So, why is Steam more expensive than retail?

[Saxon]

Games on Steam are definitely overpriced, it's a rare occasion for a game to be cheaper on Steam.

What really bugs me about this is that once you own a game on steam theres no way you can sell it, this makes me feel kind of ripped off if I don't particularly like something and would rather get rid of it for some recompense.

[Hellraz0r]

For me Steam prices are much cheaper than retail.

Only problem is the downloading, which takes up my cap which I then have to also pay for But overall cheaper than retail depending on which games.

Saxon the prices have been much cheaper than retail for me, I guess the UK doesn't like cheap games??

[amckern]

JB Hi-fi is an aussie bulk retailer, they buy heaps and sell cheap

1 AUD = 1.01871 USD 1 USD = 0.981633 AUD


Call of Duty: Black Ops
http://store.steampowered.com/app/42700/ - $89.99 USD - cheaper by 68 cents
http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/game/pc- ... ops/527299 - $89.00

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood
http://store.steampowered.com/app/48190/?snr=1_4_4__13 - $49.99 USD 1/2 price
http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/game/pc- ... ion/532169 - $99.00

Dead Space 2
http://store.steampowered.com/app/47780/ - $69.99 USD - cheaper
http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/game/pc- ... e-2/537220 - 85.00

Portal 2

http://store.steampowered.com/app/620/ - $44.99 USD - 1/2 price
http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/game/pc- ... l-2/642400 - $99.00


I bet you that when you look on steam powered from the USA the USD price will be different to what i have hear, that's what good old publisher region locking will do, they still dictate the overall price.

Your normal AAA tittle is no more then 50 in America, come to Australia, and if your lucky it will cost 100 retail, most of the time it will be 120 or 130. Black Ops on PS3 is 135, or 170 for the limited edition.

[OhSnap]

Possibly a regional thing. In the US, the price disparity isn't that great (but still exists.. Dead Space 2 is $8 US less on amazon than steam)

Plus, with any boxed product, it's taking up physical space either on the shelf or in a warehouse. The incentive to move the product is a lot higher than a digital copy, which costs maybe 10-15 cents in bandwidth costs, and isn't taking up space on a shelf.

[Smurftyours]

WOW, you guys are paying $90+ for COD? Shit you guys are getting ripped off, I can get a brand new copy for $60. I also find steam to be much cheaper then retail.

[srredfire]

WOW, you guys are paying $90+ for COD? Shit you guys are getting ripped off, I can just not get it for $0. Because the game is FUCKING SHIT.

[Dr. Delta]

I can get

FUCKING SHIT

[jgoodroad]

$100 for a video game?

I think I am going to have a heart attack. I mean, I was pissed off when the standard for a new game-price was raised from $50 to $60...

...$100...

...makes me think of oil.

[poisonic]

we call that inflation
the dollar is to cheap :p ....
btw if its a good original game i would pay the price...
one of my facourite most expancive game that i have is castlevania symphony of the night back in 1997 i paid 129 guilders for it thats 58,55 euros today if you seek the special edition on ebay you easy will have to pay 265 euros.
so actualy games stayed cheap but since the dollar gets less and less you will have to pay more duh

[.treeturtle--]

Bottom Line: Don't buy games, make them

[poisonic]

orange box on www.bol.com is 29,99 in the steam store its 29,99

[amckern]

That's why you get so many people bitching to there ISP about a game missing from there content server as we are quota caped and most ISP's have there own content server to get around this.

You walk into a Game or EB store and you will see the SIMs and about 5 'best sellers' in the PC Section.

[marks]

WOW, you guys are paying $90+ for COD? Shit you guys are getting ripped off, I can just not get it for $0. Because the game is FUCKING SHIT.

;D

[jgoodroad]

we call that inflation
the dollar is to cheap :p ....
btw if its a good original game i would pay the price...
one of my facourite most expancive game that i have is castlevania symphony of the night back in 1997 i paid 129 guilders for it thats 58,55 euros today if you seek the special edition on ebay you easy will have to pay 265 euros.
so actualy games stayed cheap but since the dollar gets less and less you will have to pay more duh

I can't contemplate paying $100, even for the best game in the world.
It's beyond my feeble mind's comprehension that ANY game would ever exceed $80 in the next 20 yrs, perhaps after I am dead... hopefully.

then again I am a cheap bastard...

[MayheM]

@poisonic, If the US Dollar is worth less than say, the Euro, it would take less Euros than it would dollars. Look online for prices listed in Euros and Dollars side by side. It is always the dollar having the higher number. That has nothing to do with inflation but but everything to do with currency exchange rates. It makes no sense that things would cost more being that the Euro is currently stronger than the US Dollar, or at least is worth more. (1 US dollar = 0.7193 euros) So if the average new game costs 59.00 US dollars it should then the same game would be 42.44 Euro. Thus making this entire thing make no sense what so ever. If I had to guess I would say it is caused by taxes. Either as en export from the US, which is bullshit. Or Import into the nation you live in, which is again bullshit.

Long story short, there is no good explanation for the discrepancy in cost. I think most people would agree it should cost everyone the same. Well maybe no Australia since they often get watered down games, at least that's what I have heard...