokemon game. I like to see the product before I buy it. I do not think I will get black and white but maybe the third verison. I don’t know what is in black and white but I can wait. Anyways, I know you’re so high up and I’m just a random non-important girl. But don’t forget who made you rich, if it wasn’t for the fans you wouldn’t have a dime. If we request something we should get it! Because you’re profit has a brain, and it’s all about pleasing the buyer. If the letter is a hoax maybe, you should say something because it’s giving you a bad rep. I love your games, but I will not buy til I can see the imagines or know what I’m buying in black and white.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Maria
Good job. 🙂 You used you’re instead of your, though. XD
By stating you are unimportant, you give them every right to ignore you. Which they probably would anyways.
That are really strong words you using and that right! Without the fans buying their product, they wouldn’t make any money!
yes. she honestly has an expansive and deep vocabulary. wielding words like a sword.
There is no other way I can say this but….. I must
YOU GO GIRL!!!!!! 😉
what a terrible letter. you obviously have no idea how to proofread, much less revise.
Not everyone who visits is a grammar nazi .-.
nintendo wouldn’t take the time to read something as poorly constructed as that. it’s ridiculous to think otherwise.
Because they fully expect every single fan to have a college degree in English. :/ Riiiiiiiiiight.
doesn’t mean that if i were an employee of nintendo i would have to read every single horrendous letter that came in; i’d read those that took the time to clearly and properly state their complaint. doesn’t meant they have to use elevated english.
basically, don’t be a douche, HikaruAyame; you know that’s not what i meant.
I myself, on my pokemon fan website, have chosen to ignore the warnings given to serebii and pokebeach. If nintendo want a war on their own free advertising, they can bring it on.
Consumer advertisement is the best advertisement. You’ll never have to worry about product placement, illusory classifieds or expensive commercials.
Hey, sites like yours and pokejungle help the pokemon company save money.
this is a hoaz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
emailed nintendo
they laughed all the way to the bank,
Money to burn. *~*
K i sent the email. I kinda edited it but I sent it.
Serebii
And, as if by magic, the webmaster appeared…
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Bournemouth, England
Posts: 11,229
Right, I’ve spoken to the lawyer and, after I get just a little clarification, I will probably be able to return images to the site in the next couple of days, being used sparingly subject to fair use. I believe the images from Pokexperto plus all the leaks from 2ch caused him and Nintendo to react (still awaiting a callback from Nintendo of America)
http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/
Egg Moves & Egg Chains added
__________________
I own Serebii.net and Serebiiforums.com
Serebii posted this on his forum, so there we go, it’s over right?
HUZZAH! 😀 An important battle won! All Nintendo needs to do is take back all they said to all the fansites they suspended. Next time, Nintendo needs to know that Melkor leaks stuff all teh time.
Serebii says some images but not all may be back up soon. Apparently it was all to do with the leaks from Pokexperto and 2chan.
THIS IS MAD!
Seriously, Nintendo does not want to criminalize obsessed fans:
http://kotaku.com/5585802/nintendo-doesnt-want-to-criminalize-obsessed-fans
This is obviouusly fake, there are so many grammar errors it’s unreal, and it does not have the Nintendo Seal of Approval either, it is obviously the same person who shut down the Zelda fan film, as Nintendo had nothing to do with that at all, It’s obviously someone who really hates Nintendo fans because he or she was banned from a really big Nintendo forum and wants revenge on those who banned him or her…..
WPM did say he edited it before he posted it. He actually caught a faker that way, too. “Hey guyz, my site got the letter too!” “Um, that’s the one I edited” “Oh noez!”
I fully expect that he took off the Nintendo Seal Of Approval. He might have added some of the grammatical errors, too.
I want puctures….lame
unrelated but, could someone who has the game tell me where exactly to catch Shinporah? Iv looked in the desert with the dunes where its supposed to be but its not there. I was told that its only there during the day, which was when i was searching. Spent about 3 hours and found nothing but Meguroko, Darumakka and the Cactus.
Serebii says its in the desert it must be rare
think it might be version exclusive? I’m looking for him on White.
NO he isnt he wudnt have a counterpart with supporting stats
ill check again tonight, maybe the place i read had it wrong and you can ONLY find it during the night. I guess he deserves to be that rare though. Decent stats, awesome ability, decent movepool. I can see him being top tier competitively if used right.
Shinpora’s a beast
Where can you life orbs, Because i’ve heard shinpora takes no damage from the recoil.
OK finally found it. Its only there of the night >.< Stupid people told me that it was the day.
and YEAH hes awesome. You can either give him life-orb to increase his damage output, or give him flame orb to keep him from being paralyzed/sleep.
im going with
EVs: Sp.Atk/Spd
Nature: Timid/Calm
Ability: Magic Guard
Item: Fire Orb
Attacks: Hypnosis Charge Beam
Psycho Shock Roost
Fire Orb works with Magic Guard to keep a status effect on him, which doesnt do damage, making it impossible to poison, paralyze or put it to sleep. You lead out with Hypnosis then Charge Beam/Psycho Shock as necessary. When they wake up, you should have enough defense to take a few hits. Then roost back to full hp and Hypnosis again. He should have plenty enough speed to pull it off near flawlessly.
bulbapedia is down to
Okay, Nintendo really is being ridiculous now. Not only have they done this, they’re removing music from Youtube. I really cannot see their problem with all this (okay, maybe a little).
I know Nintendo is and always has been out for profit, but they gave off a more relaxed image than some other companies, and I would say were even a company trusted to be reasonable with things like this. But now they seem determined to destroy that image (one of the reasons I have my doubts over this still) and I don’t think that’s going to help them.
But as a customer and a fan, there’s nothing I really feel I can do. I want to play these games, I will even buy both versions despite my frustration. I guess it’s kinda hypocritical but I am just too loyal a fan to not buy them both, even now. Also, I doubt they will even read any email I might send.
Well that’s my view at the moment. Too long, probably. 🙂
Actually I’m beginning to reconsider the whole buying both games thing. And I’m gonna do the email thing, but I’m gonna spend a lot of time on the email, make sure I have a strong argument.
They’re turning into Viacom, this is exactly what Viacom did to Youtube, this is getting ridiculous, they should stop it, apparently, they’re trying to make it so that nobody knows that Black and White even exist, well that’s too late because the 13th Pokemon movie is due out in America this fall, and there’s no way of stopping it, unless Nintendork goes all crazy and starts comparing B/W to Mother 3 and decides not to release it oustside of Japan simply to torture the fans, then I will be pissed off! Seriously Nintendo, stop this madness, whatever happened to the first amendment?
Juuuuust gunna point out the first amendment applies to Americans only, due to the Constitution. Isn’t Serebii from the UK?
But whatever, regardless of that, I agree with your statements and fully support them. Fox is sort of crazy when it comes to this sort of thing too…byebye Family Guy from Youtube.
Just because Game Freak distributed their game through Nintendo doesn’t mean Nintendo could ask fansite to take game pictures down, is that right?
Keep in mind that some of GF DO speak English and need no translator (like the ones who were in the Pokemon VGC Worlds), and possibly freaked out when they saw what we were posting and asked Nintendo to take them down, y’know.
This isn’t fait they can’t take down the maps and sugimori art! That wasnt leaked from the games it officially came from korokoro
but gamefreak permitted coro magz to have their artwork in it, Nint. could just send an email from the rep. or someone in the industry. if something affects gamefreak, it affects nint. and vice versa goes for any other games.
pokejungle, if you’re looking for a forum or something, you could always register a domain on zetaboards. im just saying.
http://mountmoon.net is my forum :p
I just don’t understand why Nintendo chose now to do this, and it just doesn’t make much sense. I can understand them being angry over people downloading ROMs rather than buying the games. I would be pissed about that. But posting images of the game all over the internet? I would be thrilled about that. Its called free advertisement. Pokemon is Nintendo’s largest fanbase. Every Pokemon game made sells tons and tons of copies. I don’t think they need to worry about the fans getting ROMs over buying the game. Even if the fans get the ROMs, the majority will still buy the game. Many people who have the ROMs are English players who are just waiting for the US release. Also, like some have said, why mess with their most dedicated and loyal fanbase that can create an uproar about the littlest details. I sent my email so that they can see that their fans aren’t very happy about this. Hopefully they will notice the fan response and change their minds.
yeah, and beside, millions of people have already pre-order it, sooner or later, they will know what the game like, so what the point ofask people to take game picture down?
Kinda off-topic, but to those who are playing the Japanese B/W…no, you’re not in trouble, but do you wanna unleash your anger upon Ninteno, or done with the game and bored?
There is a trainer called Game Freak’s Morimoto. He is one of the employees of GF, or better known as Shigeki Morimoto, creator of Mew. You can fight him in a building in that New York-like city (Hiun City?) after beating the game. His Pokemon are 75+ so be careful. I can’t wait for the game to come out in America now, I can beat up his Pokemon as revenge for this whole thingamajig if GF is responsible for this 🙂 I know it might be going too far, but hey.
or you know…. recommend that everyone you know download the rom instead of buying the game? That would really teach them a lesson.
I really don’t think that would help at this point. :/
it wouldnt help, but it would sure hurt them and make them see their mistake. Maybe they would lay off and let us conduct our advertising as usual next gen when they lose millions of dollars.
if we did that then we might as well light a match in a coal mine
it’d only make thiings worse (sry for bad analogy)
sorry, i was wrong last night
bulbapedia had a server error