Steam is becoming the online gaming distribution system du jour, with big publishers flocking to sign their titles on to the download service. Such is the penetration that owner Valve software has indicated interest in distributing media content outside of games.
It's all rosy then -- if you live in the USA.
Steam users outside of North America have been on the receiving end of some pretty questionable treatment from the big publishers for a while now. Either games suffer a greatly marked up price outside ol' Uncle Sam, or are simply not available.
Valve has consistently responded that they offer the service worldwide, and it's up to game publishers to determine availability and pricing -- so we decided to track down the local publishers, and where possible elevate it higher to get an answer. The range of responses was interesting, to say the least.
Ubisoft: "Ubisoft is still studying the different options concerning the digital market and official announcements on this subject could be made in the coming months."
THQ AU: "Unfortunately we are unable to comment on the situation with Steam at this stage."
Sega AU: "We honestly have nothing to do with Steam here in Australia."
Atari AU: "This is a US deal with Steam done by Atari Inc and has nothing to do with Atari Australia." Kotaku AU got a bit more of an answer, managing to get it's "US-only due to licensing agreements".
2k Games AU: 2k Australia forwarded a request to 2k US, but we're still awaiting a response. According to Kotaku AU, the games catalogue used to be there and is coming back eventually.
Rockstar: No response.
Big kudos to Ubisoft for opening the curtain a little bit on what has so far been a black box of "we're not telling" from the rest of the publishers.
There are many more games available at the US Steam store.
Limited Release
Given that the answers aren't greatly forthcoming, we're left to speculate on the reasons why games aren't available locally, or are (as in the case of Call of Duty 4), ridiculously overpriced.
The first potential issue is distribution rights. While online distribution cuts out disc replication, packaging, design time, logistics and dealing with retail fronts, different companies handle a publisher's distribution in different regions. Cutting out this middle man potentially takes the legs out of an entire business model, and leaves a lot of pissed off people.
The shopfronts are also bypassed, and so it's quite the delicate situation -- especially since these still make a fair whack of money. Nonetheless, removing these barriers to the customer should lower price -- and with EB and JB Hi-Fi pushing used titles hard and potentially cutting into publisher's profits, it's interesting they haven't been pushing to snip the cord sooner.
Next we have to consider what Valve charges for the service -- frankly, we don't know. Presumably deals would change depending on the size of the corporation they're dealing with, the amount of titles distributed, the amount of expected traffic consumed and maybe even the Metacritic rating. Let's face it, the more triple A titles that are on the service, the more attractive it will be to customers, potentially making it worth Valve's while to give highly rated games a bit of a discount.
Another issue is licenses -- take for instance, music. It's pretty common these days for games to have audio licensed from a major music label, rather than being done in-house. These deals are region specific, based on how much expected exposure the audio will get, how it's used, and even how popular the song is. When you open the scope up to the world, costs greatly increase, and could be a valid reason for titles to cost more in one region than another. The international licenses for Rock Band must have been migraine inducing.
Finally we have to deal with local classification systems. Admittedly Rockstar might have a get out of jail free card here -- a number of its games have been banned locally and have subsequently been altered for store release -- whereas the online versions are likely to still contain the contentious material.
Despite Steam's age and presence in the market, all these things point towards an industry that is only taking its fledgling steps into dealing with a true global economy, simultaneous worldwide releases and unilateral licence agreements -- and on top of this they have to drag others along with them to get there. Thankfully, games seem to be moving faster than movies.
PlayAsia will even tell you if your game is region locked. So far PlayStation 3 games are region free, while Xbox 360 is split into PAL and NTSC regions.
Overcharging
Even if we're a bit forgiving on release times, the days of international price gouging -- both online and in local stores -- are beginning their inevitable stumble into demise. The slow disintegration of region locked games, and the rise of online stores such as PlayAsia means that importing identical, vastly cheaper titles from overseas is an option, rather than going down to the store for your local bloated price game-fix. Why buy for $109.95, when you can buy for $59.95, with $5 to $20 shipping? From what we've observed, a sizeable import culture has sprung up as a result of Australia's over-expensive store offerings compared to the US.
Reactions from businesses have been decidedly backward on this -- from Sony's amazingly poor showing of shutting down Lik-Sang for exporting PSPs to regions that didn't have them, to surprisingly, Valve's reaction to people who bought the Orange Box from Thailand cheaper and loaded it up in the US, only to find they had been locked out until they bought US regionalised copies. The concept of region-exclusive downloadable content has also begun to rear its ugly head, essentially becoming the new form of region locking.
And yet, regardless of population density, regional sales, taxes, classification systems -- the internet has let the genie out of the box. If people can get games or hardware for vastly cheaper overseas, they will. If they can't get it in their region and can't import it, they're going to pirate it. The model is broken. Rather than implementing crazy anti-piracy schemes that do nothing but drive up the cost of games and more people to piracy, publishers should be focusing on how they can improve their business model on a global scale -- or risk becoming the shambolic, obsolete mess the music industry is today.
There's really only one, simple answer to all of this -- a global price on all games, content for all. Sadly the process required to reach this solution is no doubt horrible and convoluted.
The Rest of World (RoW) group on Steam is attempting to change the tide on regionalised games.
Solutions
What can we do for now? Make a lot of noise, until the powers that be pull themselves into line. A group on the Steam website, Rest of World (RoW), has been created to point out the flamingly obvious that if publishers were to release their product to the rest of the world, they'd make more money (shock!). As of writing, it has 3,910 members, and is bound to be more fruitful than anything that turns up on the infeasibly useless and thoroughly ignorable petitiononline.com.
If you have a steam account, nip on over and join the group. The more people in there, the more publishers are likely start paying attention.
Below is a list of the titles that are region specific, or overcharged for on Steam. C'mon people, we're in a global society! Catch up already!
Overpriced games in Australia
| Publisher | Title | Price in US (US$) | Price in AU (US$) |
| 2k Games | Bioshock | $29.95 | $49.95 |
| Activision | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | $49.95 | $88.50 |
| Activision | Enemy Territory: Quake Wars | $39.95 | $47.50 |
| Eidos Interactive | Conflict: Denied Ops | $39.95 | $59.95 |
| Pendulo Studios | Runaway: The Dream of the Turtle | $29.95 | $49.95 |
| SimBin | RACE 07 | $29.95 | $39.95 |
Games not available in Australia
| Publisher | Title | Price (US$) |
| 2k Games | Civ City: Rome | $39.95 |
| 2k Games | Civilization IV: Warlords | $19.95 |
| 2k Games | Prey | $19.95 |
| 2k Games | Railroad Tycoon 3 | $9.95 |
| 2k Games | Railroad Tycoon II Platinum | $4.95 |
| 2k Games | Shattered Union | $29.95 |
| 2k Games | Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete | $29.95 |
| 2k Games | Sid Meier's Civilization IV | $29.95 |
| 2k Games | Sid Meier's Pirates! | $29.95 |
| 2k Games | Sid Meier's Railroads! | $19.95 |
| 2k Games | X-Com: Terror from the Deep | $4.95 |
| Atari | Act of War: Direct Action | $19.95 |
| Atari | Act of War: High Treason | $19.95 |
| Atari | Atari 80 Classics in One | $18.95 |
| Atari | Desperados 2: Cooper's Revenge | $19.95 |
| Atari | Tycoon City | $19.95 |
| Rockstar Games | Grand Theft Auto Collection | $29.95 |
| Rockstar Games | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | $19.95 |
| Rockstar Games | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | $9.95 |
| Rockstar Games | Manhunt | $9.95 |
| Rockstar Games | Max Payne | $9.95 |
| Rockstar Games | Max Payne 2 | $9.95 |
| Rockstar Games | Midnight Club 2 | $9.95 |
| Rockstar Games | Wild Metal (Part of the Rockstar Collection for $59.95) | - |
| Sega | Medieval II: Total Wars | $29.95 |
| Sega | Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms | $29.95 |
| Sega | Sega Rally Revo | $49.95 |
| Sega | The Golden Compass | $29.95 |
| Sega | Worldwide Soccer Manager 2008 | $29.95 |
| THQ | Frontlines: Fuel of War | $49.95 |
| THQ | Full Spectrum Warrior | $9.95 |
| THQ | Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers | $9.95 |
| THQ | Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights | $39.95 |
| THQ | S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl | $19.95 |
| THQ | Titan Quest Gold | $19.95 |
| THQ | Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade | $19.95 |
| THQ | Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War - Gold Edition | $19.95 |
| THQ | Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War - Soulstorm | $19.95 |
| Ubisoft | Assassin's Creed | $49.95 |
| Ubisoft | Far Cry | $8.95 |
| Ubisoft | Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell | $17.95 |
| Ubisoft | Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas | $19.95 |
| Ubisoft | Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 | $49.95 |
Games available in Australia, but not available in the US
| Publisher | Title | Price (US$) |
| Eidos Interactive | Championship Manager 07 | $39.95 |
| Eidos Interactive | Championship Manager 08 | $49.95 |
| Techland | Call of Juarez | $29.95 |
bean
18/04/2008 03:51 PM
I still blame boba for all the price gouging
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Lego
18/04/2008 04:14 PM
The part that makes even less sense is the fact that half of those games/publishers were up at the start. I own a lot of those games, but if I were to try and buy them now, no dice. It's broken beyond belief. I own Dawn of War on Steam, but can't buy it's latest expansion through steam. Do the publishers even care about the sales lost from this backwards thinking?
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bigdong
18/04/2008 08:26 PM
It's like they want the world to pirate their games.
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Anonymoose
18/04/2008 11:45 PM
I wonder how Stardock's upcoming Impulse digital distribution service will handle things like this. If it's any better than Steam it may be time for a switch.
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Tim
20/04/2008 09:32 AM
In a similar vein to Lego, I bought Civilization IV through Steam and now can't buy the 'Beyond the Sword' expansion. (I'm in New Zealand.) I contacted Steam about it - they told me to talk to 2K Games. 2K directed me back to Steam. I asked Steam again and they told me to ask Firaxis. Firaxis promised to get back to me, but still haven't two weeks later. Why will no-one take responsibility for this? Bizarre that they don't seem willing to take my money...
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IAintSwitchn
21/04/2008 11:35 AM
I understand the thailand thing... I mean, there per head GDP is at ~$9k while the US is at ~$46k. I doubt anyone could pay $50 for a game over there. As for the other stuff, well...
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Early Grayce
22/04/2008 12:57 AM
If ya aren't allowed ta buy 'em, Pirate Em.
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Ginji
22/04/2008 02:01 PM
I bought CoD4 from Thailand, cost me $30 including shipping. Same for Bioshock that I bought later. Why would I pay $100 for a game I can get it for less than a third of that? Regarding the "pre-owned" games, it's not really applicable to PC games, as neither JB or EB to my knowledge let you trade in PC games. Consoles only, so it's a moot point for PC games. I own 6 games on steam that can't be purchased in Aus any more, and I would have purchased at least 4 more if I could have.
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manic.half
24/04/2008 02:44 AM
i pirate them. i would buy them on steam in a heartbeat if they were offered, but they are not. and if they think im going to pay $100/110 they are dreaming. so i get it for free instead. apparently they are not interested in my money. their loss.
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heavenhelpme
24/04/2008 03:33 AM
This is why I buy on Direct2Drive. If you want Rockstar titles and you're in the UK...no problem.
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Atomike
24/04/2008 04:06 AM
If you pirate games, you need to be in prison. It's the same as shoplifting - and you are simply rationalizing your crime. Don't ever call yourself a good person. It's simply not true. They don't OWE you games.
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Anon
24/04/2008 09:29 AM
Steam is the biggest annoyance since I can't remember. The only reason I have it on my System is to play the games. I start to wonder sometimes, is it more hassle dealing with this annoying Steam application or getting pirated copies functioning fully? Also minus the cost.
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Enraged
24/04/2008 10:55 AM
Atomike, your wrong. Because one pirates does not make you a bad person. Killing or bringing harm is others on the other hand does. Piracy happens because the publishers make their software a PITA to use. Not to mention i have 2 dead DVD readers killed by starforce. Ive spent many thousands of dollars on software in my 30+ years. So dont harp your crap in here.
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Steve
24/04/2008 03:16 PM
Ah, Enraged, so if a product, or the means to procure it, doesn't meet your ideal, that means it's ok to steal it? Hmm, I think Ferraris are entirely too expensive and difficult to buy, that makes it absolutely ok for me to steal one right? Actually, you know what, I like your car. You want how much? No that's unreasonable; I'm going to steal it. It's ok right, I'm not killing you, so I'm still a good person. ----- If a game is too expensive or you don't like it's DRM software, then you don't buy and you don't play it, period. You're not entitled to steal a product, especially something as non-necessary as a game, just because you don't like its price or its security measures.
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manic.half
24/04/2008 07:46 PM
steve, altho i agree with enraged that pirating does not make somebody a bad person - he did not state doing it made you a 'good' person either. people can sit there on their high horse and say you shouldnt do this, and you shouldnt do that. but its time to tune into reality FM. people DO pirate and so the industry needs to react accordingly.
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Mentalist_Ventalist
25/04/2008 09:44 AM
I think people will find that it's not neccessarily the game companies that are responsible for this massive discrepancy in price, but rather governments and over-price regulation. What I mean is: TAXES. Australia is (as far as I am aware) the most heavily taxed country in the world and video games (like cigarettes, petrol and alcohol) are taxed into oblivion. So don't try and lobby the developers and publishers. Tax is added by the government, not by them. So this is folly.
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xyrtrax
17/05/2008 12:54 AM
Mentalist_Ventalist, you've got only 10% VAT (GST) and your income tax doesn't go above 30%. Contrast this with Sweden where the base income tax is 31% and VAT is 25% on most items, including games, yet somehow prices for games are either at par or lower in Sweden than they are in Australia.
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Freman
24/06/2008 04:16 PM
Lets not forget another failing of Steam - It artificially curbs the EULA/License of the games sold within it. Most games include basic provisions that allow it to be installed on one or more machine provided it's not being played on both machines at the same time. A typical example is as follows - I'm playing Halflife 2 on the gaming PC, but the girlfriend wants to play Peggle on the laptop. In the REAL world this wouldn't be a problem, but in the Steam world as soon as she logs into my Steam I get kicked out of Halflife - even if Peggle isn't actually installed on my gaming PC, it's just listed as software I own. Steam has already demonstrated that it knows what game you are playing - Just look at the community/friends pages. It would not be to hard to expand this principle to permit multiple people (perhaps set a maximum of concurrent logins to 3) to log into one account and restrict it so that not more then one copy of a game can be run simultaneously. Valves official response is: It will remain as it is to curb piracy. I'm running out of time for Valve, and Steam - In my suggestion to them I provided the alternative measure to curb piracy. As it is, so that my GF can play the legitimately purchased Peggle, I must resort to piracy so she can do it
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