R.I.P. Lik-Sang !!! Sony warns against grey importing (PS3)

[Max_DC]

Lik-Sang loses PSP case in High Court

Sony has warned that it will take legal action against anyone engaging in grey importing of its products after scoring a High Court victory over online retailer Lik-Sang.

In his ruling yesterday, Judge Michael Fysh found that Lik-Sang - which offered Japanese PSPs to European consumers via its website - was in breach of intellectual property rights.

Lik-Sang had claimed that it was operating within the law as the company is based in Hong Kong, and has no trading presence in the UK or European Economic Area.

But, as reported by the Financial Times, Judge Fysh ruled that, "The acts of which the complaint is made have, in my view, been perpetrated not in Hong Kong but here in the EEA, and without Sony's consent."

Sony declined to comment directly on the case. However, a spokesperson did tell GI.biz: "The law is clear; grey importing PS2, PSP or PS3 into the EU, without the express permission of SCE is illegal. Therefore, we will utilise the full scope of the law to put a stop to any retailers who chose to do this."

He continued, "Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards, due to voltage supply differences et cetera; is not - in PS3's case - backwards compatible with either PS1 or PS2 software; will not play European Blu-Ray movies or DVDs; and will not be covered by warranty."

It's no surprise that Sony is offering a strong warning against importing PS3s - there's likely to be a high demand for the consoles in Europe, following the announcement that they won't be officially arriving here until four months after they go on sale in the US and Japan.

The company will doubtless be looking to avoid a repeat of the events of last year, where several retailers, including ElectricBirdLand, ended up in court for selling import PSPs.

Honestly, what does Sony want ? What ? This sucks... I mean, not for everybody, but certainly for me and many others aswell... I need a lot of selfcontrol to avoid a huge load of swearing in this thread...🤬
But whatever they do, I'll get a Japanese PS3...



NEWS : Lik-sang is out of business... oh well, let's hope that at least Play-asia will stay...

 

[Mr Deap]

I hope you'll be able to get one from the land of the rising circle.

 

[slackbladder]

Protect consumers? BS. I have an imported slim PS2 (not via Lik-sang) and as a consumer that was my decision. I don't want Sony making my purchasing decisions for me. If I buy an import and it goes wrong and I have no warranty that's my fault and I would accept it.
Then again seeing as the price for an imported PS3 will probably touch £1000 or more I would'nt get one anyway.
Still those that can afford one or is willing to pay that price should have the freedom to do so.

But at least it's certain that PAL PS3's will not play NTSC PS1 and PS2 games.

Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards, due to voltage supply differences et cetera; is not - in PS3's case - backwards compatible with either PS1 or PS2 software

Others may have known this already but it's the first time I've read it for certain.

 

[DuckRacer]

This is like what, the nineteenth time Sony angered a bunch of people in the past year?

 

[Max_DC]

Well, Microsoft gives a full year warrenty on a Japanese Xbox360 imported to Europe. THAT is service.
Btw I won't import my PS3 before April 2007 because of my exams in university... It shouldn't be such a problem until then to get one...hopefully...

 

[Jay]

When Sony delay Europe/Australia/NZ release dates like they do what do they expect?? This is poor.

 

[Jeremy Ricci]

You guy's DO understand how economics works right? If you import, your essentially SCREWING your local market. If you guy's really want to see the downfall of the total supply you recieve at your stores (because retailers will not order what they cannot push due to imports) then by all means, screw the people who would otherwise sell you the console.

Sony simply does not want thousands of people to import PS3's and hurt the local retailers in your area, but more importantly, take away from potential PS3 sales for that region.

It's just economics.

 

[Robin]

This is all rubbish... if its region free I dont see the problem....... I got my PS2 in Hong Kong few days after Japan's launch day and it had been grey imported from Japan. Now its in the UK...... As Lik Sang said are within Hong Kong Law and I dont see any problem..... Im going to try and pick a PS3 up in Hong Kong at Xmas or maybe easter and bring it back.

I dont mind screwing the UK economy..... the bloody VAT is stupid enough! Im not gonna pay like 17.5% more and wait till March.

 

[Jeremy Ricci]

This is all rubbish... if its region free I dont see the problem....... I got my PS2 in Hong Kong few days after Japan's launch day and it had been grey imported from Japan. Now its in the UK...... As Lik Sang said are within Hong Kong Law and I dont see any problem..... Im going to try and pick a PS3 up in Hong Kong at Xmas or maybe easter and bring it back.

I dont mind screwing the UK economy..... the bloody VAT is stupid enough! Im not gonna pay like 17.5% more and wait till March.

You say that now, but imagine that all consumers thought like you did, and your economy would resemble something closer to North Korea, and you can kiss your comfy style of living goodbye.

 

[Max_DC]

You guy's DO understand how economics works right? If you import, your essentially SCREWING your local market. If you guy's really want to see the downfall of the total supply you recieve at your stores (because retailers will not order what they cannot push due to imports) then by all means, screw the people who would otherwise sell you the console.

Sony simply does not want thousands of people to import PS3's and hurt the local retailers in your area, but more importantly, take away from potential PS3 sales for that region.

It's just economics.

Sure, but let's face it. Who will buy a Japanese PS3 ( huge costs involved ) knowing that he can probably play only 50% of the PAL games and no BR movies ?
Like, nobody ? The average joe won't import, he never did and never will.
And Microsoft and Nintendo also have no huge problem with it.
It's really no big deal. And I'll do it anyway, so does every other import freak. All they do is annoying us.

You say that now, but imagine that all consumers thought like you did, and your economy would resemble something closer to North Korea, and you can kiss your comfy style of living goodbye.

That is a little exaggerated huh ? We have to pay import taxes, so the government gets its money. and if somebody in Japan imports a German Mercedes we get our money back.
The point is that noboy cares. I can buy a Sony TV, digicam, mobile phone etc in USA or Japan and nobody cares...why here?

 

[slackbladder]

When I imported my US PS2 I had already owned 2 UK PS2's. That way I had a PAL and an NTSC machine. At the time it made sense. I didn't have to do it and in fact Sony made more money from me.

But I would never entertain the idea of getting a PS3 at launch on import simply because of the warranty issue and the outrageous price of imports. I will get a UK console on or near launch. But as I'm an avid movie buff and for sure Blu-ray films will be released in the US before the UK, I'd like to get an NTSC PS3 at some point. However I'll see how that pans out.
The fact is I'll have already bought one PS3. Why should I be stopped getting another on import considering that the UK PS3 can not play Region 1 BD films or DVD's?

I guess the same thing goes for everything you import; it may take away sales from local retailers/suppliers etc. Thing is when you can't get something in the UK (for example I recently imported a special edition Seven Samurai DVD which is only available in the US) I should be allowed to import it.
But I guess the law makes no exceptions. At least in Sony's eyes.

 

[Jeremy Ricci]

Eh, I'm a man of morals and principals, so you guy's do what you want. Integrity is a value I hold dear to myself, so taking advantage of the system, etc etc etc is just out of my reach, I can't comprehend it as understandable...that's jut me. So if you feel like I'm breathing down your neck, I apologize, those are juts my views.

 

[slackbladder]

And your views are always appreciated.👍

Well, as I said I don't see the point in importing on launch. I do see what Sony are doing. But it seems a little heavy handed. Ultimately it'd be cheaper and simpler to fly to the US and buy a console there (if you can find one).
I'm hoping that there will be no need for me to get an NTSC machine. I'd rather not pay for another one.

 

[Max_DC]

Eh, I'm a man of morals and principals, so you guy's do what you want. Integrity is a value I hold dear to myself, so taking advantage of the system, etc etc etc is just out of my reach, I can't comprehend it as understandable...that's jut me. So if you feel like I'm breathing down your neck, I apologize, those are juts my views.

Sorry, but that sounds just a little to simple to me...
We don't live in 1950... Sony is a multibillion dollar company with tens of thousands of shareholders etc. If you buy a Sony product in your home region the money goes to like 20 countries anyway, so why bother ? Parts from Japan and Taiwan, fabricated in China, the package was printed in India, the manual in Pakistan, transported to Frankfurt airport with an Antonov, from there with local services sent to a shop near your, which is actually owned by a French holding... The shop manager takes the revenue from the PS3 he sold to you for a sex trip to Thailand and spends it there...and Sony USA/Europe sends half the money back to Japan....

There is your integritiy, spent in a night club in Phuket.... wake up
Apart from the fact, that I buy more PAL games and consoles than the average consumer anyway, so no need to feel sorry for my local shops...

I don't want to save money by importing games, I want to play games which are not availible in Europe or 10 months later...

 

[Jeremy Ricci]

Sorry, but that sounds just a little to simple to me...
We don't live in 1950... Sony is a multibillion dollar company with tens of thousands of shareholders etc. If you buy a Sony product in your home region the money goes to like 20 countries anyway, so why bother ? Parts from Japan and Taiwan, fabricated in China, the package was printed in India, the manual in Pakistan, transported to Frankfurt airport with an Antonov, from there with local services sent to a shop near your, which is actually owned by a French holding... The shop manager takes the revenue from the PS3 he sold to you for a sex trip to Thailand and spends it there...and Sony USA/Europe sends half the money back to Japan....

There is your integritiy, spent in a night club in Phuket.... wake up
Apart from the fact, that I buy more PAL games and consoles than the average consumer anyway, so no need to feel sorry for my local shops...

I don't want to save money by importing games, I want to play games which are not availible in Europe or 10 months later...

You're missing my point entirely. It skews the initial numbers and may deviate developers from releasing titles in a certain territory because they're 10K short because people decided to import.

It happened with the PSP, they were something like 20K short of their initial launch numbers, which was found to have been the cause of imports.

And don't question my sense of integrity and make it seem petty.Simply because I respect import laws, which clearly, as YOUR COUNTRY showed, are in effect. It's not SONY'S fault your country has these laws, now is it? No.

 

[Omnis]

You guy's DO understand how economics works right? If you import, your essentially SCREWING your local market. If you guy's really want to see the downfall of the total supply you recieve at your stores (because retailers will not order what they cannot push due to imports) then by all means, screw the people who would otherwise sell you the console.

Sony simply does not want thousands of people to import PS3's and hurt the local retailers in your area, but more importantly, take away from potential PS3 sales for that region.

It's just economics.

+Rep. I was waiting for someone to say this instead of just complaining like babies.

 

[Max_DC]

You're missing my point entirely. It skews the initial numbers and may deviate developers from releasing titles in a certain territory because they're 10K short because people decided to import.

It happened with the PSP, they were something like 20K short of their initial launch numbers, which was found to have been the cause of imports.

And don't question my sense of integrity and make it seem petty.Simply because I respect import laws, which clearly, as YOUR COUNTRY showed, are in effect. It's not SONY'S fault your country has these laws, now is it? No.

Well since I import I don't need a regional release, forgot it ?
No honestly, I see your point, but you're wrong anyway. The PS3 has the option for the developers to put a region code on their games. And that's it, no more importing. I just talk about buying a Japanese PS3. Very few will do this anyway, even if it would be the most simple thing in the world. Most people want games in their language, watching BR movies of their region, a full warrenty etc.
So all that Sony does, is it making life harder for one of their best customers ... you have to know that I own over 80 original PSX games, 100 original PS2 games, severl Sony consoles and a ton of hardware and ( not directly connected to SCEE, but still ) a lot of other Sony stuff from mobile over digicam to TV and computer monitor. A very silly move to piss off people like me. But I say it again. Japanese PS3 will be unpayable in the first months anyway. So why does Sony care ? There like what, 10 people who will pay over 1000 dollar for a PS3 without support of their region in both games and movies ?

ANd what import law are you talking about ? I can import whatever I want. Sony can't do sh** against it, they don't have the slightest possibility against it. What they can do however is trying to force my import dealers to stop selling them.

+Rep. I was waiting for someone to say this instead of just complaining like babies.

A worthy comment, thank you very much for your contribution. Not.
There are two possibilities : either you are used to import games/consoles or not. If not, which I assume, this is clearly not your thread.
Of course you don't care if importing is hard when you never had the idea to do it.
I'm not crying like a baby, I hate it that Sony tries to limit their best customers, whereas other companies like Nintendo and MS don't. They also still live you know ... As I called MS for this subject on their free hotline, the man on the phone had to ask his boss ( remember it was 4 minutes before 10 pm, the end of the hotline )... After five minutes he returned and told me that I have one year full warrenty and the only disadvantage is, that they MAYBE wouldn't be able to replace the console ( if broken damaged etc ) within 3 days but within a week or 10 days. The call ended 10 min later, although that guy's work time was already over.

THAT is what I call customer friendly service...

 

[Sambert]

But at least it's certain that PAL PS3's will not play NTSC PS1 and PS2 games. Others may have known this already but it's the first time I've read it for certain.

Yeah, I hadn't heard about the region lock-out on PS1/PS2 games. I have a large NTSC/J game library, and it now looks like I might be better off with an NTSC/J Asia 220V console. I can only hope that the Liksang court case was confined to EU sales…

 

[road kill]

uhm i thought ps3 had no region lock on it...

so im guessing that idea was scrapped?

 

[Sambert]

The console remains region-free for PS3 games. BD and DVD discs were always going to be bound by region encoding, however there was seemingly little information on PS2/PS1 titles until now.

 

[Max_DC]

The console remains region-free for PS3 games. BD and DVD discs were always going to be bound by region encoding, however there was seemingly little information on PS2/PS1 titles until now.

This is only half the truth unfortunately. Games can still have a region code lock, it's up the publishers. Just like with the Xbox360....

Think about it, Asia versions are a lot cheaper than Europen PAL games, even with import tax and shipping. But you can't sell 60 EUR games in China/HK... that's why I wouldn't count in too many region code free games... especially from Japan, not a single game so far is region code free for teh Xbox360...That's why I'll buy a Japanese console....

And Samberto the 220 V issue is not that important, just get a step down converter... will there be Asia version in the beginning btw ?

 

[Sambert]

This is only half the truth unfortunately. Games can still have a region code lock, it's up the publishers. Just like with the Xbox360....

Good point, though we can only hope for the best.

And Samberto the 220 V issue is not that important, just get a step down converter... will there be Asia version in the beginning btw ?

Although I have two step-down converters for my current import hardware, I aim to purchase 220V stuff when I can (much better for convenience/portability etc.)
In regard to the Asia model, I was chatting with a friend from Taiwan the other day, and he suggested that the Asia model will be available this year. I remain doubtful to some extent (the delay of the 360 comes to mind) though we’ll know soon enough.

 

[HiyakuShiro]

Honestly, what does Sony want ? What ? This sucks... I mean, not for everybody, but certainly for me and many others aswell... I need a lot of selfcontrol to avoid a huge load of swearing in this thread...
But whatever they do, I'll get a Japanese PS3...

You guy's DO understand how economics works right? If you import, your essentially SCREWING your local market. If you guy's really want to see the downfall of the total supply you recieve at your stores (because retailers will not order what they cannot push due to imports) then by all means, screw the people who would otherwise sell you the console.

Sony simply does not want thousands of people to import PS3's and hurt the local retailers in your area, but more importantly, take away from potential PS3 sales for that region.

It's just economics.

All of you are missing the big issue, yes local dealers would suffer, and you would cause problems with avalbility and so on, but from how I understand it, they are trying to prevent wasted legal battle, as well as personal loss, think about it, if your house burns down because your imported product that doesn't conform with local voltage requirements, that means your mortgage insurance could refuse to cover in event of fire, your family could be killed because of your carelessness, the ones you care about burned to the ground because you wanted a import video game?

I can't say forsure if this is a major issue, but I know there is a difference between voltage within NA, UK, EU, and Japan(and other countries to numerous to waste time on, no offence intended) If such a thing did happen, your house,families house, apartment so on, did in fact burn down, you would probably try to sue Sony, they would take it to court, wining of course. . .

"Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards, due to voltage supply differences et cetera"

Yes there are safeguards and converters so on so forth, but they will not bring back the ones you love/care about.

 

[Max_DC]

All of you are missing the big issue, yes local dealers would suffer, and you would cause problems with avalbility and so on, but from how I understand it, they are trying to prevent wasted legal battle, as well as personal loss, think about it, if your house burns down because your imported product that doesn't conform with local voltage requirements, that means your mortgage insurance could refuse to cover in event of fire, your family could be killed because of your carelessness, the ones you care about burned to the ground because you wanted a import video game?

I can't say forsure if this is a major issue, but I know there is a difference between voltage within NA, UK, EU, and Japan(and other countries to numerous to waste time on, no offence intended) If such a thing did happen, your house,families house, apartment so on, did in fact burn down, you would probably try to sue Sony, they would take it to court, wining of course. . .Yes there are safeguards and converters so on so forth, but they will not bring back the ones you love/care about.

Are you serious ? I don't want to import a nuclear bomb with a Chinese manual with wires hanging out etc.
So I already have like 7 of those deathbringing Japanese consoles and thank God my house isn't buring at this very moment...wait let'me check... yeah everything fine. You either have a step down converter ( bought in Europe btw ) or you don't. If you don't it won't run, simply because we have different shapes of our power cord adapters... But even if you should hit your PS3 with high voltage, so what ? The power unit will fry within a second and nothing will burn...it's not like you can play a few hours with high voltage, go to bed and then everything gtes warm... see it's not that anybody else on this planet cares if you import their stuff to Europe for example, just Sony...

And even if my house burns, nobody could win a battle against Sony anyway. Against liksang maybe. Sony simple puts a "for Japan only" button on their hardware and that's it...

 

[HiyakuShiro]

Are you serious ? I don't want to import a nuclear bomb with a Chinese manual with wires hanging out etc.
So I already have like 7 of those deathbringing Japanese consoles and thank God my house isn't buring at this very moment...wait let'me check... yeah everything fine. You either have a step down converter ( bought in Europe btw ) or you don't. If you don't it won't run, simply because we have different shapes of our power cord adapters... But even if you should hit your PS3 with high voltage, so what ? The power unit will fry within a second and nothing will burn...it's not like you can play a few hours with high voltage, go to bed and then everything gtes warm... see it's not that anybody else on this planet cares if you import their stuff to Europe for example, just Sony...

And even if my house burns, nobody could win a battle against Sony anyway. Against liksang maybe. Sony simple puts a "for Japan only" button on their hardware and that's it...

Hey, hey, don't jump down my throat, I am just saying, if it's not rated under your areas voltage requirements then yes you could run the risk of fire as with ANY ELECTRICAL DEVICE weither or not it's for your area, there are those who think nothing bad will ever happen, sadly they aren't with us, I'm not saying you are stupid(I'm not saying you tape things together with duck tape and shove it in the socket), I never ment to insult anyone, I am saying that you will run the risk of voiding your insurance, everytime we use anything electrical we run the risk of killing ourselfs and others, much like driving a car, I just wanted to point out that fact, if you don't like it that is your opinion.

Yes you imported your systems, good for you, I don't say there is anything wrong with it, I just think you should be a little more considerate to reason, you seem like a intellegent person so why make such smartass remarks? I have come to see a lot of this on gtp lately, I am saying in a polite way, there are lots of reason why, no one person brought attention to it.

Yes Sony tends to be selective over what leaves their country, but really who cares, if you hate them so much stop buying their stuff and just maybe they will go bankrupt.

 

[Max_DC]

Hey, hey, don't jump down my throat, I am just saying, if it's not rated under your areas voltage requirements then yes you could run the risk of fire as with ANY ELECTRICAL DEVICE weither or not it's for your area, there are those who think nothing bad will ever happen, sadly they aren't with us, I'm not saying you are stupid(I'm not saying you tape things together with duck tape and shove it in the socket), I never ment to insult anyone, I am saying that you will run the risk of voiding your insurance, everytime we use anything electrical we run the risk of killing ourselfs and others, much like driving a car, I just wanted to point out that fact, if you don't like it that is your opinion.

Yes you imported your systems, good for you, I don't say there is anything wrong with it, I just think you should be a little more considerate to reason, you seem like a intellegent person so why make such smartass remarks? I have come to see a lot of this on gtp lately, I am saying in a polite way, there are lots of reason why, no one person brought attention to it.

Yes Sony tends to be selective over what leaves their country, but really who cares, if you hate them so much stop buying their stuff and just maybe they will go bankrupt.

I didn't attack you, but your frist sentence : "All of you are missing the big issue" also sounded a little smartass you know and it is really not what Sony cares about, since the legal situation is not as you describe it. You also can't sue a knife company because one of their knives was used to kill one of your realtives etc...
So all I did was a little sarcastic description of my view on your opinion, didn't mean to be rude and if you read through the second part of my post you'll see that it is written in a noninsulting neutral way, stating facts....

I don't hate Sony, but they are making faults imo. And since this is a forum I'll discuss it. I won't boykott Sony, since it wouldn't matter anyway and I like Sony products and games, hell this is why I am angry about their behavior, because I will import the PS3 and I will have to deal with the disturbing effect of their statements....
So am I voiding my insurence? I don't think so. The stepdown convertor is a EU prooved electric device with an obvious function.
Sony wants to maximize their profits, I don't blame them, everybody does, but
other companies have found different ways... it's really only hitting the freaks.
I said I'm a huge above average customer, but that is only half the truth. I am also the most influential person concerning videogames for like 2 dozen people I know. And they tend to quote my opinion when talking to their friends etc, and it's hard to find good words about Sony atm, whereas the excellent customer service of MS sold 2 Xbox360 to my friends within the last 2 months....

 

[Pupik]

Sony is a multibillion dollar company with tens of thousands of shareholders etc. If you buy a Sony product in your home region the money goes to like 20 countries anyway, so why bother ? Parts from Japan and Taiwan, fabricated in China, the package was printed in India, the manual in Pakistan, transported to Frankfurt airport with an Antonov, from there with local services sent to a shop near your, which is actually owned by a French holding... The shop manager takes the revenue from the PS3 he sold to you for a sex trip to Thailand and spends it there...and Sony USA/Europe sends half the money back to Japan....

Well said. The last part's a classic, I might add.

Like you said, probably 1% of all consumers actually go grey-market with electronics, it's not harming anyone at that rate, especially since nobody's getting "scalped" for the price of these PS3s. I don't understand Sony's philosphy on this issue, since comparatively few people bother to import electronics, anyhow. Geez, if these people want to bother with a non-English instruction manua, a first-run item of electronics that might as well still be a "beta" or "version 0.9" of Sony's hot new item, then it's their own problem.

 

[Max_DC]

Well said. The last part's a classic, I might add.

Like you said, probably 1% of all consumers actually go grey-market with electronics, it's not harming anyone at that rate, especially since nobody's getting "scalped" for the price of these PS3s. I don't understand Sony's philosphy on this issue, since comparatively few people bother to import electronics, anyhow. Geez, if these people want to bother with a non-English instruction manua, a first-run item of electronics that might as well still be a "beta" or "version 0.9" of Sony's hot new item, then it's their own problem.

Thx, well we will see. Maybe Sony just talks a lot to convince the average joe to
forget his plans ti import a console and maybe even to avoid countless shops offering them. We will yet have to see if Lik Sang and Playasia will remove their PS3 hardware from their stores...

 

[Robin]

But at least it's certain that PAL PS3's will not play NTSC PS1 and PS2 games.

Others may have known this already but it's the first time I've read it for certain.

OMG!!! I didnt know that! I have loads of NTSC J games and was hopeing a EU PS3 would play them! It this case I suppose im better off buying an NTSC (or rather Asian now thats its region free) PS3 so that I can buy UK PS3 games and still play all my NTSC J games. Thanks for the heads up slackbladder 👍

Just out of further interest, can someone post a link so I can read more about this....... like are DVD regions affected aswell?... Because I thought that the PS3 would play all region anything!

 

[Max_DC]

OMG!!! I didnt know that! I have loads of NTSC J games and was hopeing a EU PS3 would play them! It this case I suppose im better off buying an NTSC (or rather Asian now thats its region free) PS3 so that I can buy UK PS3 games and still play all my NTSC J games. Thanks for the heads up slackbladder 👍

Just out of further interest, can someone post a link so I can read more about this....... like are DVD regions affected aswell?... Because I thought that the PS3 would play all region anything!

Well Sony says that the PS3 itsself is region code free concerning PS3 games. This does not include PSX/PS2 games or movies. And as soem Australian Sony boss said, publishers will still have the possibility to put a region code lock on their games. The last point is crucial imo, and while I can't remember the link it is very likely anyway.

So Asia PS3's and Japanese PS3's are the same anway, so they will definitly play Japanese PSX/2/3 games, Japanese movies and most likely a lot of PAL/US games.

I highly doubt - no matter how often I hear the term "region code free" from
Sony officials, that a PAL PS3 will play every Japanese PS3 game. I just don't believe it. Why ? Small game companies in Japan don't have the resources to pull out multi region ( language ! ) games without loosing many months. Months they need in order to stay competetive on the Japanese market. Now you can say, well, then they will release it with Japanese language only and we import it. But that would make it a lot harder to find a publisher for these games in Europe and America... Next problem. Asia versions. Asia ( China, HK ) has become an important market. But not if you sell games for 65 $. Just look at the Xbox360 market. Asia versions cost 33 EUR, which is half the retail price of Germany for example. See the problem ? It's not such a huge problem in Japan, since Japanese don't tend to import games from the rest of Asia afaik. They wouldn't like a Japanese or English manual and language.

If you like Japanese games, especially games that are usually not realsed outside Japan or 12 months later, then I would recommend a NTSC-J console.

The PSX/PS2 argument is not that relevant imo, since we all have a PS2 anyway, prices will drop even more, so that doesn't justify importing imo.