European and want a PS3 before christmas?

Akileese · 10-23-2006, 03:59 PM

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6160339.html

nice fucking try. When Sony sued Lik-Sang, they blocked the right for ALL companies to sell American/Japanese consoles/handhelds made by Sony to europe. PS2, PSP, PS1, PS3. Europe is usually the last to get it and this situation is one out of desperation by Sony to try and scalp as much money as they possibly can out of the european market.

This decision honestly sets a very bad precident because now Microsoft and Nintendo can do the very same thing (and probably will). The bad part about this is that the european gaming industry tends to block the sale of games in Europe. Gears of War for one, GTA, and Bully, pretty much anything with a good amount of violence in it gets left "unrated" aka , pretty much unavailable in stores. Most people I know buy an American console (360 specifically) so they can import shit that germany or w/e would most likely ban because they deem it "too violent". Euros have to go through a lot more trouble now to get a PS3 and get your hands on a slew of games that will probably get left unrated and not get sold over there.

I feel for you guys. On a side note, I'm interested to see how this will effect Ebay as that could really be the only way to get one now with Sony going apeshit on any company trying to sell the shit to europeans. I would imagine since Ebay is easily complying with them on gouging customers (not selling systems for over $1000) that they'll be more than willing to bend over and let Sony fuck them on this one too.

Soriak · 10-23-2006, 05:01 PM

Times like this is when I'm glad Switzerland isn't part of the european union... actually, I'm always glad

Though I've decided not to import it for now - see how buggy the release is. Maybe I'll try and get one in january so I can watch US BluRay movies and not get screwed eventually with region coded games.

Dom Devore · 10-23-2006, 05:28 PM

I'm not a big console system buff, so could somebody tell me what motivations Sony would have with not wanting systems available before Xmas in Europe?

Sean · 10-23-2006, 05:59 PM

Man, Sony really is a bunch of evil bastards. If their systems didn't have more games I wanted than anyone else I would boycott the shit out of them for things like this. It's really too bad they have such an unbreakable iron grip on the RPG developers.

Akileese · 10-23-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom Devore

I'm not a big console system buff, so could somebody tell me what motivations Sony would have with not wanting systems available before Xmas in Europe?

It's basically the same as breaking a street date. By allowing them to import the systems from a different region, they're losing money in their euro sales (mainly because theyre more expensive there). Sony will lose profit.

Remember, Sony is also a movie company. They'll lose money off blu ray sales too because they'll be importing the moives, the games, etc. They just lose money because of it. But going s far as to get a fucking court order to block the sale is outrageous.

Kevincheese · 10-23-2006, 07:16 PM

Sony can go fuck themselves.

Zefah · 10-23-2006, 07:17 PM

That really sucks for you guys in the EU. However, I assume it will be much easier to acquire import software than it will be the hardware. Considering Sony is forcing every game to be region free on their system it shouldn't be too difficult to obtain games banned in the EU if you know where to look.

I am really happy that "region-free" is a big theme for games in this console generation. I always hated having to mod my Playstation to play American games or vice versa for Japanese games.

I did notice that Microsoft doesn't force games to be region-free, though. For example I haven't seen a single North American or European game that is region locked, but every single Japanese game I have seen IS region locked. Considering how poorly the system is selling in Japan you think it would be the other way around. Oh well, I'm happy because I own a Japanese Xbox which allows me to play all regions.

Dom Devore · 10-23-2006, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akileese

It's basically the same as breaking a street date. By allowing them to import the systems from a different region, they're losing money in their euro sales (mainly because theyre more expensive there). Sony will lose profit.

Remember, Sony is also a movie company. They'll lose money off blu ray sales too because they'll be importing the moives, the games, etc. They just lose money because of it. But going s far as to get a fucking court order to block the sale is outrageous.

I understand why they don't want another company importing systems into a region, what I meant was why does Sony seems like they are simply choosing to not have systems available in Europe at the same time as other regions.

Cor · 10-24-2006, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom Devore

I understand why they don't want another company importing systems into a region, what I meant was why does Sony seems like they are simply choosing to not have systems available in Europe at the same time as other regions.

Because we don't mind waiting apparently.

Cadrid · 10-24-2006, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cor

Because we don't mind waiting apparently.

Then maybe Eurofolk should stop buying Sony consoles for a generation or two and make it clear that you do mind getting jerked around by these schmucks.

Soygen · 10-24-2006, 09:05 AM

Looks like Sony put Lik-sang out of business. Lame.

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl.../10/24/1453233

Soriak · 10-24-2006, 10:25 AM

I imagine part of late releases for europe is that they have to worry about more than one safety standard. What may be acceptable in Germany may not work in the UK. At least that's how it's been in the past - the EU has been doing a decent job at harmonizing regulations. I imagine this won't be a problem much longer.

Zefah · 10-24-2006, 10:42 AM

Wow this move put Lik-Sang out of business? They were like a huge import site that didn't just deal in video games right? The only import websites I know of are Lik-Sang and Play-Asia. I can't see how not selling Sony products to the EU would put Lik-Sang out of business alone, but there are probably a lot of other factors involved.

Soygen · 10-24-2006, 10:45 AM

Maybe they blew their money on legal counsel and that put them out. But yeah, I agree that there must be something more than just "not importing to Europe".

RiskyChris · 10-24-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soygen

Looks like Sony put Lik-sang out of business. Lame.

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl.../10/24/1453233

Fucking bullshit. This pisses me off more than anything Sony's done in years (including trojan horse blu-ray), because it directly affects the gaming community. There are thousands of people around the world who rely on Lik-Sang.

10-23-2006, 05:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sean Fires of Heaven Officer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Washington Posts: 5,151 +17 Internets	Man, Sony really is a bunch of evil bastards. If their systems didn't have more games I wanted than anyone else I would boycott the shit out of them for things like this. It's really too bad they have such an unbreakable iron grip on the RPG developers. __________________

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10-23-2006, 05:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Soriak Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 4,751 +29 Internets	Times like this is when I'm glad Switzerland isn't part of the european union... actually, I'm always glad Though I've decided not to import it for now - see how buggy the release is. Maybe I'll try and get one in january so I can watch US BluRay movies and not get screwed eventually with region coded games.

10-23-2006, 05:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dom Devore Happy Trees! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Midkemia Posts: 585	I'm not a big console system buff, so could somebody tell me what motivations Sony would have with not wanting systems available before Xmas in Europe?

10-23-2006, 07:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Zefah Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Kanagawa, Japan Posts: 1,472 +0 Internets	That really sucks for you guys in the EU. However, I assume it will be much easier to acquire import software than it will be the hardware. Considering Sony is forcing every game to be region free on their system it shouldn't be too difficult to obtain games banned in the EU if you know where to look. I am really happy that "region-free" is a big theme for games in this console generation. I always hated having to mod my Playstation to play American games or vice versa for Japanese games. I did notice that Microsoft doesn't force games to be region-free, though. For example I haven't seen a single North American or European game that is region locked, but every single Japanese game I have seen IS region locked. Considering how poorly the system is selling in Japan you think it would be the other way around. Oh well, I'm happy because I own a Japanese Xbox which allows me to play all regions.

10-24-2006, 09:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
Soygen 100% Pure Soy Monk Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 6,238 +23 Internets	Looks like Sony put Lik-sang out of business. Lame. http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl.../10/24/1453233

10-24-2006, 10:25 AM	#12 (permalink)
Soriak Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 4,751 +29 Internets	I imagine part of late releases for europe is that they have to worry about more than one safety standard. What may be acceptable in Germany may not work in the UK. At least that's how it's been in the past - the EU has been doing a decent job at harmonizing regulations. I imagine this won't be a problem much longer.

10-24-2006, 10:42 AM	#13 (permalink)
Zefah Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Kanagawa, Japan Posts: 1,472 +0 Internets	Wow this move put Lik-Sang out of business? They were like a huge import site that didn't just deal in video games right? The only import websites I know of are Lik-Sang and Play-Asia. I can't see how not selling Sony products to the EU would put Lik-Sang out of business alone, but there are probably a lot of other factors involved.

10-24-2006, 10:45 AM	#14 (permalink)
Soygen 100% Pure Soy Monk Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 6,238 +23 Internets	Maybe they blew their money on legal counsel and that put them out. But yeah, I agree that there must be something more than just "not importing to Europe".