Australia: Your digital games will get more expensive

[rowdy]

http://www.playerattack.com.au/news/2015/05/11/australia-your-digital-games-will-get-more-expensive/

We already pay a premium, now it's going to get even more expensive.

Less incentive for me to upgrade my PC to play games I will no longer be able to afford.  What does that do to the economy?

[Axollott]

Do politicians really think they are smart and doing a good job by endorsing new taxes ? Imagine a CEO of a company proposing making their products more expensive instead of making them more attractive and appealing to consume. Ah, politics.

[rowdy]

They are apparently frantically trying to make up the shortfall caused by the devaluation of iron ore - one of the few things we export.

This is how.

[fanpeople]

Looks like its time to start claiming non-existent things during tax time to offset the loss. I wonder if I can claim keyboards?

[jamster]

I've been away from the country forever- how does buying software work in Oz? Do you get 'special' (i.e. jacked-up) pricing even when buying licenses online for things like Office/Adobe/etc?

[rowdy]

I've been away from the country forever- how does buying software work in Oz? Do you get 'special' (i.e. jacked-up) pricing even when buying licenses online for things like Office/Adobe/etc?

I don't tend to buy Office etc., preferring open source cross-platform alternatives.

But games are generally more expensive, even taking currency conversion into account.

I haven't looked for a while 'cause my PCs are too old to play modern games, but it used to be $60 to $80 for a full new game.

[baldgye]

yet people still emigrate to Aus in there thousands from the uk...

[fanpeople]

yet people still emigrate to Aus in there thousands from the uk...

You know some Brits that do their 22 years in Her Majesties defence force retire with their pension close to their yearly wage, laterally transfer to the Australian defence force and maintain a level of rank and then can do another 15-20 years with two pay checks.

[wlhlm]

That's interesting.

For me I'd say PC games got less expensive. I feel like prices on steam have been steadily falling over the years with so many and frequent discounts. I very rarely have to pay more than $20 for a game.

I don't know exactly how the Australian steam store is, but I suspect a similar trend there.

[rowdy]

GTAV is $89.95 for example.  That works out to about US$71.82.

Diablo 3 is AUD$59.95.

Far Cry 4 is AUD$89.95.

What kind of prices do these go for in your country (not just US, out of interest)?

[Wilba]

I'll just leave this here: https://www.steamprices.com   

[rowdy]

I'll just leave this here: https://www.steamprices.com   

Haha thanks

GTAV: USD$59.99
Diablo 3: not listed
Far Cry 4: US$59.99

So we already pay about 20% on top of US prices.

[wlhlm]

GTAV is $89.95 for example.  That works out to about US$71.82.

Diablo 3 is AUD$59.95.

Far Cry 4 is AUD$89.95.

What kind of prices do these go for in your country (not just US, out of interest)?

GTA V is €60 (~67USD), Far Cry 4 as well.

I guess new "AAA" games are typical retail prices, but Far Cry 4 for example  was 40% off for a weekend for example.

[iri]

yet people still emigrate to Aus in there thousands from the uk...

You know some Brits that do their 22 years in Her Majesties defence force retire with their pension close to their yearly wage, laterally transfer to the Australian defence force and maintain a level of rank and then can do another 15-20 years with two pay checks.

****, I am too old to do that.

[fanpeople]

yet people still emigrate to Aus in there thousands from the uk...

You know some Brits that do their 22 years in Her Majesties defence force retire with their pension close to their yearly wage, laterally transfer to the Australian defence force and maintain a level of rank and then can do another 15-20 years with two pay checks.

****, I am too old to do that.

Its a pretty sweet deal for them, but I think it will dry up soon and Australia may reduce/scrap the program on accounts of the reduction in overseas commitments.

[baldgye]

yet people still emigrate to Aus in there thousands from the uk...

You know some Brits that do their 22 years in Her Majesties defence force retire with their pension close to their yearly wage, laterally transfer to the Australian defence force and maintain a level of rank and then can do another 15-20 years with two pay checks.

****, I am too old to do that.

Its a pretty sweet deal for them, but I think it will dry up soon and Australia may reduce/scrap the program on accounts of the reduction in overseas commitments.

I'm not convinced Australia is a place I would want to live lol

[fanpeople]

yet people still emigrate to Aus in there thousands from the uk...

You know some Brits that do their 22 years in Her Majesties defence force retire with their pension close to their yearly wage, laterally transfer to the Australian defence force and maintain a level of rank and then can do another 15-20 years with two pay checks.

****, I am too old to do that.

Its a pretty sweet deal for them, but I think it will dry up soon and Australia may reduce/scrap the program on accounts of the reduction in overseas commitments.

I'm not convinced Australia is a place I would want to live lol

Having visited Europe a few years back, I am not going to try and convince you  I love Europe... except the Vespers dam the Vespers

[demik]

I'll just leave this here: https://www.steamprices.com   

Haha thanks

GTAV: USD$59.99
Diablo 3: not listed
Far Cry 4: US$59.99

So we already pay about 20% on top of US prices.

Yeah but your minimum wage is higher. Minimum wage worker here has to work more to make money to get the cheaper game.

[tp4tissue]

I'll just leave this here: https://www.steamprices.com   

Haha thanks

GTAV: USD$59.99
Diablo 3: not listed
Far Cry 4: US$59.99

So we already pay about 20% on top of US prices.

Yeah but your minimum wage is higher. Minimum wage worker here has to work more to make money to get the cheaper game.

Also, they get to live in australia..  they good good weather.. the r00s.. 

[baldgye]

I'll just leave this here: https://www.steamprices.com   

Haha thanks

GTAV: USD$59.99
Diablo 3: not listed
Far Cry 4: US$59.99

So we already pay about 20% on top of US prices.

Yeah but your minimum wage is higher. Minimum wage worker here has to work more to make money to get the cheaper game.

Things like this make comparing prices cross currency/economy's is literally meaningless. But people still do it, hell the prices on steam for Europe are double that of the US, but we have a much higher minimum wage and a higher general standard of living, plus a welfare system.

When it comes to games in Australia I'd be far more pissy about the almost German level of censorship.

[demik]

I'll just leave this here: https://www.steamprices.com   

Haha thanks

GTAV: USD$59.99
Diablo 3: not listed
Far Cry 4: US$59.99

So we already pay about 20% on top of US prices.

Yeah but your minimum wage is higher. Minimum wage worker here has to work more to make money to get the cheaper game.

Also, they get to live in australia..  they good good weather.. the r00s.. 

Eh I stay indoors so weather is irrelevant. Plus I like rain better anyways.

[iri]

i should be swapped with demik. i'll spend all my time exploring californian nature and he'll get as much rain as he wants.

When it comes to games in Australia I'd be far more pissy about the almost German level of censorship.

So you are less pissed about the nature, every inch of which tries to kill you? Or a price of half a million dollars for an average house? Or, worst of all, the lack of unlimited internet?

[baldgye]

i should be swapped with demik. i'll spend all my time exploring californian nature and he'll get as much rain as he wants.

When it comes to games in Australia I'd be far more pissy about the almost German level of censorship.

So you are less pissed about the nature, every inch of which tries to kill you? Or a price of half a million dollars for an average house? Or, worst of all, the lack of unlimited internet?

I'd be pissed about a lot of things living in Australia, but I tailored my post to focus on games b/c thats the topic of the OP.

[wlhlm]

Upcoming Steam sale in Australia:

(from Reddit)

[rowdy]

Upcoming Steam sale in Australia:

Show Image

(from Reddit)

Thank you for your input.

[Halverson]

Upcoming Steam sale in Australia:

Show Image

(from Reddit)

Thank you for your input.

Will have to start gifting games to rowdy! Actually, would that work to avoid the tax??

[rowdy]

Upcoming Steam sale in Australia:

Show Image

(from Reddit)

Thank you for your input.

Will have to start gifting games to rowdy! Actually, would that work to avoid the tax??

Probably, as I would not actually be buying anything.

[Halverson]

Upcoming Steam sale in Australia:

Show Image

(from Reddit)

Thank you for your input.

Will have to start gifting games to rowdy! Actually, would that work to avoid the tax??

Probably, as I would not actually be buying anything.

Well if this ever happens, you can always hit me up.

[rowdy]

Upcoming Steam sale in Australia:

Show Image

(from Reddit)

Thank you for your input.

Will have to start gifting games to rowdy! Actually, would that work to avoid the tax??

Probably, as I would not actually be buying anything.

Well if this ever happens, you can always hit me up.

Thanks :)

Although I'll need to get a new PC to play any half-modern games :(