Australian Government to Probe Reasons for Expensive Software - Polidicks

If I have the option of getting a game from the US or something, I jump at it. Recently I got Anno 2070 gifted to me on Steam since it was $90 here vs. $40 on the US store page. Fallout NV was put on Steam for the US price, then soon afterwards our dollar reached parity with the US dollar and suddenly it cost 2x as much, etc. [QUOTE=fruxodaily;35753436]When the PS3 first came out games were priced at about $180, they said they had to do it because bluray is new technology and other stupid bullshit. That was from EB by the way[/QUOTE] I think that was just EB games :v: The local store here is still selling things like the Orange Box for $70-80.

[QUOTE=AWarGuy;35754996]High Game Prices = Increase on Piracy. A fair amount of people in Australia pirate Video Games because they cost so much , it's fucking stupid how high they are.[/QUOTE] Yeah but your internet is to shit to properly pirate. I get 1 gig a day in my student house. (ok and another if I use my phone via USB teathering).

[QUOTE=Saber15;35753238]I don't think that the cost of living in Australia is that high. Isn't it comparable to the UK in the cities?[/QUOTE] No it's very high. We just have high minimum wages and good welfare. [editline]1st May 2012[/editline] Oh I missed Dogguns post, nevermind.

[QUOTE=reevezy67;35780129]No it's very high. We just have high minimum wages and good welfare. [editline]1st May 2012[/editline] Oh I missed Dogguns post, nevermind.[/QUOTE] Yes it really is. I am studing in australia from the Netherlands and the only cheap thing here is gas.

[QUOTE=taipan;35782856]I am studing in australia from the Netherlands and the only cheap thing here is gas.[/QUOTE] Pffft, if you're referring to LPG, the price has recently skyrocketed.

it has to deal with competeing with retail. if you lowered the price so much that you could put all boxed stores out of business you'd make some serious enemies. and also because retail charges that much they can get away with it (more profits)

seems like nobody understands that Australia's minimum wage is 15 fucking dollars

[QUOTE=DogGunn;35783116]Pffft, if you're referring to LPG, the price has recently skyrocketed.[/QUOTE] No gasoline. its like 40% cheaper here while the rest is 40% more expensive. Especially sigarets and alcohol (save goon)

[QUOTE=taipan;35787678]No gasoline. its like 40% cheaper here while the rest is 40% more expensive. Especially sigarets and alcohol (save goon)[/QUOTE] Ah, LPG is gas. Unless you're referring to unleaded petrol.

[QUOTE=Antdawg;35787814]Ah, LPG is gas. Unless you're referring to unleaded petrol.[/QUOTE] Yep, like the stuff you put in 90% of the cars. Wait dont you call Petrol , gasoline sometimes?

[QUOTE=taipan;35788998]Yep, like the stuff you put in 90% of the cars. Wait dont you call Petrol , gasoline sometimes?[/QUOTE] Nope, we never call it gasoline We use unleaded, petrol, peddy and sniff instead [editline]2nd May 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Applecrap;35784296]seems like nobody understands that Australia's minimum wage is 15 fucking dollars[/QUOTE] Haha a friend just got a job at woolies (supermarket) here and he's getting paid $13 an hour as a checkout chick. He isn't even 18 (I think if you're under 18 the minimum wage can be a bit lower).

yeah its lower if your under 21 $21.70 or something like that is the min adult wage

[QUOTE=teshok;35789162]yeah its lower if your under 21 $21.70 or something like that is the min adult wage[/QUOTE] And THIS is exactly why fellow Australians whining about our higher prices compared to abroard are fucking stupid. This is compared to what, around $10 or so in the US?

[QUOTE=Antdawg;35789202]And THIS is exactly why fellow Australians whining about our higher prices compared to abroard are fucking stupid. This is compared to what, around $10 or so in the US?[/QUOTE] I think the federal minimum wage is like $7.25 but a lot of states have their own laws.

[QUOTE=Antdawg;35789202]And THIS is exactly why fellow Australians whining about our higher prices compared to abroard are fucking stupid. This is compared to what, around $10 or so in the US?[/QUOTE] Americans are paid badly, therefore we deserve higher prices on anything imported.

[QUOTE=TheDecryptor;35789795]Americans are paid badly, therefore we deserve higher prices on anything imported.[/QUOTE] Try scandinavia. 10$ for a beer. Especially norway. Then again they are also rich fucks (oil n stuff). Annyways living in the USA is way way cheaper then Australia and a bit cheaper then western Europe, but their minimum wage is way lower for some reason. Thats where the problem lies.

The only way to cheap Australian stuff is to buy it online. That way you avoid all the taxes and the extra costs for stuff.

[QUOTE=TheDecryptor;35789795]Americans are paid badly, therefore we deserve higher prices on anything imported.[/QUOTE] It's not a matter of how much we are paying for shit as much as it is paying for that shit as a proportion of our income. Ideally I'd like to pay less than $50 for retail games here but for us it is like an American paying $50 for a new release when we pay $90 for one. Same proportion. Even then, we DON'T pay higher prices on imports. You can find quite a few retailers on the internet who will sell you shit at US prices, even offering free shipping. If you whine about the prices of retail/Steam but continue to buy from them then you don't deserve lower prices because you aren't very smart with shopping.

[QUOTE=Antdawg;35792044] Even then, we DON'T pay higher prices on imports. You can find quite a few retailers on the internet who will sell you shit at US prices, even offering free shipping. If you whine about the prices of retail/Steam but continue to buy from them then you don't deserve lower prices because you aren't very smart with shopping.[/QUOTE] I only buy during sales.

[QUOTE=3vans;35790329]The only way to cheap Australian stuff is to buy it online. That way you avoid all the taxes and the extra costs for stuff.[/QUOTE] Too bad services such as Steam let publishers fix the price of their products so they aren't undercutting the retailers here. Eg nearly every new release by Activision / EA / Sega. [editline]2nd May 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=CertainDOOM;35792068]I only buy during sales.[/QUOTE] Nothing wrong with that, that's getting the best deal (if it actually is at the time).

Good. Now do it with everything else in Australia (because EVERYTHING is overpriced).

I already investigated the Australian problem and there's no need for an inquiry. They should pay me instead for stating the obvious: software companies set higher prices for Australians simply because they can.

[QUOTE=download;35752718]PS3 games are about AUS$120 new, Xbox games are about AUS$100. No idea what PC games are, I always buy on steam With the way the US to AUS dollar is, that's about US$130 and US$110[/QUOTE] I checked the price of Battlefield 3 for PC while out shopping one time. $109.99 at EB Games. Bloody ridiculous.

[QUOTE=Pocket Medic;35795144]I checked the price of Battlefield 3 for PC while out shopping one time. $109.99 at EB Games. Bloody ridiculous.[/QUOTE] Who buy games from local retail?