Cosmic Schwung
Member
So far as I can tell this doesn't affect retail keys, just things bought on steam.
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All Russian/Brazillian (or similar) games on Steam now have regional activation locks
- Thread starter Salsa
- Start date
So far as I can tell this doesn't affect retail keys, just things bought on steam.
Steam isn't cheap at all. Infact is easily one of the most expensive places to buy Pc software on release day in the UK if you buy direct from Steam.
Outside of sales, 3rd party sites like GMG and foreign keys Steam is shit.
Yes. (A mod may want to edit the post into the OP.)
It does affect retail keys somewhat (see the link above), but definitely not to the extent that it does gifts bought on Steam itself.
For fucks sake.
I love that GOG has no client. If they do make one I hope they never require it for their games.
I see a lot of exceptions from your 100-120 "rule".
You're arguing semantics here, especially with two examples of 129 PLN, where i specifically said about 129 PLN as a higher spectrum in a second post.
Just forgot about stupid 9 at the end.
GTA is an exception and will cost much less. It already costs less in many shops [149 PLN].
ebullientprism
Member
This is great. Its the only way to offer locally reasonable prices digitally in these countries.
Hopefully Origin follows suit soon.
Hopefully Origin follows suit soon.
EricTheCleric
Member
I guess this might mean the PS4 being cracked faster.
Indeed.
Prophet Steve
Member
Hahaha, I hope you are, PC gaming has been becoming much more healthy before trading games with Russian game traders became more popular. It is not like you can't get reasonable prices anymore. The entire reason they are offering these games in those countries is to limit piracy anyway, because otherwise they wouldn't get any sales at all.
The isn't the case for the US and west EU. We can afford those games and it makes sense to have the prices higher here.
This is the reason why I liked being able to purchase or trade Steam games. Fuck Euro pricing.
Oh well, Steam was never my first choice nowadays anyway.
Say hello to superiority.
So? Buy them from the US then? Those are not region locked.
Some people who bought the new Dragon Age from the Mexican store had their orders cancelled and refunded, which may suggest EA is testing the waters.
Or Steam themselves could try lowering the price or make it equal across the western world. GOG.com does it, or when not able to, offers credit at their store.
Also pay Swedish tax once and see how "affordable" everything is after that.
Mr. Luchador
Member
I don't buy at all that the population count of a country is a key factor in pricing strategy of a digital game.Maybe on a physical copy that requires shipping (which was always Sony's excuse for the insane markup on consoles). But saying localisation is a factor in UK paying extra money (certainly when talking about UK v US pricing)... not convinced at all. Most of the time there isn't even any direct UK Specific localistion and we have to put up with all those Zs flying around, as we have to make do with the US Language.
The sales tax/VAT argument I might be able to get behind, somewhat. However, that still doesn't fully explain the laziness of some publishers thinking $1=£1.
Hero Prinny
Member
...seriously? Cmon ea, and here I was thinking that they were cool
Cosmic Schwung
Member
Hmm, so I should keep away from copies that come from multi-packs, or make sure the original copy was activated in an unrestricted country.
DA:I PC for a little more: 139PLN
http://www.sferis.pl/p/332259-gra-pc-dragon-age-inkwizycja-pc-1005381.html
I see a lot of exceptions from your 100-120 "rule".
Eh, if you don't know where to look, then sure:
http://www.swiatksiazki.pl/multimedia/obcy-izolacja-creative-assembly-4007156/
The point is, you can get majority of new PC games for 100-120PLN
Yeah, using the freedoms of global trade is so morally ambiguous.
Are you going to say the same about Toyota buying aluminium for the cars from the cheapest country or the US government buying drugs from India? Of course not. This is as unacceptable as Nintendo region locking their consoles and is massively anti consumer. The world should be breaking trading barriers down, not erecting new ones like this.
Please, tell me how trading with people who have legally bought games using a system that includes the ability to trade them across the world is illegal. I'd love to hear it.
FeiRR
Banned
Dandare4444
Member
Oh the joys of a "free" market...
They already do offer regional pricing, at least for their own games.
Prophet Steve
Member
Which is definitely a very user-friendly policy, but I also feel it is unreasonable to expect that from companies when it is the publishers setting those prices. Besides that it is a general trend with all products.
And that still means that there isn't any reason for going to GOG because of this region locking. Because you still can get keys from the US. So if you are going to pretend you are unhappy because of the unequal prices instead of wanting to be very cheap, well, you can still do something about that.
Obviously there is a lot more tax to be paid in Sweden, but don't pretend you don't get any benefits from that.
Yeah. Curiously, Valve applying ACRTAG across the board had a bit of a side-effect with pre-existing region-locked gifts having the restriction notice removed -- the gifts themselves look region-free but are in fact still region-locked.
It is true.
I tried to specifically make it clear I wasn't talking about every country.
Also, if your currency is worth 3x less than in the US, then wages are not the same at all just because they have the same number. Wages would be 3x less, so as you say, the games pricing for Poland is extravagant.
kruis
Exposing the sinister cartel of retailers who allow companies to pay for advertising space.
How often has this subject been discussed already?
US prices don't include VAT, Euro prices include VAT. Of course US prices will be 18-20% lower than European prices.
It's not a coincidence that the Call of Duty is 19.75% cheaper in the US, that's roughly the VAT difference. Americans still pay VAT, but since it's different for each state, prices will vary. That's why VAT is never included in US prices.
OT, not as much as you'd think, but that's another discussion.
primasaurus
Member
Debt as % of GDP:
Russia - 11.06%
Australia - 21.82%
UK - 90.25%
US - 104.13%
Japan - 198.27%
Russia - 11.06%
Australia - 21.82%
UK - 90.25%
US - 104.13%
Japan - 198.27%
PetriP-TNT
Member
Well yeah, that's what I meant, should have added "because of VAT" and in hindsight "affect" was a wrong word to use.
EricTheCleric
Member
not all westerners are rich and those that are do not "exploit it", those that are not rich will try to save money in any way possible and Steams price gouging is hurting enough to make us look in other places for better prices.
FeiRR
Banned
You're right, I wouldn't look for games in a bookstore. This game isn't new anymore. It already got discounted on multiple platforms.
Wiktor
Member
You know....there are people who went to every humble bundle, paid the minimum price tag (dollar or even 10 cents) and then after couple weeks sold each game seperately for couple bucks. Was it legal? Sure. But it doesn't change how much of an asshole move that was.
You don't pay extra tax on games in the US that I know of. Its one of the few products where you go and grab a $59.99 product off the shelf and only pay $59.99 for it.How often has this subject been discussed already?
US prices don't include VAT, Euro prices include VAT. Of course US prices will be 18-20% lower than European prices.
It's not a coincidence that the Call of Duty is 19.75% cheaper in the US, that's roughly the VAT difference. Americans still pay VAT, but since it's different for each state, prices will vary. That's why VAT is never included in US prices.
Wiktor
Member
If you have a gaming pc in america you're still likely to be very rich compared to russian gamer.
And local distributors are able to negotiate low prices for their countrymen solely because publisher can be sure that those low priced products won't spread to "rich countries". If they would then publishers would have to make a choice and then you can bet that all the lower prices countries would get screwed up, because USA is much more profotable market. So all this would acomplish in the end is denying poor countries reasonably priced games.
Prophet Steve
Member
In this case that might be true. I don't think Steam collects taxes in the US because the tax system seems like a mess there and it doesn't apply to online orders or something. Same thing when people got pissed when Amazon started to collect taxes.
Depends on the state though.
If you are getting it from a physical store, you pay tax on top of the $59.99. Unless some states are different. That is how it is in Ohio.
Canis lupus
Member
Guess most of us will be buying less games now huh. Good to know I can still buy keys from Amazon.com as a European.
Must be a state thing, cuz I never paid above the retail price on the box in Virginia.
So sites like AliExpress and Chinese sellers of physical goods on eBay shouldn't sell items worldwide then? Us rich westerners should only buy from where we are told, at full price, always.
I never expected to hear so much bullshit about the loss of a legitimate use of free trade across borders but here we are.
Next time you consume any food or use any manufactured product, remind yourself of what you just said. If the food comes from a country with cheaper produce (example imported fruit and vegetables etc. After all most grown produce in western countries can be grown at higher cost there but would mean higher prices for consumers) you'll see that the retailer is doing exactly what you're condemning. Using the cheapest possible source of their products. Why on earth do end users not have the right to do the same?
Mr. Luchador
Member
BUY AMERICAN
Not relevant to the discussion, and taking such a percentage in a vacuum ignores the reality of debt. Having relatively little debt isn't going to save Russia from the near free fall it is experiencing right now:
http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/15/investing/russia-ruble-economy-crash/
Valve will likely just drop the ruble as a payment option until things stabilize.
Are games being made in sweatshops with dirt cheap labor overseas like a pair of shoes or a phone? (Cue the Ubisoft jokes)
I'm English, I think you're aware of that
Yeah, as I said earlier there is a rumour that Valve will drop RUB support and lump in Russia with the rest of Eastern Europe (cheaper USD prices).
primasaurus
Member
It has far more in reserve than almost any other country, can't hurt
Wiktor
Member
It's the opossite actually. Ability to significantly lower prices for local markets was the main reason why piracy was lowered so much. Because people could afford to buy those games. Western gamers exploiting this en masse risked undermining the whole success and bringing the prices in those countries up to their american levels, which for people who earn 300-500 dollars a month just isn't sustainable.
Mr. Luchador
Member
I'm English, I think you're aware of that
My Brother, my Countryman.
Mr. Luchador
Member
Just how many filthy rich morally degenerate Westerners do you believe were exploiting this kindness for it to trigger the blocking of trading?
tim_pkmn89
Member
Yes you do, all the time. Unless you're buying from a military base, games are taxed just like everything else. It's digital purchases that vary.