Home Will Be Region Locked

According to Jem Alexander of PS3Fanboy,

"We were given a pretty in-depth walkthrough of the current state of Home, including a couple of game spaces (images of those later), during which we asked the bloke as many questions as we could think of. Top of our list? Making sure that we would be able to meet up with our friends all across the planet in the various public spaces. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Home's public spaces are going to be region-specific.

If you want to meet up with your pals from abroad, then you'll be able to invite them into your apartment, but warping into the game space to bowl or play chess is not possible. This is allegedly to make sure that each region receives an "experience most suited to their tastes" as well as, no doubt, to keep advertisers happy. The last thing they want is Europeans seeing an advert directed at Americans."

[Angelitos]

They shouldnt make it region locked, gamers should have the freedom of whatever they want. Well, that is legal anyways :)

[JoelR]

Hmm that is a complete reversal of stated direction if this is the case. The www.scedev.net information still says that you should be able to visit any region - but you are locked to spawning in your own on start up.

[Lord Anubis]

that's how it was before. but i guess things have changed. Phil is no longer there so they can do anything they want.

[Mystery_Person]

As long as I can invite my friends to my house I don't give a damn about public rooms!

[yesah]

probaly a good idea, because of the whole language thing.

[gambare]

IMO region locking the games prevents some serious lag issues. But on the bad part, I got some friends outside america and that prevents me from joining them in a specific game.

[Doppy]

That's fine for now just get it out.

[CrazedFiend]

How is region locking ensuring that everything is to my taste if everyone around me is Japanese and I'm not???

Here's a novel idea. How about giving me a choice about which area I want to be in. That way an American can choose be in an American section and a European can choose to be in a European section and a Japanese can choose to be in a Japanese section EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY!!!

[Arsenal4Ever]

I know what they're going to do. They're going to shaft Europeans by giving us all the crappy stuff I can just see it now.

Well since 1995 - 2008 they've been doing it so I don't see what can stop them now.

[ParadoxicalAssassin]

how big is home?, i just thought it was a couple of buildings. It spans the entire world? So i can have a house in Hawaii if i want?

[Overr8ed]

Wow that suxs.

[BananaSlug]

didnt they tout a cross language translator in the first few demos?

sony... what are you doing?

=(

[tethered]

I'll tell you what they are doing.

Their ambitions are being tethered by the overwhelming pressure people (and that other company) are putting on them. I would be one of those people. They need something soon. Really, really soon.

Open beta please!

Even if its not perfect put it out there for us to try. Even if its just one public lobby, and your own personal home. Build on from that.

Thats what I think its all about.

We have been waiting a long time for this. A very long time!

[madestar]

i agree..... meh... not a big deal.. just like FFXIII being on xbox360 until 2010.. no biggie... not going to hurt sony that much

[PirateThom]

If it's anything like other PS3 online things, at some point, once the server load is analysed, they'd no longer be region specific. Everyone will have the same space and only the advertising will change based on region.

[cool8]

interesting...Very interesting....Personally i was hoping for it to be global..guess that's gone....

[Cinos123]

Makes sense some PS3 online games are region locked (MGO) It would be impossible to meet EU players on home and then go straight to a match in MGO with them.

[PirateThom]

MGO is locked because of Konami - it doesn't even use PSN IDs - but, for example, Resistance isn't region locked.

[bleachrulez]

dont do that...oh well

[darkdoom3000]

I heard that you start in your region specific zones,

but the rest of home is global...

mabye they changed it.

[SmokingMonkey]

just release the dam thing this FALL

[jamenees]

but it would be nice to to cross global invite someone into your space right at launch. Seriously though, as long as it launches I'll be happy...my english friends should understand. lol.

[TheColbertinator]

Cool...I guess

[REDZEV]

yep, its region locked. just like BLU-RAY is region locked also. you know what??? Xbox live isnt region locked and HDDVD wasnt either. and guess what when a few months before HOME launches whenever thats going to be Sonys going to announce annual or monthly price. yeah thats right fanboys its not going to be free. You dont believe me??? anyways you fanboys better start mowing your lawns and getting those paper routes your going to need the extra money.

[PirateThom]

You know what else isn't region locked?

PS3 games.

You know what is region locked?

XBox 360 games

[REDZEV]

thom either your talking out of your ass or your just tyring to make conversation. but sorry your wrong they are. As for 360 games some are some arent. I have played german versions of bioshock, darkness on my good ol american elite 360 buddy

[PirateThom]

Some 360 games are region free
All PS3 games are region free.

Look it up.

[happyface]

SONY

DUMP HOME and just make XMB really good

NO ONE wants HOME

[tethered]

No, no.
YOU.... don't want Home.

Don't lump everyone into what you want and don't want.

The planet is bigger than what is only 10 ft. in front of your face.

[Dir_en_grey]

This SUX!!!
The choices Sony makes are just so stupid, every thing that could work for their advantage they keep on trying to gimp...
Many people nowadays speak more than 2 languages and come from many different places, for them it's a givin that they would want to have friends from different regions. Even normal people would want to make a friend from a different country sometimes, learn a different language or what not... let the users choose!!!
This is one of those things that if they just left it alone the advertisers are not even gonna bother complaining... WTF

[Premonition]

Gotta look at the BIG picture, I already know what would happend if it was region locked, we already know that there are a lot racist gamers out there or people that like to be stupid, one example some person goes over to some other counties region, example japan and starts making fun of their culture etc, and I think its better that sony keeps it clean and stay your butt where your suppose to be.

[specialguest]

Would that allow me to access Home at a different region??

[Premonition]

Maybe maybe not, depends on if they do it by IP addresses.

[Origin]

it would make communicating work a lot better to have it this way

[Meus Renaissance]

Wait, does that mean we cant interact with our friends we meet online in other countries? That doesn't make sense. Home is dead to me if true.

[ArtisianDragon]

Then this is a horrible move (IMO) If I meet some cool people online on some game [Warhawk, Mag or whatever] And they are in Europe or something does that mean I can't interact with them in HOME?

Ugh it seems that the closer we get to home there is always at least one more disappointment to it. We've gotten delays, and now this, but at least the bright side of it, they have various places instilled in the game. Though what's the use if no one has it at the moment and it's sitting in closed beta! >_<

[glennhkboy]

This is a typical Japanese to isolate themselves from the "Others". Just look at the number of Japanese exclusive games for Sony (PSP/PS2/PS3) & Nintendo. They still save the "best" for themselves. So there is no surprise on this move.

[kevin1122]

it is region locked right now, but before it wasnt. you could go into any region. Id wait until closer to launch to see if they keep it region locked. i have the beta btw.

[jmiscavish]

How am I supposed to pick up asian chicks if this is the case? What else would I want home for anyway?

[Bolts]

If the MMO trend is any indication, the vast majority of chicks on Home will be guys. Have fun with them in your room.

[GameOn]

lol home-sex.

[whoelse]

That sucks, but i can understand why they're doing it. I guess all the Europeans would go to the american areas and the european areas would be empty.

[S1nnerman]

You can still invite your friends over to your virtual house to do whatever it is you want to do.

No one ever stops complaining about everything. Yikes!

[muss1210]

hmmmmmmmmm will this mean that my jap ps3 with go to the jap area when im in europe, noooooooooooooooo
i'll have to learn jap :( otherwise im going to be shafted in the rusty sheiffs badge

lets hope that dont region lock it

[dragunrising]

License issues are always an issue. Entertainment available to one region might not be licensed for another region. Same reason we get demos at different times. Big deal, unless you live in one country that has content locked for your friend in another. Does anyone know if the US and Canada are different regions? Sorry if its a silly question.