game compatibility

[The Count]

I am aware that there is a region setting for DVD. player settings and DVDs themselves. I also am aware that DVD players can usually be programmed to play all region DVDs.
My question is are their similar compatibility issues between U.S. and European bought games, IE PlayStation games, P.C. games etc. As far as I know Nintendo game-boy games are universal. If there are compatibility issues is there then any way that players can be reprogrammed to play in U.K. bought players.

Hopefully some of you more technically minded people out there might know the answer to this question as I have two boys who are particularly keen to stock up on games as they seem considerable cheaper stateside. Dad might even find something he likes too. (I might have better luck chasing a white ball on a game console than on the course!!!)
Cheers in anticipation

[MarkJan]

Playstation games (def PS1 & PS2) are regioned. US and UK don't mix unless your Playstation has been chipped.

[ShirleyD]

Nintendo DS games are OK, but as Mark says Playstation games are not

[glasgowmary]

psp games are region free but playstation games that we use are on a system called PAL us has another but can ' t remember it off hand . careful as some psp ones are cheaper and some not ! at least that is what we found last year but things change , good luck

[SteveandJan]

Nintendo gameboy and DS games are compatible

[pieman790]

We bought a disc called free loader for our Gamecube. You put the disc into the machine before the game disc and it works fine however we now have a Wii and that so i am told is region locked. The free loader disc does not work on the Wii. We have used UK DS games, and PSP games in our American machines and they work fine.
I do know that X-Box systems are locked as well.

[The Count]

Thanks for all of that. Does any one know how or if it is possible to chip a European bought P.S.2 player to allow it to play American games? Also does anyone know if there are any compatibility issues with P.C. games?
Thanks again in anticipation.

[christhear]

Pc games seems to be OK in the US and UK, well the ones we bought in the US also work in the UK.

[Jill]

We have several US games for our US playstation 2 which the boys wanted to use back in the UK on the UK PS2. They now use a 'SwapMagic3' Coder version disc which enables the PS2 to accept games from other regions and does not void the warranty as you are not opening the machine or chipping it. It cost about £16 and details can be found on the internet.