By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
potato_hamster said:
AsGryffynn said:

They must be aware that's a lie when you could actually do this with the third PS and MS allows you to do it. No, no company they deal with has any requirement to do so either...  I think we all agreed it was just a cash grab to force people to buy more memory sticks for the hideously overcomplicated console... 

I'm not trying to argue whether region locking is necessary, or whether it's a legal requirement. Clearly it isn't as evidenced by the PS3, and Microsoft consoles, as you pointed out. Region locking shouldn't exist, and it blatantly anti-consumer.

But it does exist on the PS1. What that might mean is that whatever agreement was signed between Sony, Publishers, and Retail channels might dictate that Sony must follow the rules that have been set out of region locking when dealing with PS1 games in perpetuity. That could mean that any device created by Sony that plays PS1 games must follow the region locking rules, and any store front that sells PS1 titles, like the PS store, must follow the region locking rules as well.

I'm not saying this is the case, but it might mean that while they're clearly capable, Sony is prevented from making a device that plays PS1 games from all regions. Considering the PS2, PS3 and PSV all respect the region locking rules for PS1 games, it isn't ridicious to think this is a solid possibility.

It makes sense for the PSOne because some games just wouldn't run on NTSC or PAL TV sets and because back then, there were issues with how the games were built, both of which went away not long afterwards when the PSX was changed into the PSOne. Still, at least for current gen games, which might have issues if someone moves to another country and then tries to run them, they should allow region changes, especially since the problem isn't the game, but your account. It's tied to a country rather than allowing for it to move.