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PlayStation 2 Release Delayed In China

Posted by simoniker on from the confusion-reigns dept.

Thanks to the San Jose Mercury News/AP for their article regarding Sony's postponement of the PlayStation 2's release in China. According to the piece, "Two days after the planned release date, a statement on Sony's Chinese-language Web site blamed an 'unfavorable environment' for the delay. It didn't elaborate or set a new launch date." The article goes on to speculate that "Makers of popular console games such as Sony and Nintendo have been wary of launching products in mainland China... largely because of fears of piracy", referencing Nintendo's recently-launched iQue console, and also noting: "Earlier reports said that the advanced computer chips used in PlayStation 2 and some of its advanced graphics functions might have military applications that would preclude export of the devices to China under U.S. and Japanese law, but Sony did not mention that in its announcement."

2 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. If the G5 is available.... by suyashs · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If apple can sell the G5 in China, why shouldn't Sony be allowed to sell the PS2? Since its already available nearly everywhere else in the world, why not make it avaliable to china? I am sure that if there was a military application to this it would have already been found + I doubt that the Chinese military is stupid enough to rely on a console to power their military equipment...

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    http://chrono.posterous.com/
  2. Why the Chinese piracy problem? by Unoti · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've heard of other piracy issues in China and Korea. Rampant piracy of VHS tapes... anyone know about this? Why is it a bigger problem there than it is in other places? Is it a cultural thing, like less respect for intellectual property? More of a tradition in buying things from the guy on the corner instead of going to a more regulated retail outlet? Is it economic reasons? All of the above? I'm curious why the piracy problem is bigger there than in, say, the U.S.