SolveYourProblem Article Series: Sony Playstation, TV's & Other Products
What's So Cool About Sony?
Regional
Encoded PSP Info You Should Know
Sony PSPs are regionally encoded devices. This sort of regional
lockout is a barrier that prevents the playing of a media
that is designed to be played on a device from the country
where it is sold from being played on a similar device in
another country. This type of vendor lock in can be achieved
by a programming practice, code, chip or physical barrier.
Nintendo was the first video game company to utilize regional
encoding. Regional encoding is achieved in video games when
a piece of hardware is designed so that only software from
that region will be compatible.
Currently the Sony PSP is only partially regionally encoded.
As of February 2006, the regional lockout does not apply to
PSP games only Universal Media Disc movies (UMDs). This means
games produced in other countries would work on the unit. Keep
in mind; however, that these video games would likely be in
a foreign language.
Sony makes clear that regionally encoded games may be introduced
in the future. Sony states that it is up to the game developers
if they want to add the regional protection.
Sony PSP devices are regionally encoded for UMD movies already.
This means if your purchase a PSP you can only play movies
from the same region. There are six regions and they are defined
for these movies in the same way they are for DVDs. Region
1 includes Canada, the United States, and all US territories.
Region 2 consists of Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Middle
East. Region 3 is comprised of Southeast Asia, and East Asia.
Region 4 includes Australia, New Zealand, Central and South
America and the Caribbean. Region 5 is made up of the former
Soviet Union, the Indian Subcontinent, Africa, North Korea,
and Mongolia. China makes up region 6.
Regional encoding has many advantages for the producers. It
allows items to be launched at different times in different
locations without the developers having to worry that consumers
will have the opportunity to purchase it ahead of time. This
allows producers to price the item differently in different
regional markets. Making devices regionally encoded also allows
manufacturers to keep content that is illegal in some locations
out of those countries. For example, pornography is illegal
in the Middle East and therefore will not be marketed there.
Despite these benefits to producers, regionally encoding devices
have many criticisms as well. For example, if a consumer moves
from one region to another they may discover they cannot enjoy
their collections in their new home. Regionally encoded devises
also promote copyright infringement and software hacking, which
will make the original item less sought-after. Regionally encoded
devices also allow for price discrimination, and makes eager
consumers have to wait to make their purchases. Furthermore,
regionally encoded devices also can be perceived as barrier
to free trade.
Regional lockouts have economic impacts to consider as well.
From the consumers point of view they may often be forced to
purchase an item for one price even though it is available
for a cheaper price elsewhere. From the producer’s viewpoint
the encoded devise will provide higher revenue, there will
be less competition from other regions, and therefore they
will have greater control over the price.
To recap, currently Sony’s PSP is considered to be only partially
regionally encoded. This means games from all regions can be
played on units from all regions. However, movies from specific
regions can only be played on PSPs from that same region. Sony
warns that this partial regional lock out can be turned into
a full scale one in the future.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2008
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