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[consoul]

So PS3 games are region-free. That's all good for the import community.
In some regions Stranglehold PS3 will include Hard Boiled, and in others it won't. That's understandable.

...but are Midway planning to be the first publisher to release a region-locked PS3 game?

A mod on the Midway boards is adamant that:

all PS3 versions of Stranglrhold will not be region free.

This better not be true. Many people have already pre-ordered the game from other regions.
Does this guy know something we don't...or does he just not know something we all do?

 

[Bebpo]

So PS3 games are region-free. That's all good for the import community.
In some regions Stranglehold PS3 will include Hard Boiled, and in others it won't. That's understandable.

...but are Midway planning to be the first publisher to release a region-locked PS3 game?

A mod on the Midway boards is adamant that:


This better not be true. Many people have already pre-ordered the game from other regions.
Does this guy know something we don't...or does he just not know something we all do?

I'm guessing he means the package as a whole including Hard Boiled. Hard Boiled will likely be Region "A" and only play in the US, JPN, and some other places.

 

[pilonv1]

Australian version does not contain Hard Boiled. Not that it's a surprise.

 

[consoul]

I'm hoping that's what he's basing his statement on Bepbo, but there's be no reason for the non-Collector's editions to be region-locked, nor would there be any need for JP/Euro releases to be region locked.

His blanket statement is a bit baffling.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

I guess the addition of movie makes its region-locked. The regular game would be region-free though (I Hope).

 

[Wario64]

Well after all, Strangehold is the sequel to Hard Boiled. So I guess they want to treat it as a movie and make it region locked.

 

[Chittagong]

well duh. Obviously the version with the movie on the same disc will be region locked just like the movie alone would. Versions without movie, not so much, like any normal PS3 game.

 

[davepoobond]

i guess hard boiled being included makes it different than normal games

 

[Wario64]

well duh. Obviously the version with the movie on the same disc will be region locked just like the movie alone would. Versions without movie, not so much, like any normal PS3 game.

But they say all PS3 versions are region locked.

 

[Bearillusion]

Tell him about RE5.

 

[Chittagong]

But they say all PS3 versions are region locked.

Wrong. He says "ALL versions WILL NOT be region free" i.e. some will, but not all.

 

[Ashhong]

it has also been delayed for 3 weeks. or was that already revealed in another thread.

 

[USD]

Wrong. He says "ALL versions WILL NOT be region free" i.e. some will, but not all.

From the site:

Standard PS3 version is also NOT region free. Sorry, guys.

Sounds like you better cancel your preorders.

 

[consoul]

Tell him about RE5.

Don't even joke about it.
It's bad enough that my Japanese PS3 will most likely censor any decapitations in RE5.

 

[DCharlie]

But they say all PS3 versions are region locked.

the rumour of the end of region free glory days have been doing the rounds for a while

 

[Speevy]

nm

 

[The Faceless Master]

hopefully there will be a clarification on this.

i can understand the bluray movie being region locked, but the game???

wtf, doesn't sony have TRC's for this shit!?

 

[MCD]

nm

hehehe...

 

[davepoobond]

nm

new mexico?

 

[Dave1988]

Crap and I wanted to get the ver with the movie =/

 

[AlternativeUlster]

new mexico?

it stands for "no men" like in a personals ad.

 

[Guenther]

This decision makes me sad - so, no buy and just a rental for me (if this happens to be true).

 

[Kal]

new mexico?

Never mind.

 

[davepoobond]

Never mind.

Nomanculture
elephantous
vinegarly
electrifying
reverie

mostly
in
noose
distribution

?

 

[SpokkX]

is it even possible to region code ps3 games?

I hope this isn´t a sign of things to come...

 

[senahorse]

Would like this to be clarified some more, if I can play hard boiled on my jap ps3 I will just get a standard copy of the game

 

[Darji]

This is unaccaptable.........

So when i have a japanese PS3 i cant play the US or european Version?

**** YOU Midway....

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

This is unaccaptable.........

So when i have a japanese PS3 i cant play the US or european Version?

**** YOU Midway....

Err.... yes you can, you most likely can't play the movie. Also, last time i checked, Japan and US have the same region when it comes to movies on blu-ray...

 

[Darji]

Err.... yes you can, you most likely can't play the movie. Also, last time i checked, Japan and US have the same region when it comes to movies on blu-ray...

thats totally strange when i cant play the Movie even with the same regioncode.

But thanks fpr answering my question^^

Anyway I dont know how Midway can do such a stupid thing. First the delay which is okay for me but now a region lock and only for the PS3? I guess Midway wants to bomb the PS3 version.

 

[senahorse]

Err.... yes you can, you most likely can't play the movie. Also, last time i checked, Japan and US have the same region when it comes to movies on blu-ray...

Yeah that is true but who knows how they are handling this one, does the movie even play in normal BD players or do you need a PS3?

 

[Ikuu]

.

 

[Awntawn]

PS3 is NOT region free.

From what I understand, XBox IS region free.

This guy totally knows what he is talking about.

Seriously, companies would region-code their stuff if they could. IIRC Sony has it written in somewhere that all PS3 games must be region free, and Microsoft has this thing where they allow it, but do not enforce it. As a result, US 360 games are playable in Japan, but Japan region codes their stuff for licensing. The only reason why every game so far for the PS3 is region free is because they have to be, there is no reason for Japanese companies to not region-code their games if they had a choice.

 

[Darji]

This guy totally knows what he is talking about.

Seriously, companies would region-code their stuff if they could. IIRC Sony has it written in somewhere that all PS3 games must be region free, and Microsoft has this thing where they allow it, but do not enforce it. As a result, US 360 games are playable in Japan, but Japan region codes their stuff for licensing. The only reason why every game so far for the PS3 is region free is because they have to be, there is no reason for Japanese companies to not region-code their games if they had a choice.

So if they have to be region free Midway cant do this thing?^^
And from my perspective. I think these region locks decrease the general sales.

 

[Crayon Shinchan]

Mods and marketing departments aren't always your most dependable source of info.

You *can't* lock PS3 games. There's simply no mechanism for doing so (and if there were, Sony wouldn't qualify its quality check).

Hardboiled on the otherhand, can be included on a seperate disc that has region locking... although that's completely dumb if that is the case.

The mod sounds like a bit of shit stirrer though; Xbox 360 is region free; despite there been allowances for region locking on that console, while all PS3 versions (with and without movie) isn't despite there been no allowances for that? Sounds like the guy and his supervisor has the two consoles mixed up.

 

[Sho Nuff]

You *can't* lock PS3 games. There's simply no mechanism for doing so (and if there were, Sony wouldn't qualify its quality check).

Sure you can, games are capable of checking region and making changes, just look at Resistance when you try playing it on a Japanese PS3.

 

[Darji]

Sure you can, games are capable of checking region and making changes, just look at Resistance when you try playing it on a Japanese PS3.

but it only censors the game not totally lock it.

Anyway i hate such things. Now i can cancel my preorder till I know which Version I can play.....

 

[Crayon Shinchan]

Sure you can, games are capable of checking region and making changes, just look at Resistance when you try playing it on a Japanese PS3.

You're right. But I qualified to I mean overall release and distribution mechanism. They are after all, still Blu-ray discs I realise, and Blu-ray discs do have region based information.

 

[Flek]

you can region look PS3 games - as far as i know you cant play the american cod3 on a german ps3 because of the Swastika (!). Anyway what midway is doing here makes absolut no sense - why is the 360 Version Region Free and all PS3 Versions loked ... that sucks so bad. If its true i guess iam not going to buy any copy (for any system)

 

[Crayon Shinchan]

you can region look PS3 games - as far as i know you cant play the american cod3 on a german ps3 because of the Swastika (!). Anyway what midway is doing here makes absolut no sense - why is the 360 Version Region Free and all PS3 Versions loked ... that sucks so bad. If its true i guess iam not going to buy any copy (for any system)

On a german PS3 and with an american COD3 disc only? What about other european discs and PS3s? and what happens if you change the language option for the PS3?

that sort of region protection sounds far too fine grained if it is true. Do you have a link to this information at all? I'm having trouble finding it on Google.

 

[Zylander]

- 1 sale.

 

[Flek]

On a german PS3 and with an american COD3 disc only? What about other european discs and PS3s? and what happens if you change the language option for the PS3?

that sort of region protection sounds far too fine grained if it is true. Do you have a link to this information at all? I'm having trouble finding it on Google.

Iam pretty sure i heard something like this several times but i cant find a link too (not even in german) so maybe iam wrong.

 

[Aaron]

...so it's utterly impossible for PS3 owners to buy games the same region as their console? I'm not quite getting the problem here.

 

[kay]

you can region look PS3 games - as far as i know you cant play the american cod3 on a german ps3 because of the Swastika (!). Anyway what midway is doing here makes absolut no sense - why is the 360 Version Region Free and all PS3 Versions loked ... that sucks so bad. If its true i guess iam not going to buy any copy (for any system)

Was it played on a SDTV? Call of Duty 3 US doesn't have a 576i mode so it won't play on them.

Anyway, I would wait until the game comes out.

 

[DCharlie]

...so it's utterly impossible for PS3 owners to buy games the same region as their console? I'm not quite getting the problem here.

the fear is that it ends up being a sign of things to come.

PS3 is great because you don't need to have multiple machines to get around regioning.

if that goes away, then hardcore gamers get a bit miffed.

 

[Crayon Shinchan]

...so it's utterly impossible for PS3 owners to buy games the same region as their console? I'm not quite getting the problem here.

The problem is that, no PS3 games should be region locked.

PS3 games have region recognition, but they're not allowed to lock games based on region.

If the mod is right (and its doubtful); then this is a bit of megaton; it's unprecedented, and it's leaked out in a pretty inconspicuous manner. Sony to date has repeatedly claimed that PS3 games were region free, and to date, they have been region free.

Edit: Just saw the post above mine.

PS3 games are region free for HDTV resolutions. Not all PAL games and NTSC games are compatible in SDTV resolutions.

That's the real qualifier to PS3's region freeness. So maybe this is what the mod meant?

 

[Flek]

...so it's utterly impossible for PS3 owners to buy games the same region as their console? I'm not quite getting the problem here.

well - of course i could buy the game here in germany and not the us version. The problem is i will pay 60€ (= 80 USD) and not 43 €(=60 USD) (!), the game will release here later and the chances that it will be cut are HIGH. So thats the problem here

 

[Aaron]

well - of course i could buy the game here in germany and not the us version. The problem is i will pay 60€ (= 80 USD) and not 43 €(=60 USD) (!), the game will release here later and the chances that it will be cut are HIGH. So thats the problem here

Okay, that's a fairly large problem, and well worth being annoyed about.

 

[Hurricane_Chris]

...so it's utterly impossible for PS3 owners to buy games the same region as their console? I'm not quite getting the problem here.

<game_aaron_wants_to_play_main.cpp>

int region = ps3_get_region();
bool canPlay = is_region_supported(region);
if (canPlay)
{
  main_loop();
}
else
{
  display_message_for_suckas_in_unsupported_region("PWN3d B307cH");
}

</game_aaron_wants_to_play_main.cpp>

<Aaron> Man, I sure want to play that game, too bad its not being released in my region. Oh, wait, PS3 is region free! Let me simply import the shiznit!</Aaron>

* Aaron orders game from www.playasia.com.
* Game arrives from playasia
* Aaron slides game into PS3.
* Aaron sees the error message "PWN3d B307cH" on his HDTV
* Aaron SMASH

 

[Koren]

PS3 games are region free for HDTV resolutions. Not all PAL games and NTSC games are compatible in SDTV resolutions.

It's rather a (stupid) software limitation, it seems...

I know that some PAL games don't work on NTSC consoles in SD (PAL-encoded videos won't even work in HD if I'm not mistaken). Edit : for example, PAL DVD don't work with NTSC consoles, even if DVD-region is accepted.

Are you sure that there's NTSC games that don't work on PAL consoles in SD, though ? Never heard anything about this...

 

[Awntawn]

That's the real qualifier to PS3's region freeness. So maybe this is what the mod meant?

I'm still more inclined to believe that the mod is retarded and got his consoles mixed up. There is no way that the 360 version is region free and the PS3 version is not.