Japanese and European Playstation network accounts

[Tek7]

Two questions:

1. Is it "legal" (i.e. not against Terms of Service or End-User License Agreements) to create a Japanese or European PSN account?
2. If it is legal: How do I do it?

There's a Yakuza 4 demo on Japanese PSN and I'm interested in playing it.

 

[RyanB]

Not against the ToS at all. Create a new account, go to the PSN store, select the top option (forget what it's called), and change region to Japan,etc.

Japanese/EU games will still be available on your PS3 to other accounts. Actually, the PS3 is totally region free - you can import a game and it'll run great. Some games are separated by region in different ways, but typically it's US/Europe/Japan. Be aware that if you buy the EU version of a game, for example, you won't be able to play that same game with people who have US-based disks. Zavvi.com has a lot of deals on games, especially on their "monday madness" sales...and even with shipping it often works out to be cheaper to order the EU version of a game. I wouldn't do this with online games, but I was very tempted Star Ocean.

Trophies by region are also seperate. If you love a game like Demon's Souls (or trophies?)...you can snag the EU version (such as that VERY sweet-looking black phantom edition they have) and snag the trophies all again.

 

[Kendrik]

I just went and created a couple of international accounts last week. Sweet stuff.

Vagrant Story is in the UK shop. It isn't in ours. The original Guilty Gear is, too. I may have to pick up a UK PSN card some day for these games.

Bonus: Games downloaded from another region's store can be played on your primary account.

Well, at the least, I could play the Battle Fantasia demo I downloaded from the Hong Kong store in my primary account.

 

[Tek7]

So, wait, should I create an additional account for PSN or just change the region on my current PSN account to Japan (and then back after I've nabbed the Yakuza 4 demo)?

 

[Kendrik]

If you can just change out your region, go for it. I didn't think you could, so I created extra accounts. So yeah.

It's just that when I was looking into accessing foreign stores, I had no luck finding a way to change my region. All the guides I could find online said to create a new account, so I just went that route.

But if you can just change the region, that's sweet.

 

[Tek7]

Is there any risk of losing purchased titles (or other risks) in switching regions?

 

[RyanB]

You just need to look into the "Game sharing" rules. It's limited to # of PS3s. Technically, we could create one account for the three of us to share, and take turns buying games, and all play them (effectively reducing the cost to 1/3). Of course, that's stealing, but plenty of people do it.

I don't believe there is any limit to # of accounts you can have on your PS3. And games you own you own; they're simply tied to the account you purchased them with. So don't lose the scrap of paper that contains the 128-digit unicode password you set for them.

Only thing to watch out for is if you get PSN+ (which I recommend; best deal on PSN!), "free" games are tied to the subscription.

 

[Kendrik]

Of course, that's stealing, but plenty of people do it.

Remove this line. Let the idea go in blissful ignorance.

I don't believe there is any limit to # of accounts you can have on your PS3.

Aye. I've got like... ten accounts on my system right now due to everyone in my family having one... and having a secondary one for myself (silly MAG and its previous PMC limitation)... and international accounts.

Only thing to watch out for is if you get PSN+ (which I recommend; best deal on PSN!), "free" games are tied to the subscription.

Wait. Clarification please. If your wife has a regular account, and you download a game on your PSN+ account, will she be able to play the "free" game on her account?

I know that the games are no longer accessible after the end of the subscription, but I'm disappointed if they're not available for other people on the same console. (Was gonna badger my brother into pitching in a few bucks toward the cost, y'see.)

 

[RyanB]

Remove this line. Let the idea go in blissful ignorance.

Legally speaking, pirating is not stealing; it's piracy...so there you go. Of course I'd still qualify this particular case of downloading as stealing thy neighbor's sheep.

Wait. Clarification please. If your wife has a regular account, and you download a game on your PSN+ account, will she be able to play the "free" game on her account?

I know that the games are no longer accessible after the end of the subscription, but I'm disappointed if they're not available for other people on the same console. (Was gonna badger my brother into pitching in a few bucks toward the cost, y'see.)

There are no limitations to who can play the games on your PSN that you download through PSN+. You can even share said account between multiple playstations, as above (with the same disclaimer). There are a few limitations, though...such as extra features. For example, the auto-update scheduler feature is tied to your specific account. That wouldn't affect other users on your PS3, but if you had 2 playstations, you could only use the auto-update feature on one with one PSN+ subscription.