Flash card latest: ESA and the Singapore police get their raid on
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Dec 18th 2007 at 5:00PM }
Bad dudes who pirate, watch out! The ESA just combined forces with the Singapore police force to raid several local stores that were selling DS flash cards, devices that let users download and play pirated games (but also, it should be noted, perfectly legal homebrew applications), and that are illegal under the Singapore Copyright Act. The haul, while not massive (200 devices worth around $5,800 were confiscated), was still big enough for the ESA to submit a press release, in which it warned more raids would take place should the piracy continue.
You may recall how a series of similar raids was carried out in France recently -- looks like the authorities are beginning to really squeeze the pirates where it hurts.
[Via MaxConsole]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason @ Dec 18th 2007 6:05PM
Is the R4 card in danger of not being available soon? I'd like to get one just haven't done it yet.
ALH @ Dec 18th 2007 6:26PM
yeah, this is relevant to my intrests too. I dont even want one for piracy- its all about the digital sketchbook apps
Eddie @ Dec 18th 2007 6:50PM
Get the Cyclods Evolution. I have it and they are pretty good at working on any bug you report.
gevenstaines @ Dec 18th 2007 6:32PM
stop linking flash carts with piracy plz. "oh no! it can turn a DS into a useful device! media viewing?? ebook reading?? oh noes!"
i bought a pen at teh store, duz that meen ima stab you??? who knows...
Eddie @ Dec 18th 2007 6:49PM
hahahaha... Agreed.
NeoteriX @ Dec 19th 2007 2:47PM
newsflash, Napster and Grokster all tried that same argument you're making... and lost.
So no, you cannot compare a pen with flashcards.
raindog @ Dec 18th 2007 10:00PM
These raids squeeze homebrew developers where it hurts a lot more than they hurt either the practice or the industry of piracy. I think Nintendo and the ESA would just as soon see both uses disappear, but they fixate on the piracy thing because it appears defensible to people who are unable to think critically.
The Datel bust in France was a surprise, though, because now we're talking about something even US citizens can buy legally. It seems the ESA is getting emboldened.
sergioalb64 @ Dec 19th 2007 12:08AM
Personally, I would gladly give homebrew away if it meant less DS piracy. Think about it; to some degree, fewer piracy means more legit software sales, which means more games made due to profit, and out of those games a bunch are bound to be good.
Nothing against homebrew, but I would rather have less piracy than more homebrew any day.
Jamar @ Dec 19th 2007 8:39AM
Do you honestly think so? I think it's better to retain the right to make our own programs that the big-name developers won't.
raindog @ Dec 19th 2007 12:36AM
Well, as a developer of both commercial and homebrew software, I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you there.
Matdredalia @ Dec 19th 2007 6:57AM
While I'm not a dev, I'm with you. While I haven't gotten my hands on homebrew hardware to try out some of the DS apps out there, I've been salivating and making notes on what to get for months. I seriously think that taking away the homebrew availability for the DS would cut down on what makes the DS so great: It's versatility & innovation.