DVD region coding seems a little pointless nowadays.
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
January 13, 2013 2:05pm CST
The idea of region coding a DVD according to location was introduced in order to limit the circulation of new releases. Many new films were shown in The United States several months before being released in The United Kingdom, which meant that DVDs could be available in one country before the film was shown in another. This stopped people from ordering a film from overseas prior to the release, which could effectively ruin the Box Office takings for the studio.
Nowadays there are many programs that will copy a DVD and remove the coding, which allows them to be posted on the internet and downloaded by millions of people. This is such a prolific thing that unless the practice is effectively stopped there seems no point in using region coding anymore. I wonder why the studios even bother with it now.
4 people like this
7 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
13 Jan 13
This is a valid point because many people accumulate films in this way and never consider buying a DVD. Nevertheless, there are still many stores that specialise in DVDs, so there has to be a large demand in order for these businesses to survive.
1 person likes this
@turbopt (74)
• Portugal
13 Jan 13
Unfortunately this is the true, nowadays as I saw in my country, there is no Store specialize in DVD. The only place i can buy DVD is in supermarkets or stores specialize in new technology
That happened because now everyone got internet and its easy to found every movies here
@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
13 Jan 13
Hello Asylum !
Well there are actually several programs that can solve this as well - you can either change your region (virtually) or use region free software (that totally ignores the region requirments from discs and plays it anyway).
Region limitation is not a good idea anyway, at least not for us consumers, as in a way it encourages piracy.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
14 Jan 13
This is true and I do not a region free DVD player myself.
I would not really consider it as unfair to consumers because it simply limits the countries from which you can buy a DVD with the appropriate region code. It was there to protect against unfair exploitation, but it hardly serves any purpose at all now.
@rafiholmes (2896)
• Malaysia
14 Jan 13
yes..theres softwares that decodes all the codes for a DVD player..
but Bluray disc player..requires the player to be firmware up to date..from time to time..if not..new mocvies cant be viewed..
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
20 Feb 13
Personally, with so many ways to attain a movie these days, or being able to watch something and even download it, it makes it quite interesting that their is still this options even mentioned anymore. So I guess overall, it often depends on what people think is best.
@Bionicman (3958)
• Czech Republic
14 Jan 13
I was glad when I found out Sony dropped the regional coding for Playstation 3 games (Playstation 2 had it). So now I can order games online because it's much cheaper than buying it in local store and don't have to worry whether it will work or not.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
14 Jan 13
Since I have never used a Playstation I was not aware that they used region coding. This seems to serve no purpose because wherever you purchase the disc the profits will still go to the same company. I cannot think of any reason to restrict the circulation of a game in that way, it makes more sense to try to attract a greater customer base.the
@rafiholmes (2896)
• Malaysia
14 Jan 13
yes..PS3 has no region restriction..can play all games from any country..bliss ei?? hehehe.. but still only plays DVD and Blurays..of the original coding of the country where the ps3 is bought.
@rafiholmes (2896)
• Malaysia
15 Jan 13
All games.. have creators credit(not companies under the SONY CORP) and probably at first this individual game creation companies such EAs,RockStar,Capcom,SEGA etc..need their works to be region protected..but probably down to the last minute.before the release of PS3.. they have signed agreement that only the Sony PLaystation provide the console for their games..or also have license their games for other consoles..xbox etc..
@rafiholmes (2896)
• Malaysia
14 Jan 13
DVDs?? thats so 1999///
by 2003 or so.. many DVD player able to play all region codes..so even Uk buyers..ordering from the US..are able to play a Region coded DVD disc..
(ofcourse so top Brands..still maintain the codec inside the player to play ONLY authorised region codes..like SONY,PIONEER etc) but most unknown brands or cheap/regular DVD players..just plays everything.. and i think by now..2011-2013..all DVD players..(excluding DVD rom drives) are all able to play any DVDs..(unless ofcourse some top brands like SONY..etc still applies coding to their player ,to protect in part Sony Pictures film products.)
..by the way nowadays..its all about Bluray Disc.. a much more effective way of Region coding..
and even rips made available for illegal downloading..are too big of a file (10Gb averaging) if to see it in full 1080p or 720p HD quality..is often to much broadband to be downloaded.. and region coding from Bluray disc player is pretty effective..and instantly even recognized a Fake/pirated Bluray disc and blocked people from viewing them in the player.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
15 Jan 13
I have 2 DVD players, which one I know is a multi-region player. I have had this DVD player for 10 years or so now, but I rarely encounter DVDs from other regions so the ability to play them is rather academic. I acquired the DVD player because there were a few region 1 DVDs on sale in the bargain shops at the time, therefore it seemed a good idea.
Despite Blu-ray gaining popularity, it is still far less common than DVD at the present, although this could easily change in the near future.
@rafiholmes (2896)
• Malaysia
16 Jan 13
yes.. i think in USA and CANADA..plus maybe JAPAN..(since theyre the pioneer of HD format)..will slowly stopping the creation of DVDs..since its almost the same price(few bucks difference in some cases)..and concentrate on Bluray disc..(and inside usually 99% chance theres a digital copies for those who hasnt got a BD player yet..)
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
16 Sep 15
most DVD players now come with multi-region options enabling them to watch pretty well any DVD no matter which country / region it is from
