Region Lock-Out Games

[KnightWarrior]

Why is most Games not region locked out like Vectorman, Vectorman 2 NBA Jam, NBA TE, V.F 2 that was made in or after 94, 95

But Sonic 3, Mega Turrican, Pac-Man 2, Gunstar Heroes is locked out..Even Sonic & Knuckles will play on all Mega Drive/Genesis's

[Rusty Venture]

Because SEGA is sadistic.

[David J.]

It's really confusing.

Some cases, I understood the region lockout. But in other cases, I never understood. I know the Japanese version of NFL '94 is region locked - I tested via emulation when I was tinkering with roms and region settings. Now it's not in Japanese in the first place, because it appears to be the same as the US version, why it was released in Japan in the first place I want to know - who likes US football over there? And lastly, who would import the Japanese version?

I know that the NBA Jam games, along with Batman Forever aren't region locked, but I wonder if Japanese gamers know that? As far as I know, NBA Jam TE is a rare MD game in Japan, and Batman Forever is pretty damn rare in Japan, and it'd make more sense to import the US/EU versions than find a Japanese version. And those poor souls with Batman Forever could make a profit if they found the right buyer in Japan.

I find it funny that the US version of World of Illusion is region locked, but the Japanese version isn't - I had the US version, and I now have the Japanese version.

[Elusive]

Because the developers are sadistic.

There, fixed that for you.

Today, the XBOX360 is region-free internally; it's down to the developers to decide whether or not to region-lock their games. Region-locking means that their profits look like 'sales from x region', 'sales from y region', 'sales from z region' etc. With no region-locking, people in region x can buy games from region y, meaning there's little incentive for them to buy the game in their own region.

[KnightWarrior]

Sonic & Knuckles released in all region's..It not locked out, Sonic 3 is locked-out...Streets of Rage 3 is region locked, but not Bare Knuckles 3

[Rusty Venture]

Bare Knuckle 3 is region locked.

[Zebbe]

Streets of Rage 2 (PAL) is region locked from being played on Genesis, but not on JP Mega Drive - it will turn into Bare Knuckle 2.

Also, PAL Älgen Soldier is locked from being played on Genesis, although it didn't even have a Genesis version. Now that's sadism!

[Rusty Venture]

I can get "Bare Knuckle 2" to say "Streets of Rage 2" but you have to switch region after the game loads and while its playing a demo.

Most games I've switched the region on show little or any difference..."Mystic Defender" had the most drastic change out of all games I've tried.

[Flash1087]

What'd it do?

[Rusty Venture]

From what I can remember:

There were some color changes for a specific enemy. From a green "Swamp Thing" look to a normal flesh tone.

Main characters clothes change.

Levels now have names.

And I think there was an opening animation.

[extrarice]

Today, the XBOX360 is region-free internally; it's down to the developers to decide whether or not to region-lock their games. Region-locking means that their profits look like 'sales from x region', 'sales from y region', 'sales from z region' etc. With no region-locking, people in region x can buy games from region y, meaning there's little incentive for them to buy the game in their own region.

Don't forget it makes it possible to sell the same game in different regions with drastically different prices. Being from England, you should be able to tell us horror stories of this sort of thing ;-) (UK pricing vs. European pricing vs. NA pricing)

[108 Stars]

What about Shinobi III (US)?
I bet it´s region-locked...
Sega just hates me.

[Zebbe]

[108 Stars]

[David J.]

Just add a language switch, it doesn't appear to be THAT hard if you have a Model 1 system.