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

fedexpeon

Banned
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.

So...What is the point of buying a Chinese XB?
Couldn't they go to the grey market and just buy an imported XB?
No region locks, western games with no restriction.
Can they even block Chinese games to be play on an imported XB?
 

chithanh

Banned
Except that all XB1 are region locked, not just the Chinese ones.

There are two regions:
  1. outside China
  2. inside China

So what you suggest won't work, you cannot play Chinese games on non-Chinese XB1 due to the region lock.
 

SURGEdude

Member
I really don't believe that PS4 will be broken anytime soon, or maybe ever.

Ever? Really? History is full of broken "unbreakable" security. I do think it will take a while though. And by then Sony should be making a healthy profit off the HW. The real question is going to be which one is hacked first, and what impact that has on HW sales in piracy heavy markets.
 
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.

Yes, but what did they think of 'Naughty Kitties'?
 
My feelings are still the same: ill wait till the official release to see if they'll keep it unlocked.

Some anti-Sony fanboys are planning campaigns to "report" Sony, for allowing "violwnt and sexual foreign games" on their system.
 
Except that all XB1 are region locked, not just the Chinese ones.

There are two regions:
  1. outside China
  2. inside China

So what you suggest won't work, you cannot play Chinese games on non-Chinese XB1 due to the region lock.

You cannot even access the chinese store on a non-chinese xbox. But I guess a lot of People will still prefer to get an import system and games in the gray Market.

Regarding the ps4, I will wait to see if they continue to Be region free up to launch. For sure Sony seems to have a better lobby with the Chinese goverment.
 

Biker19

Banned
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.

Those are all the games? With some of them being launch titles from a year ago?

That's gotta sting.
 
Those are all the games? With some of them being launch titles from a year ago?

That's gotta sting.

The bigger sting is that most games were cheaper on the HK servers + China XBL members don't get GwG free games (HK does.)

That and the nearly $200 drop in market price.
 
I'm genuinely interested on how well the Vita does in China. Does anyone have a list of software that's going to be available at launch for either Vita or PS4?
 
Some retailers are breaking street date + China PSN servers are online.

I'm not going confirm/deny region lock till official release date (1/11)
 

BKK

Member
Except that all XB1 are region locked, not just the Chinese ones.

There are two regions:
  1. outside China
  2. inside China

So what you suggest won't work, you cannot play Chinese games on non-Chinese XB1 due to the region lock.

Right, which renders Microsoft's pre-launch statement on region locking as bullshit;

"When the console launches this November, we will support Xbox One in 13 markets. Xbox One may be used in all countries, including the non-launched markets. In addition, Xbox One games are not region locked. Any Xbox One game purchased at retail can be used in any country on any Xbox One," said Microsoft in a statement.
 

WoodWERD

Member
A little OT, but I bought a PS4 in the US and brought it back to China. Does anyone know the suggested router settings to improve my PS4 connection? Overall it's ok, but in Trials for example I can't always connect to Ubi servers (leader boards) which is really annoying.
 
A little OT, but I bought a PS4 in the US and brought it back to China. Does anyone know the suggested router settings to improve my PS4 connection? Overall it's ok, but in Trials for example I can't always connect to Ubi servers (leader boards) which is really annoying.

On phone so I cant pull links, but a9vg and baidu both have posts on optimal dns settings.
 

EvB

Member
Except that all XB1 are region locked, not just the Chinese ones.

There are two regions:
  1. outside China
  2. inside China

So what you suggest won't work, you cannot play Chinese games on non-Chinese XB1 due to the region lock.

I think the discs work, I just think that the online side of things is totally locked out from each other, which isn't particularly surprising given China's online history.
 
Seems like that and it keeps increasing in good pace too, I'm not sure how their reservation works in actual sales. Someone from china should provide some details about this number so we can get some picture about PS4 sales in China.

Here is the estimated X1 pre-order numbers 20 days before its launch:
http://neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=128767142&postcount=125

According to SMG, X1 day 1 sale was 100K+ units

So 100K+ pre-orders from jd alone is pretty good.

That being said...you have to realize that pre-orders are VERY POOR indicators of actual sales in China. It's not uncommon for people to pre-order electronic good but then never actually buy it.

You also have to take note of the fact that console is currently "sold out" on most sites. The latest rumor is that the government is now halting the sale of the PS4, after receiving complaints from a "very concerned" netizen that region free consoles/violent foreign games like GTA5 will pose a harm on children (said person is now identified and receiving the usual online harassment.)

If the console turns out to be region locked, pre-order/sales will plummet after people's negative experience with the X1.
 
Wow never saw this thread and it appears we have confirmation that the PS4 is indeed region-free in china after all? That's great, can't stand arbitrary region-locking
 
Wow never saw this thread and it appears we have confirmation that the PS4 is indeed region-free in china after all? That's great, can't stand arbitrary region-locking

Only confirmed on the first batch that broke street date.

They can still lock the console through a day 1 patch.
It's still too early to be sure.

Not to mention all the rumors about what the goc or MS might do
 

wapplew

Member
Look like it will get lock after all.
Sony just delay the launch because of reasons. Thanks a bunch for those who report to the government.
 
Look like it will get lock after all.
Sony just delay the launch because of reasons. Thanks a bunch for those who report to the government.

? Do you really believe no one, including the government, would not notice it? I guees it was just a marketing stunt by Sony, to generate talk and to say " we tried, we believe in region free".
 

Mokubba

Member
An interesting turn.

So Sony tried to sneak in non-region locked consoles in?

Why is it only an issue 3 days before release.
 
This is interesting to watch.

I'm a big fan of keeping things region free on consoles, but China was always going to be a difficult place to execute such a 'liberal' policy.

Considering they've not cited specific reasons - all this could mean nothing and the PS4 might launch region-free but just at a later date.
 

doraemoe

Member
This is interesting to watch.

I'm a big fan of keeping things region free on consoles, but China was always going to be a difficult place to execute such a 'liberal' policy.

Considering they've not cited specific reasons - all this could mean nothing and the PS4 might launch region-free but just at a later date.

In China, no specific reason == censorship reason.
 
This is interesting to watch.

I'm a big fan of keeping things region free on consoles, but China was always going to be a difficult place to execute such a 'liberal' policy.

Considering they've not cited specific reasons - all this could mean nothing and the PS4 might launch region-free but just at a later date.
Hope they figure out a way for region free, if they do then ps4 going to sell a lot.
 

mao2

Member
Look like it will get lock after all.
Sony just delay the launch because of reasons. Thanks a bunch for those who report to the government.
An interesting turn.

So Sony tried to sneak in non-region locked consoles in?

Why is it only an issue 3 days before release.
SCEJA Deputy President Hiroyuki Oda spoke to the press last month and said that they were permitted to sell region-free PS4s by Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Television. They didn't try to hide it.
http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/20141213_680226.html
 
Did I remember wrongly or didn't the same thing happened with the Xbone? They had to postpone just a week before the launch date for China?
 

furious

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.

Wow. The Chinese store (zh-CN) is bleak!

5 Apps

  • 蓝光播放器 (Blu-ray Player)
  • Skype
  • 媒体播放器 (Media Player)
  • 音频 CD 播放机 (Audio CD Player)
  • OneDrive

11 Games

  • 极限竞速 5 (Forza Motorsport 5)
  • 舞动全身:夺目焦点 (Dance Central Spotlight)
  • Kinect 体育竞技 (Kinect Sports Rivals)
  • 特技摩托:聚变 (Trials Fusion)
  • 雷曼:传奇 (Rayman Legends)
  • Xbox Fitness
  • Powerstar Golf
  • 动物园大亨 (Zoo Tycoon)
  • 麦克斯:兄弟魔咒 (Max: The Curse of Brotherhood)
  • 《无冬Online》 (Neverwinter Online)
  • 决战喵星 (Naughty Kitties)
 

cyberheater

PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 Xbone PS4 PS4
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'm glad I didn't buy a Xbox One this generation. I'm not supporting a company that does that kind of shite.
 
Did I remember wrongly or didn't the same thing happened with the Xbone? They had to postpone just a week before the launch date for China?

Yes, also for "no specific reasons"...

I'm glad I didn't buy a Xbox One this generation. I'm not supporting a company that does that kind of shite.

Again, that is nothing to do with Microsoft, that was a requirement either from the Chinese government or from beTV, requered partner in China.
 

cyberheater

PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 Xbone PS4 PS4
Yes, also for "no specific reasons"...



Again, that is nothing to do with Microsoft, that was a requirement either from the Chinese government or from beTV, requered partner in China.

Then why isn't that requirement needed on PS4 and PSVita in China?
 
Because Sony negotiated for it?

That is what we will see. True that Sony seens to had a better lobby, but things could change with the govermnent decision. I kinda doubt Sony could really sell region free consoles, specially that the lock was imposed on MS (they will complain). Also keep in mind that to operated in China both has to associated with a local company. And it is the same company that is partner from both MS and Sony.
 

cyberheater

PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 Xbone PS4 PS4
That is what we will see. True that Sony seens to had a better lobby, but things could change with the govermnent decision. I kinda doubt Sony could really sell region free consoles, specially that the lock was imposed on MS (they will complain). Also keep in mind that to operated in China both has to associated with a local company. And it is the same company that is partner from both MS and Sony.

Interesting information. You know your stuff.
 

dramatis

Member
We won't know if NO REGION LOCK is the reason why the launch was delayed though (even if that's looking like the most likely reason). China censorship never gives transparent reasons for why things happen.
 
We won't know if NO REGION LOCK is the reason why the launch was delayed though (even if that's looking like the most likely reason). China censorship never gives transparent reasons for why things happen.

Well, it is something hardware/firmware related, otherwise retailers wouldn't be refunding money/requesting products to be returned.

So it's just one complaint that caused this?

We don't know. There are rumors of a lot more complaints than that.
However, only one person was dumb enough to get caught and tried to justify himself on online message boards.

Did I remember wrongly or didn't the same thing happened with the Xbone? They had to postpone just a week before the launch date for China?
They did, but it's not region lock related/not the same scenario. MS made it clear that they were locking the console more than a month prior to the X1's launch. The X1 launch delay, which was first announced to be for months but then quickly changed to just a few days, is more likely associated with issues related to the BesTV app.
 
The complaint doesn't lock the console, the overblown "NO REGION LOCK" media coverage does.

The sad thing is that this has totally blown up among the trolls/angry fanboys.
People are now reporting Steam, the major pirating sites (ok, this was going to happen sooner or later) and various net games for violent content....
 

Megatron

Member
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 think the kinectless xb1 being $130 more than the ps4 already took care of that.
 
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