Consoles

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 XBOXMod chip required.
Microsoft XBOX 360
  
Neo Geo CartridgeAn American console will censor some blood/violence, but the games are the same.
Neo Geo CDAn American console will censor some blood/violence, but the games are the same.
Neo Geo Pocket
  
PC Engine HuCardsSize adapter available.
PC Engine CDSystem 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 64Adapter available.
Nintendo GameCubeBoot disc available.
Panasonic Q GameCubeYou have to mod this system to make it region free.
Wii 
  
Sega Master System
Sega Genesis/Mega DriveSize difference plus newer games are chipped.
Sega MegaCDAdapter available.
Sega Game Gear
Sega SaturnBoot disc available, special cartridge available.
Sega DreamcastBoot disc available.
  
Sony PSPVery small amount of titles are region protected.
Sony Playstation 1Boot disc available.
Sony Playstation 2Boot disc available.
Sony PSX
Sony Playstation 3

Thanks to information provided in part by Pelikonepeijoonit.