does the (E) or (U) for example mean the game is country specific?

i assume the "(*)" in the game name is a country specific game? can anyone explain if this is so, and therefore a (E) or a (J) (for example) would not play on an australian purchased DSi ?
what is the (*) for australian games if this is so?

The DS is region free so you can play any game from any region.

http://forum.romulation.net/index.php?topic=1359.0