Region Free Gaming - Necessary?

Bonz

Bonz

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The PS3 will have region free gaming. Which means that you can import games from all over the world and play them without modifying the system.

Some see this as an opportunity for developers to release more games world wide more frequently. And the fact that the Bluray discs can hold so much information may make it possible to encode multiple languages on one disc, and then just ship it to multiple countries, or have it available for importing.

Personally I think its a great idea, but only if developers jump on board.

Would you spend a little more money on an import title if the language barrier was not a problem? Or are gamers just gonna stick to whats on their store shelves?
 
This could be viewed as both good and bad I think. Good in that it will hopefully broaden the game-choice in the Western world, (let's hear it for weird gaming Sims!), and will potentially force systems like the X-Box and whatever Nintendo's latest evolution is, to adapt as well (or force them *mostly the X-Box* to broaden their own gaming horison).

Bad wise? I can see it being an issue when parents discover the game that was supposedly just a cartoon game that little Jimmy had her buy online turns out to be a tentacle rape, dating sim kind of game. BUT IT LOOKED SO INNOCENT, and once again the gaming world will be blamed for the further tumble down the rabbit hole of depravity.

Also what does this mean for rating? I'm sure the Japanese have a different standard of rating (if any) for every game that comes out, how will this be translated over for the Western world? This will mean that older games will most likely not be permitted for sale in North America until they get the 'approved' (read: American) rating.

But then, I could totally be off base with this.
 
C'mon Klink, there is little chance that kids who would play games like Finding Nemo have a credit card and would order from a video game website that specializes in import games. Besides, handhelds have been region free and there have been no problems there. Have you heard of kids getting in trouble for accidentally ordering those soft-core Japanese porno PSP discs from some online import website? Didn't think so.

I think a global region for games is a brilliant idea. Since I know Japanese and have ZERO barrier to entry on import games, I will no longer have to buy Japanese consoles to play imports. Even if they don't release niche titles in multiple languages for the masses, the opportunity for savvy hardcore gamers to pick up an import game will be all the more appealing. This is especially true for anime fanboys (and fangirls) who will gobble up imports instead of waiting years (literally) for the series to become popular stateside.

Furthermore, anyone who has lived in Europe will know the absolutely appalling wait that gamers have to go through for games. Sure, Europe takes longer because games have to be translated in what, five or so languages, but I know plenty of friends in Italy and Holland who would easily play an English only version of a great game instead of waiting a year to get it localized for Europe.
 
postmodernist said:
C'mon Klink, there is little chance that kids who would play games like Finding Nemo have a credit card and would order from a video game website that specializes in import games. Besides, handhelds have been region free and there have been no problems there. Have you heard of kids getting in trouble for accidentally ordering those soft-core Japanese porno PSP discs from some online import website? Didn't think so.
Click to expand...


Those were region-coded.
 
It will be good for Europeans, I will give you that. But my Japanese is appalling so the chances of me ordering FFXII (for example) before it becomes translated is very slim.

Or will it take even LONGER for games to come out now, as Japanese companies will be forced to hold back releases until the translations are completed? I know, that's doubtful. But it could drive down the sales of the games overseas in some genres if translation times are far behind from the Japanese release time.

I dunno, I really have no idea how this will effect things.

AND on parents ordering softcore games. My dad once brought home an Anime for me when I was 10 or 12, Ninja Scroll. Which is very violent and very...ah...well....RAPILICIOUS, he never read the back of the box, just saw it was Anime, that I liked it, and hey it's a cartoon, what harm could it do?

How many parents are that lax? A lot I'd say, since so many of them think that all video games are non-violent and that a child can play them without really being affected. So chances of a parent 'accidentally' ordering a tentacle-rape-fest game? Well if it's a 12-year-old boy and he pleads with his parents (or grand-parents even), they may order it for him and take his word for it that it's just a game where you fight aliens with tentacles.

Chances of that happening are slim, but when it does happen I can just see the parents freaking out and this causing a whole hullabaloo over it in the media.

"Boy throws octopus at babysitter to re-enact scene in video game."
 
Yeah, in all honesty the only people who will be...

1) Europeans
2) Fighting game fans

Europeans will love how they can import the MANY American games that never reach their shores. Fighting games have a minimal amount of story and text involved, and there are many of those that never hit the states either never, or far too late (Guilty Gear X2 #Slash, King of Fighters XI, and more).
 
I am all about region free games. Mostly because it does not hurt anything to get rid of the region restrictions, and both gamers and publishers benefit. A good example of this is a Simple 2,000 series game called Zombies vs. Ambulances. I would get this game just for the wackiness of the concept if I knew I could play it on my PS2. Another good example is when I went to Scotland this past summer. I would have really enjoyed getting a disinctly UK game like a snooker or soccer management game, but it seemed silly to spend the money for a game I would never be able to play. So I am looking forward to region free games.
 
I give a thumbs up to the region free gaming scheme.....like i posted in the 360 forums about the Japanese, they will be getting the first wrestling title coming out for the 360.....But that is no surprise, Microsoft did that with the original Xbox and one of the overseas fighting games....So, all i'm saying is, good for Sony....if they pull it off, maybe it will get Microsoft off their *sses
 
You all for get to relize one simple fact. WE ARE ALL GEEKS. WE WILL PAY WHATEVER WHEREEVER AND WHEN EVER FOR A GAME. The thing is most of the games that you love so much like FFXII wont have multiple language because it hurts local sales. so for the Big wig companies that sell big name titles wont have this available. But for games but companies that dont get made for the US or Europe have the chance to sell to the masses. Which is great. It benifeits all partys for only games that sell in one region. But mostly we americans get screwed because most Japan titles come here next before the reach euope. So Eruopans will have a feild day. You lucky bastards. So I think its god cuz now i can get my imports with english.
 
I think it will be better. Like on DVDs where you can choose languages, games should be the same.
 
I think that I would pay more for a game from Japan...Only if I knew that it was not ever going to be released in the U.S.A.

Bonz said:
The PS3 will have region free gaming. Which means that you can import games from all over the world and play them without modifying the system.

Some see this as an opportunity for developers to release more games world wide more frequently. And the fact that the Bluray discs can hold so much information may make it possible to encode multiple languages on one disc, and then just ship it to multiple countries, or have it available for importing.

Personally I think its a great idea, but only if developers jump on board.

Would you spend a little more money on an import title if the language barrier was not a problem? Or are gamers just gonna stick to whats on their store shelves?
Click to expand...
 
I'm from the UK so I'm a European who's language is English and with that in mind.. I'm all in favour of region free gaming. The main reason is because I'm tired of having to wait 6 months longer than my US friends do.

Hurrah for not being completely screwed over in the future!
 
Games should totally be region free. It seems like a positive progression for the gaming industry. Just how big of an impact it has on the industry may not be seen for a few years, but I doubt it will have any negative repercussions.
 
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