Sony to Remove Regional Codes from PlayStation 3?

Managing Director, Michael Ephraim of Sony Computer Entertainment of Australia, has stated that Sony may abandon its regional coding policy in which video games are manufactured to play only on game machines made specifically for that country™s location. As an example, games purchased in Japan cannot be played on PlayStation 2 machines in the United States and vice versa. The only way to defeat the regional code is to resort to installing mod (modification) chips in PlayStation 2 machines. In a recent court case in Australia, Sony brought legal action against a mod chip maker who sold chips to PlayStation 2 users. When the chip was installed, it allowed gamers to run games purchased outside of their region. Sony argued that the mod chips should be illegal because it encouraged piracy. The court ruled against Sony on the grounds that regional coding prevented consumers from free access to games sold in other parts of the world, which in many cases, were less expensive ” the logic being that the regional codes prevented free-trade. In regards as to why Sony is considering the move to cease regional coding, Ephraim said, If you look at the fact that it [the PlayStation3] will support high-definition TV, which will be a global standard, there’s a good likelihood that it will be global region, as for example we’ve done with the PSP. If true, this would open up many opportunities for PlayStation 3 gamers, around the world, to finally sample one another™s titles without the necessity of invalidating game machine warranties by modifying their units. So, you™ve always wanted to try out Vol. 88: The Mini Bijo Keikan? The wait may soon be over.