Author Topic: Game Bitching Thread (Read 30671 times)

Ms.Pikmin · « **Reply #50 on:** February 08, 2004, 08:04:03 AM »

What is the rationalization for charging Australians such ridiculously high prices? I just don't get it. Especially since your dollar is worth way more than the usd shouldn't the games actually be cheaper?

I saw the website topshop.com.au and can't believe they want 50 to 100 aus for the games. translate that into usd and try to charge the American public those prices and I think Nintendo would lose the American market completely.

I know the Freeloader is both a blessing and a source of frustration for you since you shouldn't have to resort to importing titles that Nintendo of Australia is dragging its feet on. But, do many of you resort to importing? And is it cheaper than waiting for the PAL version of a game to come out?

Well, if anything, it does look like topshop.com.au has a pretty good deal on Piglet's Big Adventure. ;P

Mario · « **Reply #51 on:** February 08, 2004, 09:57:34 AM »

Well, apparently it is cheaper to import, but that's way too complicated for me.

We could get a freeloader and MGS:TTS from the US, for about the same price or cheaper than just getting MGS:TTS here, and we would get it a month earlier too.

XGRA comes out on Friday, for only $49, if anyone cares....

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #52 on:** February 08, 2004, 11:38:33 AM »

I think I may just go ahead and get a Freeloader. I was planning to last month with Wario Ware GC, but never did, because I was saving up for the games that were meant to come out this month. But oh, delayed for no reason. ;__;

A Freeloader is only $25 + maybe $5 shipping at lik-sang.com, yet if I were to buy one at Games Wizards, it'd set me back $89.95. Insanity!

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #53 on:** February 08, 2004, 01:34:36 PM »

I don't complain too much about the price of games, since I don't buy too many to begin with.
I have no idea why games cost so much, but the fact is the worth of our dollar isn't really compared to with the US dollar.
Just because a game is only 40-50 bucks in the States, doesn't mean that it should be 70-80 bucks (the aussie equivelent) here. That would mean the worth of all currencies in the world 'should' be based against the US dollar, but thats not the case.
I have no idea how it all works, but games are stupidly expensive, and we are pretty much the losers.
When the aussie dollar passes the US dollar (it's around 76 US cents now), then I'm gonna import like crazy. Not games, mind you, other things

I might actually start buying my games from that DVD Crave place too, since stuff there is so arn cheap. But then I can't buy games on impulse like I do at the shops

There's nothing quite like seeing a game, then just up and saying 'oh f**k it' and tossing it onto the counter and parting your cash

Viewtiful Joe, Mario Sunshine, Mario Kart DD, XG3, Super Monkey Ball 2 and F-Zero GX were all impulse buys - a spur of the moment thing.
That means that the only games i bought with lots of thought were Rogue Leader, Eternal Darkness and Wind Waker.

ThePerm · « **Reply #54 on:** February 08, 2004, 02:18:00 PM »

i keep telling you peoples...its the tariifs. you have high tarriffs..... a tarriff free verison of a game would cost equivelent to what we pay.

Shift Key · « **Reply #55 on:** February 08, 2004, 02:28:28 PM »

We just signed a free trade aggrement with the US. I'm not sure what's involved, but it basically means tariffs in certain areas are reduced/removed to aid trading between Australia and the US in important areas of the economy. But whether this extends to electronics products or *gasp* electronic entertainment products, I have no idea. But hopefully the price goes down a bit.

Ms Pikmin: There have actually been a few $110 games recently - TS2, REmake and XIII come to mind. ;_________;

Termin8: Instead of buying impulse games, try buying impulse alcohol - its cheaper and makes you the life of the party. Trust me

Ocarina Blue · « **Reply #56 on:** February 09, 2004, 08:49:48 PM »

Don't worry, the agreement is slated heavily in the USA's favour. That means potentially lower tariffs on Aussie's behalf. I don't understant why they were there in the first place; it's not like the Australian games industry was flourishing uder their influence anyway. Ah well, more chips for the bargain, I guess. Speaking of game's industry, there is a games development conference in my home town. It's retty far away from you all, I know but it looks pretty cool anyway.

$110AUS is about the average price of a game here. ;P

Mario · « **Reply #57 on:** February 11, 2004, 03:12:37 AM »

New release dates!

Pokémon Colosseum - 19 May 2004
Mario Golf - 17 June 2004

DrZoidberg · « **Reply #58 on:** February 11, 2004, 08:32:46 AM »

...
WHAT SEVENTEENTH OF JUNE? FOR FS! THAT'S A WHOLE YEAR AFTER THE U.S. RELEASE, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC, ANGST CAPSLOCK +++++

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #59 on:** February 11, 2004, 08:56:14 AM »

It's not our fault Camelot loves us Americans more than you Aussies...

DrZoidberg · « **Reply #60 on:** February 11, 2004, 05:40:52 PM »

I CAST YE OUT >=o

robots don't say ye!

Shift Key · « **Reply #61 on:** February 12, 2004, 05:37:18 PM »

I don't know if Mario had much luck in his searches a while ago, but it seems more copies of THUG for GC are out, for $70 at EB. Werd.

oohhboy · « **Reply #62 on:** February 13, 2004, 03:11:46 AM »

I thought it was closer to 120 Ocarina Blue. Anyhow, I import EVERYTHING. The GBA abd GC I got back in Japan. most of my games come from the US through a friend. Cheaper than going online. AAlways buy big as in serveral games at a time. Got four games for 300 NZD including postage. 3 GC, 1 GBA, all fresh.

Shame you live on the wrong Island Ocarina Blue, I might have been able to hook you up.

Never the less, buying games here is not worth it.

Some of you mentioned tariffs, well, if that was true then PC games would average that much. But it doesn't.

The exchange situation over here is really strong right now with the NZD breaking the 70 cent mark. I will even say it will go all the way to 80 cents. I can only hope it stays up there as at the end of the day, it only helps to normalise our economy to the rest of the world. But the reserve bank will act before the 80 cent mark unless they have ideas otherwise.

Ocarina Blue · « **Reply #63 on:** February 13, 2004, 11:41:32 AM »

Yeah, you're right. I've been considering getting a Freeloader and importing - but I hesitate. Now is a good time to start, but now is also the time I have little money. Games are good and all - but I'm working on a 3D project with a 667 Pentium :s I need a new computer. I also need this awsome binary clock.

The exchange rate is a hard one. It could go anywhere. My chief concern would be the housing market: the prices between North and South are evening too fast.

There is genuine demand now, I'm sure - but I'm also weary to it's causes. When immigration cools down, and if Central Otage and Cantabury have another drought this summer, the South will become much too reliant on the market. It might not be too bad in some places, but I have relatives up Queenstown and Crowell who have, between their three households, gained in worth about $700K NZD in two years. That's just too much too fast.

I guess what I'm trying to say is the RBNZ cannot control individual regions, and the inequity between them is too great.

On a completely unrelated note: Gamasutra has reported that Nintendo has confirmed the N5 will be revealed at E3 2005. They sight Reuters as their source. Anyone know if it's true?

Uncle Rich AiAi · « **Reply #64 on:** February 13, 2004, 07:57:26 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: oohhboy
Some of you mentioned tariffs, well, if that was true then PC games would average that much. But it doesn't.

Thank you! I was thinking the reason wasn't all due to tariffs.

oohhboy · « **Reply #65 on:** February 14, 2004, 12:57:47 AM »

The property prices were artifically inflated by forgein buyers going after all those coastal properties and the massive influx of forgein students and immigrants in Auckland which in turn feed back down to the entire country as the overflow had to go some where. Also people just buying property hoping to cash in later is creating alot of uneeded demand.

Technicaly, the North and South Island shouldn't be equalizing at all. It makes no geographical/demographic sense. 2/3 or new Zealanders live in the North Island and the remander live in the South even though the South is the bigger Island, but colder. The thing is that New Zealand is not in any danger of runnin out of living space ever with the current trends of having a stable population, even with immigrants. As I said before it is all artifical.

My call is that the economy as a whole would wake up from this and th property prices would run down hill like crazy. Think the goverment ca stop it? They can't do a thing. Sure they could raise interest rates, but that in turn would mess up alot of other sectors which don't need it. That's why they haven't rasied them, because there is nothing the RBNZ can do without damaging the economy as a whole. Some hate to say it, but it is all forgien for now.

On that note, game prices will not change even with the exchange rates due to the fact one, the companies have decided to ride it out believing this to be a relatively short term phase. Two, they make more money this way, they pocket the difference.

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #66 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:10:31 PM »

Prince of Persia and Pitfall Harry (omg lol) came out today. PoP's $79.95 and Armpit Hairy is $69.95. I like, couldn't track down a copy of Pilot Wings 64 today, but I did find a pretty shoddy condition copy of 1080. Man, I don't remember the frame rate being that bad. ;__;

Uncle Rich AiAi · « **Reply #67 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:22:26 PM »

Beyond Good & Evil is selling for AUD $49.95....Comes out near the end of Feb.

I might pick it up.....

Mario · « **Reply #68 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:47:10 PM »

I don't know about you guys, but i think the GCN lineup for the first half of this year is rather sad. The only game i'll be getting most likely, is Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes... well, and Pokemon Colloseum, if it comes out in time, which i just.. doubt. Last year around this time it was crazy, Sonic Mega Collection, Resident Evil Zero, Metroid Prime, Pokemon R/S, and.. other stuff. Meh, i'm disappointed.

Uncle Rich AiAi · « **Reply #69 on:** February 18, 2004, 11:40:19 PM »

I agree. The first half lineup is really quiet. Other than MGS: TTS, I don't know about the other titles.

I would like to get Beyond Good & Evil, Prince of Persia and Harvest Moon, but I don't have the time to play them.

I have yet to get KOTOR for the PC.....

Berto2K · « **Reply #70 on:** February 19, 2004, 10:31:45 AM »

I just finished Beyond Good & Evil today. Wow, a great game. You guys should pick it up asap. It didn't grab me and keep me glued like WW did. Nevertheless, in the middle and end of the game, some of the cut scenes gave me goosebumps becuase of the character development and the emotional ties between them that YOU develop in addition to the emotions felt on screen. Add to that a clever and awesome last boss battle and...

.

Jade is hot

.

Shift Key · « **Reply #71 on:** February 19, 2004, 02:26:55 PM »

Quote
Jade is hot

Shaddup already

mmmm, boxart!

I'd also like Harvest Moon on top of BG&E and TTS, but I fear that one of those games is just gonna consume me (which I why I steered clear of AC during the holidays ;______

.

*runs to preorder TTS before Atari go and screw that up somehow

*

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #72 on:** February 19, 2004, 04:42:50 PM »

There hasn't been a decent GC game released here since MP5 in December. I'd say Sonic Heroes, but it's not even really officially 'out'. "Five copies Australia wide, that'll tide them over till March!"

Oh yeah, Puyo Pop didn't come out today. I have a bad feeling it won't come out at all. ;__;

Mario · « **Reply #73 on:** February 19, 2004, 05:57:18 PM »

Hahaha, apparently Atari only plan on shipping a very small amount of MGS:TTS copies out. Are they insane? Now i'm contemplating pre-ordering it.. but i don't want to get it straight away, i was planning on picking it up a few weeks after release.. bah, stupid Atari.

Anyway, who's publishing Harvest Moon here?

And uh.. FF:CC is coming out soon, anyone seen any form of advertising for it? *gets run over by people on lollerskates*

Shift Key · « **Reply #74 on:** February 19, 2004, 06:49:07 PM »

New releases:
James Bond - Everything or Nothing - $100 - meh, screams AUF or NF. PASS!
Rogue Ops - $100 - wow, I know nothing about this one! PASS!
ummm,
NFL Street? - $100 - blargh. PASS! Great lineup of releases *looks to spend money on alcohol instead*

No signs of FF:CC or TTS (which is now April release ;_____; ) yet so GUUUUUUUUUUUUUURN to that.

So I bought MGS2 Platinum instead (excitement-o-meter for TTS is about a five at the moment - that's "Shrug followed by more drooling over RE4)

EDIT: Also saw PoP for GC and Xbawx @ 100. Get it! Its fun. Probably better looking than the PS2 version! Did I say get it already? Yes, well, get it!

News:

Author Topic: Game Bitching Thread (Read 30671 times)