Some Japanese publications are reporting that devices that use the Blu-ray disc technology will use a new region encoding system that will put Japan in the same region as North and South America. According to an Ars Technica write-up, if the new system is used, it would mean American fans of Japanese games and anime would be able to directly play content from Japan, without waiting for a separate product release or having to buy and import a console from Asia.
The British are obviously not happy with this, according to my friend at another forum the UK are getting the same region code as Africa.
This is for movies only, has nothing to do with PS3 games which will likely have their own proprietary region codes.
This industry has become 2 dimensional as it transcended into a 3D world.
neorichieb1971 wrote:Some Japanese publications are reporting that devices that use the Blu-ray disc technology will use a new region encoding system that will put Japan in the same region as North and South America. According to an Ars Technica write-up, if the new system is used, it would mean American fans of Japanese games and anime would be able to directly play content from Japan, without waiting for a separate product release or having to buy and import a console from Asia.
Good news for US moviefans I guess, but I wonder what is the reason behind this decision. If it were for just reaching bigger markets, then they'd better remove region coding in the first place.
The British are obviously not happy with this, according to my friend at another forum the UK are getting the same region code as Africa.
Yeah European fans of Japanese cinema/anime would be screwed. On the other hand having the same region code as Africa opens up whole new "different" import opportunities I guess (and interesting language options).
D wrote:They just say that to boost interest.
At the last possible moment region lock out will be in effect.
rest assured
Indeed. I am still ticked off that Microsoft deliberately lied to us originally saying XBox would be region free for the sake of trying to be "hardcore" with us import gamers. Thanks.
Region-coding of games on the Xbox (and the 360) is down to the publisher - games such as Fable work on any Xbox from any region and more recently, Ridge Racer and DOA4 are multi-region on the 360.
As for region on movies, it won't be any different then it is now for Europeans, so what does it matter?
Be attitude for gains:
1) Be praying...
2) Be praying...
3) Be praying...
judesalmon wrote:Region-coding of games on the Xbox (and the 360) is down to the publisher - games such as Fable work on any Xbox from any region and more recently, Ridge Racer and DOA4 are multi-region on the 360.
As for region on movies, it won't be any different then it is now for Europeans, so what does it matter?
Nope, DOA4 is locked. Thanks Tecmo, you gimps.
In Europe we get pissed because we're -always- screwed, even when there's opportunity to fix things that are wrong. Part of this is this dumb PAL/50hz thing. While most TVs cope fine with either that or NTSC/60 and PAL/60, they have to assume there are some that don't. The other part, is price gouging.
Heh, : "American equipment, Russian equipment....ALL MADE WITH PARTS FROM TAIWAN!!!"-Armageddon
Seriously, though, from what I've heard on this forum, the reason why there's region proctecion in the first place is to guard against piracy.
But that explanation begs the question of why handheld systems, like the PSP, are region-free (at least with regards to games)-do companies like Sony and Nintendo just not loose as much money from handheld piracy?
"Farewell to false pretension
Farewell to hollow words
Farewell to fake affection
Farewell, tomorrow burns"
Region coding is only there so companies can better control where you buy your games from - all the arms of videogames companies are different, so buying a US PS2 game is a lost sale for Sony Europe, which they don't want.
Be attitude for gains:
1) Be praying...
2) Be praying...
3) Be praying...
Regardless of the actual Blu-Ray region coding, doubtlessly the PS3 will implement its own independent region coding as well.
edit - sorry for redundancy, didn't notice neorich's last sentence.
We here shall not rest until we have made a drawing-room of your shaft, and if you do not all finally go down to your doom in patent-leather shoes, then you shall not go at all.
Make sure your 360 is set to PAL 60 mode and it will work.
Which one - US or JP? People on the Xbox forum report it's being bitching about region. Mine is running 480P so there is no 50/60 option, 480P in euro is 576P (50) until you switch to 720 and back to what's labelled at 480... Sounds like a quick hack.
I personally haven't tried it at all, but if you own a copy and it works, lmk which region as I'll import this one!
Make sure your 360 is set to PAL 60 mode and it will work.
Which one - US or JP? People on the Xbox forum report it's being bitching about region. Mine is running 480P so there is no 50/60 option, 480P in euro is 576P (50) until you switch to 720 and back to what's labelled at 480... Sounds like a quick hack.
I personally haven't tried it at all, but if you own a copy and it works, lmk which region as I'll import this one!
I imagine it's no different, but I have the US version. Works perfectly.
Be attitude for gains:
1) Be praying...
2) Be praying...
3) Be praying...
Ord wrote:I read somewhere that the USA version works fine in europe, but the JPN version is locked. Judesalmon does the LIVE content work fine as well?
I haven't tried Live yet - I'll give it a bash when I get home, but I imagine it would be okay.
Be attitude for gains:
1) Be praying...
2) Be praying...
3) Be praying...