Region Locks
Most region locking can be attributed to one or all of the following factors:
 | Software Protection |
|---|---|
 | Media Size |
 | No Problems! |
Software Protection: This is usually protection put on CD games that will not allow them to play out of their region. Some older games include a special chip that has the same affect. Media Size: With cartridge games, some of the systems have different size cartridges that prevent them from being inserted. You can usually get around this with an adapter. No Problems! This is true for region locks, but it does not cover the NTSC vs. PAL issues. If you're trading between the US and Japan you won't have to worry about that. If you're trading between Europe and Japan you will.Hand held or portable devices have no region locks.
The list below covers game software only, not DVD movies.
| 3DO | |
|---|---|---|
| Atari 2800 | |
| Atari Jaguar | |
| Atari Lynx | |
| Bandai Intellivision | |
| Bandai Vectrex | |
| Microsoft XBOX | Mod chip required. |
| Microsoft XBOX 360 | |
| Neo Geo Cartridge | An American console will censor some blood/violence, but the games are the same. |
| Neo Geo CD | An American console will censor some blood/violence, but the games are the same. |
| Neo Geo Pocket | |
| PC Engine HuCards | Size adapter available. |
| PC Engine CD | System card required. |
| | Nintendo Famicom (NES) | Size difference plus newer games are chipped. Adapter available. |
| Nintendo Super Famicom (SNES) | Adapter available. |
| Nintendo GameBoy | |
| Virtual Boy | |
| Nintendo 64 | Adapter available. |
| Nintendo GameCube | Boot disc available. |
| Panasonic Q GameCube | You have to mod this system to make it region free. |
| Wii | |
| Sega Master System | |
| | Sega Genesis/Mega Drive | Size difference plus newer games are chipped. |
| Sega MegaCD | Adapter available. |
| Sega Game Gear | |
| Sega Saturn | Boot disc available, special cartridge available. |
| Sega Dreamcast | Boot disc available. |
| Sony PSP | Very small amount of titles are region protected. |
| Sony Playstation 1 | Boot disc available. |
| Sony Playstation 2 | Boot disc available. |
| Sony PSX | |
| Sony Playstation 3 |
Thanks to information provided in part by Pelikonepeijoonit.