Home access is based on console region, not PSN account

by Jem Alexander { Aug 15th 2008 at 8:30AM }

With the release of the new Home beta, we now have a much clearer idea of how these region restrictions, that we discovered at E3, are being implemented. It seems that the client reacts to your console's native region, locking you out of any Home servers that don't match it. That means that if you're a UK gamer who imported from the US, you'll be spending all of your time with Americans inside Home. If you imported from Japan ... well, you can guess where that's headed.

What we find bizarre is that it's such a strict lock-out, and that you're not given any degree of choice in the matter. It seems so weird that anyone can access any region's PSN Store, but not the online social networking hub. We can only assume that similar restrictions as on the store will be made for purchasing within Home. That is to say, if you're a UK credit card owner you won't be able to spend anything in the US Home without some jiggery pokery.

Obviously, this all makes sense to Sony. Home is meant to be a big income generator for them; mostly through advertising. They want the most appropriate eyes to see these adverts in order to maximise the "click through" rate. There's no point advertising Mountain Dew to a UK citizen, for example. But console-specific region locking is not the answer. At the very least, set up an IP location check or, god forbid, give people a choice.

Tags: home, Playstation-home

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

SolidOtacon @ Aug 15th 2008 8:35AM

Still no invite for me T _ T and I live in Europe.

Dru @ Aug 15th 2008 3:11PM

They don't have Mountain Dew in the UK?!? They had it in Italy when I lived there a few years back...

hexhunter @ Aug 15th 2008 5:29PM

Nope, no Mountain Dew here, it used to be illegal, but it got released eventually, wasn't popular enough to survive I think.

What does it taste like? Isn't it just like Red Bull or something?

Echnaton @ Aug 15th 2008 8:43AM

I think "Home" is going to be a hype-project anyway ...

MaliceMajorE15 @ Aug 15th 2008 8:49AM

it kicks the sh!t out of any thing thats out anywer i can tell you that

enigma137 @ Aug 15th 2008 8:43AM

I'm in the UK and have a UK machine. But I use my USA account. Cos I prefer my PSN ID.

(d1rtyhabit on US, enigma137 on UK)

So I guess that means I'll be bunched in with the Euro version of Home ?

MaliceMajorE15 @ Aug 15th 2008 8:46AM

im in it and its gr8. thats all im allowed 2 say. i havent run into any1not from the uk though. so maybe its country based 2

Game_playa @ Aug 15th 2008 1:32PM

LEARN TO SPELL!

MakaiOokami @ Aug 17th 2008 5:49PM

Learn to deal with it.

MaliceMajorE15 @ Aug 16th 2008 3:40AM

So what are you saying? No text-speak? Are you too old and unable to get your ageing and decomposing brain around it. Just dont bother trying to read my comments then as they are not directed at you. Certainly dont reply to them and suggest that im iliterate because typing these comments on the ps3 browser in a text message style is easier. Call me lazy if anything. GR8, lol, neway, m8, sk8, ne1, cos, wat, kl, gud, nt, 2

kuppu @ Aug 17th 2008 2:16PM

I'm sorry game_playa, but you just got owned XD.

Kevin @ Aug 15th 2008 8:47AM

Have the invites even gone out yet?

MaliceMajorE15 @ Aug 15th 2008 8:51AM

any reason y my comments have been deleted?

Popfrogs @ Aug 15th 2008 10:24AM

I see them all. They read like this:

"r u n2 deli meat? ya me 2 lolzor. 4 a good time cal 414-chav"

Gambit07 @ Aug 15th 2008 1:04PM

They haven't, we got a strange system here, mystifying really.

videospel @ Aug 15th 2008 9:01AM

WTF! I have a japanese console. So Im not gonna get to meet my friends ever in Home then? This is so stupid and I find it hard that they are going to stick to it. It was the same with Resistance in the begining. I could only play with japanese people until they released a patch that opened up the servers.

Eggy @ Aug 15th 2008 9:07AM

That is always the risk you take. For games importing is not very risky but for hardware you're not only dealing with this sort of stuff but also with support issues when stuff brakes down.

Juan @ Aug 15th 2008 2:58PM

ohhhh you are so lucky!! i wish i could access the japanese home servers. I need japanese friends!!!!

Gman @ Aug 15th 2008 9:10AM

How does one access the Playstation store of other countries?

Eric E @ Aug 15th 2008 9:15AM

google it, Its hard to set up the account w/o knowing Japanese, but i found a guide that told me what to click and what to enter. you just need to fake a japanese address.
Go to users in the XMB, create a new one, go to PS Store, Create new account, Japanese.

SolidOtacon @ Aug 15th 2008 9:18AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz2xTGbe1Mk&feature=related

How to get Japanese PSN account.

Popfrogs @ Aug 15th 2008 10:28AM

Japanese account is pointless. The Hong Kong store is what most people use; it is in English (if you choose) and has the same content.

British Imperialism for the win!

SolidOtacon @ Aug 15th 2008 9:13AM

Who is pissed at Sony of not getting beta invite?

mhardaway @ Aug 15th 2008 9:20AM

I'm not, it will be out for everyone soon enough. Just be patient.

jimmyink @ Aug 15th 2008 11:21AM

like all betas.... who cares. soon enough we'll all be playing it, life rolls on.

"I was in the warhawk beta, why aren't I in the Home beta!".... mmmm yeah, there are bigger things to worry about...

sean @ Aug 15th 2008 5:57PM

DaveGeorge @ Aug 15th 2008 9:20AM

Hehe so I'm f'cked with may JAP unit then ;)

poprocker @ Aug 15th 2008 9:28AM

They don't drink Mt. Dew in the UK?

mavbsbll21 @ Aug 15th 2008 10:07AM

I was wondering the same thing...

Neuromancer @ Aug 15th 2008 10:32AM

They did when I went about 10 years ago, it's like a bright neon green compared to our urine yellow. =|

thinkofmeasmra @ Aug 15th 2008 11:33AM

no one drinks Mountain Dew anywhere lol

Steve Childs @ Aug 15th 2008 12:40PM

Erm, yes we do. Well, we can get it over here anyway. I'm sure we can (can't say I've specifically looked for it though).

Afterall, isn't 'Mountain Dew' just mineral water?) ;)

P @ Aug 15th 2008 1:12PM

Nope, no neon snot-green coloured drinks in the UK thanks :D
We dont have root beer either, or at least if we do its something your even likely to find in most supermarkets.

An no, its not a water, its a carbonated drink, cant recall enough to remember what flavour its meant to be.

P @ Aug 15th 2008 1:15PM

edit:
or at least if we do its something your NOT even likely to find in most supermarkets.

gameforall @ Aug 15th 2008 9:31AM

Come on Sony open up Home. The fun of playing Multi-Player games is that you play with and against people from various regions. Keeping Home locked to your region will be less interesting. Just take Warhawk as a example of how going multi regional worked well for this game.

Popfrogs @ Aug 15th 2008 12:54PM

You know, you bring up a good point. Warhawk is a big part of the Home integration; there's a Warhawk lobby, a Warhawk "war room" where you can stand around and review battle plans before launching a game with the people in your room.

Since Warhawk is international how can Home integration possibly be fully tested the way it's set up now?

SnazzyD @ Aug 18th 2008 1:22PM

FULL STOP! You can still hook up with your friends when you're in your apartment/lodge/home (or in theirs) regardless of region. I believe it is only the public space that is region locked.

Whether or not that extends to special spaces like the Uncharted cantina or the Warhawk war-room remain to be seen. I would be surprised if that's a problem since there likely isn't any 'other' advertising going on to concern Sony - the whole freakin place is an advertisement for the game itself...

The Aggie CEO @ Aug 15th 2008 9:50AM

They dont have Mountain Dew in Europe!?!?!?!

WTF!??!?

now thats just WRONG........lol

DeforMAKulizer @ Aug 15th 2008 9:51AM

NO WAY!!!!! My japanese PS3 wont let me buy anything from home then?! :"( I have a USA account!!!! Come on!!! Thats awful! I hope that doesnt prohibit me from going into the beta... But MAN!!!!

TCampbell76 @ Aug 15th 2008 9:58AM

Ultimately it doesn't matter. Even though it is region locked you can still have international players on your friend list invited into your private apt space. So it isn't completely locked, just the open areas. It makes sense from an advertising standpoint, but I agree with Jem... they can easily tag every banner, poster, and streaming video ad with content that is specific to your region.

Vincent @ Aug 15th 2008 10:23AM

So much for a "region-free" console.

I hope this is just a closed beta thing.

Popfrogs @ Aug 15th 2008 10:26AM

Well it makes sense to me. Unless they implement some kind of region-jumping "airport" in Home that lets you fly to the Japanese Home region so you can polish up on your kanji and language skills, or anywhere else that is a specific region.

Man I think I'm on to something here.

Vincent @ Aug 15th 2008 10:39AM

Well yeah, but Sony doesn't support the PS3 in my country, so I got a white one from Japan relying on the whole "Region-free" speech.

The airport idea is pretty leet XD Besides even if I did have an US PS3, I have friends from Japan and Europe too, I would like to interact with all of them in Home.

Jerses @ Aug 15th 2008 10:20AM

Im really pissed of with sony right now... region locked... hardware locked... man what if my ps3 is from Mexico? legaly imported from walmart or sams or whatever? If we didnt get the video store..then HOME will not work for sure....Damn you sony for selling a hardware that its half suported in my country.

karawettu @ Aug 15th 2008 10:26AM

oh god!! we dont even have the online store in malta!! so i just had to make a uk, american and a japanese account.

i hope we will be able to play home at least!

Jerses @ Aug 15th 2008 11:10AM

Dont count on it.. If they locked the video store via ip. Home via Hardware... There is no way they can let people from other countries visit home with "mountain dew" banners....im losing my faith in sony...all this delays and nothing... why did sony sell half supported ps3 in mexico... hate $ony right now