DVD - Region Codes

[apatriot]

Somebody thought they would surprise me by getting me a movie on DVD that I currently have on VHS.  They surprised me all right cause I can't play it on anything cause of Region Code.  Anyone here know a way I can get around it? 

[mustang54]

  Does that mean its in like a pal format for europe versus our ntsc format?

[Hogzilla]

I got one of these:

http://www.oppodigital.com/dv980h/default.asp

http://reviews.cnet.com/PlayStation_3/9602-12576_7-0.html?messageID=2510261&kw=PlayStation+3

It plays DVDs from anywhere, any region, PAL and NTSC. Up-converts to 1080.

I now get DVDs from Amazon UK all the time. There's some good series on BBC that you can't/won't see in the US. I love mine. Cheers.

They have a Blu-ray player coming out that I am chomping at the bit for, but may have to wait due to the price.

I looked into other region free players, some were much cheaper, but researching them turned up some sketchy quality. The OPPO has been consistent high quality. It really is a wonderful player.

[apatriot]

I don't know mustang.  I have the Japanese movie Antartica (1983) on VHS.  That's the only way you can get the movie in English, no subtitles, and that has nothing to do with anything really.  My niece wanted me to have the movie on DVD.  She bought it on E-bay.  It's not used or anything, its just that she bought it there and it came from either China or Japan, (since I can't watch it I don't know if it has subtitles which is not an issue).  I will guess the movie came from China.

The United States, I believe, is a Code 2.  I have no idea what Code China is.  Regardless, I have since learned that U.S. movie makers are the ones that keep DVD players from playing ALL DVDs, and they came up with these codes.  Why do we need codes?  They don't want us buying from foreign countries.  That stinks.  I should be able to buy what I want and have it work.  They try to cheat you at every turn and then cry boooo hoooo when ppl copy movies. F'k them.  Pisses me off how they are constantly trying to control us with the upcoming technology.  They are herding us like cattle now with the Blu-Ray.  After Blu-Ray it will be Pink Ray.

Sorry to vent, but this stuff is getting out of hand.  I don't want to know how the movie was made, I don't want to interact with it, I don't want to go online and play games in the movie with other ppl, I don't want to keep and maintain a pet from the movie.

All I want to do is WATCH the movie.  Is that so much to ask?  Jesus H. ....  

[scungili]

Region is different than PAL vs. NTSC

DVD's for different markets have different codes.  See Map at Wikopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_codes

Some DVD players have remote hacks to set your player to play all regions, see videohelp site

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks

[mustang54]

  Alot of older dvd players wont play other regions yet alot of the newer models will.
What I have found wierd is alot of cheaper units play all regions and the more expensive ones won't. I get dvd's from all over the world and my more expensive player/recorder won't play them so I went out and bought a $59.00 player and that thing plays everything!

[apatriot]

Scrung to the rescue.  I found the hack for my DVD player and it worked like a charm.  Thanks so much.

[scungili]

no prob apatriot.

Mustang - I know! Alot of the cheap ones play all regions, will play " - " and " + " recordable media, VCD & Divx while your name-brand stuff chokes on it.  That is changing, but for a while it's been aggravating.  Years ago I picked up a Lasonic player that plays NTSC & PAL format along with VCD - it might have been $75.

[n01_important]

Some DVD players allow you to change region code.  The catch is they allow to do it only 3-4 times then get stuck in the last region code.  That feature was built in back when the players were expensive and the powers that be wanted to give relief to those people that move.

You'll need to find that manual that came with your DVD player to know if you can do it.  If you can do it 3 times, change it, play and change it back.

[PamF]

I have a cheapie DVD player I got at Menards and it plays any region.

[n01_important]

Today you can find such DVD players but 10 years ago, you had to pay an extra $300 and special order it.