View Full Version : PS3 region free?!
Mayhem
03-22-2006, 05:25 PM
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/697/697656p1.html
Holy mother of... has a console developer finally fucking seen sense? I'll believe it when I see it though. Of course here in the UK with our NTSC compatible TV sets, it's gonna be open season on getting games from anywhere at cheaper prices heh... unless by some miracle, Sony price match around the world.
Sylentwulf
03-22-2006, 07:09 PM
No way. As much as we'd all LOVE to see it happen, since it also plays movies, it won't. God forbid we get to play japan release only games without breaking open our stuff :/
le geek
03-22-2006, 07:12 PM
Maybe it will be like the PSP, region free games, region specific movies?
Cheers,
Ben
Ed Oscuro
03-22-2006, 07:14 PM
No way. As much as we'd all LOVE to see it happen, since it also plays movies, it won't.
http://www.consolewars.de/news/newsdisplay.php?idx=11319
I'm told this was just announced @ the Game Developer Conference (which is underway right now).
Basically, it's official. Hooray.
Also, it wasn't really that surprising. Check out the quote from the Sony Australia guy in this old news post (http://news.spong.com/article/9288/PlayStation+3+Region+Free+%96+Blocks+Used+Game+Use ?cb=705).
PapaStu
03-22-2006, 07:20 PM
I bet this is an effect because of the high costs of the Blu-Ray stuff. Not that i'm complaining or anything. However this will probably also mean that we're looking at 60-70 buck for every game.
Only thing that won't change is the lead time on porting a game into english and vice-versa. Otherwise the games will take even longer to come out if they get a worldwide release.
Great.... now I get to factor in PS3 importing into my collection. My future wallet is already crying.
Ed Oscuro
03-22-2006, 07:29 PM
I bet this is an effect because of the high costs of the Blu-Ray stuff.
Check out the Spong article. This is apparently the result of emerging hi-def standards.
Now, think of it this way: the traditional explanation for region codes was that it kept people from selling copies that underperformed in one region to another where it performed well. However, that limits consumer choice, and might result in no sales if that consumer only wants a specific region format (perhaps they're interested in cross-cultural purchases, or they know ahead of time that their domestic release will have features cut).
Those aren't very good reasons to limit consumer choice, really. Thus, this is a nice idea by Sony.
Now, I'm not clear yet - has the one-time write been officially denied for multiplatform releases, or are they stubbornly keeping on track to have that as well?
grimlock
03-22-2006, 07:48 PM
Correct me if I am wrong, but haven't both Microsoft consoles have been region free for games? As I always understood it, the games were region coded if the developer felt the need, otherwise, there was no region lockout. I have played Japanese games on my American Xbox and American games on my Japanese system with no problems. I do not think PAL version of games were playable though.
diskoboy
03-22-2006, 09:14 PM
It's supposedly not region locked because High Definition TV is supposed to be a universal standard.
There shouldn't be a PAL HDTV, a SECAM HDTV, and NTSC HDTV. Even though you Brits use a 16x10 format instead of the 16x9 used everywhere else.
All HDTV signals are supposed to be compatible.
InsaneDavid
03-22-2006, 10:49 PM
*sigh* I miss the GDC. But this is excellent news, especially concerning all the "hobbyist" releases that Japan gets of retro remakes, etc. that get denied for US release.
petewhitley
03-22-2006, 11:37 PM
Isn't the Blu-Ray movie format also set up so that North America and Japan are in the same region now? That'll kick ass (for those of us in N.A. that is).
MrRoboto19XX
03-23-2006, 12:01 AM
Any chance this will mean you can play previous PS1 and PS2 titles from other regions as well?
If not, back to my fliptop...
Lothars
03-23-2006, 12:08 AM
Any chance this will mean you can play previous PS1 and PS2 titles from other regions as well?
If not, back to my fliptop...
hmm that would be great :D
I would love that, It would be interesting to find that out add to the value as well.
Darren870
03-23-2006, 12:21 AM
Well this means that the shortage of ps3's in japan will be even worse now. People from the all aroudn will be importing them if they don't do a system wide launch.
This actually excites me. As there are so many ps2 jap games that I still need and so many I have.
Though ill continue to get those instead of getting a ps3 at launch.
MegaDrive20XX
03-23-2006, 12:53 AM
Any chance this will mean you can play previous PS1 and PS2 titles from other regions as well?
If not, back to my fliptop...
More then likely i'd say
oh and here's another site that reports it too (three times is a charm)
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146475.html
kedawa
03-23-2006, 01:04 AM
It's supposedly not region locked because High Definition TV is supposed to be a universal standard.Actually it's not. From what I understand europe and north america will be using the same formats, but japan and likely the rest of asia will use another. It probably won't matter much, though, since most HDTVs these days can handle just about any video system.
Neo Rasa
03-23-2006, 01:07 AM
This won't actually happen, it will be up to the developers. It was supposed to be true of the Dreamcast, both XBoxes, the 360, etc., of course it didn't happen.
JPeeples
03-23-2006, 01:56 AM
I really hope this works out to allow PS3, PS2, and PS1 games to be played from any region. If it does, then I'll definitely get one just to play the PS2 imports I've missed out on.
The Great Dane
03-23-2006, 02:17 AM
Sounds awesome. The idea of possibly being able to play all of Spike's wrestling games without worrying of damaging my PS2 is exciting news. I'm not going to hold my breath until the system comes out and people from DP are actually able to do this :D
Mayhem
03-23-2006, 05:37 AM
Indeed Microsoft have made no requirement for the Xbox360 to be region coded, but with the onus on publishers to implement it should they wish. And most of them have. The tech exists within it to do the limitation.
If the PS3 has no hardware region checking built in the first place, then publishers can't invoke shit. That's what I hope will happen from this announcement!
wow, thats a clever decision from Sony.
jajaja
03-23-2006, 06:00 AM
Its fully possible, but if it happend.. dont know. Games in USA are usualy much cheaper than in Europe. If its region free i bet alot will import themself from USA etc, which can lead to bad sales in Europe. Nevertheless, its really cool :) I have a modchip in my PSX and PS2 so i never had a problem with playing imports, most likely there will come a modchip to the PS3 also, but this can take a loooong time.
Correct me if I am wrong, but haven't both Microsoft consoles have been region free for games?
I tried a USA game on a PAL xbox and it didnt work.
Oobgarm
03-23-2006, 07:40 AM
This comes as a surprise to me, since I haven't been following much news about it beyond what I see posted here. Adding to the prior announcement that the PS3 will upscan PS1 and PS2 games to HD standards, and now the region coding, and the PS3 is becoming more and more intriguing to me.
I don't think that Sony needs to be too concerned about people importing systems/games. I mean, they're being sold one way or the other, and the crowd of importing people isn't *that* large, so I think they'd see a minimal dent in overall sales per region. Actually, I think it would balance itself out-the number of titles imported that didn't see a release in other countries might help level out the deficiency created impatient gamers.
petewhitley
03-23-2006, 01:37 PM
I really hope this works out to allow PS3, PS2, and PS1 games to be played from any region. If it does, then I'll definitely get one just to play the PS2 imports I've missed out on.
I'm not an expert on region coding, but I don't understand how we jumped from "PS3 games aren't region locked" to "legacy PS games aren't region locked". I really doubt we're going to see this scenario play out.
diskoboy
03-23-2006, 02:13 PM
Last night on Attack of the Show, I heard a news thing saying they are putting the region coding in the discs.... BUT, the discs can hold so much data, that all of the region versions would all fit on one single disc. So in a nutshell, that PS3 game you bought in london to play in the US, would contain the PAL, SECAM, and NTSC versions on it! I think thats a pretty good idea, honestly.
Why doesn't television have a universal standard? I never understood that...
DonMarco
03-23-2006, 07:29 PM
wow, thats a clever decision from Sony.
I'd dare to say it really made no difference with the PSP games.
Has anyone here played around with the language setting on their 360 dashboard? After switching mine to japanese, everything on the dashboard was in Japanese. Some game titles weren't, but others, like Burnout Revenge, would apear in katakana insetead of Roman letters. Also, some in-game menus were also in Japanese, or had Japanese text at the bottom to explain what everything did.
Putting all the lanuages on one disc would be a matter of MB at the most. Multiple audio tracks on movies or in-game speech would be pretty small size-wise, too.
Last night on Attack of the Show, I heard a news thing saying they are putting the region coding in the discs.... BUT, the discs can hold so much data, that all of the region versions would all fit on one single disc. So in a nutshell, that PS3 game you bought in london to play in the US, would contain the PAL, SECAM, and NTSC versions on it! I think thats a pretty good idea, honestly.
Why doesn't television have a universal standard? I never understood that...
The Europe GBA carts are multi-languaged, but they don't actually contain the same game 4-5 times in them. The Blu-rays are so large, I'd have no doubt they could fit so much, but it's a pretty big waste going there. Like fitting 5 early-generation PS2 games on a DVD instead of a CD.
PAL will end when the British stop weighing themselves in stones and spelling words with "S" in them.
Words like realize.
diskoboy
03-23-2006, 08:45 PM
PAL will end when the British stop weighing themselves in stones and spelling words with "S" in them.
Words like realize.
PAL is a better standard than NTSC simply by a few more lines of resolution. Dunno about secam...
And as for UK spelling.... I'm from the US, and I spell most words like their British counterparts (ie... Color = colour or center = centre)
Always have, for some odd reason. People think I'm deranged.
evil_genius
07-02-2008, 09:18 PM
So now that the PS3 is out does it play PS3, PS2, or PS1 games region free?
TurboGenesis
07-02-2008, 09:21 PM
So now that the PS3 is out does it play PS3, PS2, or PS1 games region free?
Only PlayStation 3 games are region free. I am in USA and I have PS3 and it will NOT play Japanese PlayStation or Japanese PlayStation 2 games.
evil_genius
07-02-2008, 09:23 PM
Thanks for the response.
The 1 2 P
07-02-2008, 09:26 PM
Only PlayStation 3 games are region free. I am in USA and I have PS3 and it will NOT play Japanese PlayStation or Japanese PlayStation 2 games.
PS3 games are region free? Thats awesome. Too bad there aren't that many great region-specific games but hopefully that changes in time.
sonoranreptile
07-03-2008, 03:13 AM
I have both a Japanese and US Xbox 360 and have fond there are many region free games that play on both systems. Halo 3, Gears of War, and Bioshock just to name a few. Blue Dragon, however, is NOT.
G-Boobie
07-03-2008, 03:23 AM
PS3 games are region free? Thats awesome. Too bad there aren't that many great region-specific games but hopefully that changes in time.
The first important one for me is Siren: New Translation. It's coming out in DLC 'episodes' over here in the states, but it's coming out as a whole Blu-ray in Japan. Lucky for 'prefers physical media me', The english language option is totally already on the disc. Thank you Play Asia.
Are companies actually making region specific games these days? Capcom, Konami, Square Enix, Codemasters, Nintendo, Sony, even smaller houses like Natsume, Treasure, and Atlus are all publishing multi-national now. Even Siren will be available here, if in DLC form...
The first important one for me is Siren: New Translation. It's coming out in DLC 'episodes' over here in the states, but it's coming out as a whole Blu-ray in Japan. Lucky for 'prefers physical media me', The english language option is totally already on the disc. Thank you Play Asia.
Are companies actually making region specific games these days? Capcom, Konami, Square Enix, Codemasters, Nintendo, Sony, even smaller houses like Natsume, Treasure, and Atlus are all publishing multi-national now. Even Siren will be available here, if in DLC form...
a lot of em yes, but most of them are the garbage PS2 games that get released every week in japan and absolutely no one would buy here.
The 1 2 P
07-03-2008, 08:10 PM
I have both a Japanese and US Xbox 360 and have fond there are many region free games that play on both systems. Halo 3, Gears of War, and Bioshock just to name a few. Blue Dragon, however, is NOT.
Well hopefully they start making the Japanese Xbox 360 exclusive wrestling titles region free.
CosmicMonkey
07-03-2008, 08:32 PM
I very much doubt that Battle Fantasia and BlazBlue will see the light of day in Blighty. At least I can play them without arsing around. Just need to build/buy a decent stick.
I'm sure there will be several arcade shooters and fighters that only see a Japanese release over the system's life time.