Rage & Skyrim, $90... EACH!

[Drac]

Sigh.

Someone needs to make a viral video levelling shit at the publishers for persisting with this "Aussie Fun Tax" - like a rap video or something.

[Jigoku]

When was the last time you paid the "Aussie Fun Tax" though ...?

[Drac]

I haven't, but it gets bothersome getting people from overseas to gift you stuff and organising payment ect.

I'd rather just give steam my money directly and not have to jump though all of these stupid hoops just to pay a fair price.

Oh and to add insult to injury, Skyrim Director & Lead Design Todd Howard thinks most games should be $19 or $29.

Skyrim Chief: More Games Should Cost $US29, But Not Skyrim | Kotaku Australia

This also marks the point in which most PC games will have parity with Console games prices (why I have no bloody idea, there's no liceence fees for PC development). It seems from now on PC games from Bethsoft, Activision and EA will hit the street in the US at $60 (up form $50) so expect to see $90 to $110 for PC games on Steam in Australia in the Future.

Thus far smaller publishers seem to be sticking to the usual $50USD mark, but the big three, Bethsoft, Activision and EA games are all landing at $60 for the PC, I wouldn't be the least surprised if 2K and THQ are also in on this behind-the-scenes deal to screw PC games just that little bit more as well.

Almost all other types of software in the Industry are on the decline because the market worldwide is growing large enough to justify it, it's software after all - very little per-product material costs involved. Game software prices on the other hand, despite year on year growth in the industry, are increasing simply because these publishes think they can get away with it.

[Thermal Ions]

Personally, I won't pay over $50 for my fun, and generally that's only for new releases I'm really looking forward to and/or a group of regular friends are buying a new game intending to play heavily as co-op. Anything else I'll usually wait until it hits around the $35 mark (or lower depending upon the game). Steam has most definitely trained me not to pay the "Aussie Fun Tax" or the "Aussie Retail 'Bend Over Please' Tax".

I agree though it is a hassle imposing on fellow TOG'ers who aren't lucky enough to live down under.

[Reoh]

Lately I'm getting more games off OzGameShop. Yeah there's a delay, but look at Brink. $25 from OGS or $90 from Steam. Heck the Brink sale is even only 25% off (our double price) instead of the 50% the rest are getting. It's getting ridiculous.

[Bawheidbob]

You guys do seem to get shafted when it comes to game prices especially on Steam

[Justin Kace]

I've seen red today, on finding that the Skyrim CE is $150USD... Or $199AUS.

I'm raging at Beth now, for what it's worth. This shit absolutely infuriates me.

[rubicon]

I don't mind buying from elsewhere, but I like the convenience of having my games in steam (and not having to worry about DVDs). I know some games use steamworks or have keys that steam will accept (e.g. Shogun 2). I wonder if Rage or Skyrim will be the same.

I'm looking to buy both of those, and if I can grab them for $40 a piece, well...

[Justin Kace]

I feel a bit better now.

Hi Bethesda,

Big fan here. I have yet to be disappointed with any product you have put out (although it's a shame the bugs never got ironed out of Dark Corners of the Earth properly). That said, the attitude you and other publishers have adopted towards Aussie gamers has already gotten a lot of us pretty jaded.

How can you justify the price discrepancies with Skyrim CE?

$150USD = $105EURO, yet you are charging $150EURO ($214USD).

$150USD = $143AUS, yet you are charging $199AUS ($207USD).

This kind of blatant money-grubbing at the expense of the Aussies is generating some serious ill-will. Try to imagine, if you were an aussie gamer with slightly flexible morals, and you saw this kind of 'aussie gouging' going on, it might be just the kind of thing that would make you choose a torrent site over a legit purchase. Personally, I have already pre-ordered (not the CE, there are limits to how far I'll whore myself out for a good game), but I'm kind of a sucker for helping out the 'struggling games developers'.

There are plenty of Australians who are getting very frustrated with the current trend of ravaging the strong Aus dollar. Steam has been laying it on us pretty heavy for the last year and we are all getting sick of it and finding ways to get around it while still making legit purchases. I order all my AAA titles from overseas now (and pay half to one third of the Aussie retail price) and only buy Indie games or specials through Steam.

I'm very interested in how much thought you put into the possible impact of your price hikes. Do you think we are too stupid to notice, or have you just grown too big to care? Do you realise that you are alienating a not insignificant percentage of your customer base?

We know. We're discussing it. And we don't like it. This is just one (particularly disgusting) example. The average gamer is growing older. We're getting more patient and more savvy with our purchases. We're more likely to avoid the early rush and buy a game when it's on special or in the bargain bin. Even more so when it's a single player game we wont be playing with our mates. So price your products more attractively and you're more likely to sell more when they are at their most profitable for you.

Have a read, see what we're talking about...

Aussies: Tired of paying too much?

Space Marine: Aussies charged 200%

http://www.theoldergamers.com/forum/...ml#post3219478

http://www.theoldergamers.com/forum/...ml#post3221812

Many thanks, and I sincerely hope this doesnt fall on deaf ears.
Greg

P.S. If you have any positions going for a 'Moral Advisor' role or some such I would still happily consider coming to work for you. I love you guys, really. Just pissed off that you too have jumped on this horrid bandwagon. You don't need my resume. $70k per year should be reasonable I think. In Aussie dollars of course. I'll even consider shifting my family...

[Reoh]

You know that's actually a really good point. This sort of price gouging will probably encourage piracy (which is a bad thing and I'm not advocating it).