WTF is wrong with Australia? - The VG Press - Aggregate gaming news, forums, blogs and reviews

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Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:37:03

#1

Yeah so, this topic is mostly for us Aussies to get to the bottom of WhyTF are games so expensive here?

I buy about 10 games a week even though I live in Australia where new games can cost anywhere from $120 to $70 (yes DS games cost $70). And before you think, oh yeah dude but like the Aussie dollar is worth like what 10 cents US? No, it averages about 68 cents to the dollar and until recently was worth almost the same as a US dollar.

So anyway, how do I buy so many games at these prices? I don't. I import them all from the US and even with shipping I save $20-$30 per copy.

So why are games so damn expensive in this country? Is it some kind of luxury tax or what? The impact it has is enormous. In the states, everyone I knew under 41 played games, here almost no one does. The prices make games irrelevant to the culture.

Foolz

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Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:32:39

#2

I bet Michael Atkinson has something to do with it...

gamingeek

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Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:39:01

#3

Its expensive in the UK too. You see 360 games selling for $80 american dollars each. The general argument is that the cost of living and taxes are higher and stuff. And yet you can import a game and even with postage its cheaper. Makes no sense. I import all DS games. America has it lucky. Have you thought about renting or buying second hand?

aspro

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Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:25:54

#4

^Well, GG, another reason is that all my TVs are NTSC. But even the 2nd hand handhelds are out of reason.

I remember back in the early 90's CDs in AU cost like $60, and then there was a government review of gouging in the music industry and CD's came down to $20-$30. I wonder if it is a matter of the govt just not knowing that we are getting reamed.

aspro

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Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:27:09

#5

murmer... you know guys like him are always the ones with the most to hide...

gamingeek

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Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:03:46

#6

I remember N64 games used to cost $100-120 over here. So it did get better then 360 and PS3 games went up.

Ellyoda

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Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:15:33

#7

I blame Rowan Atkinson

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Tell me to get back to rewriting this site so it's not horrible on mobile

SteelAttack

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Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:22:39

#8

Here in Mexico we pay about 70 to 72 bucks for a retail game, more or less.
And a sombrero.

gamingeek

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Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:35:54

#9

Yeah but that's to cover your nuts.

You walk around naked there right? Except for the Sombrero on the nuts? Savages.

SteelAttack

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Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:39:40

#10

Yup. It's quite refreshing in summer, to have your balls well ventilated and shit. But in winter it can get chilly, and the balls and wee wee can shrink down a bit, thus leading to much mockery and finger pointing.

gamingeek

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Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:07:41

#11

Just keep a cup of warm drink in the hat.

SteelAttack

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Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:56:42

#12

Hey, I never thought of that! AND you can drink it afterwards!

gamingeek

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Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:54:36

#13

Unless it's pee.

SteelAttack

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Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:57:59

#14

Ew. Yeah, if it's pee then no.

Ellyoda

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Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:25:52

#15

We just can't have GG and Steel in the same discussion.

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aspro

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Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:21:09

#16

Well, I'll try and get this convo back on line here. I mean seriously, imagine a world (move preview voice) where no-one games. Gaming appears to be completely irrelevent to every here and if you do find someone who games they generally pirate.

Au has a really distinct and wonderful youth culture, so its a crying shame that these people don't game to the extent that folks in the US do.

Foolz

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Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:25:49

#17

I knew one guy who played games seriously in school. We were talking about the strip club in Vice City, and someone came up to us and thought we were talking about an actual strip club. They were very disappointed. You could pin point the exact moment that his heart (his penis) broke (went soft).

gamingeek