PAL getting hardcopy versions of dowload only games?

[wootcube]

I'm not a big fan of DL only content. I mean, it's okay and it makes sense for small companies to go that route because they wouldn't be able to get their stuff out there otherwise.

Anyways, because of this I always buy a physical copy if I can. Recently that led me to importing a game from overseas (the ratchet and clank minigame). In the US, it was released as download only but PAL regions got a physical release.

I figured that must just be an oddity but recently with Sony's "Welcome Back" thingy I found out that Wipeout HD also got a physical release in PAL regions.

So...are there any other games that were DL only in certain regions? If so, why is it that companies are leaving out physical copies in the US? I know that Wipeout was developed overseas but Ratchet and Clank is made here...so it's not a localization thing.

I guess it might just be a coincidence? Does anybody have any info on this?

[CFFJR]

I wish I had an answer for this, because I've been wondering the same thing myself.

It seems an odd thing to do. If its an effort to cut costs, why only do it in one region?

[Weekend_Warrior]

THOSE BASTARDS!!!

[noiseredux]

[isiolia]

Arcana Heart 3 also comes to mind - retail release in Japan for PS3 and 360, EU is getting a retail PS3 release (at least), including a Limited Edition. In the U.S. we got...a PSN release. That's it.

[MrPopo]

In certain cases games will be hardcopy in PAL because of differing policies between Sony US and Sony EU. As I understand it Sony US requires there to be english VAs for all disc games, whereas EU doesn't require local VAs for obvious reasons. So a game might come out on the network in the US but as a hard copy in the EU.

[yomomma1]

I know that Record of Agarest War was only on PSN for America, but it was physical for Europe. (It was released physically in the US though, for the 360)

[pureevil]

Just a guess really but I know that download speeds in some parts of uk are very slow and have been even worse in the past,this might have something to do with it?

[isiolia]

Probably not, given that broadband internet isn't great for all areas of the U.S. either, and Canada is even worse (at least in terms of cost).