USA to UK Importing

[Jonnyears]

Like many, I wasn't too pleased about how RB, although it's understandable, coming out around 3 months later over here in England, whereas it will most likely come out in November for the US.

So I was planning on buying from an American shop on the internet, I am pretty certain that everything on the game will work, as my PS3 is multiregional and controllers wont be a problem because they're wireless.

Although one concern of mine is the downloads, with another PS3 game I have, on the forums, people had downloaded an addon for the game from the PS Store and it didn't work on their game because they had bought it from another country. Downloading new songs will be a huge part of the game for me so I wouldn't like it if I couldn't do it.

So I was just wanting to know about anyone else doing what I am doing, and if they are too worried about this. I emailed Harmonix about it yesterday but i'm starting to think as I wait for reply- that it would be better to ask Sony.

Anyway- thanks for reading,
Jonny

[Tyrsis]

I'm almost positive that downloadable content will not work. Besides the fact that you'd be directed to the Euro PSN store, if you did manage to access/download the US content, there are usually regional codes (NPUB/NPEB) and DRM issues with the content that would not let you run it on your system.

I know it sucks to have to wait for the game, but developers are usually required to translate the game to spanish/french/german and italian at the very least, when porting a game to Europe. It takes time!

[sa_nick]

I'm almost positive that downloadable content will not work. Besides the fact that you'd be directed to the Euro PSN store, if you did manage to access/download the US content, there are usually regional codes (NPUB/NPEB) and DRM issues with the content that would not let you run it on your system.

I know it sucks to have to wait for the game, but developers are usually required to translate the game to spanish/french/german and italian at the very least, when porting a game to Europe. It takes time!

It's not because they have to translate text (which really wouldn't take too long anyway, maybe in an RPG, but not a rhythm game). They've said the problem is that they cant make enough peripherals to ship it to Europe etc at the same time.

I wish it was language issues, then the UK, Australia and NZ would all get it in November too.

[Terranova]

Like many, I wasn't too pleased about how RB, although it's understandable, coming out around 3 months later over here in England, whereas it will most likely come out in November for the US.

So I was planning on buying from an American shop on the internet, I am pretty certain that everything on the game will work, as my PS3 is multiregional and controllers wont be a problem because they're wireless.

Although one concern of mine is the downloads, with another PS3 game I have, on the forums, people had downloaded an addon for the game from the PS Store and it didn't work on their game because they had bought it from another country. Downloading new songs will be a huge part of the game for me so I wouldn't like it if I couldn't do it.

So I was just wanting to know about anyone else doing what I am doing, and if they are too worried about this. I emailed Harmonix about it yesterday but i'm starting to think as I wait for reply- that it would be better to ask Sony.

Anyway- thanks for reading,
Jonny

I have been thinking this over as well and there could be a problem, if you import your copy although it would run fine in HD it would still use NTSC for SDTVs, the DLC on the Euro store would have PAL support and such wouldn't work with a NTSC game.. had it been HD only there wouldn't be a problem alas we aren't at that stage yet..

if your able to purchase stuff from the U.S store then just download from there you wouldn't have a problem however if you have no way to do that then the only way is to either wait for the Euro release of Rock band or import and then get the Euro version of the game when released no need to get anything else import controllers will work fine, I was all for importing until i realised the DLC issue.. i have no way to get stuff from the U.S store.. so i'm going to wait for the Euro release yeah it may be 3-4 months later but it will give more time to save up for it.

[Tyrsis]

It's not because they have to translate text (which really wouldn't take too long anyway, maybe in an RPG, but not a rhythm game). They've said the problem is that they cant make enough peripherals to ship it to Europe etc at the same time.

I wish it was language issues, then the UK, Australia and NZ would all get it in November too.

While I don't doubt that the peripherals are the main cause of a 3 month delay, translating the game takes longer than you think. They also have to make sure NTSC/480i is removed and PAL/576 is put in. They have to make sure the UI fits new languages (german words are very long!) They also tend to see if there are any bugs that shipped with the US version of the game, and they fix those for the EU release.

All in all, EU versions tend to be a bit better. They've been worked on longer, and are a bit more polished. On the plus side you'll probaby have more DLC available at launch.

[Apples]

It's not because they have to translate text (which really wouldn't take too long anyway, maybe in an RPG, but not a rhythm game). They've said the problem is that they cant make enough peripherals to ship it to Europe etc at the same time.

I wish it was language issues, then the UK, Australia and NZ would all get it in November too.

I dont think the peripheral thing as the reason for the delay has been 100% confirmed by anyone. (it has been widely speculated though) I do think it is the most logical reason, but the only ones who know for sure aren't talkin'. ;)

[Sford923]

You can easily create a US account and access the US PSN store. You just need to create a new user on your PS3, then create a new PSN ID for that user and input a US address. Then you will easily be able to access the US store. So then I would think the only question would be if you can use a UK credit card on the US PSN store. I don't know if you can do that, I haven't tried buying anything from another country.

[Terranova]

You can easily create a US account and access the US PSN store. You just need to create a new user on your PS3, then create a new PSN ID for that user and input a US address. Then you will easily be able to access the US store. So then I would think the only question would be if you can use a UK credit card on the US PSN store. I don't know if you can do that, I haven't tried buying anything from another country.

The only credit card that worked for the U.S store within the UK is Mastercard.. but i'm hearing more and more that even using one of those doesn't always work now Sony may have closed that loop hole. I have a U.S PS3 account for the free stuff just no means to purchase stuff, i use Visa which isn't supported in the U.S store.

[Jonnyears]

Thanks for the replies everyone, it is very unfortunate that the downloading probably wont work. I will wait for Harmonix to reply before I can completely confirm it though, I will post the email up when they send it.

What I most likely do then is to buy the bundle from America, then when RB is released in England- I could just sell the disk on Ebay! I doubt I would get all my money back for it but I do know how stupid some people are on there. (Bought my PS2 for £80 four years ago, sold it on Ebay for £100!) So hopefully I can count on the stupidness of some.

But as long as all the instruments will work fine, don't see a reason why they wouldn't, I'm happy. I am getting 2 guitars, 2 microphones, 2 drum kits. So if they don't work, I'm abit stuffed aren't I!

Anyway- thanks again,
Jonny

[sa_nick]

I dont think the peripheral thing as the reason for the delay has been 100% confirmed by anyone. (it has been widely speculated though) I do think it is the most logical reason, but the only ones who know for sure aren't talkin'. ;)

Didn't Alex say it in an interview?

[lozcs]

I'm almost positive that downloadable content will not work. Besides the fact that you'd be directed to the Euro PSN store, if you did manage to access/download the US content, there are usually regional codes (NPUB/NPEB) and DRM issues with the content that would not let you run it on your system.

I know it sucks to have to wait for the game, but developers are usually required to translate the game to spanish/french/german and italian at the very least, when porting a game to Europe. It takes time!


I've got a US version in the UK - does this mean DLC will Never work or just that I need to wait till it's released in Europe or do I need to get hold of a Europe version?

Ta..

[Tyrsis]

I've got a US version in the UK - does this mean DLC will Never work or just that I need to wait till it's released in Europe or do I need to get hold of a Europe version?

Ta..

That... remains to be seen. It would depend on if Harmonix has region codes on their DLC. If they do, chances are the EU version of Rock Band will "look" for the EU codes, meaning that US DLC will not work.

This is me just guessing mind you, I'm not sure how Harmonix worked it out :)

[lozcs]

That... remains to be seen. It would depend on if Harmonix has region codes on their DLC. If they do, chances are the EU version of Rock Band will "look" for the EU codes, meaning that US DLC will not work.

This is me just guessing mind you, I'm not sure how Harmonix worked it out :)

Mmmmmmm Oh well - probably take me till Feb to unlock all the songs anyway... ;-)

[peternofx]

I've got the same problem.
I've got the USA Rockband version on my Euro PS3.
For years I buy songs from the USA store and it worked!
But last month Sony has banned my PS3!!!

If I buy a song from the EURO store it didn't work!

Help....

[bradjfowler]

Folks,

On xbox, your DLC will work with no problems, as it's region free. The software itself is region locked. You can just set up a XBL account in whatever nationality you want and go for it. Note though, that songs you purchase in one store will not show up as purchased in another (i.e. your US songs won't show up in the Euro store), so you run the risk of paying twice for the same thing.

However, on PS3 it's the other way round. The software will work with any type of machine, but the DLC itself is region locked. If you have a US copy, you will need to set up a US PSN account and buy from the US store, as anything you buy from the Euro PSN store will not work. Unfortunately, there is no way around this.

Hope that helps.

[mbnasir6]

I've got the same problem.
I've got the USA Rockband version on my Euro PS3.
For years I buy songs from the USA store and it worked!
But last month Sony has banned my PS3!!!

If I buy a song from the EURO store it didn't work!

Help....

You got banned for either glitching in MW2, or buying things from another Region, its against the Terms and Conditions

[doughnut18]

I think there's a chance it maybe be shipped at the same time or very soon after US release this time around, The Beatles was released the same day worldwide, Lego was about 3 weeks later in the EU and Greenday is meant to be released at the same time worldwide, so i'm hopeful we may have it!!

[Mutley93]

I too am someone who imports RB from the USA to UK.

To solve the DLC issue i buy US PSN cards off ebay and that all seems to work out fine :D

Yet i've never heard of Sony banning people from buying from other regions...why should they care anyway their still making money aren't they?

One other question is instead of importing my copy of RB3/ GD:RB from Ebay i was thinking of getting them from Gamestop, can anyone comment on their international delivery?

[mbnasir6]

I too am someone who imports RB from the USA to UK.

To solve the DLC issue i buy US PSN cards off ebay and that all seems to work out fine :D

Yet i've never heard of Sony banning people from buying from other regions...why should they care anyway their still making money aren't they?

One other question is instead of importing my copy of RB3/ GD:RB from Ebay i was thinking of getting them from Gamestop, can anyone comment on their international delivery?

Because there is always legal reason why you can't.
Such as the Who Mash Up being on the UK store but not US, and Blink 182 for GH coming out 2 weeks early.

[bradjfowler]

Re: the gamestop question.

I've ordered off them several times and their service to Australia is pretty good. However, a lot of the stuff you see on there they won't ship internationally, namely hardware or peripherals.

[Skode]

The revived threads are getting even older :eek:

Hoping there is no three months difference in continent releases for RB3 this time round as Lego Rock Band managed a worldwide release with no fuss and across platforms with ease, mind you as the muppets at EA have been confirmed as distributers im going to have to feel pessimistic about this - those dafties couldnt even get an email across the world in a month never mind game titles.

[picchio73]

i've got a question...
i'm in italy and i bought rb,rb2 and lego rb from US, years ago.
is it possible to buy rb3 EU and then import rb2 (US) savegame, with all my songs or i've to buy rb3 US as usual?

thanks

[LoopyChew]

i've got a question...
i'm in italy and i bought rb,rb2 and lego rb from US, years ago.
is it possible to buy rb3 EU and then import rb2 (US) savegame, with all my songs or i've to buy rb3 US as usual?

thanks

On Xbox 360: You can purchase RB3 EU without trouble. All your DLC will work.
On PS3: You'll be forced to purchase RB3 US, as US DLC does not work with EU discs.

[Pearl White]

I have a US version of RB1 and 2, and it seemd lot lot longer then 3 months for when the EU version of RB1 was availblr, RB2 i cant recall it maybe was quicker on these shores. But point being the DLC is region locked for PS and the game is not.

I used to use Entropay to buy all my DLC but now Sony wont accept it, thanks to a few helpfull folks on these forums have now a source for US PSN cards so as can purchase one of them to top my acct up so as can aquire the DLC.

When The EU store came online i tried downloading a track from there unfortunatly it was not compatible with my US RB1 or RB2

So till these folks at Sony and other places stop region locking thier games and dlc we will just have to carry on with the system they force us to use.

[Resident-Seven]

What are some US online stores that ship internationally. I'm in Aus and need to import RB3 from the US.

[Blasteroids]

There is this place who are in Canada : http://www.videogamesplus.ca/
I know of a few people who have used them to ship to the UK. You can also change the prices to show in AUD.

[cburton]

I Bought RB1 and RB 2 in America, I use to use entropay and I have ordered RB3 from videogamer ca, I now get PS Cards from mmoga.uk which works out great !!!

[acdcrock]

Wait, can I get the game in the US and the keyboard here?

I mean, will they be selling the keyboard solus?

[cburton]

Thats what i am planning its only the Keyboard, I guess its not region locked, I use my hofner and GH 4 guitar with rockband games and I bought them here

[acdcrock]

Will they be selling the keyboard solus though?

[cburton]

You can order from game shark which is a UK equiv to mad catz