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http://psp.ign.com/articles/596/596659p1.html

With the Japanese PSP having launched three months ahead of the US system (which is finally due out here next week), all eyes from the hardcore crowd have been on the import release of the system. Sony Computer Entertainment gave early word that, while region locks are in place for all UMD features, games for the PlayStation Portable would be free of region coding worldwide (at least, unless there is a concern for piracy or some other issue that would force a lock-down.)

We were able to test out part of the region protection system when US games started to come in for the system, and now that we have the North American system, we can confirm that Sony held true to its promise -- Japanese games work with North American systems, and North American games work with Japanese systems. Those with import game systems seem to have little to worry about on this front, as WiFi connectivity is handled inside the games and works cross-import as well, while memory saves can hold both import and domestic versions of game saves (you cannot, however, use import saves with American games, nor can you link wirelessly with the Japanese version of a NA game -- changes to the game make the those features incompatible.)

Region protection for UMD Video, however, did not make it out so lucky. Thanks to the DVD consortium and the panicky movie publishers (who are concerned that somebody will find a way to rip off import movies -- chances are more likely that the illegal MOD community will just crack the region code, and honest importers will be stuck,) UMD movies have lock-outs that keep versions of movies from working in other countries. When you load up the UMD Video of the movie Spider-Man 2 (not the game, but the actual blockbuster movie -- a copy of the film comes with the first million North American PSP systems) on a Japanese PSP, it comes back with a message saying that the region code does not match your system.


You won't see this image on PSP games, but movies like Spider-Man 2 won't work on Japanese systems.

Curiously enough, region protection also seems to be in effect on UMD Audio as well as UMD Video. When you pop in the North American PSP Sampler Disc, the UMD boots up three sections of the disc normally -- on Japanese systems, however, only Game videos show. The Video and Music listings just sit there. Very curious, and unfortunate.

North American PSPs are encoded as Region 1, just as in DVDs -- in fact, the same region marking logo is present on the system and the UMD Video releases. All movies carried in North American stores (except import dealers) will be Region 1, so if you don't buy games from abroad, you shouldn't be affected. Import buyers, however, will be bummed -- the good news is that the open Region 0 is a format, so while most DVDs will be region stamped for Japan's Region 2, we may see some of the lower-profile releases use open regions. Otherwise, plan your imports carefully, but enjoy all of those wild Japanese games on your system.

Movies aren't region free, but the games are. Not a surprise, but it's nice to know for those worried about it.

I would be so pissed if I imported thinking the entire thing was region free and it's not. I'd also be dumb for paying $500+ to get it a few months early.

Sony has been trying to region-lock their CDs for a while. Tenchu Kurenai's OST CD, from Sony's Aniplex label, uses Sony's new LabelGate 2 lockout so the CD cannot play on computers without a Japanese IP address. Dumbass move that only forces people to buy bootleg copies.

this was eventually genna happen anyway

We've known about this for months.

Originally Posted by javeryh I'd also be dumb for paying $500+ to get it a few months early.

Yep, that would be really, really stupid.

Originally Posted by peteyrose We've known about this for months.

It's been rumored for months, now it's confirmed.

Most people I've spoken to seem to figure it's not worth worying about UMD movies anyway, it's not like DVDs are going away or anything and right now there's like 5 different methods for ripping DVDs to Memorystick so: problem solved.