how to get Region format?

Are VCDs, like DVDs, region specific?

• I want to make a picture show with music and everything for a friend down in South America that she can play on her TV. With my software I have the option of burning it in either DVD, VCD or Windows Movie Maker (and therefore playable by WinAmp) format. DVD is out of the question because I'd only be able to burn it in region 1 and she wouldn't be able to see it. I'd like, however, for her to be able to see it with her DVD player and I was wondering if I could burn it in VCD format and still have her able to see it on her region 4 DVD player. Are VCDs region specific? Can the same VCD that I burn and watch on my DVD player in the States be watched on a South American DVD player? If worst comes to worst then I'll burn a Windows Movie, but in that case she'd only get to see it on her computer screen. I hope I can make something she can view on her TV.

• Answer:

  VCDs are not Region specific (like DVD region codes). But! you need to take care about the formatting PAL vs NTSC. Check out with your friend about which format is supported by her DVD/VCD player. In US, NTSC is mostly used, and PAL is kind of used more in Europe and Asian countries - but these days we get players which support both. This is the only gotcha that you need to take care of. Good luck!