There is only one reason to do it and that is because it's a small market without something like EU clout so they can and they do.

The only way to make your opinion count is to vote is with your wallet. I would never cop regional pricing for digital goods. It's simply theft as you get zero additional benefit for the inflated price.

If you want to play computer games you should stick to Steam and get someone in the US to gift games to you. Problem solved.

Anyhow I really would like an answer from CCP on this one. Why do we pay 50% more for the same thing?

Because they are engaging in regional pricing to simply rip you off.

The old excuse used to be exchange rate as the $AUD was undervalued against the $USD. Now it is over parity and nothing has changed. Now they don't roll out any excuse - they just do it.

It's a bit of a shame that a small nation company like CCP feels it also needs to engage in such scumbaggery.

Would CCP like to give me that answer themselves?

Don't you guys normally pay more for your games anyway.

I am in no way defending it tho.

Thanks, but "because f**k you" is not an acceptable answer. Neither is "go play another game".

When I buy physical copies of games I usually get them imported, pay for the shipping and still save $20 bucks or more. Unfortunately this can't be done with the merc pack.

The smaller market argument is BS. The cost is no different to deliver the product here.

Has more to do with the Australian Government.

There's a pretty good article here on the why of games and things costing more.

In this case it's to 'protect Australian game developers'


TL;DR: As is the case of many things the government is to blame.

Has more to do with the Australian Government.

There's a pretty good article here on the why of games and things costing more.

In this case it's to 'protect Australian game developers'


TL;DR: As is the case of many things the government is to blame.

Why is the merc pack $20US for American ps3 users and $30Au for Australian ps3 users?

Last time I checked the Australian dollar was almost the same and some days higher than the USD.

Please stop ripping us off.

the easiest way is to start an american account (simple).

if you think that things across the world should be a set price, then i think you should stop charging us import prices for fosters.

Yeah I guess an American account would work, but then it's back to square one on the skill points.

More importantly....
1. Why is anyone anywhere drinking Fosters?
2. Fosters isn't even Australian owned and probably not made here anymore. It is most likely made in Europe or the US these days.
3. Data costs no more to send to Australia than any other country with Internet access.
4. Why the f**k would anyone anywhere be drinking Fosters?

EU Merc Pack is 20Gé¼. That's about 26$. 20$+19% VAT would be 24$. There's always something.

But I saw an article somewhere (I believe techcrunch) on how it's cheaper to fly to the US to get an Adobe Software product then to buy it in Australia. Didn't read it but I guess there's a reason other then "ripping people off" for that. And yeah... The flying to US thing was probably meant as a joke.

It's not a joke, businesses have put people on a plane to do it.

When it is cheaper to thousands of miles cross continent to buy software in a box than a digital store you know something is rotten.

And CCP are cashing in as well. It's a disgrace.

Why are you guy's bashing CCP from what I see all games/dlc are more expensive in Aus than the US

Why not "bash" them for price gouging?

If it costs over 50% more why isn't it over 50% better?

CCP are price fixing.

Why not "bash" them for price gouging?

If it costs over 50% more why isn't it over 50% better?

CCP are price fixing.

You do realize that the minimum wage in Aus is about 50% higher than in the US
here and here are some links to pages with the info about the minimum wage.
So looking at this it would take about 6 hours of work at minimum wage to pay for a $110 game in Aus.
In the US the federal minimum wage is $7.25 so working minimum wage it would take about 8 hours of work to pay for a $60 dollar game in the US.
Of course idk what your tax rates and such are like, idk how much of that you actually take home compared to in the US.

TL;DR you guys make more money, the amount of work to pay for a game is less

Australia has weird tax laws that bump the prices up. That explains ALMOST half the increase in price of the average game compared with the same product in US stores.

And it doesn't explain a thing about why NZ gets shafted even worse on most of the same products while our local laws aren't as strict as Australia's laws are.

I think my favourite is books though.

With online bookstores overseas, including the cost of shipping, the worst-case scenario is that I'm paying 25% of what it costs in a local store without counting the cost of getting to the shop.

EDIT: Although I think Sony are probably at least as responsible for this one as CCP are. I don't know for sure, but I'd be inclined to guess that's the case.

This is pure and simply price gouging by CCP. It's shameful and they shouldn't do it.

What "weird" tax laws?

Australia has a 10% retail sales tax at a federal level and nothing at state level - and tax DOES NOT APPLY to online purchases under $1,000.

There are also no wholesale taxes. I don't think it gets any simpler than that and it doesn't explain a thing as the Australian government does not set the prices.

These are digital items where the $AUD is trading at 1.04 to the $USD but the DIGITAL items cost over 50% more than the US.

This is pure and simply price gouging by CCP. It's shameful and they shouldn't do it.

Oh, it's you again, still making things up to support your crusade against CCP.

You do understand that the difference in price between Australia and the US on the PS Store exists across many, if not all, games, right?

Don't let a little thing like facts get in the way of your "shame on you, CCP" argument, though.

There is little point complaining about other games and developers here don't you think?

This is CCP's forum, their gouging so complaints about it go here.

You should stop your personal attacks and you are trolling as well.

I remember seeing an episode of Extra Credits that explained it something like this: the prices were set when the Australian dollar was much weaker than the US dollar, so 80 equaled out to 60. When the AUD got stronger, the prices didn't change. Whether or not it is true, I have no idea. However the gaming culture of Australia has royally been hosed by prices.