Xbox 360 & Region-Protection

[zonic505]

So I've been thinking of getting a 360 for some time now but I was wondering if I would have to mod it in order to play Japanese 360 games. According to Play-Asia, different JPN games WILL work on US 360s, but some won't.

Is there anyway I can make a Xbox 360 region-free?

[afex.racer_X]

This is a good question. I've been wondering the same thing. There's Japanese games I want to get, but I don't want to have to import a JP360, I'd rather mod...

[zonic505]

The only game off the top of my head that'd I want to import would be Otomedius Gorgeous & if it came to the 360 (which I'm sure it will), Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom (though if it doesn't, I can get a Freeloader for the Wii since I don't have the 3.3 update).

I've heard that if you mod your system, Microsoft will kick you out of Xbox Live or something....I don't really believe that, but better safe than sorry.

[I AM THE PROPHECY.]

Originally Posted by zonic505

I've heard that if you mod your system, Microsoft will kick you out of Xbox Live or something....I don't really believe that, but better safe than sorry.

This is the case. Most people who mod their systems eventually have their IP address and credit card banned from Live, typically around the time of dashboard updates.

[zonic505]

How does Microsoft know if you've modded your system?

I just thought of something. Doesn't Action Replay allow you to use it to play imported games? I know the PS2 one does. Though I don't know if there's an AR for the 360 (or the Wii, because I could use that instead of the Freeloader)...

[I AM THE PROPHECY.]

Originally Posted by zonic505

How does Microsoft know if you've modded your system?

I don't know, I don't work for them. There is a history of modded consoles being banned all the way back to when Halo 2 came out, though. If you want to take your chances, you could, but I would advise against it.

I just thought of something. Doesn't Action Replay allow you to use it to play imported games? I know the PS2 one does. Though I don't know if there's an AR for the 360 (or the Wii, because I could use that instead of the Freeloader)...

There is no import disc available for the 360.

[afex.racer_X]

Sweet, so Japanese 360 it is then. A little off topic but, if I were to use a memory card I would be able to have the Japanese games/info/points sent to my gamer profile on my US 360 right?

[I AM THE PROPHECY.]

Originally Posted by afex.racer_X

Sweet, so Japanese 360 it is then. A little off topic but, if I were to use a memory card I would be able to have the Japanese games/info/points sent to my gamer profile on my US 360 right?

You wouldn't even have to do that. You can do a gamertag recovery where you pull it over to the new system entirely through Live (saves and DLC obviously stay behind, but gamerscore, friends list and such are pulled down). Anything you do on the American console would be noted by the Japanese one the next time you signed in, and vice versa.

[zonic505]

Originally Posted by the anime lifestyle...

There is no import disc available for the 360.

.........Ya know, the PS3 & the fact that it doesn't have region-protection is looking like a fine purchase right now...

Now, "banned from live" just means I can't play multi-player online, correct? I only go online to download games.

[afex.racer_X]

Originally Posted by the anime lifestyle...

You wouldn't even have to do that. You can do a gamertag recovery where you pull it over to the new system entirely through Live (saves and DLC obviously stay behind, but gamerscore, friends list and such are pulled down). Anything you do on the American console would be noted by the Japanese one the next time you signed in, and vice versa.

Hmm.. very cool. Thanks for the advice.

[Blackraven]

How does Microsoft know if you've modded your system?

Some people from the Beyond3D.com forum say that it checks the Hard Drive using some kind of verfication algorithm.

At least that's what they said.

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Granted, you'd indeed be better off with a PS3.

Although, there are *some* that are region free.

Ninja Gaiden 2, Jumper, Conflict: Denied Ops, and Gears of War 1 (ASIAN VERSION)

I dunno about the rest.

[MechaGai]

It's not that the PS3 is a region-free system, like I said before. It's just that the US and Japan are in the same one, so importing is not a problem.

[zonic505]

Yeah, I'm kind of leaning towards the PS3 since I wouldn't have to mod it, but unless Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom doesn't make it to PS3 for some reason, there isn't any games that I'd import.

[I AM THE PROPHECY.]

Originally Posted by MechaGai

It's not that the PS3 is a region-free system, like I said before. It's just that the US and Japan are in the same one, so importing is not a problem.

I'm...pretty sure it actually is, isn't it? Europeans get fucked on release schedules but in the case of the PS3 they can just import whatever games, usually for less than it would cost for them to buy it anyway. The decision to region-lock is left to the publisher. It's region-locked for PS2 and PS1 stuff, of course.

The 360 is actually designed the same way as the PS3, and if you look at Play-Asia a lot of third-party titles (most of Ubisoft's catalog, for example) are region unlocked, so you could grab an Asian version game for less money. For whatever reason, most Japanese games just tend to get locked down, though. I can't imagine why. If publishers were willing to allow importing they'd sell at least a few more copies of their games, since it's not like they're doing a huge amount of business in Japan.

[BemaniAK]

Originally Posted by MechaGai

It's not that the PS3 is a region-free system, like I said before. It's just that the US and Japan are in the same one, so importing is not a problem.

Uh, no, I'm an Aussie and Game traders over here is selling American Rock Band for the PS3 already, and has been for months, only with the Microphone for some reason.