Regional Encoded – Important Info about the PSP 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.

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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.

July 18 2010 02:04 am | PlayStation Articles

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