Buying a US PS3...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Polyphony001
  • 39 comments
  • 1,651 views
Polyphony001

Polyphony001

Messages
1,574
Hi I'm a UK user and am just about done with paying 40-50% more for stuff over here that arrives several months late and that you're only allowed to buy the expensive versions of, e.g. the PS3. Consequently I'm interested in getting the PS3 (including Gran turismo HD when it's out) from the US. First of all, when is this likely to be possible (i.e. when they are actually available and there aren't massive shortages), what sort of cost am I looking at for delivery to the UK, and can a US console play UK games or can it be unlocked easily? I have no intention of fitting a modchip or swapmagic device. I can live without PAL support, but it'd be far preferable to be able to use a unit where I can still buy UK games, for obvious reasons.
Thanks in advance
 
First of all, when is this likely to be possible (i.e. when they are actually available and there aren't massive shortages),
Click to expand...
Probably Winter/Spring 2007, unless you're lucky.

what sort of cost am I looking at for delivery to the UK,
Click to expand...

Don't know.

and can a US console play UK games or can it be unlocked easily?
Click to expand...
Yes. The PS3 is region free.
 
Wow, utterly region free? If that's the case I may as well get a Japanese one from Lik Sang, I had no idea! With luck I'll be able to bag one around christmas time!:)
 
Well, how much is a testicle? I'd sooner that than pay both arms, both legs, an ear, and eye and all my hair in VAT and markup for the UK 60GB version! The 20GB US version is supposed to be $499. I make that about £260. Add 3 games and import costs and it's ooh, maybe £350-£360? The UK 60GB version with 3 games is £550. That's harsh for a multi region console!
 
It depends on what tariff it falls into for import tax. t can work out more expensive, it can work out less. You'll need to look up the import taxes.
 
Polyphony, I'm in the same boat and I'm currently weighing up the options. The real problem with importing is that if the machine experiences issues you won't be covered under warranty. (The thought of having to hand over one's PS3 to a backyard operator for a fix sounds pretty scary.):sick: Given that the PS3 is one of the more complex consumer products ever launched, and that both the X360 and the Playstation 2 had serious teething issues at launch, it does look like a bit of a lottery. Incidentally, as the 220V NTSC/J Asia version machines won't be available anytime soon, you'll need a stepdown converter to use the Jpn machine.
 
although the games may be region free as in they play on any ps3 console in the world are the playstations themselves region free or can only european ps3's play on european tvs
 
I would never buy a new console at launch.

You end up doing an extended beta test for Microsoft/Sony, and you end up paying loads extra.
 
daan
I would never buy a new console at launch.

You end up doing an extended beta test for Microsoft/Sony, and you end up paying loads extra.
Click to expand...

We have never had any problems with launch consoles, PS1 was great never had any problems at all, and sold it a week before the PS2 launch, the we got a PS2 launch machine and the only problem with it, is it wont play CD games only DVD games, but thats no biggie, and we also have a launch GC and thats still fine too.

I think that if you totally hammer your console and dont treat it with a little respect, that when you run into problems.
 
I went on holiday to asia and got my PS2 there..... I got it about a year before UK release and just brought it back......I will probably do the same with the PS3, especially now that we know its region free for the games! :) May be lucky and get a Japaniese November launch one! But will probably bug ridden!

Yes Britian is a rip off apart from food..... I could get a PS3 probably get the 60GB for a good price, it will be atleast 17.5% cheaper for a start! and I can get some Japaniese games aswell..... only problem, this all excludes the cost to get there which is about £800! hahahaha...but if im there anyway!

If the console is region free does that mean you can setup the online bit anywhere in the world... like will Sony not let me do it if they find im connecting a Japaniese PS3 to UK broadband!???

Robin
 
As far as I know, at least if you're using the HD system you should be alright, it's if you're using a TV that just has composite, component and S-Video that you may run into problems, especially if you use the latter to connect the console. Since I *should* be able to run the PS3 through component and I'm using a monitor, video signal shouldn't be a problem, if I hear right, games won't be a problem, so all I have to worry about is BR-DVDs. I'm sure some region free system will take care of that by the time I'll want to do it. We had a launch PS2 and it only went wrong a year or so ago, and any console could break after 4 years, so I don't think that went too bad. Hopefully a PS3 will be the same. I've asked Lik-Sang what they're stance on the deal is, and how I might go about pre-ordering one. hopefully they'll respond soon, they must be plagued with questions like that!
 
what about viewing import consoles on our UK tvs? When I had an american N64 it would only play games in black and white on ma UK Tv.
 
That's correct because NTSC 60Hz 480i isn't compatible with PAL 50Hz 576i so the colour signal is lost. Normal TVs had to suffer that. A lot of HDTVs allow 60Hz since they double as computer monitors so they can accept either. In fact, Computer monitors can accept higher refresh rates than that, mine's technically 75Hz, but will accept 60Hz at 1920x1080.
 
PAL to NTSC or NTSC to PAL? PAL to NTSC makes it sound like all TVs inside have NTSC screens and they convert PAL images to NTSC so they can be played. As far as I was aware it would normally be done the other way round. Congrats on your top-speed GT4 exploits with the GT-One btw, very impressive.
 
I'm not sure how it works, but it I beleive it can be done both ways. NTSC signals are read as NTSC signals and the TV projects an NTSC image. PAL signals are read as PAL signals and the TV shows a PAL image.
 
Hmm, not sure how that works then, because PAL has 96 extra lines? Oh well, best not ask questions. I'll let everyone know if I get a response from Lik Sang.
 
Quite technically, if you hooked up the PS3 with component or HDMI cables it wouldn't matter, as they are digital cables; and PAL is an analog coloring system.
 
If you use a HDTV and the component or the HDMI output, you'll get PAL or SECAM because ATSC, the television standard for High-definition, supports both.

So, no problems for PAL, NTSC or even SECAM.
 
I would'nt even attempt to get a PS3 imported on launch. There's no guarantee an importer will sell them at shop price. The only way would be to fly to the US and buy one from a store.
I have an imported slim PS2. It cost me around £200-£220 but that paid for everything, shipping, tax etc. It's a good £80-£100 more. It was possible to get it cheaper elsewhere but the shipping, tax etc would not be covered. Personally I can wait 4 months. If anything I have more time to save up and buy more games from a wider selection.
Also you'd need a good step-down power adapter. Good ones can cost anywhere between £30 and £60.
Adding it all up I don't think you'd save money (probably cost more) but you'd get it around launch I guess, if you're lucky.
 
It's too early to tell if there'll ba few or no 20GB PS3's coming to the UK. As the date's been pushed back chances are there'll be a fair number. And as most 60GB consoles are the ones many hardcore fans will be after the 20GB's may be easier to find.
I think a 20GB PS3 will sell for around £350-£375. But I get why many would want a PS3 on launch, hell I do! But I'm not willing to go through the considerabe hassle to get one.
 
slackbladder
And as most 60GB consoles are the ones many hardcore fans will be after the 20GB's may be easier to find.
Click to expand...

Doubt it. Only 20% of the launch PS3s are supposed to be the 20GB version. And even then the 20GB version hasn't been confirmed for Europe yet.
 
I think the likelihood of finding a 20GB UK one with ease, at least before the end of 2007 will be low. In any case, GT HD should be out long before the European PS3 launch, I don't like missing out on the action!:grumpy:
 

Latest Posts

Back