@khdownes: aha good call man, hadn't thought of that. makes sense, even though games are censored in other countries, R* are well aware of the press they'd receive.

nolifedopestar (PSN: noliferuin)

@in5ane: I will shit a kitten if the PS3 version will have some stuff censored because its playing on my J PS3.

Witzbold

Can anyone give me confirmation that the Euro version will definitely work in Australia?

Phazon

They had to region lock it 'cos of the different censored versions around the world. Sony have a different approach to that (detect region, use code for that region if available on disc).

However, all this launch business is stupid and I hate Take Two for it. Why does it have to be simultaneously world wide, on a Tuesday (Friday is norm for here), with such heavy embargos and retailers running scared of being accused of shipping early. It's just a freaking game.

Yes, I'm bitter because my mail order copy has not turned up this morning.

in5ane

I stopped importing when the next-gen (well, current gen) systems were released. I remember importing DBZ Ultimate Battle and having to do the soldering trick with my PS1. I've never tried importing systems because it could be a hassle, IMO.

Sigma-D

Sorry all, I can see how the headline would cause heart-attacks. Edited for your well-being :)

Luke Plunkett

The Asian version for GTAIV is the same as the European PAL version, which retails here in Malaysia for about RM170 (USD54). How much more expensive is the PAL version?

FatCatLim

@khdownes:

They probably just region locked it because Take-Two region lock many of their games (e.g. Bully, The BIGS and MLB 2K8 are some that I can spot on the Play Asia list).

Marlor

here's what i've noticed in my last year of importing (i own a Japanese 360 and live in a PAL region) EA region lock all their games, no exceptions (Orange box was region free but they only distributed it, not published) Take two normally doesn't (Bioshock & the Darkness were region free) but all 3 rockstar games(and i think the sports games) on the 360 had some kind of region locking (table tennis allowed PAL and US versions to cross but not with the Asian version) All of MS studio games except Forza 2 are region free. Activision and Ubisoft games are all region Free bar none. Capcom only region locks the Japanese versions of their games. Tecmo is pretty inconsistent. Codemasters games are almost always region free (except Cricket i think).

that's about it. I'm hoping to get a PS3 eventually it'll make buying games a lot simpler, though i'll probably still import...$100NZD + a game is too much

luigilogik

@Passa:

Dude I bought the UK version for $60 on eBay. So the UK version will definitely work in Australia though? It better or I'm going to be royally pissed off.

Phazon

Change the headline man. Weaker gamers might suffer a slight heart attack.

Furu

Is it possible the reason they chose to region lock this, is the fact that they could fall under legal trouble if people were easily able to get their hands on the uncensored version in a country where it banned?

khdownes

@Marlor: Ah, misread the initial report. Only one other major game. :D

My friend has it working on his PS3 imported, America to Australia, for AU$80 including express shipping which got here technically before the game was released in America... and therefore got the un-edited version... for $40 or 33% off. Hooray!

Aprocalypse

wow that scared the crap out of me i was like a region locked ps3 game? what?!

Raziel Dune

@Vicious-chan: I hadn't heard about that. I'm not a religious man, but maybe I'll talk soothingly to my PS3 when I start the game up, give it a tender stroke or two.

Once I ordered a Futurama DVD set and it arrived with two Disc 4s and no Disc 3, and when I called Amazon they shipped a new set overnight for free and didn't even make me ship the old one back (since I'm in Japan). Hope they'll be as cool if the GTA4 disc is fucked, but I doubt it...

erlik

Put 360 in the headline for God's sake!

commanderdeek

@Maverick_FxOne: Though the PS3 has a region-free stance, it sure seems developers can still region lock if they want. e.g., [kotaku.com]

munchausen

@g8or8de: Go away.. please. The link between your comment and the article is tenuous at best (.. they're both about video games?)

Anyway, not a surprise, Take-Two have region locked all their 360 releases so far. I'm a bit disappointed though that they wouldn't leave it unlocked in light of the different versions of the game (AU/NZ cut version).

We can still import the UK version (not that I will, I'll be exploiting Big W's $78 price and EB's $110 trade in value for the game, muahahaha).

Also Luke, I wouldn't say almost every major release, since every single EA release is region locked.

Passa

@Vicious-chan:
Read something about freezes but it also affects several X360 owners, maybe it's a bug!?

Garo

Holy fuckshit! PS3 owners that are importing literally crapped their pants because of that headline.

You should have included 360 there, somewhere!

*weak hearted bastard*

Itchy (PSN: Kaizoku-ou)

@Aprocalypse:

Definitely more than one other game:
[www.play-asia.com]

Marlor

@Aprocalypse:
Yeah, it's news to me. I always assumed that region locking was a decision left to the developers.

Whatever though, I've never once even considered importing a game so I'm not too ashamed of my ignorance on the matter.

StevenRafael

go go fanboy comments !

sexyj

Things are looking better for the PS3.

g8or8de

@Maverick_FxOne: Well, basically, XBox Games don't either.... apart from a total of one other game. :P

Aprocalypse

Given that the game is getting a virtually simultaneous worldwide release the region locking is less of a problem than normal (although it is a bitch if you happen to be overseas and want to get your game on the cheap or want an uncensored version). It's mainly where games from Nintendo or Konami would take 6-12 months to get to PAL regions that being unable to import becomes a problem (for me at least).

Plus, the region locking prevented quite a few people from playing the pirated PAL release of GTAIV (although it didn't take long for the US version to surface too).

photoboy

@erlik:

You want something scary? GTA IV PS3 is having problems on certain PS3 units. Good luck getting through the first cutscene, my friend.

I will be praying so hard once my copy GTA IV starts installing. Oh will I be praying.

Vicious-chan

@StevenRafael: PS3 games doesn't have Region locks

Maverick_FxOne

*Whew*

Headline freaked me out! My US PS3 copy is winging its way to me as I type this.

Couldn't you have put "360" somewhere in the headline? Think of the children! Or the man-children! Or me!

erlik

Australians can buy european version, the same for people in Japan (euro version is compatible with asian 360s).

k!dman

That fucking headline made my heart skip a beat, seriously. Thank God for my Japanese PS3.

Now if only I can assure myself that it wont lock-up like all the reports are saying.

Vicious-chan

Strange. I wonder why it's just the Xbox 360 version and not the PS3 version as well.

StevenRafael

@Phazon:
Well I'm not sure how it'd work with Australian price gouging, also don't know if you guys have to pay customs tax or not. Importing from America or Japan in the UK though won't likely save you any money though unless you have a supplier willing to mark your package as a gift to slip it past customs. This can be trouble for people on both ends though and it's not exaclty legal so it's pretty tricky. Any UK stores that do imports usually apply a markup on it as well so you actually end up paying a little more (but you can get the title early). I ended up paying £35 odd for import DS titles that would retail at £30 when they were released here.

Odin

@Passa: Oh sweet relief. :D

Phazon

@SumDum_Guy:
I don't see anything inherently wrong with region locking per say. It's only wrong combined with the massive delays in localising a lot of titles, stupid censoring and titles that just never make it out of their home country (I'm looking at you Japan). If it wasn't for the former I couldn't care less about region locking, but it's those reasons that make region locking a problem.

Odin

@Odin: Actually it is worth it. I bought it from the UK on eBay and combined price with shipping is half the price it would cost me instore.

Phazon

@Phazon: Meh, after trading in my second copy, GTA IV will have cost me $50 AUD. I don't mind missing the dismemberment of limbs, guns being inserted into privates and imagery of Niko on top of a prostitute.

And yes, the UK PAL copy will work FINE on your AU PAL Xbox 360 :)

Passa

Here we go again with the region locking business. Really would like things to be region free/worry free. It really sucks for the 360 guys to go through this "research" song and dance over and over again through each individual title. Wish publishers/manufacturers/etc (AND ESPECIALLY NINTENDO) would get with it and do away with this region locking crap.

SumDum_Guy

Huh I actually thought all 360 games were region locked. This is news to me. Anyway it's not like importing it would make it any cheaper. Unless you have a supplier that's willing to mark packages as gifts so they can slip past customs you still end up paying tax on them. Add shipping on to that and it's usually not worth trying to import to save a few quid. Usually the only real reason to import over here is to skip delays or grab Japanese titles that are unlikely to get a western release.

Odin

@in5ane: I think a lot of the time the region locking is a business issue. For example, gta is released by capcom in japan, who doesn't do the same in the US. If the US version was readily working in japan, many japanese might not wait for the japanese version, and capcom (assuming they are the ones doing it) would waste their time localizing it as no one would buy it.

munchausen

@FatCatLim: Yeah I have an Australia PAL version and the game's UK PAL so I'd assume it would still work, but this article saying it has a total region lock has me worried. I only just bought a 360 and thought that the console was region locked to PAL games anyway.

Phazon

I just ordered a copy from Play Asia on PS3 for those reasons.

I've got the PSWii60 combo. I wanted to get 360 but the censorship made me go for importing on PS3 so Microsoft lost a sure fire sale because of region locking.

elevenoverzero

@Phazon: If you have a PAL console or an Asian console, it's likely to work. I have an Asian console, but my game says it's PAL version and it has PEGI game ratings on the manual.

FatCatLim

Doesn't affect me :3

I love world wide release dates.

Ryumeka

@Witzbold: Shit a kitten?
You know in Japan that's considered good porn?

Cruithne

@Passa: What the hell? I just stated a fact.

g8or8de

Damn, that means Yahtzee won't be able to go to GAMTRADERS ROBINA and snag an import copy of the game then. That makes me sad.

And it'll probably make Yahtzee furious, which should be funny, so I guess there is a silver lining to the story.

Salen

Lol.

KM91

no love for the Xbox

segamanxero

I hope no mastermind will develop the idea of locking games based on geographic region instead of your console region release.. I would be pretty much pissed.

Plsk1n

awesome pic ftw.

deathtastic

@Passa:

Thank you very much for the Big W tidbit. Thank you VERY much indeed.

RaptorShadow

I have a sudden urge to go to GAMETRADERS ROBINA. And I live in Canada.

>.>

SmilingPolitely

@Luke Plunkett: Ah, well, sorry to hear that you won't be able to play the import version then, Luke. At least they let folks know about that issue. Plus it gives me one more opportunity to say GAMETRADERS ROBINA just for the heck of it.

Salen

@Salen: nope. Actually got an email from GAMETRADERS ROBINA today, they were informing customers about this. Good kids.

Luke Plunkett

@thaKingRocka: It wont.

Because they locked bully they will lock GTA.

Bully was a game that needed to sell.

Just buy the asian version from playasia.

Witzbold

I hate, HATe, HATE region locking.

Anyway:
It automatically make fair game to mod consoles.

So guys, chip your consoles to be able to play the games you guys have pair for (the imported ones).

Tei

there's still no word on whether or not the US version will work on NTSC-J systems. i hate region locking with every fiber of my being. i would have picked the game up last night had it not been for the uncertainty of the region coding. i have a ps3, but the online just doesn't cut it, and everyone i know has a 360, so it's 360 version or bust for me. damn rockstar.

thaKingRocka

Thank god for PS3's region-freeness :) Oh well, I live in North America, so I don't need to import!

Albanian_Killa

@munchausen:
In some cases yes, but not always. Take a game like DMC4 for 360. Practically released in most regions at the same time, yet the Japanese version is the only one that's region-locked (same case with Lost Planet).

Region-locking on the 360 generally applies to Japanese releases (as other regions aren't as uptight in that regard). Some region publishers and devs just don't want their titles being played in more than one region (cultural differences in some regards).

Hell, the Japanese release of Operation Darkness is region-locked when it fully supports English subs.

beem

Rockstar should get along just fine with EA when the take over happens then. Once again glad I have a US 360.... well, I would be if CD Universe wasn't dragging their arse in shipping my copy, God Damn...

Demaar

Seems pretty obvious that this move is related to the music rights, especially when you consider the other game that still does it. It's probably a concession to one or more of the music publishers.

freshyill

I'm glad I live here in the States, though I can't help but feel for those people who live in Australia and New Zealand who can't import due to their stupid government.

Ashkihyena

Pictures mean a thousand words.

Go Team Venture

Wait, most 360 games have been region free? Why didn't anyone tell me? Does this mean I can import The Bigs to a PAL territory? And is there a list of region free games anywhere?

cdammers

@Odin: Nothing inherently wrong with region locking? It stops you from participating in a free world economy unless you deliberately work around it, which in a lot of places is illegal. It creates artificially segregated markets so they can exploit them differently and make piles of money. There is nothing inherently wrong from the perspective of a publisher, but as a consumer the concept is fundamentally wrong.

Personally, I refuse to buy something that's been censored, especially when the publisher isn't honest enough to come out and say definitively what they took out. I also don't think that the game, glowing review scores aside, is worth the stupid price that we're being asked to pay for the PAL release. Region locking it effectively prevents me paying what I feel is a fair price for it, so I'll choose not to own it at all. There's plenty of other things I can spend the money I'd put aside for the game on.

atomicstrawberry

Yeah. I was this close to preordering it but I checked online, elsewhere, and it turned out to be region locked.

Btw, you forgot to mention that the UAE and KSA are also lumped with Europe's PAL region. I've been calling for independence for years but no one listens. >.>

Shinryoma

I thought this news was already covered when you guys covered both the NTSC and PAL versions of the game being pirated? Both of those said which regions they would play in.

nox

It's potentially sales lost for European Take 2

mcool93

@Odin: Region locking is also a huge pain for people like me who live in a foreign country.

I live in Taiwan, but I can't read Japanese (the only language stuff comes out in over here). So unless I can import a US or EU version, I'm screwed.

So yes, region locking may not be much to you, but it's one of the greater evils to others, not only those who want to save a few bucks off of a game.

Tarislar

May not be region locked - but Asian version works on Pal systems (see [cheap360.com.au])

so Us Aussies cansave a good $30!
woot!

tranzfusion

@tranzfusion: As can us Europeans... Seems the entire article is misleading. Kotaku print a retraction/correction?

NunianVonFuch