GOG to introduce regional pricing

[azrael-]

Just headed over to GOG to see what's new and saw their announcement on "Big Pre-Orders and Launch Day Releases". In the second paragraph the bomb drops:
"If you've been a member of the site for a long time, you may recall that when we launched sales of The Witcher 2 on GOG.com, we had to add in regional pricing. The game cost different amounts in in the US, the UK, the European Union, and Australia. We're doing something like that once again in order to bring you new titles from fantastic bigger studios".

Unsurprisingly people on the GOG forum are anything but thrilled by this decision.

Should have seen it coming with the Prof. Farnsworth-esque "Good News!" leading the announcement.

I wonder how long it'll be before they introduce DRM as well.

GOG, I am disappoint!

[Saracen]

I see the concern, but for me it rather depends on what a given game costs me. I don't really care what it costs elsewhere, even if it's less.

I mean, if it's £5 here for me and $5 in the US, then I either think it's worth £5 to me and I buy, or it isn't and I don't. Sooooo .... if they release a game at a price in the US that I'd pay, and a price here that I won't, I just won't buy. The price in the US is irrelevant to me.

So, my buying decision is exactly the same after regional pricing as it is now .... either I think it's worth the price, or I don't.

DRM, on the other hand, is different. GOG was introduced to me by another mod here because of the no-DRM position. If GOG change that, they're of no interest to me. It's sufficiently central to their whole ethos and business model I rather doubt they'll do it, though. I certainly hope not.

[azrael-]

By your reputation I don't believe you have a Steam account (although I might be wrong ), but if you had you might have noticed that Brits generally get great deals on games (from what I've seen even in retail).

Usually on Steam, especially in sales, it's a matter of GBP < USD < EUR. Living in Denmark this hurts me twice as I *have* to buy in EUR even though we use DKR (Danish Kroner) forcing exchange rates on me. Seeing this practice being introduced on GOG disheartens me. Especially as I can see European customers being shortshrifted again.

Also, I think it's a slippery slope. The reason stated by GOG is that "pricing is in our partners' hands and regional pricing is becoming the standard around the globe". The same can easily be said about DRM.

[Ferral]

It kind of bugs me them using dollars on everything.

I pay for stuff with my VISA debit card and every time I buy something from GOG I get a transaction fee from my bank for buying something in dollars. So the $6 works out at around £3.50 but then stick the card fee on and it works out more expensive, if you pay with Paypal the transaction fee is smaller but shouldn't have to do that.

So now I just buy a few titles together usually in sales unless there is something I really want from them and buy it when it comes out or within a few days of it getting released.

[kalniel]

By your reputation I don't believe you have a Steam account (although I might be wrong ), but if you had you might have noticed that Brits generally get great deals on games (from what I've seen even in retail).

Usually on Steam, especially in sales, it's a matter of GBP < USD < EUR. Living in Denmark this hurts me twice as I *have* to buy in EUR even though we use DKR (Danish Kroner) forcing exchange rates on me. Seeing this practice being introduced on GOG disheartens me. Especially as I can see European customers being shortshrifted again.

Also, I think it's a slippery slope. The reason stated by GOG is that "pricing is in our partners' hands and regional pricing is becoming the standard around the globe". The same can easily be said about DRM.

But as always aren't you just buying each game on it's value for money/features for your individual circumstances? If a game is too pricey for you don't buy it. If a game has DRM that you don't like then don't buy it!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

So direct dollar to pound conversions then??

If its more than the US price plus VAT plus more than 5% on top of that,then I might as well get the games from Steam.

[shaithis]

But as always aren't you just buying each game on it's value for money/features for your individual circumstances? If a game is too pricey for you don't buy it. If a game has DRM that you don't like then don't buy it!

Or buy Chinese/Russian keys from one of the many reputable key seller sites.....say no to rip-off Britain pricing.

[Ferral]

So direct dollar to pound conversions then??

If its more than the US price plus VAT plus more than 5% on top of that,then I might as well get the games from Steam.

Indirectly yeah with your banks charges on the conversion. If it was just the £3.50 with no charges great but literally every time you buy if using a debit card you will get the charge slapped on by the bank making it technically more expensive than what the countries that use dollars pay.

[kalniel]

Or buy Chinese/Russian keys from one of the many reputable key seller sites.....say no to rip-off Britain pricing.

I think that'll make things worse for the gamer in the long term, but if you are only interested in today's games that's a valid approach.

[Saracen]

By your reputation I don't believe you have a Steam account (although I might be wrong ), but if you had you might have noticed that Brits generally get great deals on games (from what I've seen even in retail).

Usually on Steam, especially in sales, it's a matter of GBP < USD < EUR. Living in Denmark this hurts me twice as I *have* to buy in EUR even though we use DKR (Danish Kroner) forcing exchange rates on me. Seeing this practice being introduced on GOG disheartens me. Especially as I can see European customers being shortshrifted again.

Also, I think it's a slippery slope. The reason stated by GOG is that "pricing is in our partners' hands and regional pricing is becoming the standard around the globe". The same can easily be said about DRM.

I assume you mean me, that post being right after mine. Though I've been wrong by assuming that before.

You are correct, Azrael. I don't have a Steam account. Nor will I ooen one. That is because of the DRM issue, though, and nothing to do with price.

With GOG, my decision is based on price, but the only price that interests me is the one I'll pay. A game might be cheaper or more expensive in €, $ or DKr, but as I'm buying in £, either it's worth it, or not, in the £ price. I understand your exchange rate point, and £ : $ conversions are irrirating, too. But ultimately, what matters to me is the price I pay, which us what I base my decision on. If the exchange rate conversion drives it up too far, I just don't buy.

But as always aren't you just buying each game on it's value for money/features for your individual circumstances? If a game is too pricey for you don't buy it. If a game has DRM that you don't like then don't buy it!

Exactly.

[GeorgeStorm]

With GOG, my decision is based on price, but the only price that interests me is the one I'll pay. A game might be cheaper or more expensive in €, $ or DKr, but as I'm buying in £, either it's worth it, or not, in the £ price. I understand your exchange rate point, and £ : $ conversions are irrirating, too. But ultimately, what matters to me is the price I pay, which us what I base my decision on. If the exchange rate conversion drives it up too far, I just don't buy.

That's fair enough, but that doesn't stop it being a pity that regional pricing might stop you buying a game (where you would have if it was in USD for everyone).

[shaithis]

I think that'll make things worse for the gamer in the long term, but if you are only interested in today's games that's a valid approach.

Not really. We are always being told that consoles shape the market. PC games have been console ports for a while, the platform is an afterthought for most developers and the money they make from PC isn't going to make much difference in the great scheme of things.....so why pay full price for a quick and dirty port?

Ironically, the biggest non-port title recently has been the complete farce, Battlefield 4. £45 for base game and a further £40 for premium (more if you buy the map packs separately)....and the game is still broken and was released almost 4 months to the day.

Where is the incentive to pay through-the-nose for software?

[kalniel]

We are always being told that consoles shape the market.

And they'll continue to do so if people race to a global lowest price. BF4 is a good example of a game that is still console-first.

[Saracen]

That's fair enough, but that doesn't stop it being a pity that regional pricing might stop you buying a game (where you would have if it was in USD for everyone).

Well, true enough. In the scheme of things, though, I'm kind-of "dilligad" (last word is 'damn') about it.

Last time I saw a game I really wanted was about Orange Box time. And I didn't (and still haven't) because of DRM. These days, I'm much more laid-back about gaming. If it looks good at the right (low) price, I'll give it a punt. If it's much more than about £10-£12, well, there's plenty of other games, so I won't bother .... or not until/unless it comes out within budget, and DRM-free.

So if regional pricing rules out a game for me, well, I'm worry about it for a nano-second or two. 5ns later, I'll have forgotten all about it.

Hence, personally, not bovvered. I can understand why others might be upset. But personally? Nah.

[Spud1]

Not really. We are always being told that consoles shape the market. PC games have been console ports for a while, the platform is an afterthought for most developers and the money they make from PC isn't going to make much difference in the great scheme of things.....so why pay full price for a quick and dirty port?

Ironically, the biggest non-port title recently has been the complete farce, Battlefield 4. £45 for base game and a further £40 for premium (more if you buy the map packs separately)....and the game is still broken and was released almost 4 months to the day.

Where is the incentive to pay through-the-nose for software?

With a few exceptions, PC Gaming has never been cheaper. For years and years you would have to pay £30 as a minimum price for a new game,and it would be 12+ months before they took the massive drop to £20 or £25. I am talking 10-15 years ago too, so when you take inflation into account, the relative cost was even higher than that.

These days, you can buy most PC games for £20-25 brand new, and often for under £20 on release. A few weeks later they drop even further on direct download websites. It's mad, and it's no wonder that the console market is targeted as a priority, due to the £40+ average retail price for games, and £30+ for older games. I know the costs are higher, but even so, the margins are better. Software houses have to make a living...

As long as GOG only apply this new pricing and potentially DRM to specific games, where a publisher demands it, this won't be a bad thing imo. Regional pricing is not much of an issue for me (you are talking a likely 20% difference on something that costs £5-£10), DRM would be..but I think it's highly unlikely that it will be applied across the board. There would be no need for them to do so. All this change /should/ do is increase the number of games available on the site, which is a positive step surely?

BF4 is not broken either (works perfectly for the vast majority), but thats a bit OT. It is way overpriced mind, but i paid the money for it as it is an excellent game that is well worth the money - a huge improvement over BF3.

[Ferral]

Reading over the threads on GOG a lot of Europeans are the ones that are going to be affected more than anyone else.

They are doing a few currencies like GBP etc but in most territories where it is the Euro they will be paying more than the USD with transaction fee.

New releases there I don't bother with so for me it will always be the classic games

Personally I will be happy for our currency as no more overseas transaction fees, on the flip side of the coin those paying with the Euro are getting a bum deal. I think what GOG need to do here is give those in affected areas where Euro is more expensive is on the checkout give the consumer a choice to either pay the USD with transaction fee or the Euro.