???? I can assure you I have traveled a lot in Europe (Paris/Madrid/Stockholm/Trondheim/Oslo/Amsterdam/Budapest/Prague ... just out of my head)

And the only countries where I had to ask more than 2 people to find someone who understands English was Spain (NOBODY speaks English in Spain)

I mean I would have understood it if you would have said France where people sometimes pretend that they do not understand English (yes they are a bit annoying but pretty cool if you get to know them) but Scandinavia?

I was in Stockholm a couple months ago and EVERYONE speaks English there. I mean come on most TV channels were in English often even without subtitles. So I do not know where you have been in Sweden but I cannot support your statement.

Blame the people in germany,spain,italy,france beacuse game companies always has to translate every single game from english.

And europe is the dumping place for everything old like 40 GB PS3 or sixaxxis controlers.

Kyros said: I recon you don't travel a lot. ... Even in norway and sweden, many people, (i would recon like 50/50) ???? I can assure you I have traveled a lot in Europe (Paris/Madrid/Stockholm/Trondheim/Oslo/Amsterdam/Budapest/Prague ... just out of my head) And the only countries where I had to ask more than 2 people to find someone who understands English was Spain (NOBODY speaks English in Spain) I mean I would have understood it if you would have said France where people sometimes pretend that they do not understand English (yes they are a bit annoying but pretty cool if you get to know them) but Scandinavia? I was in Stockholm a couple months ago and EVERYONE speaks English there. I mean come on most TV channels were in English often even without subtitles. So I do not know where you have been in Sweden but I cannot support your statement.

We swedes start learing english in 3rd grade, 90% of everything on Tv is in English, I have seen maybe 3 games that have been translated to swedish.

 

The only people I can think of not being so good in english is 60+ old people and majority of the immigrants coming here.

 

Kyros said: But they have a huge influence on the European economy. 15 years ago Great Britain was a pretty sad affair and economically a disaster. It is true that they have had an amazing run the last 1,5 decades and are now an economy that is slightly bigger than France,Italy second only to the larger Germany. But that's all. They are one of the 4 big countries and 1/6-1/7 of the population. I do not see a special bigger influence. IMO their stronger ties with the US make their influence on Europe lower not higher (because they are not as interconnected) As to why the UK doesn't have the metric system ... because they didn't want to. Its as easy as that.

 

 It's well known that the UK doesn't want to use the metric system, but that didn't stop the guys over in Brussels from trying to force us to use it. In the end, when they stopped, they used our links with the US as the reason. Whether or not it is true, or the EU just didn't want to admit that they have given up is another argument.

Kyros said: I recon you don't travel a lot. ... Even in norway and sweden, many people, (i would recon like 50/50) ???? I can assure you I have traveled a lot in Europe (Paris/Madrid/Stockholm/Trondheim/Oslo/Amsterdam/Budapest/Prague ... just out of my head) And the only countries where I had to ask more than 2 people to find someone who understands English was Spain (NOBODY speaks English in Spain) I mean I would have understood it if you would have said France where people sometimes pretend that they do not understand English (yes they are a bit annoying but pretty cool if you get to know them) but Scandinavia? I was in Stockholm a couple months ago and EVERYONE speaks English there. I mean come on most TV channels were in English often even without subtitles. So I do not know where you have been in Sweden but I cannot support your statement.

 

 I was in Oslo and Stockholm this year and, regarding what you're saying there's only 3 possibilities:

1- You are wrong
2- You are correct and i'm an unlucky prick who got to cross paths with the only 100 or so people who dont speak english in sweden and norway.
3- We're both partially correct, but you missed my point that speaking is equal to sustain conversation, not saying a couple of phrases you hear on TV.

Here in Portugal almost every series is in english but most of the portuguese only know how to say "hello. how do you do?". Add something of mild dificulty to the mix and that's enough to put them staring at you. Except in algarve i recon, since there's almost the same ammount of english speaking people than portuguese speaking this time of the year.

I see what Reeves is saying, but I don't agree. I'd rather go through the trials and tribulations of 'ironing out the quirks' than wait 6 months for something. Sony normally doesn't have a whole lot of problems, so I'd rather be glitched for a week or two and it be fixed than wait 6 months, like I said.

We could just put up some shades around Europe and just not tell them when everyone else gets stuff..then they won't know the difference and everything will be perfect when they do get it! Yeah..maybe not..

Simple answer there products get taxed way heavier in Europe than in the U.S. and they earn more selling on the yen than anywhere else. Taxes are the reason Sony push their consoles as computers cuz computers ares taxed less than gaming products.

The language barrier is also a bitch.

I feel for my fellow Eu gamers. If it makes you feel any better Canada doesnt have a video store either.

Kyros said: SCEE sucks so bad. Now they are proud of being the idiots of the three regions. AMAZING.

 

But...but...they are making Little Big Planet :(

Its all the lauangauges barriers that cause Game delays ( Final Fantasy any1). Anyway stop bitching about it, its not like we can do anything about it.

Krill said: DeotoxSlayer said: Wow, Reeves is a real idiot. Sony isn't in last place in Europe, Microsoft is. The guy really doesnt pay attention does he >.>   He's not talking about being in last place in terms of console sales. You need to read the post before replying. I do find Reeves comments very patronising though. Saying that there is a benefit to getting products last because all the problems will have been ironed out is bull. Does he really think Sony's European customers are so stupid that they will swallow that?

Well, sometimes it can be good.  The PS3 seems to be getting some Xbox 360 games quite a bit later but with updates.  Some console games like GTA4 go to PC later but are much better because of it.  GTA4 is expected to be much better on PC (especially when compared to the gimped Xbox 360 version).  Wii got the #1 football game in the world late and it was the best version.  Of course, it didn't turn out too well for Wii gamers when Rockband game out last on Wii :)

I guess there are just various factors to consider and you have to weigh them on how important they are to you on a game by game basis.  America got Wii Love Golf months after Japan but it had online play and other impovements, so I'd call that a win.