Topic: Why can't all games be in the same format?

[dragontamer272]

You know, if you have or want to buy games from Japan and Europe... A.K.A "Imports", they're not in the same format as North America. Even the opposite, if people in Europe and/or Japan wants to buy American games, they're not in their formats.

For example, I wanted to buy "Probotector", a censored European version of "Contra Hard Corps", but however it cannot be played on my NA Sega Genesis, since Probotector is Mega Drive and is in the PAL format.

Not just games, but DVDs is another problem, if I wanted to travel out of the US to Japan or Europe or whatever, and I wanted to take a movie with me... it won't work because of the Regional Lockout System.

Which just goes to show, why can't everything be in the same format?

[Rad Lionheart]

Because different regions use different power supplies, and sources.

[Tickle Buffalo]

Get a DS or a PS3 or something I guess.

[Mirby]

Region-free is win.

[Bag of Magic Food]

They don't want you subverting their global distribution method!

[Harruhy]

It's a conspiracy.

[Ike-Mike]

The regional divisions need to be funded too.

[Hiryu]

I think it could help prevent piracy, but it's really an outdated and uneffective concept if it were used for that purpose.

[Rad Lionheart]

I think it could help prevent piracy, but it's really an outdated and ineffective concept if it were used for that purpose.

Fixed.

[Hypershell]

Ask a PR rep and they'll tell you that region-locking helps them guarantee quality, culturally-appropriate content.

But I'd say the truth is closer to Bag of Magic Food's post.  Imported games are not found easily, and often the individual doesn't give a damn about their region's sense of political correctness.  To warn is one thing, but to forbid outright?  It's senseless.  It only serves to antagonize the consumer and encourage console hacking.

That is one thing I miss about Nintendo's cartridges; their region-lock was a piece of plastic.  Very easy, and unquestionably lawful, to hack.

[ಠ_ಠ]

Because different regions use different power supplies, and sources.

Not quite. Yes Japan uses 100V and America uses 120V, but fixing that is as simple as changing the power supply a little bit, and most systems now days use universal power supplies that accept from 100V all up to 240V. But either way, with the exception of the power supply, the circuits each region's system are more-less the same. Video is a little bit different. For SD video (single yellow plug, 4 pin din, and RF aka "channel 3 or 4") Japan and America both use NTSC and Europe uses PAL. For HD I think all the video standards are the same across the regions. Now even though the video standards for SD are different, they are close enough that NTSC systems are capable of putting out a PAL signal and visa-versa, the issue is that the TV wouldn't display the image properly.

[Hypershell]

Power = why a system shouldn't be plugged into an out-of-region outlet, NOT why a system shouldn't be playing an out-of-region game.  Nobody in their right mind designed a console that supplies 100V of electricity into a cartridge; and obviously it's irrelevant for optical media.

[DjKlzonez]

It's like asking ''Why can't everyone talk in english?''

[Hypershell]

......you completely missed the point.  He's talking about region-locking, not varying platforms/programs/what-have-you.

IE: You buy Namco X Capcom and cannot play it on an American PS2.

[Bag of Magic Food]

Restrictive intellectual property laws mean you should never be allowed to play the wrong game version for your region!