Divineo stung with USD $9 million piracy fine

[EvilBoris]

I still think that there will be the same system that microsoft has used, non compulsary region protection.

[NekoFever]

That's what they seem to be alluding to. Wouldn't surprise me if Sony make their games region free and then leave it up to the publishers because there are some out there who want to keep control even if most apparently don't care. It'll be a situation similar to what we have with the 360.

I actually wish they'd start making chips which only played imports and wouldn't work with copies. If the purpose was purely for imports I'm sure it would take a hell of a lot of the heat off legitimate importers, but of course that's unlikely to happen. The fact is the majority of people who get their PS2 chipped don't do it for that rare import and that the capacity to play imports provides a convenient fig leaf for pirates (just like that "backup" euphemism), who also happen to make the chip manufacturers a lot of money.

[Dogg Thang]

The fact is the majority of people who get their PS2 chipped don't do it for that rare import and that the capacity to play imports provides a convenient fig leaf for pirates (just like that "backup" euphemism), who also happen to make the chip manufacturers a lot of money.

Out of curiosity, what is the source of this fact?

[Concrete donkey]

I actually wish they'd start making chips which only played imports and wouldn't work with copies. If the purpose was purely for imports I'm sure it would take a hell of a lot of the heat off legitimate importers, but of course that's unlikely to happen.

A store I knew used to sell and install chips for the PS1 that did exactly that. It would allow a PAL machine to play legitimate imports but not pirate games. Strangley enough they had a fair number of unsatisfied customers.

[EvilBoris]

Out of curiosity, what is the source of this fact?

Anyone outside of a forum like this will be using the chips for illegitimate reasons.

[gunrock]

BUT.....how tempting is it to download a torrent to review a game? Seems most of us do it to view US TV series, doesn't take much imagination to know some of us also download games with the full intention of buying the full game........

Sorry but the holyier than thou stance just doesn't wash.

That's pretty condescending, actually. For my previous generation of consoles (PS1/N64/Jap Dreamcast) I relied on boot disks (or with N64 bought a US console recently and I'm replacing my PAL library) to play imports (or PAL/NTSC games for my dc), but never played pirated software. Didn't want or need to.

With this generation (Xbox/GC/PS2) I have bought modchips for each. I bought a cheap 2nd Jap Ps2 and wanted a way to play NTSC/PAL games. I bought a second 'cube to fit a Qoob chip so I can force games to play in 480p, and I've chipped my first Xbox so I can run Linux (for a MythTV PVR). My second Xbox I have used a softmod to switch it's output to progressive/NTSC for my PAL games, so those that will I run in 720p.

I have never downloaded, bought or played pirate games for any of these consoles, nor have I wanted to, but as you're so open to temptation from pirated warez, I guess that's incomprehensible to you.

[eastyy]

i do get the feeling if someone rich (and a gamer) was to take on sony regarding importing (like its bully boy tactics regarding the psp)

Sony would lose

[NekoFever]

Out of curiosity, what is the source of this fact?

Common sense, but if you're looking for something verifiable go and look at one of the forums for the chip manufacturers. I'd bet that a remarkable number of them have managed to go out and legitimately buy the US version of FFXII a month before release. And the ones who find a Blockbuster membership a great companion to an HD loader.

There's also personal experience in my friend's shop. You'd be amazed by the number of people who want to trade in a chipped machine with massive CD folders full of copied games. And of course the near-ubiquitous market traders who'll chip your machine and throw in a copy of any game you want. How many times have you been to a car boot and seen a chipped machine on sale with a selection of import games?

Like it or not, people like those on here who use their chips for imports are in the minority.