V2 and Steam.

[Aleksei]

I'll take your example of l4d 2. At steam the price is currently 49.99 Euro, locally I can get it for 34 Euro. What makes it even more ridiculous is that the game is made and published by Valve, the only cost they have for the digital edition is bandwidth. Logically the game @ steam should be cheaper than the one in the store.

 

[wilcoxchar]

I'll take your example of l4d 2. At steam the price is currently 49.99 Euro, locally I can get it for 34 Euro. What makes it even more ridiculous is that the game is made and published by Valve, the only cost they have for the digital edition is bandwidth. Logically the game @ steam should be cheaper than the one in the store.

Except that then stores probably wouldn't stock the product because Valve is undercutting them. Usually companies that have combined production and sales have contracts with other retailers on the price in order to keep things fair.

 

[unmerged(150564)]

Plus using LfD2 as an example still in Australia it is $49.99 USD which in AUD is $54.58 via steam.

The boxed normal version from EB (One of 3 store chains that sells games and the largest of them all) sells it for $108 AUD.

I will let YOU figure out why Australia and many other countrys prefer steam as its choice for a new purchase (Hence why i started this thread).

One thing i HAVE noticed is that in the US and AUS the prices are a bargain but in Europe the prices are slightly higher now i can only guess but i would assume it is because steam is forced by the EU commision to not undercut the compitition otherwise it gets hit with mega fines (look at microsoft over the past 10 years to see my point) and because alot of the european dollars/euro is strong in terms of value.

Just my 2 cents imo.

P.S I would also take a stab at it and say that because australia etc is so isolated it costs more to do stuff here where as in Europe you will find that the games are printed and distributed amongst a larger audience hence why it proberbly costs less in Europe then here.

 

[Will Lucky]

The situation is quite simple. If Digital Distribution undercut retailers on the majority of new releases then retail has nothing over digital. It becomes a case of undercut us and they will refuse to sell the game entirely which pretty much forces the higher prices for digital download stores.

 

[unmerged(149708)]

I buy most of my games from steam for the reason that nano tech mentioned (also an Aussie) but for paradox games I usually get them from GG because steam makes modding games a bit more difficult and they have a habit of cutting out the lead screen where you load mods

Having said that GG has the most horrendous checkout known to man. About half the time I want to buy something from them I am unable to due to technical issues. Hence for everything else I get it from steam.

 

[unmerged(150564)]

I buy most of my games from steam for the reason that nano tech mentioned (also an Aussie) but for paradox games I usually get them from GG because steam makes modding games a bit more difficult and they have a habit of cutting out the lead screen where you load mods

Having said that GG has the most horrendous checkout known to man. About half the time I want to buy something from them I am unable to due to technical issues. Hence for everything else I get it from steam.

If you go into your steam apps folder (In your hardrive proberbly under program files) and manually click on Hoi3 (example) and providing you installed the mod in the mod folder then you can select to run the game via the exe file instead without double clicking on steam.

It will bring up the main auto run screen which allows you to select mods while running steam. Toke me a LONG time to figure that out with Eu3 :rofl:

 

[unmerged(149708)]

If you go into your steam apps folder (In your hardrive proberbly under program files) and manually click on Hoi3 (example) and providing you installed the mod in the mod folder then you can select to run the game via the exe file instead without double clicking on steam.

It will bring up the main auto run screen which allows you to select mods while running steam. Toke me a LONG time to figure that out with Eu3 :rofl:

Have they included the mod selection screen now? I had to manually download and add the exe to the directory to get it (someone on the steam forums hosted it). There is also delay with the patches on steam as well for hoi3 which really annoyed me. Basically for this steam is just getting in the way of what I want rather than making it easier for me.

 

[unmerged(150564)]

Have they included the mod selection screen now? I had to manually download and add the exe to the directory to get it (someone on the steam forums hosted it). There is also delay with the patches on steam as well for hoi3 which really annoyed me. Basically for this steam is just getting in the way of what I want rather than making it easier for me.

Well steam itself hasen't BUT as i said if you open it via the steam apps folder in your program files then its all there and works perfectly. Same thing for patches just download them and manually install them in the right place and bobs your uncle.

I will admit it is a tad more work but if you are willing to be both patient and learn then it is hardly anything to really complain about.

 

[Garuda]

I don't have internet connection at home and so GG and Steam are non starters for me.

Call me old fashioned but I like a retail boxed version containing a game disc and a manual. Anything else just doesn't smell the same.

 

[gadajs]

Somewhat weirdly, I am willing to spend a little more on a game to have the privilege of not having the actual CDs/DVDs. The number of games that i have owned that I have screwed up by ruining or losing one of the discs is astounding. The comfort of having all my games in one place, always up to date, and not having to bother with keeping track of where I put my manuals etc is amazing. I have gotten to the point where if the game is not available on steam I probably will not bother buying it.