I don't understand the purpose of region locks. In the modern world where the far side of the world is merely a flight away and people from all races and religions are spread far and wide across the globe, what do we gain from region locks? Why erect walls that don't need to be there?
AFAIK, the reasons used:
- Prices
- NTSC/PAL/SECAM stuff
- Censorship
So far I think only censorship is the most "suitable" reason for region locking.
I think price is the more realistic one. Yea it may seem 'unfair'. Why pay more for a game that you can get dirt cheap elsewhere.
Well if you're entering your products into a country in a country where the average salary is £5000* then you're going to want to sell your games at a price where they're still going to sell. Nobody's going to pay £40 for a game, but £15 to £20 perhaps.
Why is it fair that people in a country where the average salary is £28,000 should get the games for the same price? People in the UK pay more for accommodation, electricity water and food than all over Asia, for example. Basic requirements needed to live. Yet people don't kick up a stink that a pineapple or a bottle of water is a third of the price in Thailand compared to the UK. When it comes to luxury items, that you're we're all bloody well lucky to even have in the first place, we're the first to jump on the evil corporation bandwagon.
Think about this: if region locking didn't exist/wasn't possible, do you think the prices in Nintendo's biggest/wealthiest markets would go down? Or would the prices come up globally to he highest common denominator, making games even less accessible in less wealthy countries?