Valve explains Orange box deactivations

lunarwolf · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:15

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=30029

Are they kidding!!!

What if I live in Thailand then move to another country, then I can't play anymore. This is absurd control.

I am sick of companies complaining that customers are using the promise of a global economy and get cheaper goods. While, these same coprorations use it to exploit tax loops and cheaper COGS.

If Valve or other corporations, want this to stop then they should charge the same rate across the board.

Being European, why should I subsidize games and pay more for games and all, so that Japan and the US can get it for bargain prices !!!!!!!! :mad:

The games should be the about same price across the board (allowing for local VAT and shipping discrepencies) but this too applies (or should) when you purchase from abroad.

Dano · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:24

And there was me thinking that one of the big selling points of Steam was that I could access my games anywhere that had an internet connection...

KNiVES · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:26

Erm... isn't importing goods a mainstay of global trade ? Valve's reputation just took a dent in my eyes.

Tombo · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:32

People shouldn't be so cheap then.

DampCat · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:34

Yeah wow... £5.35 just isn't cheap enough for you?

rtk · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:35

and what if my cable line goes down, I can't use any steam games?

Tombo · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:36

DampCat said:
Yeah wow... £5.35 just isn't cheap enough for you?

I hope that wasn't directed at me.

rtk said:
and what if my cable line goes down, I can't use any steam games?

Offline mode?

james.miller · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:37

lunarwolf said:
What if I live in Thailand then move to another country, then I can't play anymore. This is absurd control.

where does it say this? it says people activating thai copies outside of thailand are the people who will suffer. if those copies are not for sale outside of thailand then fair enough. you take a risk and sometimes you get burnt.

lunarwolf · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:38

Tombo said:
People shouldn't be so cheap then.

Well if you like paying £300 for a PS3 while US pay £200, then call me cheap.

PS why are you on Overclockers, isn't it to get best prices?

Tombo · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:40

lunarwolf said:
Well if you like paying £300 for a PS3 while US pay £200, then call me cheap.

The wages are different not to mention other variables, they're paying the same amount as you really.

lunarwolf · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:42

Wages are higher in US since they get taxed a lot less. I have lived in US for over 15 years. What are you talking about.

The units all have same COGS and produced in same market, except for India due to prohibitive import taxes. I work in the industry.

HeX · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:43

Tombo said:
The wages are different not to mention other variables, they're paying the same amount as you really.

More to do with shipping costs, sales tax, and market size.

lunarwolf · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:45

sales tax in US is less than 8% (UK is 17%) and it does not cost +£50 to ship by boat

Dano · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:54

james.miller said:
where does it say this? it says people activating thai copies outside of thailand are the people who will suffer. if those copies are not for sale outside of thailand then fair enough. you take a risk and sometimes you get burnt.

Ah, I didn't grasp that when I read it this morning, yet another time I ignored my 'don't post while still asleep' rule and got it wrong again

DampCat · 29 Oct 2007 at 13:02

Tombo said:
I hope that wasn't directed at me.

Um, no it wasn't. Not that i understand where you'd be going with that even if it was.

JumpLead · 29 Oct 2007 at 13:07

Tombo said:
People shouldn't be so cheap then.

Maybe you're happy to pay inflated prices in rip off Britain, but I go with the old adage that the money is better in my pocket.

DampCat · 29 Oct 2007 at 13:16

Yet again i'm drawn into these ridiculous threads about Valve locking accounts.

Buy the Orange box from Steam. It's legal and you pay £5.35 per game.

Five Pounds. For new games.

What is the issue here?

Would you only be happy to pay £39.99 per game like the rest of the new releases? Is that what you want? I really dont understand what people are getting upset about and it's infuriating. Rip off britain? what the hell are you talking about? how is £5.35 for a game a rip off? Move to fricking thailand if you don't like it but don't expect to try and bypass the laws and not get busted for it. Seriously.

It's funny because the only people moaning about it are the people that have had their accounts locked. The people that have had their accounts locked are the people who tried to get away with not paying the already ridiculously low prices like everybody else. It's a really simple rule of life. If you dont want to get told off, dont break the rules. What's to complain about?

Tom0 · 29 Oct 2007 at 13:20

language dampcat dude ^ :eek:

scorza · 29 Oct 2007 at 13:20

KNiVES said:
Erm... isn't importing goods a mainstay of global trade ? Valve's reputation just took a dent in my eyes.

Yeah but once the companies realised things could be imported for cheaper than they're on sale for in this country, they took away our ability to import cheap goods e.g. Levi's, football shirts, computer games etc. Hell they even divided the world into "regions" so they could rip us off more effectively

To be fair to Valve, I can see why they're doing this - release the games very cheap in countries like Thailand where piracy is rife to try and price out the pirates. At least with Steam I know I'm paying the same price as the yanks (and with the dollar exchange rate as it is, I'm getting a good deal).

Dano · 29 Oct 2007 at 13:21

The 'issue' is that it is cheaper to buy it somewhere else. wether you think it's a big or small issue is neither here nor there, it is however an issue that many feel warrants vocal or fiscal action.