My PS3 is NOT shagged anymore

[Kubrick]

On my Japanese console, I've been playing the UK version of MGS4 just fine since thursday, but today I recieved the US version from movietyme and it won't play. In fact, the PS3 doesn't even acknowledge that there's a disc of any kind in the drive.

Unless there's something wrong with my disc, it seems to be REGION-LOCKED for NTSC-J systems...

Anyone had similar problems or able to confirm this is the case? What about those who bought the Gamestop LE? Running fine on PAL systems?



UPDATE (2/7/08) - Got it back today with new Bluray drive fitted and all is well...

[fahrenheit]

Well I don't like the sounds of that, but I would at least expect some kind of rejection message saying there is a region conflict.

I've got a PAL console and an Asian version of the game on its way, so I'm hoping there are no complications.

[J0e Musashi]

I've heard that NTSC-J versions of the game, both JPN and English language Asian versions are region locked, but I can't confirm as I have an NTSC-J PS3, so they obviously both work fine for me.

[Kubrick]

Actually, it appears my console is the problem because it'll play f**k-all now.

[fahrenheit]

Not reading discs? Sounds like the laser-lock issue with the BD-ROM drive. I had it just before GTA IV. The console will need to be serviced if thats the case

[J0e Musashi]

Prolly cheaper to replace the drive as it's a JPN unit. You could always do an Argos swap-over-me-do I guess.

It could just be the mis-aligning problem, in which case you just have to open up the unit and reseat the drive.

[Kubrick]

Yeah its not reading discs at all. Just total silence once a disc is loaded into the slot, and no icon appearing on the XMB.

The Argos swap-me-do is a no-no, since a) My console is 20GB with no metal bit, and b) I don't want a PAL system anyway that couldn't play my 200-odd PS/PS2 discs. I'll just have to get my system sorted.

[VR46]

J0e's post removed by me, sure don't need to explain you can't post stuff like that.

[Kubrick]

Sounds too much like hard work and too risky, J0e. I don't want to be left with a ?300 machine I don't need that's been opened-up! Cheers for the "advice" though.

No, I'll just get it repaired/get the BD drive replaced. There's someone local who can probably do it for me quite cheaply. I'll take it to him on monday and see what he says.

[squishyfishy]

If you're totally stuck, I have an NTSC PS3 brick, where the blu-ray drive is totally fine. I'd be happy to do you a swapsies (for a bit of cash of course) before I attempt the argos trick

[Kubrick]

Cheers, but your offer was just a wee bit too late. It went into the shop yesterday!

[Grandmaster]

I'm fairly sure that the BD drives are tied to the unique serial number of the motherboard, so a swap-out wouldn't work.

[NekoFever]

I'm fairly sure that the BD drives are tied to the unique serial number of the motherboard, so a swap-out wouldn't work.

The way around it is to just replace the laser array, which is typically the part that's gone in any disc-based machine that's stopped reading discs as it's really the only part that's likely to fail. That way the drive's serial and any security protections haven't changed.

You can get one for the PS3 for about ?50 (plus installation) now.

[squishyfishy]

Yeah... but that's the cruddy bluray drives that go into 40gig models. The original 60gig and 20gig models had fantastic drives in them.