Is it too early to start thinking about PS3 preordering?

[the_dude]

Sony can go and play with the rake! A US shipping agent will solve all your worries

You can say that again, even if Sony did a worldwide launch i'd still get the US version. **** that PAL ****.

[Concept]

PAL and NTSC will be a thing of the past in the next-gen. It's all going to be 60hz Progressive Scan, and the situation will only continue further down that road as more HDTVs are bought.

It's the release date/localisation factors which will decide whether I pick up a European or US PS3. Sony have been awful on this front during the current gen, while Microsoft (or I should say games released on the Xbox/360) have been far better.

[the_dude]

To right, Sony on the PAL front are a nightmare with a capital N. I owned a PAL PS2 machine once for about a year and wouldn't ever again. US/JPN all the way for me. I can't see things changing for the PS3. Microsoft are well better when it comes to PAL land. Unfortunately Sony are Cocks when it comes to PAL land!

[Lyris]

I just can't work out for the life of me why in an age where region coding is still with us, why anyone would possibly lock themselves into the European option.

It's been proven over and over again that this continent gets the shaft. I know it's getting better, but just look at the European Xbox, supposedly the prime example of GOOD European treatment? Censored Ninja Gaiden and Psychonauts almost a year after it originally launched is good?

We're lucky enough to have the coincidence of speaking the same language as the US, we're lucky enough to have the tech knowledge to get US equipment running here, and we're lucky enough to have the TVs to run the stuff (try finding a PAL-compatible TV in America!) - so why on earth would anyone pass up the opportunity for the best English-language treatment in the gaming world?

[katamari]

Microsoft are well better when it comes to PAL land. Unfortunately Sony are Cocks when it comes to PAL land!

They're all cocks:

Euro XBox: no pro-scan, no HD. No reason.
Euro GC: no pro-scan.
Euro PS2: Ironically the least capable hardware is the only one to give us pro-scan, though admittedly so seldom that they might as well not have bothered.

Games slow, bordered and late across the board.

[Spatial]

I'll be getting a US PS3 - Sony proved with the PSP that they haven't got the maturity to handle what happens when you produce a region free system and then botch your launch in the European market (hence the pathetic threats of legal action).

That whole farce showed just how much they think of European gamers and a lot of people on here swore blind they would never support SCEE again. Buying a US system is my way of sticking to that.

[Lyris]

Euro XBox: no pro-scan, no HD. No reason.

But man, who needs HD when you have the option of PAL-60?
Selected games in 60hz! The luxury.

[in5ane]

I just can't work out for the life of me why in an age where region coding is still with us, why anyone would possibly lock themselves into the European option.

Because importing can be a pain in the arse, can be expensive, and is still quite exclusive, in the wrong way. I've taken Xbox games round friends houses before, only to remember I can play US stuff and they can't.

Also, I buy my games as Tesco when we do the shopping now- that's what I call convenient

[Prof Frink]

I'll be getting a US PS3 - Sony proved with the PSP that they haven't got the maturity to handle what happens when you produce a region free system and then botch your launch in the European market (hence the pathetic threats of legal action).

That whole farce showed just how much they think of European gamers and a lot of people on here swore blind they would never support SCEE again. Buying a US system is my way of sticking to that.

Ditto for me no way i'm going PAL with sony even though the PAL conversion's will improve the timing of release dates won't and seeing as 90% of my PS2 collection is US it will be a US PS3 for me as well. It would be nice even if sony don't make PS3 games region free to have the backwards compatibility region-free, well we can all dream.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I will probably pick up one from asia, on my way back from Australia providing it is available and I have enough money. I would love it to be region free so I can buy American games for english language option and have the choice to buy Japanese games like shoot them up ideally it can play all region PS1, PS2 and PS3 without any problem. But I will wait for more information at E3.

[erhgiez]

Saw a manager in Game with a poster today (he wasnt putting it up) which said PS3 pre order ?50, also picked up vagrant story and parasite eve 2 for ?2 each so a good day

[Ginger Tosser]

My mate is no. 83 on the pre-order list at gamestation in Brum

[Shoju]

I just can't work out for the life of me why in an age where region coding is still with us, why anyone would possibly lock themselves into the European option.

It's been proven over and over again that this continent gets the shaft. I know it's getting better, but just look at the European Xbox, supposedly the prime example of GOOD European treatment? Censored Ninja Gaiden and Psychonauts almost a year after it originally launched is good?

We're lucky enough to have the coincidence of speaking the same language as the US, we're lucky enough to have the tech knowledge to get US equipment running here, and we're lucky enough to have the TVs to run the stuff (try finding a PAL-compatible TV in America!) - so why on earth would anyone pass up the opportunity for the best English-language treatment in the gaming world?

Importing is not all positives though. I really like having the option of being able to change games as many times as I want, being able to sell them off anywhere and pick them up direct from the store. Heavier items have big shipping and customs costs as well.

[NekoFever]

I'm number two on the list in my mate's shop (**** GAME - indies FTW!), but whether or not I actually get one when it comes out depends entirely on the price and launch games. If it comes out for ?400 with nothing but Ridge Racer and Tekken I'll take the money and buy myself some second-gen 360 games, thanks.

Plus I'm not optimistic about the worldwide launch happening anyway - look what happened to Microsoft with a console that has a less complicated architecture and presumably less demand.

[the_dude]

Lik-Sang are taking pre-orders right now. Just add it to the basket.