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PS4 and PS Vita are region-free in China : ) | Xbox One remains locked : (

Occam

Member
Unexpected considering XB1. So it's not because of the governement then?

That explanation never made sense. It always was
Short explanation: Because fuck you, give me money.

Long explanation: Microsoft is worried about consumers importing cheap games from China. Mind you that Chinese Xbone games aren't just region locked, they also come with a single-use online activation code, meaning they can't be traded in or given away, which is basically a slightly altered version of Microsoft's original property removal system (lacking the daily online big brothering).
(Sorry to quote myself, I'm too lazy to write it again.)

Xbone in China (minus the cheap game prices) is a glimpse into the future Microsoft has in store for all of us if they manage to gain a dominant position.

EDIT: Removed "cheap consoles" from my post because it was incorrect; Xbones actually are very expensive in China
 

BKK

Member
From a few weeks ago;

Game Watch recently conducted an interview with SCEJA Deputy President Oda Hiroyuki to talk about the Chinese launch of the PlayStation 4 and in the interview he was asked about whether the PS4 will be region free in China.

“Mr. Soeda talked about this today as well, but firstly now the market has been opened for console game import/manufacturing/sales in the Shanghai free trade zone. The Shanghai Culture Bureau holds the approval and license for sales of the console hardware, the first person who took the stage today was Mr. Kai. This bureau holds the authority to give permission for sales of consoles. We went to them and we wanted them to let us release PlayStation as a unified standard product globally, and they gave us sales permission, and the other day we received that sales permission, and that’s what the status is today, which I hope you can understand,” he said to Game Watch.
 

sangreal

Member
That explanation never made sense. It always was

(Sorry to quote myself, I'm too lazy to write it again.)

Xbone in China (minus the cheap prices) is a glimpse into the future Microsoft has in store for all of us if they manage to gain a dominant position.

You can keep quoting yourself but your explanation is wrong on its face. The consoles are not cheap in China and the games are no cheaper than other non-locked territories like HK and India
 

TomShoe

Banned
That explanation never made sense. It always was

(Sorry to quote myself, I'm too lazy to write it again.)

Xbone in China (minus the cheap prices) is a glimpse into the future Microsoft has in store for all of us if they manage to gain a dominant position.

Question: Which countries would want to import an Xbox One from China? I doubt Americans would, as the system is getting deep discounts already. Base 627 USD is already really expensive, unless it was to a country that already had high rates.
 

dramatis

Member
I'm surprised it's region-free too. However, I think it is still dependent on the whims of the culture bureau that regulates the consoles. If at any point somebody on that culture bureau feels like region-locking, then the status will change. Just right now I've been following a Chinese drama that started airing about two weeks ago, literally shooting straight to the most popular drama of the current time, and the TV station had to put it on hiatus until January because of airing rules or some other weird shit.
 

spwolf

Member
I'm surprised it's region-free too. However, I think it is still dependent on the whims of the culture bureau that regulates the consoles. If at any point somebody on that culture bureau feels like region-locking, then the status will change. Just right now I've been following a Chinese drama that started airing about two weeks ago, literally shooting straight to the most popular drama of the current time, and the TV station had to put it on hiatus until January because of airing rules or some other weird shit.

i think you and other people are confusing sales of games with region lock... they can still not approve any game they want to be sold on PSN.cn... yes, you can import some bootleg BD or create some US/UK account but so could you import PS4 already today like that.
 

Occam

Member
Ok, so it's only about preventing exports of cheap games which start at $15 USD in China. Didn't see that Xbones are that expensive in China.
 

Shin-Ra

Junior Member
Short explanation: Because fuck you, give me money.

Long explanation: Microsoft is worried about consumers importing cheap games from China. Mind you that Chinese Xbone games aren't just region locked, they also come with a single-use online activation code, meaning they can't be traded in or given away, which is basically a slightly altered version of Microsoft's original property removal system (lacking the daily online big brothering).
Sorcerer_OhSh.gif
 

dramatis

Member
i think you and other people are confusing sales of games with region lock... they can still not approve any game they want to be sold on PSN.cn... yes, you can import some bootleg BD or create some US/UK account but so could you import PS4 already today like that.
Not confusing sales of games with region lock. I'm not sure how region lock is implemented (hardware or software), but I think that a "region-free" policy is granted to Sony as long as the culture bureau (or whoever regulates the consoles) allows it. Sony probably lobbied for region-free, but it's also something that, as long as it is within China's borders, is dependent on the whims of a bunch of dudes who decide what sort of thing is best for whatever reason. That's a reality even internal Chinese companies have to face.
 

pachuco

Member
If it wasn't so expensive I would definitely import this bad boy! I wish these companies would just let people buy region free consoles. I would pay a premium, but this is a little too much of a premium IMO.
 
D

Deleted member 20920

Unconfirmed Member
How is Xbox1 doing there after launch?

Don't think any numbers have been released since launch. 100,000 console on day one or week one.Probably sold to stores since the PR was unclear.
 

Biker19

Banned
Short explanation: Because fuck you, give me money.

Long explanation: Microsoft is worried about consumers importing cheap games from China. Mind you that Chinese Xbone games aren't just region locked, they also come with a single-use online activation code, meaning they can't be traded in or given away, which is basically a slightly altered version of Microsoft's original property removal system (lacking the daily online big brothering).

Funnily enough they are both being managed and sold by the same Chinese company (lol) so that couldn't be it either. It's a bizarre decision to make voluntarily and one that they have to know is going to destroy any chance that had to compete.

I suppose they might have assumed Sony would follow suit kinda like the DRM stuff but that would be an incredibly risky decision in what they m themselves described as a "breakout market" based entirely on an assumption. Just makes zero sense.

I agree. And people still think that Sony operates the same way as Microsoft, despite that Japanese companies like Sony operates things a lot different from American companies like Microsoft in general.

How is Xbox1 doing there after launch?

Terrible. People in China that have bought Xbox One's there are already having buyer's remorse.
 

ClearData

Member
Did I say I did?

The 1st day of the new year has already gone good so far. Don't ruin it.

I think he jokingly meant where you managed to get information on the general sentiment of Chinese Xbox One purchasers. I didn't read it as an attack at least.
 

Biker19

Banned
Oh boy. Why say something you can`t know and we know you are just making up?

Were you guys not talking about people in China already experiencing anger over the system due to the high price tag or something?

Like I said earlier, don't ruin this day by talking shit.
 

Lynn616

Member
Were you guys not talking about people in China already experiencing anger over the system due to the high price tag or something?

Like I said earlier, don't ruin this day by talking shit.

Then stop talking shit. You dont have a clue what is going on with people that have bought an X1 in China.
 

MrMephistoX

Member
I wonder how China will respond to these consoles. I can see piracy being an issue in the long run.


Oh trust me when I lived there I had several shoeboxes full of pirated PS2 and XBOX games; you could just get the console modded in the local shopping mall. Once the consoles are hacked they'll start to sell but not a minute sooner.
 

ClearData

Member
Were you guys not talking about people in China already experiencing anger over the system due to the high price tag or something?

Like I said earlier, don't ruin this day by talking shit.

No one is shit talking you. They are just questioning how you would know something like that. It is known that Chinese consumers did not like the high price tag. But your comment was more related to those that already purchased, and that they felt buyers remorse. Something that hasn't been reported to my knowledge.
 

Chobel

Member
Did I say I did?

The 1st day of the new year has already gone good so far. Don't ruin it.

You need to chill out dude, I'm not trying to ruin your day, not intentionally anyway. Just wanna know where you did get this "buyer's remorse" thing.
 

Biker19

Banned
You need to chill out dude, I'm not trying to ruin your day, not intentionally anyway. Just wanna know where you did get this "buyer's remorse" thing.

It's just an opinion from what I've heard. Higher priced console, higher priced games, etc.
 
Was that stuff about XB1 games in China coming with a single use activation code ever actually confirmed? Wasn't it all based on a single forum thread on some Chinese site on launch day?

A quick Google doesn't show a single peep about it in the time since, and it seems like something people would be talking about.
 
Was that stuff about XB1 games in China coming with a single use activation code ever actually confirmed? Wasn't it all based on a single forum thread on some Chinese site on launch day?

A quick Google doesn't show a single peep about it in the time since, and it seems like something people would be talking about.

I bought a Chinese Xbox One at launch (but I am not chinese and I live in Brazil, just a collector).

I only got digital games for it so I can comment on game activations, but The console does have a single time activation that must Be performed over sms in a valid chinese Mobile operator.

Well, people over there may be angry about the game selection. Not a single game was releases after launch, not even in this years end. Only the initial 11 games are available. That may be die to chinese regulations and not ms fault, but it sure may look bad in costumer's eyes.
 

Percy

Banned
I bought a Chinese Xbox One at launch (but I am not chinese and I live in Brazil, just a collector).

I only got digital games for it so I can comment on game activations, but The console does have a single time activation that must Be performed over sms in a valid chinese Mobile operator.

Well, people over there may be angry about the game selection. Not a single game was releases after launch, not even in this years end. Only the initial 11 games are available. That may be die to chinese regulations and not ms fault, but it sure may look bad in costumer's eyes.

Holy fuck... and I thought it had a lacking library where I live :/
 

Xando

Member
I bought a Chinese Xbox One at launch (but I am not chinese and I live in Brazil, just a collector).

I only got digital games for it so I can comment on game activations, but The console does have a single time activation that must Be performed over sms in a valid chinese Mobile operator.

Well, people over there may be angry about the game selection. Not a single game was releases after launch, not even in this years end. Only the initial 11 games are available. That may be die to chinese regulations and not ms fault, but it sure may look bad in costumer's eyes.
What the fuck?
 

Mokubba

Member
I bought a Chinese Xbox One at launch (but I am not chinese and I live in Brazil, just a collector).

I only got digital games for it so I can comment on game activations, but The console does have a single time activation that must Be performed over sms in a valid chinese Mobile operator.

Well, people over there may be angry about the game selection. Not a single game was releases after launch, not even in this years end. Only the initial 11 games are available. That may be die to chinese regulations and not ms fault, but it sure may look bad in costumer's eyes.

WOW
 

Kysen

Member
Not a single game was releases after launch, not even in this years end. Only the initial 11 games are available. That may be die to chinese regulations and not ms fault, but it sure may look bad in costumer's eyes.

This says everything, the console has failed over there.
 

sakipon

Member
I only got digital games for it so I can comment on game activations, but The console does have a single time activation that must Be performed over sms in a valid chinese Mobile operator.

So how did you get your system to work, I assume a Chinese friend helped you with that?

This sounds way worse than Nintendo's stuff, atleast their import units are ready and operational wherever you are.
 
Short explanation: Because fuck you, give me money.

Long explanation: Microsoft is worried about consumers importing cheap games from China. Mind you that Chinese Xbone games aren't just region locked, they also come with a single-use online activation code, meaning they can't be traded in or given away, which is basically a slightly altered version of Microsoft's original property removal system (lacking the daily online big brothering).

now that's some BS
 

Usobuko

Banned
I thought the other good news for China's gamers was simplified chinese translation will be used for FFX and The Order.
 
D

Deleted member 20920

Unconfirmed Member
I thought the other good news for China's gamers was simplified chinese translation will be used for FFX and The Order.

FFX already had a Chinese translation from the PS3/Vita release so that's expected, so is The Order since it's published by Sony. Sony's been rather good at getting publishers to release games in Chinese, Korean and English in Asia. Really different from the PS1 and PS2 period where regions like Singapore got Japanese games.
 
FFX already had a Chinese translation from the PS3/Vita release so that's expected, so is The Order since it's published by Sony. Sony's been rather good at getting publishers to release games in Chinese, Korean and English in Asia. Really different from the PS1 and PS2 period where regions like Singapore got Japanese games.

So far, practically all Chinese localisation of Playstation games are Traditional Chinese though, because their primary markets are Taiwan/HK, which uses Traditional.

Simplified Chinese goes a long way for the China market.
 
What the fuck?

So how did you get your system to work, I assume a Chinese friend helped you with that?

This sounds way worse than Nintendo's stuff, atleast their import units are ready and operational wherever you are.

Posting from phone, so please ignore spelling and bad auto correct.

The activation is required by beTV, MS chinese partner. At initial boot, before you can entre you gametag, it goes to a beTV page, where you have to enter a valid chinese Mobile number (it checks The number, must be chinese). This number Will receive a sms with a code, that must be entered in the console to continue. The code is valid only for a few hours. Without it you cannot continue and the console will not boot. Since there is no registration other than the Mobile number (no extra information is required) I guess it is to verify you are really a chinese citizen. There is no IP or geo lock, you can activate the system anywhere as long as you have a chinese Mobile number.

And Yes, I have friends over there that sent me the console and helped me with the activation, using skype.
 
Holy fuck... and I thought it had a lacking library where I live :/

This says everything, the console has failed over there.

I guess the Chinese approval/required chances may take some time, but I was execting more games at the end of 2014, which did not happen. The 11 launch games are Forza 5, Max, Powerstar Golf, Trials, Rayman, Xbox Fitness, Kinect Sports Rivals, Dance Central, Zoo Tychon and the Chinese exclusives Neverwinter Online and Naugthy Kitties. Half of them are digital only. You can check the available games by changing the region in the webmarketplace, but you can only buy them using a chinese console.
 
Short explanation: Because fuck you, give me money.

Long explanation: Microsoft is worried about consumers importing cheap games from China. Mind you that Chinese Xbone games aren't just region locked, they also come with a single-use online activation code, meaning they can't be traded in or given away, which is basically a slightly altered version of Microsoft's original property removal system (lacking the daily online big brothering).
I suspect it's more to do with the PRS than anything else. With region locking, Chinese users may only purchase approved games from approved retailers at approved pricing. Without it, they'd be free to buy any game they want, anywhere they want, and at any price they want. Even used. *shudder*
 

AmuroChan

Member
Microsoft when presenting to the Chinese government: Shows COD, Halo, Gears

Chinese government: We cannot have the Chinese youths play these violent American games. You must region-lock the console.


Sony when presenting to the Chinese government: Shows Flower, Journey, Hohokum

Chinese government: These games are so peaceful. Ok, no region lock required.
 

blakep267

Member
Microsoft when presenting to the Chinese government: Shows COD, Halo, Gears

Chinese government: We cannot have the Chinese youths play these violent American games. You must region-lock the console.


Sony when presenting to the Chinese government: Shows Flower, Journey, Hohokum

Chinese government: These games are so peaceful. Ok, no region lock required.
I believe games still have to be approved
 
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