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Persona 4: Arena Region-Locked on PS3 - Confirmed [PR statement in OP]

Dantis

Member
Indeed. I'll be renting this and buying DOA because of this.

And I know people will say "Atlus don't care about your puny sale!", but if I'm doing it, chances are that other people are also.
 
i have enough fighters to play for the next years and DOA is right around the corner.

if the lock is real, then they're making this far too easy.
 

Omikaru

Member
Yep, rental for me, if that. I might just read spoilers online. I'm not supporting a region lock on PS3, however.

All I can do is hope this is a one-off, and that I don't have to cancel P4 Golden and chase up a refund from VG+.
 

NiBear

Banned
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.
 

jcm

Member
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.
 

Dantis

Member
You only support region locking on a console that is full of region locking? Way to take a stand there.

Not the same. MS puts massive pressure on companies to region lock 360 games. It's virtually mandatory. Sony do the opposite.

This is all Atlus.

EDIT: Apparently this is all wrong. My bad.
 

Omikaru

Member
I figured I'd ask @yosp on Twitter about the region lock on PS3, just to confirm that it's possible. He confirmed that it was.

@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.

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 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.
 

Mondriaan

Member
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.
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.
 
D

Deleted member 13876

Unconfirmed Member
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.
 

Omikaru

Member
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.

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 block the importation of goods from poorer EU countries to richer ones, and any technical block like this would almost certainly fall foul of the same law.
 

Barakov

Member
Well, this sucks. I was really looking forward to this. The fact that this seems like to be initiated by Atlus means I will most likely pass on this.
 
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.

Yeah, I remember that it caused quite the scare. I too import a ton of stuff from the UK, for this generation even more than from NA.

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.

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... :D

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-18-euro-pc-deus-ex-not-region-locked
 
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.

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 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.

Region locking has been possible from the very beginning, it's just been an opt-in decision that up until now, publishers have thankfully not chosen to leverage. The PSP was exactly the same, though region locking was far more frequent on it (though still only used by a handful of titles). I've no clue why you'd think they only added it a couple of years ago.

Also as Omikaru said, there's no chance the UK will be counted as a separate region.
 
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
 

hank_tree

Member
Not the same. MS puts massive pressure on companies to region lock 360 games. It's virtually mandatory. Sony do the opposite.

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.
 

Omikaru

Member
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... :D

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-18-euro-pc-deus-ex-not-region-locked
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:

"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."

That seems pretty clear cut to me: "if you behave in a way that will keep prices artificially high in the single market, we will come and get you." They'd never have gotten away with it. Nintendo were fined about £92m for that.

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.
It is indeed. And it just makes this move look all the more dumb.

I'm really tempted to make a website with two columns and a list of every PS3 game.

Column 1: These PS3 games are region locked.
Column 2: These PS3 games are region free.

I'd do it only for my own amusement, but it'd be a rather unique way to shame Atlus. :D
 

Dantis

Member
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.

Really? That's actually pretty interesting. I guess I was just way off the mark then.

Apologies.
 
Stupid that it's locked in either.

Always surprised me that Atlus haven't setup a European branch by now, thought they'd try take over Rising Star games.

Shame really. I've love some insight into what they think.
 

Mondriaan

Member
Really? That's actually pretty interesting. I guess I was just way off the mark then.

Apologies.
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.
 
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?
 

jcm

Member
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.

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.
 

NiBear

Banned
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.

Some western developed games on 360 are region free. Take2 and Bethesda region lock their games IIRC, but EA(except fifa), UBI, MS, activision are usually region free. In Japan they can buy U.S version of these publishers' games 1 or 2 days after western release at retail as far as I know.... Japanese developed games on the other hand are mostly region locked except for probably one or two Cave STGs.

But still. 360 never advertised itself as a region free console, that's why I bought a Japanese version. It's good those western publishers make their games region free on 360, but that does not render their Japanese counterparts evil. PS3 on the other hand is supposed to be a region free console (at least that's part of the reason I bought it back in the day when the library was still lacking).
 

Volcynika

Member
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

P4: Golden?
 
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.

This is the most important part, even if the game would end up by not selling in EU the publishers would most likely blame it on other factors. It's important to be clear about this.
 

InfiniteNine

Rolling Girl
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?

If I recall correctly you have to pay for certification for multiple regions on the 360.
 

Conan-san

Member
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!
 

NiBear

Banned
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.

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...
 

Conan-san

Member
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...
And I should reward Nintendo's shitty console design by buying two 3DS' why?
 

Andrefpvs

Member

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