Who invented region-locking of digital content and to what purpose?

I just bought Crysis 2 digital download for 360 for a bit less than 10 bucks and it only works in the USA but the seller didn't disclose it (after all I was buying it from Polish auction site, and I live in Poland)...I cannot download it due to the region-lock (it turns out it's for the USA) but I wonder why the hell they invented such thing as a region-lock of digital content in the first place? It's not even a video where certain countries have different copyrights, etc. It's a game that should work in any country in the world!!! Give me just 1 logical reason. (BTW you can also PM me if you're interested in getting the game...)

Some games cant be certified or rated in certain countries. Sometimes that content cant be edited out without changing the game significantly

Sometimes its just that the fees, taxes, and tarifs on video games are so high that it isnt worth it

Sometimes piracy is very high in that country that it isnt worth it

Sometimes its up to the publisher, etc.

Most digital games are subject to the same rules and physical copies, so it may just come down to the publisher choice, or content in the game.

Some games cant be certified or rated in certain countries. Sometimes that content cant be edited out without changing the game significantly

Sometimes its just that the fees, taxes, and tarifs on video games are so high that it isnt worth it

Sometimes piracy is very high in that country that it isnt worth it

Sometimes its up to the publisher, etc.

Most digital games are subject to the same rules and physical copies, so it may just come down to the publisher choice, or content in the game.

navyguy21

[QUOTE="navyguy21"]

Some games cant be certified or rated in certain countries. Sometimes that content cant be edited out without changing the game significantly

Sometimes its just that the fees, taxes, and tarifs on video games are so high that it isnt worth it

Sometimes piracy is very high in that country that it isnt worth it

Sometimes its up to the publisher, etc.

Most digital games are subject to the same rules and physical copies, so it may just come down to the publisher choice, or content in the game.

LoG-Sacrament

Yep, well put.

[QUOTE="navyguy21"]

Some games cant be certified or rated in certain countries. Sometimes that content cant be edited out without changing the game significantly

Sometimes its just that the fees, taxes, and tarifs on video games are so high that it isnt worth it

Sometimes piracy is very high in that country that it isnt worth it

Sometimes its up to the publisher, etc.

Most digital games are subject to the same rules and physical copies, so it may just come down to the publisher choice, or content in the game.

LoG-Sacrament

I was reading the other day that many Japanese otakus are importing anime blu-rays from America because they are way cheaper than in Japan and now some anime companies want to region lock the content to force them to buy the stuff locally. But if you ask me the only thing this will do is to encourage piracy... But who can blame them? The exchange rates between Japan and America are crazy high, this is one of the reasons of why Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, etc. are near bankruptcy.

Some games cant be certified or rated in certain countries. Sometimes that content cant be edited out without changing the game significantly

Sometimes its just that the fees, taxes, and tarifs on video games are so high that it isnt worth it

Sometimes piracy is very high in that country that it isnt worth it

Sometimes its up to the publisher, etc.

Most digital games are subject to the same rules and physical copies, so it may just come down to the publisher choice, or content in the game.

navyguy21

Bolded is not a reason for region locking.

[QUOTE="LoG-Sacrament"][QUOTE="navyguy21"]

Some games cant be certified or rated in certain countries. Sometimes that content cant be edited out without changing the game significantly

Sometimes its just that the fees, taxes, and tarifs on video games are so high that it isnt worth it

Sometimes piracy is very high in that country that it isnt worth it

Sometimes its up to the publisher, etc.

Most digital games are subject to the same rules and physical copies, so it may just come down to the publisher choice, or content in the game.

Gue1

I was reading the other day that many Japanese otakus are importing anime blu-rays from America because they are way cheaper than in Japan and now some anime companies want to region lock the content to force them to buy the stuff locally. But if you ask me the only thing this will do is to encourage piracy... But who can blame them? The exchange rates between Japan and America are crazy high, this is one of the reasons of why Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, etc. are near bankruptcy.

Heh anime prices are ridiculous in the US, I can only imagine what they are paying if it's cheaper to buy and import to japan.

The simple answer would be the parties in that region want their hands in the cookie jar as well.

[QUOTE="Gue1"]

[QUOTE="LoG-Sacrament"] this, plus it allows for region specific pricing.GD1551

I was reading the other day that many Japanese otakus are importing anime blu-rays from America because they are way cheaper than in Japan and now some anime companies want to region lock the content to force them to buy the stuff locally. But if you ask me the only thing this will do is to encourage piracy... But who can blame them? The exchange rates between Japan and America are crazy high, this is one of the reasons of why Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, etc. are near bankruptcy.

Heh anime prices are ridiculous in the US, I can only imagine what they are paying if it's cheaper to buy and import to japan.

Hundreds of dollars for a normal length show.

[QUOTE="navyguy21"]

Some games cant be certified or rated in certain countries. Sometimes that content cant be edited out without changing the game significantly

Sometimes its just that the fees, taxes, and tarifs on video games are so high that it isnt worth it

Sometimes piracy is very high in that country that it isnt worth it

Sometimes its up to the publisher, etc.

Most digital games are subject to the same rules and physical copies, so it may just come down to the publisher choice, or content in the game.

LoG-Sacrament

In Oz, I find some of Valve's Steam prices to be ripoff compared to cdwow.com.au

For example

cdwow.com.au's FarCry 3 PC = $31.96 AUD

Valve Steam's FarCry 3 PC = $69.99 AUD

----

cdwow.com.au's Call Of Duty Black Ops 2 PC = $52.76 AUD

Valve Steam's Call Of Duty Black Ops 2 PC = $ $89.99 AUD

Our Aussie dollar(AUD) is on par with USD... Valve Steam in Oz = fail

[QUOTE="Gue1"]

[QUOTE="LoG-Sacrament"] this, plus it allows for region specific pricing.GD1551

I was reading the other day that many Japanese otakus are importing anime blu-rays from America because they are way cheaper than in Japan and now some anime companies want to region lock the content to force them to buy the stuff locally. But if you ask me the only thing this will do is to encourage piracy... But who can blame them? The exchange rates between Japan and America are crazy high, this is one of the reasons of why Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, etc. are near bankruptcy.

Heh anime prices are ridiculous in the US, I can only imagine what they are paying if it's cheaper to buy and import to japan.

Anime expensive in the US? Not really. That is unless you get all your anime from best buy or suncoast (are they even still around? I just remember them being ridiculously overpriced). But right stuf has most of their anime really cheap. Some of their prices are sliced in half from the retail price. A $64 dvd will sometimes be $38 (like Deadman Wonderland).

But shoot, if anime is hundreds of dollars for an average length anime in Japan, then it makes sense to take either price over that.

im willing to bet it was done by a douche in suit.

Anime expensive in the US? Not really. That is unless you get all your anime from best buy or suncoast (are they even still around? I just remember them being ridiculously overpriced). But right stuf has most of their anime really cheap. Some of their prices are sliced in half from the retail price. A $64 dvd will sometimes be $38 (like Deadman Wonderland).

But shoot, if anime is hundreds of dollars for an average length anime in Japan, then it makes sense to take either price over that.

Lucky_Krystal

Fate/Zero is still $370 US on that website and steins gate is 80..

There is a way to trick your crap-box with the IP ! Search youtube !

It is BS, just that greedy companies want you to pay more in your region than others.

Because companies are run by a bunch of hypocrite @ssholes in suits that are proponent of globalisation only when it profit themselves but never the consumers. It's only normal for them to buy materials and get goods manufactured wherever it's the cheapest for them, but it would be an abomination for us consumers to want to buy from other countries when it profit us financialy.