If P4G is region locked then Atlus can gtfo
Don't screw over your fans goddamnit
Time to dust off my Japanese 360 then.
Thanks for putting in the original text/voice. But I'm not supporting region locking on a supposed to be region free console.
You only support region locking on a console that is full of region locking? Way to take a stand there.
@yosp said:@akwinters It's up to publishers. Yes, it's possible.
You only support region locking on a console that is full of region locking? Way to take a stand there.
In my opinion you shouldn't support either form of region locking. Region locking is bullshit and saying one form of region lock is better than another is also bullshit.I think the point made was that the system is supposed to be region free, and the vast majority of the games on it are. Atlus region locking P4A is very unusual and comes across as rather spiteful considering most other PS3 releases aren't locked.
When you buy a 3DS or a Wii, you know you're getting a region locked system, as annoying and frustrating as that is. That's different from PS3, where the norm thusfar has been to have games completely region free.
Also, this could be important: when firmware 3.30 was released, the one that could theoretically enable game region locking, I remember that someone found the region codes, and that UK was on a separate area than the rest of EU. Does anybody else remeber this? I searched around but couldn't find any trace of this so it could very well have been unfounded rumors but I remember reading about it somewhere when 3.30 (or was it 3.50) was released.
Also, this could be important: when firmware 3.30 was released, the one that could theoretically enable game region locking, I remember that someone found the region codes, and that UK was on a separate area than the rest of EU. Does anybody else remeber this? I searched around but couldn't find any trace of this so it could very well have been unfounded rumors but I remember reading about it somewhere when 3.30 (or was it 3.50) was released.
Yikes. That single detail is scary as hell for the future. I buy a big part of my games from UK websites because prices in stores here are 60 euro for everything at least with sales only mostly happening on crap games and still very rarely at that. If there were to region lock UK from mainland Europe next gen that would make this hobby much much more expensive for me.
If the UK is region locked from other European games, that would actually be illegal. The trading of goods and services needs to be unencumbered throughout the European Union. Nintendo got busted for price fixing when they tried to lock the importation of goods from poorer EU countries to richer ones, and any technical block like this would almost certainly fall foul of the law too.
I think the point made was that the system is supposed to be region free, and the vast majority of the games on it are. Atlus region locking P4A is very unusual and comes across as rather spiteful considering most other PS3 releases aren't locked.
I too won't be buying this if the rumor turns out to be true, and I'm also very worried that this could set a very dangerous precedent, especially for Vita games.
Also, this could be important: when firmware 3.30 was released, the one that could theoretically enable game region locking, I remember that someone found the region codes, and that UK was on a separate area than the rest of EU. Does anybody else remeber this? I searched around but couldn't find any trace of this so it could very well have been unfounded rumors but I remember reading about it somewhere when 3.30 (or was it 3.50) was released.
Not the same. MS puts massive pressure on companies to region lock 360 games. It's virtually mandatory. Sony do the opposite.
It seems public outcry forced that. I wonder they would've fallen foul of the law, however. I mean, locking customers in the UK from accessing stuff bought on the continent, and vice versa, is blatant price fixing. I think the ruling when Nintendo got done 10 years ago sums it up well:It already happened with some digital products however, was it Deus Ex Human Revolution?
I'll search for it now....
EDIT: Yes, it was Deus Ex Human Revolution...
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/08/17/deus-ex-human-revolution-is-region-locked/
EDIT2: They changed their mind the day after however...
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-18-euro-pc-deus-ex-not-region-locked
"Every year, millions of European families spend large amounts of money on video games," Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said.
"They have the right to buy the games and consoles at the lowest price the market can possibly offer.
"We will not tolerate... behaviour intended to keep prices artificially high in the European single market."
It is indeed. And it just makes this move look all the more dumb.It's worth pointing out that it isn't "most other PS3 releases", it's every other PS3 release. P4U will be the only game on the system that isn't region free.
I'm curious where you heard this. Nearly all Microsoft published titles are region free. Just seems weird that would be forcing publishers to do that but not region lock their own games.
Edit: I would say about 60% of my xbox games are imported and region free. So to describe it as "virtually mandatory" is misleading.
Isn't it the case that publishers have to pay more if they want to publish their games without a region lock? Many small devs do appreciate the additional income that importers provide when their regional fan base is small (like Japanese 360 shooter devs), so not locking still makes sense.Really? That's actually pretty interesting. I guess I was just way off the mark then.
Apologies.
I think the point made was that the system is supposed to be region free, and the vast majority of the games on it are. Atlus region locking P4A is very unusual and comes across as rather spiteful considering most other PS3 releases aren't locked.
When you buy a 3DS or a Wii, you know you're getting a region locked system, as annoying and frustrating as that is. That's different from PS3, where the norm thusfar has been to have games completely region free.
I'm curious where you heard this. Nearly all Microsoft published titles are region free. Just seems weird that would be forcing publishers to do that but not region lock their own games.
I have no intention of purchasing a 3DS because it's a region locked handheld (and I purchased Vita at launch) and thus I'll probably never play SMTIV and Soul Hackers (If Devil Survivor and Strange Journey are an indication they will never be released in Europe anyway!) so not only are Atlus disappointing me by supporting a region locked system exclusively, but now they choose to lock their game on a region free system as well!
It's like they don't give a damn about Europe
Either you care about it enough to modify your purchasing habits or you don't. Buying the region-locked 360 version from Atlus in protest of their decision to region-lock the PS3 version isn't taking much of a stand. Atlus still gets your money and MS gets a licensing fee. The only entity who is negatively affected is Sony. Basically, you are rewarding the two companies who are proponents of region locking, and punishing the one who discourages it.
If you care about region-locking, don't buy the game, and tell Atlus why you didn't buy it.
P4: Golden?
I really don't understand how this is the first region-locked when it has always been possible. The 360 doesn't force publishers to lock their games either, but plenty make use of it. So why did no one ever do it on the PS3 until now?
P4: Golden?
ATLUS! You dare defy the customers?!
I sentence your company to drift amongst unknown sales, until your game finds the kingdom of Europe, your profits will be lifeless as stone!
If you care about region-locking, don't buy the game, and tell Atlus why you didn't buy it.
It's a function that douche-canoes can enable if they want, as is the case here.All this time I honestly though PS3 games couldn't be region locked. What the hell?
If I recall correctly you have to pay for certification for multiple regions on the 360.
I don't really understand. Does that make region-locked 360 games cheaper or more expensive?
I don't really understand. Does that make region-locked 360 games cheaper or more expensive?
Well if you have to pay for certification for US, UK, JP, etc... It would cost more to do it three times. Region locked games are cheaper to produce.
It means that publishers have to pay more to make their games region free.
Atlus 31? Genius
I was talking about SMT4/SH there btw, I was disappointed they are exclusive, because the 3DS is region locked, the Vita isn't region locked.
And I should reward Nintendo's shitty console design by buying two 3DS' why?For 3DS I'd say just go get the Japanese version if you read Japanese without problem..
Especially if you like SMT and Etrian Odyssey...
You can use U.S issued credit cards on the JP eshop so there's no reason to buy the U.S one.
Region lock sucks, but that should not be the reason to miss those good games...
Awful. I hope to see some reporting on this from major gaming sites.