Poll: Blizzard you disappoint me (Starcraft 2 Pricing for Australians/New Zealanders and Oceanic)

[Tattaglia]

Sure, that sucks and all, but I'd definitely wish for an internet speed comparable to South Korea over cheaper video games. Think of all those newbs I could have pwned on Battlefield: Bad Company 2, instead of lagging with every step. Ah, what could have been...

For reference I live in New Zealand. On a side-note, the Tri-Nations is ours.

*evil laugh*

 

[Vrach]

Aussies are not the only ones affected by it mate, Europe as a whole is too. Check Blizzard's WoW pet store (no, I don't buy pets myself, but it's an example of the same shit):
http://eu.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=221003878
http://us.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=1100000943

If you cba following the links, same item, in game pet, American cost 10$, EU cost 10E. The current exchange rate is 1E=1.3069$.

Now I don't know whether this is standard practice or if Blizzard in particular is just made of greedy assholes, but my money's on the latter, either way, I sympathize with ya.

 

[sephiroth1991]

I don't understand how a PC game is 34.99 pounds i mean most PC games are cheaper than that. I may be a good game but come on.

OT:But thats bad for you aussies.

 

[Kurokami]

It's called "having the nicest beaches tax"

Ours (New Zealanders) is a living in f**king freezing temperatures Tax then? =[

 

[RMcD94]

For all those using digital distribution, hit up a proxy to get round it.

To everyone else, who is up for a world currency so the disparity is even more obvious? That should get some sort of change.

 

[steeple]

i have only this to say: i had to pay 329 NIS on SC2, which is, after checking it, 86.75 USD... knowing that PS3 games here can cost up to 400 NIS and more, im left with cursing you all and sending you to damnation (JK.... or am i?)

EDIT: i have to add that overpricing is fucking annoying, and its in alot of places on the globe... i feel your pain man....

 

[mokachill]

we (are supposed to) have a standard 10% tax on everything though some things (alcohol, tobacco products etc)have more on top of that but as far as i know there is no "luxury tax".

on topic its the retailers not the developer who sets the price and i guess they think "they paid that before, they will pay it now"

 

[Klepa]

Aussies are not the only ones affected by it mate, Europe as a whole is too. Check Blizzard's WoW pet store (no, I don't buy pets myself, but it's an example of the same shit):
http://eu.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=221003878
http://us.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=1100000943

If you cba following the links, same item, in game pet, American cost 10$, EU cost 10E. The current exchange rate is 1E=1.3069$.

Now I don't know whether this is standard practice or if Blizzard in particular is just made of greedy assholes, but my money's on the latter, either way, I sympathize with ya.

Not to mention that according to Steam, 1? = 1$. Paying 65 bucks (49,99?) is quite harsh for a PC game. Most gamers with euros in their wallets either buy their games through play.com, or get a Brit to gift them.

Back to the topic.. Yeah I've got no clue. The only thing left is for the Australian government to start complaining about the gray market.

 

[Reliq]

In Sweden it was aprox 39 USD on release day. So your getting a rough one.

Edit: Btw thats at the place i work. But the price was for any customer not just staff or VIP´s, think we had around 200 of ´m in store for sale first day.

 

[Wardnath]

You do know that it's always been like this, don't you, OP?

 

[TsunamiWombat]

I suspect it relates to a lack of servers, and the overhead cost of maintaining dedicated servers for asuch a small market.

Also, because they can get away with it, like when Kotick raised the price of pc games to 60

 

[Abedeus]

Uhm. In Poland, we have to pay 180 PLN. That's 64 AUD. However, most of our games save Aion who also was overpriced cost 100-130 at release.

You know why? Because all idiots think Poland uses EUR.

 

[jackknife402]

Don't blame it on Blizzard you Aussie crackhead, its cuz your companies taxes and such that threw it all off. Hell, just even the world known zeratul and zerg movie probably would have caused red flags to be thrown up, cuz blood came off the hydra's claw when it was slashed....you whinos and not understanding taxes affect base price of items make me wish NK would cleanse the world.

 

[AhumbleKnight]

I don't care. Here in NZ, it ranges from 96 to 130. I got 120.

So quit your whining. NZ have it worse. I've learnt to get over it. I understand what you mean but its the taxes. Can't change that. It isn't Blizzard's fault.

Just because you have it worse does not mean shit. There is always somebody who has it worse than you so live with it? I think not.

Don't blame it on Blizzard you Aussie crackhead, its cuz your companies taxes and such that threw it all off. Hell, just even the world known zeratul and zerg movie probably would have caused red flags to be thrown up, cuz blood came off the hydra's claw when it was slashed....you whinos and not understanding taxes affect base price of items make me wish NK would cleanse the world.

I agree with the OP. Shame Blizzard, SHAME. Correct me if I am wrong here (seriously, I like to be informed), this is Blizzards choice. Take SC2 for example. I want to buy the Digital Download version. I am looking at an extra 20USD for what exactly? I am not paying for postage or any hard copy production costs so why does it cost the same as a hard copy of SC2. The only thing left is tarrifs/taxes. If this was the case, then we would be looking at the same situation with Steam and say, Marfia 2. But we are not. Steam lists one price. It is almost always cheaper than a hard copy and the difference comes down to pubishers greed/choice.

The fact is, there is an unfair disparity here and it is Blizzards choice.

Edit: I stand corrected and feel the fool. I just double checked and found that there is the same difference between Mafia 2 purchased on steam. Now if you excuse me I need to remove my foot from my mouth.

 

[Nouw]

I don't care. Here in NZ, it ranges from 96 to 130. I got 120.

So quit your whining. NZ have it worse. I've learnt to get over it. I understand what you mean but its the taxes. Can't change that. It isn't Blizzard's fault.

Just because you have it worse does not mean shit. There is always somebody who has it worse than you so live with it? I think not.

Don't blame it on Blizzard you Aussie crackhead, its cuz your companies taxes and such that threw it all off. Hell, just even the world known zeratul and zerg movie probably would have caused red flags to be thrown up, cuz blood came off the hydra's claw when it was slashed....you whinos and not understanding taxes affect base price of items make me wish NK would cleanse the world.

I agree with the OP. Shame Blizzard, SHAME. Correct me if I am wrong here (seriously, I like to be informed), this is Blizzards choice. Take SC2 for example. I want to buy the Digital Download version. I am looking at an extra 20USD for what exactly? I am not paying for postage or any hard copy production costs so why does it cost the same as a hard copy of SC2. The only thing left is tarrifs/taxes. If this was the case, then we would be looking at the same situation with Steam and say, Marfia 2. But we are not. Steam lists one price. It is almost always cheaper than a hard copy and the difference comes down to pubishers greed/choice.

The fact is, there is an unfair disparity here and it is Blizzards choice.

Edit: I stand corrected and feel the fool. I just double checked and found that there is the same difference between Mafia 2 purchased on steam. Now if you excuse me I need to remove my foot from my mouth.

Yes there is always someone who has it worse than you and living with it would be the best idea (if you're human that is) . For Example, some people get frustrated over the Price of SC2 whereas some people can't even buy it for numerous reasons.

So you're saying whether or not someone has it worse, it's of the same value?

"The Internet Lags!"

"I have no internet..."

I don't mean you should pity me or the people who have it worse. You should acknowledge it.

 

[Lyri]

Aussies are not the only ones affected by it mate, Europe as a whole is too. Check Blizzard's WoW pet store (no, I don't buy pets myself, but it's an example of the same shit):
http://eu.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=221003878
http://us.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=1100000943

If you cba following the links, same item, in game pet, American cost 10$, EU cost 10E. The current exchange rate is 1E=1.3069$.

Now I don't know whether this is standard practice or if Blizzard in particular is just made of greedy assholes, but my money's on the latter, either way, I sympathize with ya.

And £9 is $14.

Which is what English folks pay.

Your example is also pretty bad, as that doesn't represent Europe having hiked prices like Australia.

OT: I don't think Blizz has control of it's prices ,there was a post that was made by Funk if I recall correctly.
All game prices are ramped up massively for you guys, so I don't think it's just a case of "Hey, fuck Australia".

 

[AhumbleKnight]

Yes there is always someone who has it worse than you and living with it would be the best idea (if you're human that is) . For Example, some people get frustrated over the Price of SC2 whereas some people can't even buy it for numerous reasons.

So you're saying whether or not someone has it worse, it's of the same value?

"The Internet Lags!"

"I have no internet..."

I don't mean you should pity me or the people who have it worse. You should acknowledge it.

Fair enough. I do acknowledge it. What I was saying is that it shouldn't be put up with. This type of price hike is the product of both political and business choices. Political in the way of tarrifs (+1 for free trade I suppose). Business in the way of, price difference(or lack off) between hard copy and Digital copy dispite the disparity between production and shipping costs.

 

[Nouw]

Yes there is always someone who has it worse than you and living with it would be the best idea (if you're human that is) . For Example, some people get frustrated over the Price of SC2 whereas some people can't even buy it for numerous reasons.

So you're saying whether or not someone has it worse, it's of the same value?

"The Internet Lags!"

"I have no internet..."

I don't mean you should pity me or the people who have it worse. You should acknowledge it.

Fair enough. I do acknowledge it. What I was saying is that it shouldn't be put up with. This type of price hike is the product of both political and business choices. Political in the way of tarrifs (+1 for free trade I suppose). Business in the way of, price difference(or lack off) between hard copy and Digital copy dispite the disparity between production and shipping costs.

Oh well... all we can do is hope.

*Grabs Shotgun

 

[Deadman Walkin]

I have got a feeling that you shouldn't be blaming Blizzard, but the market itself. You aren't alone with paying more, Canadians pay more for things too, even though it isn't as big of a difference as Australians. I know plenty of people when they go for a vacation to the States, they bring extra money to buy electronics and such because it is much cheaper there.