PAL release date/ region free?

[Grandmaster D]

When will the game be released in PAL-territories? And will the US-version for 360 be region locked again? What gives me a little hope this won't be the case: Top Spin 3 and Prizefighter are both region free. But then again, those were not developed by VC themselves.

Edit:
Found a date: Amazon.de states september 30th. Looking at 2ksports history, I think it's save to expect some delay or has the companys distribution situation improved? And still, the region locking is in question.

[2K Admin Ron]

Usually the release date for PAL versions in Europe is the Thursday before or after the release of the USA date. Yes, there is a PAL release.

[joker07]

30.9. ? Fantastic News For European Players !

[Grandmaster D]

Thanks for answering. Hope the 'usually' actually applies to all coming games by VC, as we had to wait weeks - I think for 2k5 even months - till after the US release of all 2ksports NBA and NHL games so far.

That aside, will the US release for 360 be region free or not? Just in case the european release gets delayed (as it used to be with 2ksports titles) and also it'd save me some money as I would import it and it'd be playable on my PAL-console.

[Grandmaster D]

30.9. ? Fantastic News For European Players !
hm, I'm not sure about that date: Amazon.fr states oct. 8th for 360 and oct. 31st. for PS3.
I guess it'll be the same as always with these games: We have to wait, get tons of differing release dates and it eventually drops together with some sort of "next year we'll handle it better" statement from the european departments.

[joker07]

hm, I'm not sure about that date: Amazon.fr states oct. 8th for 360 and oct. 31st. for PS3.
I guess it'll be the same as always with these games: We have to wait, get tons of differing release dates and it eventually drops together with some sort of "next year we'll handle it better" statement from the european departments.

hmm hmm but october is still better than December as last year ... i want region free too...

[Grandmaster D]

Third amazon third release date:
Amazon.co.uk has it listed now (only for 360 so far) and states sept. 12th. - that'd be great! What makes it appear a little more reliable is, that they also have the PAL cover with it's Pegi rating.

EDIT:
Link removed
Just checked Amazon.co.uk again and that Link I removed lead to EAs NHL. I could have sworn it was Take2s when I placed it, and there is still NHL 2K9s cover in it.

[joker07]

YES ! NHL2k9 is region free !!! http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-NHL-2K9-Hockey-PS3-2009-REGION-FREE-PRESALE_W0QQitemZ140255175964QQcmdZViewItem?hash=i tem140255175964&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1318

[Grandmaster D]

^^that's the PS3 version - all PS3 games are region free so far.
On the PS3, the only problem is, that the past games of VC were not online compatible. That means you have no problem importing in for cheap money and playing it on your console, but there is some mark on the disc, which is region specific to the regular PAL/NTSC regions. So if you import it from the US, you can play it on your console, but can only play online against others with that version. If a friend of yours buys the game at a local store in europe, you won't be able to play online against him. At least that's the situation with VC games so far.

[Grandmaster D]

Sorry for being off topic, but Joker, check your PMs!

[joker07]

OK Grandmaster I stopped the order now. THX very mutch ! I will monitor further information ...

[joker07]

http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/productpage.asp?productcode=XT1365&title=nhl_2k9

[Mtume]

It says 12th september on Play.com (PS3, XBOX). I really hope that´s correct.

[Grandmaster D]

Ron, will we PAL-users get the sports news bar? In NBA 2K8, it was only on the NTSC-version and now that feature seems to be in NHL, too.
An answer regading the region free/locked thing would also be appreciated.

[Grandmaster D]

Any official news? NHL and NBA 2k9 are still no shows on the european sites from Take Two and 2ksports... And those sites for 2ksports... they got redesigned last year and I thought the whole situation will improve but let's have a look: ->NBA 2K8 -> Wertungen (reviews) -> coming soon - ahem, a bit late, aren't we? Same with NHL. Also, Top Spin 3 is not on that site. On it goes to the spanish Take2 site: Hey great, there is an NBA 2K add on the main page! Wait... what is it? NBA 2K7! What has their 2ksports site to offer? NBA2K8; three vids and nothing else.

Really, there is so much going wrong in the european departments in marketing efforts (and I mean the no-cost self promotion on their own sites), I wonder if it can get worse. When I think about it..., man, I could write a long article about it: Failed self-promotion, failed promotion through competitions, simple no-shows, failed release policies and so on and on.

[Grandmaster D]

***bump***

[Grandmaster D]

At least EA sports gets it finally done (maybe it helped, that a European is in charge now): Madden and Tiger Woods are region free and those are published in europe every year. I hope VC follows their example (not the releasing of more titles in europe, which wouldn't work here, but the releasing of region-free games in the states).
But that doesn't matter to me this year, as I just pre-ordered 2Ks NBA and NHL for only 25 pounds each at Amazon.co.uk - what a steal.

[Grandmaster D]

Can someone from VC confirm the sept. 12th release date, which circulates in most retailers now? The european take2 departments don't seem to care about informing about these games.
The 2ksports titles are now on their 2kgames sites (if at all) and just state autumn. I guess by now it should at least be known, if it's sept. 12th or a vague sometime later.

[joker07]

http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/productpage.asp?productcode=XT1365&title=nhl_2k9 I have preorded 30 pieces here.

[Grandmaster D]

^^seems to be the standard retail price in UK for the game. I wonder if they itended to go for such a budget price.
Just out of curiosity, Joker, what do they charge you for the delivery? The site states 2.95 for the whole delivery, is that correct? Can't believe that for 30 items.
Amazon.co.uk usually charges for each item the delivery cost of about 4 pounds.

[joker07]

^^seems to be the standard retail price in UK for the game. I wonder if they itended to go for such a budget price.
Just out of curiosity, Joker, what do they charge you for the delivery? The site states 2.95 for the whole delivery, is that correct? Can't believe that for 30 items.
Amazon.co.uk usually charges for each item the delivery cost of about 4 pounds.

I agree , They can send only 3 pieces to Europe but We have 10 preordes . 3x10=30 pieces to Czech Republic. 2.95 for one delivery because there are weight limits about 1000grams for one delivery .

[Grandmaster D]

Okay, thank you! Might check that retailer someday, 'cause it really bothers me with amazon.co.uk (even when I order several items which are sent out on the same day, they charge 4 for each single item) - just some pounds, but still.

[2K Admin Ron]

September 12th is the release date for PS3, PS2, and XBOX 360 PAL version. Just wanted to confirm that.

[Grandmaster D]

^^That is good news! I almost lost my hope for a better release policy. Still, someone should look into the 2ksports international sites - they are pretty useless at the moment.

[2K Admin Ron]

What 2K Sports international site are you referring to?

[Grandmaster D]

These. (http://www.2ksports.eu/de/index.html) As mentioned before, they are already outdated and never carried much information. Click on the globe up there on the right to see the other sites. For the most part, it is linked to them from the main pages of the countries Take2 site. One exception: The Spanish Take2 (http://www.taketwo.es/) site. At first I thought great, finally a T2 site with a sports title add, but it's for NBA2K7. Anyway, if you click on 2ksports there, you will land here (http://www.2ksports.es/), a NBA 2k8-only promo-site with three vids.
On the international pages from Take2, there is little to no information on the sports titles. For whatever reason, these - at least some of them - can only be found on the linked 2kgames sites. The content differs from country to country - there is no entry for the 2K9 line up on the German one (http://2kgamesinternational.com/de) for examlpe. Again, you can check the others via the upper right link section. If one carries information for NHL2K9, it just states autumn for release.