Region codes in video games

[Afterglow-]

Never got the point of region codes, but I just wanted to ask some questions.

1. Are PS3 games truly region-free? This will help me a lot.
2. I live in Asia, so it's not surprise I'm concerned when ordering video games websites like Amazon.com, Play.com, etc. Is there a way to check which region it's suitable to? Take http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Age-Origins-Ultimate-Xbox-360/dp/B0045ZIENQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1296848856&sr=8-3 [this] for instance.

(And yes, I want it on a console, I don't have a powerful enough computer.)

 

[NeedAUserName]

PS3 Games use Blu-Ray region coding, which splits the world into 3 regions. America and parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe and the rest of Asia.

 

[Afterglow-]

PS3 Games use Blu-Ray region coding, which splits the world into 3 regions. America and parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe and the rest of Asia.

Thanks. Now this is just gonna get more troublesome.

 

[Gralian]

PS3 Games use Blu-Ray region coding, which splits the world into 3 regions. America and parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe and the rest of Asia.

Actually, i'm not sure about this. My copy of Demon's Souls is Canadian, but i live in the UK and play on a PAL console / TV, and it works perfectly fine. I thought that PS3 games were region free, unlike the xbox 360.

Edit: My copy of the God of War collection is also Canadian. Like Demon's Souls, it works just fine on EU systems. So i think you should be good to go.

 

[Afterglow-]

PS3 Games use Blu-Ray region coding, which splits the world into 3 regions. America and parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe and the rest of Asia.

Actually, i'm not sure about this. My copy of Demon's Souls is Canadian, but i like in the UK and play on a PAL console / TV, and it works perfectly fine. I thought that PS3 games were region free, unlike the xbox 360.

Strangely, this is what I've heard around the web as well. However, the claims are often inconsistent. One man will claim that, despite the '1', '2', '3' region markings, all of the games are region free and the other will refute it. Ahh.. I'll take my chances. Video game shops in my vicinity won't lower their damn price. They also don't have special editions of games. $69.99 for Mass Effect 1? REALLY?

 

[Sp3ratus]

I have maybe 7 or 8 "region 1" PS3 games, yet I live in Denmark and my PS3 can play them with no problems. I've only really had trouble with one game, NBA Street Ballers, I think it was, with it showing in grey and white instead of colours. Besides that, no problems at all with anything.

EDIT: Some current estimates suggest 70% of available [movie] Blu-ray Discs from the major studios are region-code-free and can therefore be played on any Blu-ray Disc player, in any region.

Above is from the wiki entry regarding Blu-ray. It might apply to games as well and might explain why most games can be played, regardless of location.