Australian pricing for games goes too far nowadays, paying 90 - $100 for a new game virtually.
Back when I was young and still used my Gameboy colour, advance, SP etc. Games for that were generally $60, growing up with a single mother, I didn't get a new game very often.
I did appreciate the game more because I had to save up for it, but we've been getting fucked in the ass by money grabbing idiots for years now.
Let's look at some examples;
When MW2 was released on Steam, it was $60 for US consumers.
It was $90 for us.
For the sake of saving time on grabbing these images, the top will be the Australian Steam store and the bottom will be the American store.
[img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26976530/a/MW2.png[/img]
Seems that MW2 has lowered it's price to $30 for US consumers but still stays $90.
[img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26976530/a/MW3.png[/img]
Blackops is still $60 for US and $90 for Aus.
Call of duty 4 is now $20 for the US and $50 for Aus. Despite it being a 4 year old game.
People argue that the minimum wage is higher, the cost of living is lower, our doller is higher.
Well, you're right, the minimum wage is higher, but our cost of living is pretty high at the moment, living at home with 2 parents earning ~50,000/year each, it gets hard to pay the bills sometimes, let alone affording entertainment.
The currency conversion doesn't mean anything, a year ago we were down to the 0.60c mark to the US doller, which made buying a $90US game VERY hard.
Shops in Australia aren't much different. EBgames has their new games around $100 - $120, obviously because they don't have something to fall back on like JB hi-fi, or target. Thats why targets games are around $100, not any higher.
Obviously there is a shipping cost via US -> Aus, but it shouldn't result in a $50 inflation on the game.
Lets take a look at some more examples;
I could of gotten more images, but you can see for yourself, [url]http://store.steampowered.com/?cc=au[/url] [url]http://store.steampowered.com/?cc=us[/url]
[img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26976530/uhm.png[/img]
I know that Australia isn't the only one getting ripped off, like Germany having to pay in euro's etc.
But instead of complaining when you have to pay $60 for a new game instead of $50, just remember that theres people out there having to pay alot more than you for their games.
Also, fuck publishers!
Isn't it because the Australian dollar is worth less than the American dollar?
You should see what they pay in Russia!
...wait
It's pretty even at the moment.
A simple solution to all of this is ask an American friend to purchase the game for you as a 'gift', that way you circumvent any regional restriction and or censorship and you get the game cheaper.
[QUOTE=Eluveitie;31838113]Isn't it because the Australian dollar is worth less than the American dollar?[/QUOTE]
Our dollar has been worth more than theirs for a while now actually.
all you must do is go to america, buy the games, and shove them (even the digital ones) in your anus.
go back to australia and play your new cheap american games.
In Australia, fair prices are banned.
I agree, I hate this shit.
Steam likely has contracts stating they aren't allowed to sell below a price in Australia, to avoid unfair competition with other retailers.
To those who say "Just send the money to an American and have him buy it", [I]it's not that easy.[/I]
International wire transfers are NOT free. I checked to see how much it would cost to send 60 USD from my residence to Australia. It would cost me 72$, and the Australian would recieve ~55 AUS.
I couldn't get the bank calculator to go Australia->America, but I'd assume its about the same.
That, compounded with bank transfer limits and the extra work in doing it this way, makes it rather infeasible.
Recently a consumer analyst actually predicted a drop in the RRP of games from $120AUD to $70AUD in the second half of this year or by early 2012. If you're interested and want some more info the article can be found at [url]http://games.on.net/article/13486/Local_RRP_for_Videogames_to_Plummet_in_Australia_By_2012[/url]
[editline]20th August 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=darkrei9n;31838240]Steam likely has contracts stating they aren't allowed to sell below a price in Australia, to avoid unfair competition with other retailers.[/QUOTE]
I'm fairly certain the publisher decides the cost. For example, Ubisoft are yet to increase prices on Steam for Australians while their retail prices are still high.
[QUOTE=SuppliesAttack;31838250]To those who say "Just send the money to an American and have him buy it", [I]it's not that easy.[/I]
International wire transfers are NOT free. I checked to see how much it would cost to send 60 USD from my residence to Australia. It would cost me 72$, and the Australian would recieve ~55 AUS.
I couldn't get the bank calculator to go Australia->America, but I'd assume its about the same.
That, compounded with bank transfer limits and the extra work in doing it this way, makes it rather infeasible.[/QUOTE]
Just use paypal...a guy from Belgium sent me 30 USD last week and the transfer only charged around 3 USD. Still not the most convenient way, but its faster and charges a hell of a lot less.
[QUOTE=Atlascore;31838277]I'd charge more money too if I had to ship anything to Australia.
You guys have really scary animals, spiders, and sharks.
[sp]It's a joke[/sp][/QUOTE]
don't quit your day job
[QUOTE=SuppliesAttack;31838250]To those who say "Just send the money to an American and have him buy it", [I]it's not that easy.[/I]
International wire transfers are NOT free. I checked to see how much it would cost to send 60 USD from my residence to Australia. It would cost me 72$, and the Australian would recieve ~55 AUS.
I couldn't get the bank calculator to go Australia->America, but I'd assume its about the same.
That, compounded with bank transfer limits and the extra work in doing it this way, makes it rather infeasible.[/QUOTE]
What about PayPal?
[QUOTE=Priori;31838295]Just use paypal...a guy from Belgium sent me 30 USD last week and the transfer only charged around 3 USD. Still not the most convenient way, but its faster and charges a hell of a lot less.[/QUOTE]
The internet's a small place, isn't it? Click my little steam icon.
Also, I suppose Paypal is a feasable answer. I personally don't use it, so that's why I overlooked it, heh.
[QUOTE=darkrei9n;31838240]Steam likely has contracts stating they aren't allowed to sell below a price in Australia, to avoid unfair competition with other retailers.[/QUOTE]
steam doesn't specifically operate in australia
paypal, which specifically operates in australia, can ignore the fact that in queensland (not sure about other states) its legal for a minor to be a partner or owner of a business and ban them for being under 18, even though their ToS says 18 [i]or[/i] a business partner, and get away with it because they are an american company and don't have an office here.
It's the publishers who do this, not steam or any law. It's because games cost ~100 in every store here
[QUOTE=Vollybomb;31838328]What about PayPal?[/QUOTE]
Because that's a totally trustworthy method of sending money.
Seriously, I'd advise against it - there are way too many horror stories about them claiming "suspicious" activity and then grabbing your account and all of it's cash.
[QUOTE=Terminutter;31838436]Because that's a totally trustworthy method of sending money.
Seriously, I'd advise against it - there are way too many horror stories about them claiming "suspicious" activity and then grabbing your account and all of it's cash.[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't trust putting thousands of dollars into, but I've been using it for simple small transactions of $100 or less for the last 5 years and nothing has gone wrong.
[QUOTE=Priori;31838473]I wouldn't trust putting thousands of dollars into, but I've been using it for simple small transactions of $100 or less for the last 5 years and nothing has gone wrong.[/QUOTE]
True, it's just better safe than sorry in my opinion. I think that a few international transactions and very little else would give them a "valid" reason to seize it.
This is what pushed me off console gaming, $100+ dollars for a PS3 game? no way.
It makes buying retail so awful. I buy from online stores like Playasia and ozgameshop because fuck paying $50 for Mass Effect 2, $20 is much nicer.
Wow, that is ridiculous. I would hate to be in Australia.
Is this what I deserve for being paid $12/hr working at Mcdonalds as opposed to something like $4-8 in the US? No.
Also the cost of living here right now is pretty high, it makes me sad about my future.
Christ, and i think £30+ is bad.
scratch that, i usually buy my games for £20 or less.
It's so shit how it's set up like this.
[editline]20th August 2011[/editline]
I only purchase console games from playasia.
Denmark isnt using euro's so i can buy games half price ;3
Most new game prices are bullshit regardless of where you live. It sucks that Australia's prices are just massive in comparison.
Excuses like "higher minimum wage" are bullshit.
Most games cost the same 60$ around everywhere despite differences in wages.
You can buy a lot of games from other sites and add the key to add it onto Steam. Might wanna look int that.
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