XBone - Region Locked Console?

[ResonanceSD]

?Similar to the movie and music industry, games must meet country-specific regulatory guidelines before they are cleared for sale,? said the Microsoft representative. ?We will continue to work with our partners to follow these guidelines with Xbox One.?


http://au.ign.com/articles/2013/05/28/xbox-one-to-be-region-locked

ok seriously Microsoft, do you want to sell any of these at all? Who do statements like this one help? It sure as hell isn't you. I thought Sony were going to have a tough time after the disaster that is their handheld offering, but APPARENTLY NOT.


And yes, they kinda already are with the PAL/NTSC pissing around that we have, but if Aussie XBones are hit with the usual "Region 4" bullshit, they'll struggle to sell them here.


Captcha: and that's the way it is

^wtf

 

[FalloutJack]

I know that Microsoft is essentially high and hamfisted from years of being incredibly rich, but this is a level of professional suicide that can't even explain THAT.

 

[ResonanceSD]

I know that Microsoft is essentially high and hamfisted from years of being incredibly rich, but this is a level of professional suicide that can't even explain THAT.

I think they've caught something off EA that causes Stupid Business Decisions.

 

[LetalisK]

I don't get what the issue is with this decision. I don't get why they're doing it, but I also don't get why it's a big deal.

 

[J Tyran]

So if this is down to the legislation in individual countries why is the PS3 region free?

 

[Hazy992]

I don't get what the issue is with this decision. I don't get why they're doing it, but I also don't get why it's a big deal.

its not that big of a deal all on its own, it's just the cherry on the shit sundae of everything else wrong with this console.

Besides if publishers released games in every region and within reasonable times of each other this wouldn't be an issue. Ragnarok Odyssey is really damn rare over here but it's ok cause I can just buy the US version as the Vita doesn't have region encoding. My only other option is PSN which would mean forking out for another overpriced memory card, and I'm not gonna do it. I wouldn't have this option on the Xbone.

 

[Rednog]

The 360 wasn't region free...so why is this a problem? So it's a problem now because let's pile on the "Xbone" wagon?
Seriously if the 360 was region free and now the Xbox One wasn't there would be grounds for complaining, but you really shouldn't be surprised when it follows the previous system. I swear the gaming community sometimes wants to give me a concussion by how hard I roll my eyes.
It's like when people criticized Assassin's Creed 3 for being a game about assassins and for some reason it wasn't stealth oriented.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Really?

I mean, I know many people here are looking for a reason to bash Microsoft at pretty much any opportunity, but this is ridiculous. The 360 was region-locked as well but nobody gave a shit about that.

 

[Zeckt]

After all the product failures I've had with microsoft, I'll be dancing on their grave and party at every nail put in the coffin.

 

[Nuxxy]

The article is from the Australian version of IGN. If you're asking "Why is this an issue?", then you obviously live in Region 1 (US & Canada), and for you it won't be an issue. Try living in South Africa (Region 2), or worse, Australia (Region 4). You get games and DVDs only if and when suppliers decide to stock them. Often times weeks late, sometimes months. You can't just "go to Amazon.com and order it", because it won't work on you region locked system. It's not like the code won't work on your system. It's simply a little control byte for distributors to give you the finger because they can.

It's the same when it comes to piracy. Sometimes it's not because you are a cheap bastard. Sometimes it's that is the only way for you to get the product - there are no legal channels in your country. Welcome to living in the almost-but-not-quite-first-world.

 

[Starik20X6]

[sub]Meanwhile, at Microsoft's Xbox division...[/sub]​

The 360 wasn't region free...so why is this a problem? So it's a problem now because let's pile on the "Xbone" wagon?
Seriously if the 360 was region free and now the Xbox One wasn't there would be grounds for complaining, but you really shouldn't be surprised when it follows the previous system. I swear the gaming community sometimes wants to give me a concussion by how hard I roll my eyes.
It's like when people criticized Assassin's Creed 3 for being a game about assassins and for some reason it wasn't stealth oriented.

Really?

I mean, I know many people here are looking for a reason to bash Microsoft at pretty much any opportunity, but this is ridiculous. The 360 was region-locked as well but nobody gave a shit about that.

You obviously have no idea what it's like to be a gamer in Australia. See, we get games... whenever the publisher decides to release it here. It's not uncommon for games to be released here months after their international release date. This is of course, assuming they decide to release the game here at all. Keep in mind that a new release game runs for about $100 here, so region locking kills the only route around this jaw-dropping act of "because we can" price gouging and "you're not a worthwhile customer" kind of phenomenal disrespect. Yes, the previous Xbox was also region locked, and literally everybody I speak to has a problem with it, but in this case it's just another nail in the coffin, a nail that hits very close to home for us living down under. It's the icing on this turd-cake they're calling a console, and the icing is made of arsenic.

 

[SSJBlastoise]

You obviously have no idea what it's like to be a gamer in Australia. See, we get games... whenever the publisher decides to release it here. It's not uncommon for games to be released here months after their international release date. This is of course, assuming they decide to release the game here at all. Keep in mind that a new release game runs for about $100 here, so region locking kills the only route around this jaw-dropping act of "because we can" price gouging and "you're not a worthwhile customer" kind of phenomenal disrespect. Yes, the previous Xbox was also region locked, and literally everybody I speak to has a problem with it, but in this case it's just another nail in the coffin, a nail that hits very close to home for us living down under. It's the icing on this turd-cake they're calling a console, and the icing is made of arsenic.

C'mon on man, Most of this was relevant years ago but now it's not as big an issue. I'm an Australian and the only game I can think of that came out later than the rest of the world was Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Gates to Infinity, other than that all bigger games are release at the same time around the world.

Then the not even getting games part, the only games that weren't released here were the ones that were refused classification and if others weren't release they probably weren't released in many other places.

Now, game prices, sure, they can be $100 if you only look at certain places. If you look around you can get them from around $79. It's called shopping smarter and if it's not available for less than $100 then it's not that hard to wait or the price to drop.

I really don't see how this is a big deal when it's already been done and will most likely continue to be done for awhile.

 

[Rednog]

You obviously have no idea what it's like to be a gamer in Australia. See, we get games... whenever the publisher decides to release it here. It's not uncommon for games to be released here months after their international release date. This is of course, assuming they decide to release the game here at all.

You're right as a PC gamer I have absolutely no idea what that's like...

Keep in mind that a new release game runs for about $100 here, so region locking kills the only route around this jaw-dropping act of "because we can" price gouging and "you're not a worthwhile customer" kind of phenomenal disrespect.

So I have to ask a very simple question here: so what?
Now give it a minute or two and then give me an answer.

Maybe I should clarify it a bit. What's the point you're trying to make here. What does it mean to me or anyone else when you compare the cost of games in one country to the cost of games in another country? Maybe you're trying to point out that the prices should be the same...why? Do people in the countries make the same amount of money, is everything else priced exactly the same and video games are the sole offender? Sadly no, they aren't, everything in your country costs more when compared to those villains in America. You definitely shouldn't stand for this anymore; housing, food, clothing, and even water cost you more! Why are you not taking to the streets over this kind of atrocity; why are the Australians of the world not taking to the internet and telling the world of their plight?!

Trust me, as an American I understand what it means to get price gouged for games. I have to pay a whole $60 dollars for games when there are places like Russia who get games for only $20!

 

[Starik20X6]

-snip-

-snip-

You are correct, I suppose I'm just frustrated when I see people pretending region locking doesn't matter because it doesn't affect them in any tangible way.

For example, I was recently holidaying in New York, and while I was there I visited the Nintendo store. I walked over to the games section, and could only stand there crying inside when I saw Adventure Time on 3DS sitting there on the shelf for $30, brand new. A game I had been desperate to buy, was never localised for Australia (heck, as far as I know it wasn't released anywhere outside the states) and there it was at half the price I'd have had to pay... But, due to region locking, I couldn't buy it. This is why I don't understand the rationale of region locks. I wanted to give them my money, but it feels like they actively don't want me to have the game. Don't want to release the game here locally? That's ok, it's inconvenient but I'll import it. But when you're actively trying to prevent me from playing a game? What the hell kind of business decision is that?

 

[Morsomk_v1legacy]

I am noticing that all we are getting is bad news, bring on some good news!

[sub]Is there any good news?[/sub]

I.....don't think there are going to be any good news...sorry pal.

...You want me to get you a fish? Seriously though, I could like swim into the water and get one for you?


THREAD MODE ON!

Well that is not going to help them with all the bad press that they got after the conference. Region lock is not fun, seriously.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

I don't get what the issue is with this decision. I don't get why they're doing it, but I also don't get why it's a big deal.

Basically from what I've heard about Australian game release times, most people just buy abroad and ship in. That won't be possible any more, because it will also mean with any online purchasing you must take into account the region restrictions of the game you are buying/selling: I can't buy or sell off anyone in America/Australia/Asia etc. because I live in Europe and they can't buy off me because of the same reason.

In other words it's another in built feature to combat the dreaded final boss of publishing companies: USED GAME SALES!

 

[ResonanceSD]

I was hoping that after region locking the 360, they might have a heart and make the Xbone region free, well too bad...

Just one more reason to not want one.

I am noticing that all we are getting is bad news, bring on some good news!

[sub]Is there any good news?[/sub]

The good news is that PCs are awesome, and due to Steam Big picture, also do everything that a console can.

Now, game prices, sure, they can be $100 if you only look at certain places. If you look around you can get them from around $79. It's called shopping smarter and if it's not available for less than $100 then it's not that hard to wait or the price to drop.

I really don't see how this is a big deal when it's already been done and will most likely continue to be done for awhile.

Modern Warfare on Steam Australia - $49


Modern Warfare on Steam America - $19


Modern Warfare 2 on Steam Australia - $89.99

Modern Warfare 2 on Steam America - $19.99

 

[MrWunderful]

Outside of the Playstation systems, has a region free console/hand-held been released?

Playstation one and 2 were region locked. Only the playstation 3 had region free games.

The original game boy and nintendo DS were region free. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_lockout

Btw, It is up to the publisher to decide if a game is region free or not IIRC.

There is a really good chance PS4 will be region locked too.

 

[SSJBlastoise]

I was hoping that after region locking the 360, they might have a heart and make the Xbone region free, well too bad...

Just one more reason to not want one.

I am noticing that all we are getting is bad news, bring on some good news!

[sub]Is there any good news?[/sub]

The good news is that PCs are awesome, and due to Steam Big picture, also do everything that a console can.

Now, game prices, sure, they can be $100 if you only look at certain places. If you look around you can get them from around $79. It's called shopping smarter and if it's not available for less than $100 then it's not that hard to wait or the price to drop.

I really don't see how this is a big deal when it's already been done and will most likely continue to be done for awhile.

Modern Warfare on Steam Australia - $49


Modern Warfare on Steam America - $19


Modern Warfare 2 on Steam Australia - $89.99

Modern Warfare 2 on Steam America - $19.99

I find a wonderful bit or irony in this post. We know you love PC gaming and dont get why people like consoles but both of those games can be bought for the American price on console (second hand) which kind of undoes your argument about PCs being so much better.

Then there is also the fact that we were mainly talking about consoles but whatever. Sure it is a bit more expensive here but as in another thread about the discrepancies someone brought up that minimum wages here are much higher than in the US which is a reason why things are a bit more expensive here. It's not just games but whenever I watch the NBA I see stuff advertised for KFC and other fast food places that are a whole lot cheaper than here and I believe the higher minimum wage has some importance in this.

 

[ResonanceSD]

I find a wonderful bit or irony in this post. We know you love PC gaming and dont get why people like consoles but both of those games can be bought for the American price on console (second hand) which kind of undoes your argument about PCs being so much better.

Then there is also the fact that we were mainly talking about consoles but whatever. Sure it is a bit more expensive here but as in another thread about the discrepancies someone brought up that minimum wages here are much higher than in the US which is a reason why things are a bit more expensive here. It's not just games but whenever I watch the NBA I see stuff advertised for KFC and other fast food places that are a whole lot cheaper than here and I believe the higher minimum wage has some importance in this.

My point was that most game prices in Australia are distorted far more than simple wage disparity (hey America, try paying people more than minimum wage for more than one day and watch your entire country collapse).

However, in terms of PC gaming being superior, as it is, let's talk about GoG, Impulse, Steam Sales, The Humble Bundle, and any number of indie developers who wouldn't even exist if it weren't for the PC's ease of access for developers as well as consumers. Somehow two shitty games from Activision aren't quite enough to make up for all the deficiencies we see in console gaming.


Oh, and ***** please.