PS3 online. Will importers access everything?

[psprox]

For those planning to import a PS3 from U.S or Japan, are there likely to be any restrictions or problems when using the online features on the import system. For example:

1. Can we play games on U.S servers when our internet IP address is from Europe/Australia? Or will Sony ban us and take a tough stance like they did with Lik-Sang?

2. Will we be able to buy and download content like PS1, PS2 games which Sony have confirmed will continue to be region locked. Will Sony reject credit cards or transactions coming from Europe on their PS3 store?

Basically my point is I want to import a PS3 but if my online service is going to restricted in any way I may reconsider since it will cost me more and I may end up with an inferior online service.

I would appreciate if anyone can shed any light on this issue

[Strolls]

For those planning to import a PS3 from U.S or Japan, are there likely to be any restrictions or problems when using the online features on the import system.

1. Can we play games on U.S servers when our internet IP address is from Europe/Australia?

Determining location by IP address is unreliable - I don't think they'd use it for this. I have restricted Google Adwords to "UK only" but have still received orders from Europe & Australia.

So if Sony were to try this method they'd surely have a false-positive rate of 2% or more. That might not seem much, but it's a lot of dissatisfied customers - it would be far more reliable for them to require a credit card for online gaming & to restrict the region by issuing address.

Stroller.

[MartyG]

It would also stop people from purchasing stuff from the Sony market place equivalent. I'm sure they'll be wanting people to spend money there, so I find it unlikely they'll be wanting to lock people out of the online service regardless of where the machine is.

Of course, all of this is pure speculation until someone actually tries it.

[Yoshimax]

If you can afford to import one then you can afford to take the chance.

[capcom_suicide]

If you can afford to import one then you can afford to take the chance.

I would assume that there is a fair chance that folk will need a PAL pS3 for some things and an NTSC one for others.

Seeing as it will be near on impossible to get an NTSC machine, I would imagine a fair chunk of importers will look to use a mod chip after the PAL release. (To enable imports)

Bit of a headache all this really. But I'm sure there will be a way in the end. Just look as PSP, and how they cracked that open for homebrew.

It would have been preferable to just buy from play-asia/liksang etc, but as I said in another thread, it's a brave importer who buys PS3 on launch!

I think many of us will just wait and see, and then decide what to do.