Author Topic: Persona 4 Arena to be the first region-locked PS3 game? (Read 10262 times)

bork · « **on:** July 01, 2012, 11:42:44 PM »

Is this Atlus staff member crazy, or does the PS3 actually have a region lock-out feature for software that has never been used before?

http://www.atlus.com/forum/showpost.php?p=288772&postcount=2483

DCharlieJP · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2012, 12:17:48 AM »

thank GOD they are getting in now before this PS3 practice spreads for the rest of the gen!

pilonv1 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2012, 12:26:23 AM »

Guessing whoever distributes their stuff in Yurop isn't happy with the high level of imports on Catherine or something. 6 months between NA + EU releases doesn't help either.

Purple Filth · « **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2012, 12:42:44 AM »

Quote from: Oscar the Grouch on July 02, 2012, 12:19:49 AM

Yes, you can lock the region on PS3 games. I'm not sure if anyone has ever done it before, though. Pretty ballsy on Atlus's part if they are doing it.

The nearest we got was Stranglehold and IIRC they didn't bother

Momo · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2012, 01:07:49 AM »

Yeah fuck them if true. Not even Atlus will escape my scorn if they pull bullshit like this.

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2012, 03:20:26 AM »

If this were possible I'd think some douchey company would have done this by now.

Japanese executives have told me "We must region lock because America is afraid they will lose sales from people who buy the Japanese version"

I was like "but doesn't all the money go to the some place in the end"

And then they were like SILENCE GAIJIN

DCharlieJP · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2012, 03:25:35 AM »

lol, yes - why let people buy the Japanese version for $80+ when they should be buying it in the US at $39.99!

erm.... wait a minute....

bork · « **Reply #7 on:** July 02, 2012, 08:01:17 AM »

Quote from: Oscar the Grouch on July 02, 2012, 12:31:19 AM

Seems like a bad idea to me. Atlus doesn't play with the kind of numbers where they can afford to lose sales on this kind of shit, especially in a genre they're not known for, and with a "new" IP in the genre. This might fatally wound Persona 4 Ultimate Mayonnaise Arena before it even has a chance.

P4A is made by Arc System Works- it's BlazBlue with Persona 3 and 4 characters.

AFAIK the game has already been announced for Europe is coming out like two weeks after the Japanese release. Nobody is gonna be importing this unless the Euro version is still months after the other versions come out.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2012, 08:09:51 AM »

Euro release is 4 weeks after the US (8/1 v 8/31). Usually Atlus stuff is 6mths+ for PAL (7/26/11 v 2/10/12 for Catherine).

bork · « **Reply #9 on:** July 02, 2012, 08:28:23 AM »

So it would seem that the amount of people who would bother importing this game would be very small in number.

Quote from: DCharlieJP on July 02, 2012, 03:25:35 AM

lol, yes - why let people buy the Japanese version for $80+ when they should be buying it in the US at $39.99!

erm.... wait a minute....

Well if this is true, I will have to import the game if I want to play it on PS3. Thanks Atlus for making me have to pay $80+ to play your fucking game because I just so happened to buy a PS3 in one country, then moved to another one!

bork · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2012, 11:54:05 AM »

Quote from: Oscar the Grouch on July 02, 2012, 11:42:32 AM

Quote from: lyte edge on July 02, 2012, 08:01:17 AM
P4A is made by Arc System Works- it's BlazBlue with Persona 3 and 4 characters.

AFAIK the game has already been announced for Europe is coming out like two weeks after the Japanese release. Nobody is gonna be importing this unless the Euro version is still months after the other versions come out.

Yes, I know who made it, but Atlus's name is still on the box, and with the Persona license used heavily, that's the face it's going to show to buyers outside Japan.

I think the Fatlus faithful are well-aware of what this game is. Definitely seems like much more of a niche title that not many people outside the Persona fanbase or 2D fighting game players would buy.

These are also listed under the game's product description:

Quote

A collaboration with genre masters Arc System Works: Developed in partnership with the studio responsible for fan favorite fighting games BlazBlue and Guilty Gear.

Original, hardcore fighting mechanics: True to Arc System Works tradition, P4A looks and feels like nothing else out there. Each fighter has attacks tied to their Persona, their summoned inner strength, adding to the depth and complexity.

Quote

While I have heavy doubts this region-locking business is true, *if* it is, it's going to be a big deal. The only region-locked game on the PS3, after five years of completely region-free games, from Atlus of all companies? The PR shitstorm would be huge.

Hopefully it's bullshit...I'd rather get this game on PS3 than 360.

brob · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2012, 12:09:20 PM »

PAL publishing is handled by Zen Unlimited, which I have never heard of and the only thing google seems to know about them is that they told gamespot they are publishing persona 4 arena in europe at some point.

I've been very happy with how Ghostlight has handled the PAL SMT stuff, so hey, maybe this completely unknown company will do right by the fans/customers.

...

Bebpo · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2012, 04:36:22 PM »

Can anyone tell me what the status is on Japanese/English voices in the US version?

archnemesis · « **Reply #13 on:** July 02, 2012, 04:46:21 PM »

Quote from: Bebpo on July 02, 2012, 04:36:22 PM

Can anyone tell me what the status is on Japanese/English voices in the US version?

"‪#Persona4Arena‬ will have both English and Japanese voice tracks! ‪"
https://twitter.com/AtlusUSA/status/209906531016245248

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2012, 04:48:48 PM »

kinda wish they were able to contract the old VA talent but whateves

demi · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2012, 05:43:18 PM »

Doesnt matter, it has JYB and Troy Baker - the only good VAs in the industry

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2012, 07:38:07 PM »

oh im not that bothered, it is what it is- but VA like Teddy is kinda representative of the P4 experience

demi · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2012, 08:37:18 PM »

I changed the front page to be representative of the Persona 4 experience

fart · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2012, 08:40:36 PM »

people still play this?!?!?!?!

Bebpo · « **Reply #19 on:** July 02, 2012, 08:41:10 PM »

Quote from: demi on July 02, 2012, 08:37:18 PM

I changed the front page to be representative of the Persona 4 experience

Love it!

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #20 on:** July 02, 2012, 08:48:34 PM »

Never change, Demi.

demi · « **Reply #21 on:** July 02, 2012, 08:49:47 PM »

all the homo men to now break away~

Trent Dole · « **Reply #22 on:** July 02, 2012, 08:50:43 PM »

haha awesome.

Bebpo · « **Reply #23 on:** July 03, 2012, 02:32:59 PM »

Every time I come here I now have an urge to listen to the P4 soundtrack again.

SantaC · « **Reply #24 on:** July 03, 2012, 02:37:32 PM »

Quote from: Bebpo on July 03, 2012, 02:32:59 PM

Every time I come here I now have an urge to listen to the P4 soundtrack again.

i think p3's better though. Burn my dread and battle for everyones souls

Bebpo · « **Reply #25 on:** July 03, 2012, 02:42:15 PM »

Yeah, but it's not on the front page

demi · « **Reply #26 on:** July 03, 2012, 02:45:50 PM »

And lacks homoeroticism

demi · « **Reply #27 on:** July 03, 2012, 02:46:00 PM »

And bears

Timber · « **Reply #28 on:** July 03, 2012, 07:31:33 PM »

That front page is a window to my soul.

Bebpo · « **Reply #29 on:** July 03, 2012, 07:36:20 PM »

In that case I think we are soul brothers

Takao · « **Reply #30 on:** July 03, 2012, 08:23:33 PM »

The forum mods Atlus has used in the past have said some very interesting things... IIRC one has gone out of his way to attack users who claim they're experiencing problems and would like help.

originalz · « **Reply #31 on:** July 03, 2012, 09:02:06 PM »

Quote from: bork laser on July 02, 2012, 11:54:05 AM

Hopefully it's bullshit...I'd rather get this game on PS3 than 360.

Woah you aren't double-dipping on this?

bork · « **Reply #32 on:** July 03, 2012, 10:48:06 PM »

Quote from: originalz on July 03, 2012, 09:02:06 PM

Quote from: bork laser on July 02, 2012, 11:54:05 AM
Hopefully it's bullshit...I'd rather get this game on PS3 than 360.

Woah you aren't double-dipping on this?

I only got the last BlazBlue on Sony platforms...more people on my friends lists tend to play the Arc games on PS3. If I really like P4 Arena and think I'll spend a lot of time with it, then I might double-dip, but September is Tekken Tag 2 and DOA5 and I want to play the former way more than this game.

bork · « **Reply #33 on:** July 04, 2012, 12:45:58 AM »

Confirmation that the game will be region-locked:

http://www.atlus.com/forum/showpost.php?p=289141&postcount=2509

But the Japanese version is going to have full English voice and text available- the latter better not be bullshit.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #34 on:** July 04, 2012, 01:36:43 AM »

what a weird thing to do 7 years into the PS3's lifecycle

Momo · « **Reply #35 on:** July 04, 2012, 02:14:16 AM »

No, Atlus.
Fuck you.
Why? :'(

Trent Dole · « **Reply #36 on:** July 04, 2012, 02:27:37 AM »

atls pls

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #37 on:** July 04, 2012, 02:30:19 AM »

WTF? So bizarre

Momo · « **Reply #38 on:** July 04, 2012, 02:54:40 AM »

Quote from: Trent Dole on July 04, 2012, 02:27:37 AM

atls pls

fuk u atls
yu slap my regun
atls pls.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #39 on:** July 04, 2012, 03:00:41 AM »

Guessing the importing is hurting them in some way. Will be interesting to see if this does anything.

Momo · « **Reply #40 on:** July 04, 2012, 03:11:21 AM »

the only people this protects are regional distributers/publishers. It's not hurting *atlus* their partners most likely asked for this.

Momo · « **Reply #41 on:** July 04, 2012, 07:13:23 AM »

Oscar ignores me then copies me :'(

Momo · « **Reply #42 on:** July 04, 2012, 07:26:28 AM »

pilonv1 · « **Reply #43 on:** July 04, 2012, 08:36:57 AM »

Quote from: Oscar the Grouch on July 04, 2012, 06:38:05 AM

Quote from: pilonv1 on July 04, 2012, 03:00:41 AM
Guessing the importing is hurting them in some way. Will be interesting to see if this does anything.

Nah, the logical conclusion here is that their new European partner for this game has requested it.

Yes, the importing to PAL territories that I suggested on the previous page.

chronovore · « **Reply #44 on:** July 06, 2012, 09:59:37 PM »

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on July 04, 2012, 01:36:43 AM

what a weird thing to do 7 years into the PS3's lifecycle

Yeah, this is crazy. Will Sony even allow for this? I guess if the feature is supported, there's a kind of tacit approval. Weird.

Takao · « **Reply #45 on:** July 06, 2012, 11:38:47 PM »

Yeah, that's a bullshit move. If they wanted to protect the Japanese release how about not including Japanese text as an option on US copies? Who in the US is even going to use that option? Atlus faithful usually equals weabo but that's far beyond the average weabo. If that's not enough, why not just push the US release back a bit, and release Persona 4: The Golden earlier?

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #46 on:** July 07, 2012, 12:17:12 AM »

I would see this kind of thing happening with something that's got a huge Japanese license with douchey legalese attached to it, not some Persona game (look up how the whole Bandai USA thing worked for examples of this kind of fuckery). Baffling as hell.

MCD · « **Reply #47 on:** July 07, 2012, 08:33:43 AM »

Big fucking deal. Buy the US version and support FATLUS localization team.

brob · « **Reply #48 on:** July 07, 2012, 09:33:03 AM »

Quote from: MCD on July 07, 2012, 08:33:43 AM

Big fucking deal. Buy the US version and support FATLUS localization team.

would love to, but it looks like I have to wait the normative four months for whatever small-ass start-up holds the PAL distribution to bring this out in europe.

Timber · « **Reply #49 on:** July 07, 2012, 10:10:14 AM »

It seems like the only way they can get themselves out of this mess is by announcing Persona 5 already I mean jeez.

Rman · « **Reply #50 on:** July 07, 2012, 11:13:21 AM »

Weird move, but can someone explain the outrage. If you live in the US, you're still getting the game released in your terrority. I just don't see the big deal. Like I said, weird choice, but how does it affect your ability to get and play the game if you're in the US?

Momo · « **Reply #51 on:** July 07, 2012, 11:18:37 AM »

Quote from: Rman on July 07, 2012, 11:13:21 AM

Weird move, but can someone explain the outrage. If you live in the US, you're still getting the game released in your terrority. I just don't see the big deal. Like I said, weird choice, but how does it affect your ability to get and play the game if you're in the US?

When you start rationalizing anti consumer practices in this way you're just opening up your asshole for an additional amount of hurt down the line.

bork · « **Reply #52 on:** July 07, 2012, 11:23:49 AM »

Quote from: Rman on July 07, 2012, 11:13:21 AM

Weird move, but can someone explain the outrage. If you live in the US, you're still getting the game released in your terrority. I just don't see the big deal. Like I said, weird choice, but how does it affect your ability to get and play the game if you're in the US?

The only people affected in the U.S. are the minority of people like myself who have Japanese consoles- we have to spend more to import if we want the game on PS3. In my case I have a 360 too so I don't have to import, but I want it on PS3.

Atlus says this is to stop Japanese players from importing, but why would they? As Oscar pointed out, the game can be found for like 5900 already and it's coming out a few weeks earlier than the U.S. too. Who the hell is going to wait longer to pay more money to import? It's bullshit.

It's the people outside of the North America (South America too?) region that are fucked in the sense that they have to wait however many months it takes for the game to be localized in their region- like Brobzoid.

maxy · « **Reply #53 on:** July 07, 2012, 12:11:22 PM »

Amazing,gaming industry never ceases to surprise me

360-region lock since the dawn of time
PS3-region lock comes when PS3 is about to kick the bucket

lmao

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #54 on:** July 07, 2012, 12:29:48 PM »

Working in Japan everyone just assumed it was impossible to region lock a game for PS3 but would always make sure we locked the 360 version. Now that it's out in the open that you CAN do it, expect more of the same.

MCD · « **Reply #55 on:** July 07, 2012, 12:31:39 PM »

Quote from: Oscar the Grouch on July 07, 2012, 11:33:26 AM

Quote from: MCD on July 07, 2012, 08:33:43 AM
Big fucking deal. Buy the US version and support FATLUS localization team.

If I buy the US version, it won't play on my PS3.

Please buy it on X360.

I don't care if it red ringed or not. Please understand.

bork · « **Reply #56 on:** July 07, 2012, 01:19:00 PM »

Quote from: Sho Nuff on July 07, 2012, 12:29:48 PM

Working in Japan everyone just assumed it was impossible to region lock a game for PS3 but would always make sure we locked the 360 version. Now that it's out in the open that you CAN do it, expect more of the same.

Momo · « **Reply #57 on:** July 07, 2012, 01:45:44 PM »

Quote from: Sho Nuff on July 07, 2012, 12:29:48 PM

Working in Japan everyone just assumed it was impossible to region lock a game for PS3 but would always make sure we locked the 360 version. Now that it's out in the open that you CAN do it, expect more of the same.

brob · « **Reply #58 on:** July 07, 2012, 01:47:01 PM »

Just for laughs, here are the gaps in north american and european releases for recent Atlus games:

Persona 3: seven months

Persona 4: three months

Persona 3 Portable: nine months

Cathrine: seven months

keep in mind the european releases are english only and uses the same translation and voice work found in the american releases.

Arc System games doesn't have a great track-record for this either, but the last iteration of blazblue (BBCSEX) was only delayed two weeks or so compared to america. The publisher who did that one had done the previous ones as well though, so I'm not sure it's all too indicative of a speedy PAL release.

TL;DR:

bork · « **Reply #59 on:** July 07, 2012, 02:20:55 PM »

If I lived in Europe I'd probably be importing fucking everything.

News:

Author Topic: Persona 4 Arena to be the first region-locked PS3 game? (Read 10262 times)