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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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 Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:57 pm Post subject: Buy a new PS3 in the US or the ROK? |
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| Hi, I'm moving to Korea soon and am thinking about buying a PS3. It looks like it would be quite a bit cheaper to buy it here and bring it over, and I have a power converter. My only concern is with buying games, can you get PS3 games for a reasonable price in Korea? Is there any concern with region codes, like with DVDs? Any other issues I should know about with bringing over an American PS3, or any reason why I should wait to buy it there? |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Games will work fine and you can find them easily enough if you live in a large city like Seoul or Busan (not sure about the other cities). All games are region free but you will come into problems with DVD and blueray. |
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newjcubed
Joined: 08 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Blu-rays are no problem. America and Korea share the same region code. DVD region codes however are different. Korea uses region 3 for DVD. If you set the ps3 language settings to English most games will have menus in English automatically. Some exceptions however the Korean Call of Duty games have Korean menus only. The dialog of the games are in English. Games are cheaper in Korea than the U.S. used PS3 games can be bought for as cheap as 20 bucks. You can even find some American PS3 games at Techno Mart or Young-san. The American versions are usually cheaper since Koreans won't buy them. Although they are more difficult to find. If you buy your PS3 in America you will need to buy a good step-up transformer. About 30 bucks. They are easily found here for cheap. An ordinary travel converter will turn your PS3 into a brick. |
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tatertot
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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| newjcubed wrote: |
| Blu-rays are no problem. America and Korea share the same region code. DVD region codes however are different. Korea uses region 3 for DVD. If you set the ps3 language settings to English most games will have menus in English automatically. Some exceptions however the Korean Call of Duty games have Korean menus only. The dialog of the games are in English. Games are cheaper in Korea than the U.S. used PS3 games can be bought for as cheap as 20 bucks. You can even find some American PS3 games at Techno Mart or Young-san. The American versions are usually cheaper since Koreans won't buy them. Although they are more difficult to find. If you buy your PS3 in America you will need to buy a good step-up transformer. About 30 bucks. They are easily found here for cheap. An ordinary travel converter will turn your PS3 into a brick. |
When I was researching whether or not to bring my PS3, I came to the conclusion that it was dual-voltage (meaning you don't need a converter to use it here). You should be able to plug it directly in with just a socket adapter. Of course, I didn't bring my PS3 with me because I didn't have room. Look at the power brick and if it says 110-240V 50-60Hz, then you can use it in Korea without a transformer. |
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ladron
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:43 am Post subject: |
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| tatertot wrote: |
When I was researching whether or not to bring my PS3, I came to the conclusion that it was dual-voltage (meaning you don't need a converter to use it here). You should be able to plug it directly in with just a socket adapter. Of course, I didn't bring my PS3 with me because I didn't have room. Look at the power brick and if it says 110-240V 50-60Hz, then you can use it in Korea without a transformer. |
I can 100% confirm my US bought PS3 works just fine here without a converter. This is a 2-year old or so fat one - no idea about the new slims, but they should be the same. Just buy a new power cord here.
I was a bit shaky when I plugged it in and turned it on, but it works well. |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:20 pm Post subject: |
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Cool, thanks so much for the helpful replies so far.
How good is the selection of PS3 games available there? And I'll be living in Busan, not Seoul, so Yongsan/Technomart won't be that easy for me to get to. Can I expect a reasonably decent selection of PS3 games at E-Marts, local game shops, and whatnot? |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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Busan has an ample supply of video game stores. A few in hte underground shopping area in Seomyeon and 3 in Nampo-dong that I know about. The owner of the one that is between Nampo-dong station and Jungang-dong station speaks English and is very helpful.
If you can't find what you are looking for you can always go to www.playasia.com |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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| ladron wrote: |
| tatertot wrote: |
When I was researching whether or not to bring my PS3, I came to the conclusion that it was dual-voltage (meaning you don't need a converter to use it here). You should be able to plug it directly in with just a socket adapter. Of course, I didn't bring my PS3 with me because I didn't have room. Look at the power brick and if it says 110-240V 50-60Hz, then you can use it in Korea without a transformer. |
I can 100% confirm my US bought PS3 works just fine here without a converter. This is a 2-year old or so fat one - no idea about the new slims, but they should be the same. Just buy a new power cord here.
I was a bit shaky when I plugged it in and turned it on, but it works well. |
Are you able to download US movies and stuff with the USA PS3? I'd love to do Netflix from here, but can't, because the Korean PS3 apparently won't do it. Then again, you also need a special disc to make it work (at least until late next year) because of a special agreement between Netflix and the Xbox. |
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ladron
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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| bassexpander wrote: |
Are you able to download US movies and stuff with the USA PS3? I'd love to do Netflix from here, but can't, because the Korean PS3 apparently won't do it. Then again, you also need a special disc to make it work (at least until late next year) because of a special agreement between Netflix and the Xbox. |
No, man, I sure can't. I can't even buy the blue-ray download movies they offer. Occasionally, I'll see one on the main PS Store screen when I log in, but when I click it, it says it's not available. It must be ISP location based. I've looked at ways of tunneling or setting up a state-side proxy server, but I'm not really pressed about it so I haven't looked too hard. |
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thurst
Joined: 08 Apr 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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i have a slim ps3 and it works just fine with only an outlet adapter, no need for a converter/transformer.
i live in a relatively small city and there's a decent selection of games at the local gameworld, the only thing lacking is up to date sports game.
the slim ps3 is retailing for about $360 in korea so if you can bring one with you then you'll save the $60, otherwise just buy one when you get here. i ordered mine off of amazon and had my friend in nj ship it to me, ended up costing him $75 on top of the $300 i paid so it would've been cheaper to just buy it here, at the time i ordered it wasn't out in korea yet though =/ |
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red_devil
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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| I plan to buy Korean one. I have a region free DVD player so i'm just using the Blue-Ray. |
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DeMayonnaise
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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Similar question, but going the other direction.
When I leave Korea with my Korean bought PS3, what do I have to do back in the US to get it working, just change out the power cord? |
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AD35
Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Location: Was in Dallas...now in Busan, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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| DeMayonnaise wrote: |
Similar question, but going the other direction.
When I leave Korea with my Korean bought PS3, what do I have to do back in the US to get it working, just change out the power cord? |
Yes. Because the PS3 has dual voltage, you don't need to do anything other than changing the power cord. |
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wallythewhale
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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| They'll have most top of the line games here but if you're into say like Madden, then it's best if you get it in the US and bring it over because you won't find any around here since Koreans aren't that much into American football. Also a side note, most games here will be in Korean (dialogues, instructions, etc.) but the gameplay is in English. |
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juchangok
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| another quick question regarding consoles. How easy is it to take a console bought in korea with you back to the states? If you just took it as luggage, did you get back in one piece? |
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