No I'm not going to start another topic about the european Collectors Edition being so much more expensive (in Germany) in comparison to other countries. I know that EA has it's own business location in Europe, thus producing the CE here and therefore can demand whatever price they want. It's a local problem.
But what about the DLCs? The DLCs have only one origin: The website of EA and Bioware. This website is a worldwide website, there are no differences in what Bioware / EA have to pay in order to run the website, so normally one should expect the DLCs to be priced the same worldwide.
THEY ARE NOT!
In Germany when I want to buy "Wardens Keep" I have to pay 6,51€ for 560 game points. That's 9,66$ --> 2,66$ too much, according to Biowares own price list: http://dragonage.bioware.com/addon/
The same goes for "The Stone Prisoner". As I got it free with my game I don't remeber if it was worth 800 or 1600 game points, but again you'd have to pay 9,30€ (=13,80$) for 800 and 18,61€ (=27,62$) for 1600 game points!
Why? These DLCs don't have to be imported, there is no shipping-price, no tax, because there is no borders in the Internet! On the contrary, it is very likely that I have to pay an extra fee using my credit card to pay on a foreign bank account when I buy these points.
[GAME POINTS & DLCs] Europen players have to spend more money on everything! Why?
Débuté par
GODzilla
, nov. 07 2009 12:10
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#2
Posté 07 novembre 2009 - 06:28
GODzilla
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Well, I guess where there is no complainer there is no complaint and as I'm obviously the only one wondering about this situation I'll let it go for now.
If there's anybody still believing in the worth of money, feel free to post anyway. ^^
If there's anybody still believing in the worth of money, feel free to post anyway. ^^
#3
Posté 04 décembre 2009 - 10:21
Ivrel
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It's the usual story, they always demand more money from you if you buy it in Europe, especially in Germany (just look at the prices for the same versions). It is easy money for them.
#4
Posté 04 décembre 2009 - 10:24
Sloth Of Doom
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Personally, I blame the French.
#5
Posté 04 décembre 2009 - 10:27
Mordaedil
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According to a calculator a friend of mine invented, we actually only have a cost increase of 20% with prices for DAO. This is in accordance with what could be explained as a tax-redux.
#6
Guest_sprybry_*
Posté 04 décembre 2009 - 10:52
Guest_sprybry_*
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it's called VAT,and for most EU countries it runs anywhere between 18% - 25%
#7
Posté 04 décembre 2009 - 11:34
wonko33
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That's payback for having faster internet than we do.
#8
Posté 04 décembre 2009 - 11:42
Zealuu
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sprybry wrote...
it's called VAT,and for most EU countries it runs anywhere between 18% - 25%
My country doesn't operate with VAT on non-physical goods, ie. digital game purchases, DLC, and so forth. Yet I would still have to pay the inflated EU-only price mentioned in the OP if I wanted to buy 560 Bioware points for Warden's Keep. And that's called a rip-off. Then again, I guess we found someone who thought Valve was on the right track with their straight 1$ = 1€ conversion of Steam - EA.
Modifié par Zealuu, 04 décembre 2009 - 11:54 .
#9
Posté 04 décembre 2009 - 11:48
Oliver Sudden
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I think the higher European prices simply reflect the transport costs of moving all those electrons across the Atlantic to a local server.
Scratch that. Bits are moved, the electrons just jiggle.
Scratch that. Bits are moved, the electrons just jiggle.
#10
Posté 04 décembre 2009 - 11:49
Sloth Of Doom
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Jiggling electrons is expensive!
#11
Posté 04 décembre 2009 - 11:53
ToJKa1
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sprybry wrote...
it's called VAT,and for most EU countries it runs anywhere between 18% - 25%
22% here in finland on most things. But it gets us public healthcare, free education, and social services
#12
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 12:05
Kalcalan
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Sloth Of Doom wrote...
Personally, I blame the French.
Nice, but we do pay the same amount as our German friends.
#13
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 12:08
Mr. Neopolitan
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Can you use a VPN, bypass the geoblocking, and buy through the north american websites?
#14
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 12:27
GODzilla
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What the...nothing for nearly a month and now my topic suddenly gathers attention. ^^
Well, guess the VATs thing makes sense, I bought it in Europe, now didn't I? This very page will most likely sit on a server somewhere in Europa if not in Germany. Doesn't it? What, you say no? That's right.
But I used my internet connection to get to this site, didn't I? And of course I stole this internet connection, I don't pay 30€ per month to use it, nooo.
[/sarcasm] <_<
Well, guess the VATs thing makes sense, I bought it in Europe, now didn't I? This very page will most likely sit on a server somewhere in Europa if not in Germany. Doesn't it? What, you say no? That's right.
But I used my internet connection to get to this site, didn't I? And of course I stole this internet connection, I don't pay 30€ per month to use it, nooo.
[/sarcasm] <_<
#15
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 12:33
Sloth Of Doom
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Kalcalan wrote...
Sloth Of Doom wrote...
Personally, I blame the French.
Nice, but we do pay the same amount as our German friends.
Yes, but it is all your fault. You see, the 20th century was all about 'the German problem' so I figure the 21st has to be about someone else, so I am arbitrarily picking the French, for no reason at all.
#16
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 12:38
Ariza_Mage
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guys,can any1 tell me on HOW TO GET THIS "POINTS" in this game?
#17
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 12:45
Loetek
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1: Yes the french are wrong
2: Germans rule... seriously... name one currently living German that doesn't rule.
3: And maybe the reason UK games cost more is because Bioware has to translate it into that... well, that language you all call english. You know... throw a couple Cheerios, bloodys, and What-hos in there to keep you wierdos happy.
2: Germans rule... seriously... name one currently living German that doesn't rule.
3: And maybe the reason UK games cost more is because Bioware has to translate it into that... well, that language you all call english. You know... throw a couple Cheerios, bloodys, and What-hos in there to keep you wierdos happy.
#18
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 12:48
Seifz
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One of two things is true.
1. You're getting the data from the somewhere in the States. In that case, it costs more to send you the data.
2. You're getting the data from a local server somewhere in your country (or another European country). In that case, it very well might cost more to maintain the server and pay the guy who maintains it.
Besides that, you need to consider the local value of currency, rather than the value of your currency vs. the US dollar. Maybe a programmer in the States makes $65k a year and one in Germany makes €60k. Do you see why using the exchange rate would be a poor business move for EA? Obviously those numbers are fabricated, but the idea is valid.
1. You're getting the data from the somewhere in the States. In that case, it costs more to send you the data.
2. You're getting the data from a local server somewhere in your country (or another European country). In that case, it very well might cost more to maintain the server and pay the guy who maintains it.
Besides that, you need to consider the local value of currency, rather than the value of your currency vs. the US dollar. Maybe a programmer in the States makes $65k a year and one in Germany makes €60k. Do you see why using the exchange rate would be a poor business move for EA? Obviously those numbers are fabricated, but the idea is valid.
#19
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 12:56
Sylvius the Mad
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Because, apparently, that's the price the European market will bear.
That's how prices get set. Vendors charge you as much as they think you will pay.
That's how prices get set. Vendors charge you as much as they think you will pay.
#20
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 01:02
Ivrel
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I bought the game in UK and not in Germany (what EA wanted me to do). Saved by this about 30 €.
#21
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 01:03
Loetek
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Sylvius the Mad wrote...
Because, apparently, that's the price the European market will bear.
That's how prices get set. Vendors charge you as much as they think you will pay.
This
And the french are still wrong.
#22
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 01:07
Seifz
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Loetek wrote...
2: Germans rule... seriously... name one currently living German that doesn't rule.
What about the **** death camp guard that was just put on trial? Or the current Pope, who is a former **** Youth? Or those jerks in the government that put even more restrictions on violence in games and want to outlaw paintball because it's too violent? Or how about the guy that called me a "Stupid <curse>" when I crossed the street without waiting for the walk signal, even though there weren't any cars on the road? Stupid old guy...
#23
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 01:09
Seraphael
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This kind of thing is pretty typical. Once exchange rates factor in, you can be sure they pick the most favourable rate and then some. At times it seems like the americans just change the currency and keep the number when charging European customers for their goods.
Dragon Age: Origins - Digital Deluxe is priced at 54,99€ equivalent to $82,95 from Steam Europe for instance. What does Steam charge for the same product in the US?
Dragon Age: Origins - Digital Deluxe is priced at 54,99€ equivalent to $82,95 from Steam Europe for instance. What does Steam charge for the same product in the US?
#24
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 01:13
Loetek
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Seifz wrote...
Loetek wrote...
2: Germans rule... seriously... name one currently living German that doesn't rule.
What about the **** death camp guard that was just put on trial? Or the current Pope, who is a former **** Youth? Or those jerks in the government that put even more restrictions on violence in games and want to outlaw paintball because it's too violent? Or how about the guy that called me a "Stupid " when I crossed the street without waiting for the walk signal, even though there weren't any cars on the road? Stupid old guy...
All of your points are invalid.
#25
Posté 05 décembre 2009 - 01:18
Seraphael
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Sloth Of Doom wrote...
Kalcalan wrote...
Sloth Of Doom wrote...
Personally, I blame the French.
Nice, but we do pay the same amount as our German friends.
Yes, but it is all your fault. You see, the 20th century was all about 'the German problem' so I figure the 21st has to be about someone else, so I am arbitrarily picking the French, for no reason at all.
I suspect you're closer to the truth than you think. Europeans get localized version in Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia and Spain. That's a lot of voice acting and translation costs right there. Problem is that Europeans in other countries/regions, like the UK and the Scandinavian countries have to bear the economic burden of such work without getting the benefit of a translated version.
