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[Die Squirrel Die]

Well, yeah, September, screw that.

So I'm thinking go for the Japanese hardware, 'cause if the UMD movie region coding really reflects DVD regions then it should, theoretically anyway, be able to play Euro UMDs as well. But my faith in that idea is not particularly solid.

Neither is my faith in games being region-free. My intention would be to buy the JPN h/w but NA games and possibly Euro UMDs (not so bothered about those, but I'd like to have the option anyway).

So what do you think, should I go ahead with that? Or should I go with a US PSP in case the whole region-free games thing collapses?

 

[Burger]

I just ordered x2 US PSP's.

Even if the thing does start to become region locked for games, I'll already be purchasing most, if not all of my software from North America, as it's a fuckload cheaper than it will be over here in NZ.

UMD's, not really interested. If I want I can get overseas, for less also.

 

[sly]

I'm definitely going for a Japanese PSP and I'll import US games(hopefully I'll be able to play online as well). I think its cheaper to buy from Japan. Are we sure the Japanese PSPs will support Euro UMDs?

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

Fair point. I tend to quite an impulse buyer which is why I wanted to keep the Euro option open, but then most of the stuff I do impulse buy tends to suck. Maybe I should really stop.

Anyway any importers you'd recommend? I hear the canadians are good on price and delivery.

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

I'm definitely going for a Japanese PSP and I'll import US games(hopefully I'll be able to play online as well). I think its cheaper to buy from Japan. Are we sure the Japanese PSPs will support Euro UMDs?

In theory Japan and Europe are the same region, so if UMD movies truly follow DVD regions it should work. As I said, I'm not confident it'll work in practices.

 

[sly]

In theory Japan and Europe are the same region, so if UMD movies truly follow DVD regions it should work. As I said, I'm not confident it'll work in practices.

I know they are both region 2 but isn't there a problem(with DVDs) because of the different formats(NTSC and PAL)? I'm not sure if will apply to the PSP though. I guess we have to wait and find out.

 

[quetz67]

Isnt the screen of the japanese version better?

 

[megateto]

I was wondering just the same, should I go for a Japanese unit or a NA unit?

It all came down to the dead pixel thing: for my disgrace, I won't tolerate a dead pixel, so I needed a place where they would check for them before sending it out. I asked in a couple of online shops, but with negative response. Until I found somebody who said he would, and right now I am waiting a couple of days for the money, and hopefully I will have it by next week (an American one, that is).

But I would definitely prefer a Japanese one, as I've never had an "original" system.

 

[ChrisReid]

Ultimately we'll all have 2 or 4 gig memory cards and putting high quality movie rips from our own DVD collections will be more attractive than buying the UMDs for $15-20.

 

[Marty Chinn]

Unless it's a movie you really really like and want the better quality that you get with UMD mastered videos.

 

[quetz67]

It all came down to the dead pixel thing: for my disgrace, I won't tolerate a dead pixel

I returned my GBA SP for a dead pixel, but the one I have on my PSP doesnt bother me at all. The pixels are very small and you always have some dust on the screen thats worse than a dead pixel.

 

[megateto]

I know what you mean, but the thing is that if I open the box and find not one, but a full row of them or whatever, I DIE, and besides, I don't want to be worried about returning the system across the ocean for the friggin' screen.

 

[Myoclonic Jerk]

Which PSP should I import?

The DS one

 

[quetz67]

I know what you mean, but the thing is that if I open the box and find not one, but a full row of them or whatever, I DIE, and besides, I don't want to be worried about returning the system across the ocean for the friggin' screen.

How about getting a used one from ebay?

 

[megateto]

I've heard too many bad stories from ebay (and lots of good ones too.. guess you can count me on the girly side of ebay ). If it was just a game, dvd or book I wouldn't mind, but not when I am spending 300$.

 

[FortNinety]

Well, yeah, September, screw that.

Sorry to be out of the loop, but what's going on in September? A new revision?

 

[btrboyev]

Isnt the screen of the japanese version better?

no

 

[tracky_dacks]

Sorry to be out of the loop, but what's going on in September? A new revision?

September 1st = Europe & Australia/NZ PSP launch

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

Sorry to be out of the loop, but what's going on in September? A new revision?

No. September is when the Euro launch is. I was going to wait and weigh up all the options, as long as it was out by the end of June. I'm not waiting until September though, so may as well get the ball rolling now.

 

[NotMSRP]

I believe JP and EU will be treated as separate regions. I believe in the future there will be some firmware hack that will allow you to play all regions so just buy the cheapest PSP you can get. In the worse case, there's always eBay.

 

[mrklaw]

its unlikely they'll do the regionally coded games thing.

Its possible that Japan and Europe are different regions for UMD compared to DVD, but there's more chance of that working than a US machine and European UMDs.

And both machines are basically the same price these days from importers, so I'd lean towards a Japanese one, but from a friendly importer with a good returns policy.

(if you have loads of bad pixels you can always swap it out with a UK one from Argos or something)

 

[michael000]

It's been stated a ton but here's more recent info on region locking etc in regards to Euro units. Source is a site called Eurogamer.

Following the recent emergence of some strange rumours regarding the PSP's regional coding systems, Sony has stepped up to dismiss them as absolute tosh and nonsense.

Word was that although PSP games are currently region-free - unlike UMD movies - the hardware has some kind of crazy "region lock" capability. In the future, the rumourmongers claim, publishers could code their games to switch this lock on and prevent you playing them on PSPs from other regions.

But Sony told us the PSP will continue to use a 'worldwide' code system for games, "which means that games purchased anywhere in the world will run on any PlayStation Portable".

However, "Due to language and system issues, quality assurance procedures are done in each territory, and therefore we recommend purchasing both hardware and software in the same territory," Sony went on.

In any case, there's a rule against releasing games with region locking on the list of technical requirements Sony hands out to developers - so such a game would never make it onto the shelves. But how come UMD movies have region encoding, then?

"For movies or other UMD video content, it is up to the publishers of the content to decide whether to adopt a region code," says Sony. So don't blame them cos your US copy of Bella Loves Jenna won't work on your UK PSP, in other words.

There have also been rumours floating about regarding whether or not you can wirelessly connect PSPs from different regions, and Sony was also able to clear this up once and for all.

"Yes, wireless capability does work between different regioned PSPs," they told us.

But "To ensure great multiplayer, it is always best to use UMDs from the same territory between users."

Basically, it doesn't matter where your PSP's from, or where your mate bought theirs - what's important is that the games are from the same region. So you could link up a European PSP, a Japanese PSP and a US PSP and enjoy, say, wireless WipEout, providing you'd all bought your copies of the game from the same place.

Phew. Glad that's all sorted then.