What's Your Opinion On Region Coding?

[codeninja]

It looks like, with PS3, Sony maybe desperate enough to offer region code that put the US and East Asian in one group so that you can simply import Animes from Japan. I for one always have thought region coding is a stupid business idea that benefits no customers. How about you?

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051228-5857.html

 

[spray]

it was never supposed to benefit customers

its all about release schedules that are different around the world

it comes down to the fact that different companies distribute media in different parts of the world

they want to ensure that they are not losing any money that they should be gaining from the licenses they purchase.

if the production houses were respsonible for sales then there would be no need for region coding

 

[stinch]

if the production houses were respsonible for sales then there would be no need for region coding

​

The same benefits would still be there. It's all about stopping product moving between regions so you can maintain the highest price the region will support without worry of cheap imports sourced from cheaper regions.

 

[spray]

ah, never thought about it that far down the line before

good point

 

[RiX0R]

its all about release schedules that are different around the world

​

It's also about price differentiation. For example in Asia, DVDs and such are a lot cheaper than here. So what's gonna stop a customer over here from buying his DVDs in Asia?

Region coding is what is.

 

[Rayek]

its all about release schedules that are different around the world

​

That makes me so pissed. A movie I really want to see came out in Iceland about two years ago, and I didn't get to see it because it never made it across the Atlantic. On top of that, the movie's out on DVD, but only in Iceland. I'd buy it anyway because I have a regionless DVD player, but the stupid store, the only store that sells it, requires a specific Icelandic ID that noone else in the world has. Just for this reason. I'm so pissed.

Angry pissed, not drunk pissed.

 

[PinkSpider]

Im not allowed to play Xenogears and Chrono Cross because I live in the UK

And because my modded psone is dead.

 

[(naw)mcx]

Im not allowed to play Xenogears and Chrono Cross because I live in the UK

And because my modded psone is dead.

​

you do know there is ps1 emus for the pc

 

[PinkSpider]

Yes and as soon as I have a new graphics card im set!

 

[aQwaBlaz3]

I HATE regional coding. I tried to pop in my pirated Battle Royale 2 DVD I bought from a mall koisk in my Xbox today and it didnt play. I was kinda pissed. We were all going to watch it as a family and enjoy it.

 

[Nintendo]

I am a greedy b@stard, so I am a 100% supporter of Region locking all (even portable console) videogame consoles games. I don't mind if peeps use mod chips!

 

[Rayek]

Well, your name is SONY, so it's not expected.

 

[daclassicgamingmaster]

Well, your name is SONY, so it's not expected.

​

oo that's cold <_<

 

[Rayek]

Well, your name is SONY, so it's not expected.

​

oo that's cold <_<

​

Wasn't meant to be THAT cold...

 

[Nintendo]

Well it was MY honest opinion................................................................Am I not entitled?

 

[Rayek]

Definitely entitled.

Am I not entitled a response?

 

[Nintendo]

Definitely entitled.

Am I not entitled a response?

​

Most certainly.

Am I not entitled to respond again after receiving a reply?

 

[Mark1970]

It looks like, with PS3, Sony maybe desperate enough to offer region code that put the US and East Asian in one group so that you can simply import Animes from Japan. I for one always have thought region coding is a stupid business idea that benefits no customers. How about you?

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051228-5857.html

​

Wow, of course the European market is screwed like always even if this US/EastAsian unified region code for PS3 becomes a reality....

 

[Captainbubby]

I hate the idea of Region coding, though I've never felt the sting of it as everything i own is region free or modded

 

[Ferentix]

Region coding is just plain stupid. I'm gonna drag out that old worn argument that can also be applied to most of the related subjects (like copy protection and stuff like that)

This stops all consumers using a specific item in a certain way (playing a DVD in a different region than the one for which it is intended in this case). However...

No protection is perfect

People who want to do said prevented thing, and have the right sort of knowledge, will always (well, ok, make that "almost always" if you wish) find a way around the protection eventually. This method of going around the barriers in place will usually be quickly circulated, and soon every man and his dog (you'd be surprised just how many of the illegally copied CDs you find in street markets are made by dogs) knows you can just get a region free DVD player, or just get a supposedly "regular" one (locked to one region) and perform some arcane sequence of actions that causes it to become region free.

So... What was the point in the first place? People who want to will find a way around, then import as they like, whilst those who don't care will simply stick to the DVDs available in their region anyway. All it did was waste some time for eeryone involved- the original company for imposing that protection in the first place, the hackers who worked out how to get around the problem, and then for everyone who applies this fix, and then the situation calms down until the next "innovation" in the protection comes along and it all starts again.

ludicrous.