why do we stil have different regions?

[Wintermoot]

isnt it cheaper for a game company to have only one type of system/game master disc/file?
and easier to regionize? I,m asking this because in some parts of the world it takes allot longer for a game to get released even though the language stays the same (same goes for DVD,s/bluerays)
PS
TV,s arent the problem I live in a PAL region and my sis has a NTSC WII wich works fine on PAL TV,s (its also not a hardware problem sinse PAL systems can run NTSC games with a freeloader also works the other way around)
also sales figures are useless since people can just modify a system to run imported games (at the cost of warranty and possible banning from online networks I DONT condone modifying your PS3/360/WII to run pirated games I,m just saying you can use it to run LEGAL IMPORTED GAMES)

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Well, I assume its for them to know the amount of games sold in each region. Wild guess, don't hold me to it.

 

[Pandaman1911]

It's all about the money, I think. If you can't milk people for all they're worth, then what's the point of making a video game?

 

[Quinadin]

Holy crap, I misread that to "Why do we still have different Religions". My bad.

OT: It could be sales numbers or it could be they need a few more days/months to get the game ready for a certain place. Don't they have in-console codes to make you unable to play foreign games or something like that? Or am I totally wrong.

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

Dude, when I first read the title, I swear I thought it said "different religions."

I am a lot less confused now.

 

[Woodsey]

Probably something to do with sales, although it drives me mad that I should have to wait 3 days more than the States for the PAL version, even though I'm downloading the bloody thing.

 

[Muta Ro]

Probably something to do with sales, although it drives me mad that I should have to wait 3 days more than the States for the PAL version, even though I'm downloading the bloody thing.

Indeed, at least sometimes its just a 3 day thing unlike Kirbys Epic Yarn. That game has been out in the NTSC regions since October last year, PAL is only getting it now, well the 25th Feb. I mean what the hell? Why such a long gap?

Back to the point, I guess it does have something to do with the encoding systems the TVs use. PAL and NTSC. How this translates to games I don't know myself.

 

[Wintermoot]

Probably something to do with sales, although it drives me mad that I should have to wait 3 days more than the States for the PAL version, even though I'm downloading the bloody thing.

Indeed, at least sometimes its just a 3 day thing unlike Kirbys Epic Yarn. That game has been out in the NTSC regions since October last year, PAL is only getting it now, well the 25th Feb. I mean what the hell? Why such a long gap?

Back to the point, I guess it does have something to do with the encoding systems the TVs use. PAL and NTSC. How this translates to games I don't know myself.

that,s not the problem you can run a PAL game on a NTSC system using a freeloader

 

[BENZOOKA]

Beats me. Obviously it might have something to do with getting more of that sweet sweet money as many have said here before.

But they do that with a lot of things. I was shocked when I some years ago read that Nokia's phones were first released in The Netherlands and Denmark.

 

[Angstysquirrel]

It's to do with money because people can buy games cheaper from other countries usually.
But it is also to do with release times, languages and the game systems that are out now.
The first two are simple to explain, in so far as if a game is being made by a Japanese company why should Japanese people wait for the game to be released just because of translation issues?
As for the game systems out now, every single system out now is already made out for PAL/whatever, and the discs are made to match. To change the system to be Multi-Regional would cost money, that wouldn't really bring any extra money in to the company. Same with the CDs.

 

[ace_of_something]

Pretty sure it has to do with shipping costs and where the items are manufactured. Least thats what the smart people tell me.

Holy crap, I misread that to "Why do we still have different Religions". My bad.

Dude, when I first read the title, I swear I thought it said "different religions."

I am a lot less confused now.

Thirded.

 

[Wintermoot]

It's to do with money because people can buy games cheaper from other countries usually.
But it is also to do with release times, languages and the game systems that are out now.
The first two are simple to explain, in so far as if a game is being made by a Japanese company why should Japanese people wait for the game to be released just because of translation issues?
As for the game systems out now, every single system out now is already made out for PAL/whatever, and the discs are made to match. To change the system to be Multi-Regional would cost money, that wouldn't really bring any extra money in to the company. Same with the CDs.

I think it saves money to make it multiregional you only have to make ONE type of system instead of multiple you only have to make different power cords same goes for the games themselfs you dont have to spend any money to convert it and most countries use the English version (only a few games get a Spanish/German/French translation and even fewer a Dutch one)

 

[Wintermoot]

Pretty sure it has to do with shipping costs and where the items are manufactured. Least thats what the smart people tell me.(snip)

I,m pretty sure the PAL and NTSC games are made in the same factory

 

[parks_86]

Not to mention that each regional version of a game may have differing allowed content, i.e. L4D2, most of the GTA's etc etc, thanks to various levels of censorship. But like everyone else before me, I'd have to say primarily for the cashish. If we here in Oz were to be able to easily buy and run games from the US then we'd be saving ourselves easily 40% cost per game. The dollars keep a'changin, but the store price stays high as ever.

 

[ace_of_something]

Pretty sure it has to do with shipping costs and where the items are manufactured. Least thats what the smart people tell me.(snip)

I,m pretty sure the PAL and NTSC games are made in the same factory

Well than wouldn't the one that's cheaper to produce be shipped further to make them cost roughly the same? Look I felt I had to contribute beyond the 'religion' thing. Sadly I know nothing about this.