A video game hacker in Japan has recently found himself embroiled in some legal trouble stemming from the sale of compromised independent parties profited off of Zelda games, but some of the specifics of this case, along with Japan's harsher stance 0n digital intellectual property, have led to a more extreme reaction.
As one of the most sprawling, complex, and robust open-world games ever made, Breath of the Wild holds a plethora of secrets and collectibles for players to uncover. Everything from the one-hundred-twenty challenge-based shrines (one-hundred-forty with DLC), upgradeable weapon and armor sets, and the nine-hundred Korok seeds make exploration and discovery in the game hearty and meaningful. By design, most players will not be able to obtain all of these items, abilities, and upgrades without spending hundreds of hours in the game.
According to Crazy Breath of the Wild mods are nothing new, but specific intellectual property concerns and merchandising rights have to be observed for the mods to be programmed and distributed legally. This Toyko man, Ichimin Sho, did not observe these particulars, as he was selling cartridges of the game to players looking to maximize (or minimize) their experience with the title. Allegedly, Sho sold more than ten-million yen's worth of these hacked cartridges.
Sho was caught after he listed the modified game on a Japanese auctioning site. In the listing, he referred to the item as "the ultimate save data," while offering to customize Breath of the Wild in whatever ways the customer wanted. If Sho's promise of customization was genuine, this would effectively give the buyer a tailor-made version of the best-selling 2017 title.
While freedom, accessibility, and player choice are important in gaming, so much of Breath of the Wild's magic is found in its mystery. Beyond the cut-and-dry legality of Sho's case, there is a deeper question relating to mods and the artistic integrity of video games. If a player were to purchase this save file and have countless rare items and maxed-out stats from the begining, then The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's spirit, the feeling that anything could be just around the corner or over the next hill, would be lost.
While that might be what a player would prefer for their Breath of the Wild experience, going over Nintendo's head to sell that experience is probably not the best way to go. Video game mods can improve certain titles in many ways and can serve as a useful platform for talented programmers to show their skills, but when modders sell altered games and market them as the "ultimate" way to experience the game, it can cheapen the experience of a beloved title like Breath of the Wild.
Source: The Broadcasting System of Niigata (via Dexerto)
