Concerned about pricing of game in UK

I bounght the game for digital download in the UK, it was a must have for me and I bought it at the start of the beta. I do have to agree about the price though especially if you only want digital download. I can understand the extra cost for sending a boxed version, still I don't feel the game wasn't worth it or anything just saying you may have a point.

The price I quoted for Impulse and on Elemmentalgame.com are both digital downloads.

The price for other games are from Amazon, which is pretty representative of other UK game retailers. Amazon UK includes DVD with free shipping.

For Civillization V, Game UK sells the same price at £24.99, Steam has it more expensive at £29.99, that's still under £30

It seems that digital distribution platforms in general have no idea about local new game pricing, and only takes a grain of salt by performing currency exchange off the original US value. Normally this is not a problem as you can always shop around and buy off the cheapest. But not for this game, lack of retail distribution channel means Impulse and the official site has price monopoly.

You're quite right.  Elemental was and is among the most expensive PC games to buy in the UK - more expensive than cheaper games like Starcraft II, Mass Effect II, Dragon Age Origins etc.

Still, back in 2009, based on the hype along with Stardock's previous track record and standing as an independant, I was happy to pay a price premium for the Elemental pre-order/beta even if the product wasn't fully finished.

Today, I can say it's not a terrible game but, in it's current state, neither is it worth the high end price you pay.  So unless you've got money to burn, I'd advise you to hold off until this game is sufficiently polished to justify its price, and if/when that happens, you're going to have to wait at least 6 months.  Or wait until prices are lower.

The pound has devauled considerably against other western currencies since "typical" prices were established a few years ago. This is why the game appears expensive, since it is globally available for the US price. I'd enjoy the cheap games while they last.

I preordered LE which cost £44, S&H was £12 and now I hear that some people in the UK are charged an extra customs stealth charge at £20 (no warning to be found on the buying page).

So thats a grand total of £76.

This is the most expensive game I've bought I wouldn't feel as cheated but the game isn't even here yet.

Foreign currency comparisions are the wrong way to look at this.  Think product not FX.  We're comparing the prices of like for like goods.

This means the prices of Stardock games verses the prices of similar globally sold games, most of whom have a strong focus on the the NA market.  And I'm afraid the odd one out is Stardock.

I'm not sure why as a canadian I should pay more then you.  Why do Europeans feel they are entitled to cheaper things because of their dollar/pound/whatever?

Having difficulty reading or understanding?  We're talking about Elemental being "relatively more expensive" than similar games in the UK.  As in a UK copy of Elemental costs more than a UK copy of Starcraft II or a UK copy of Mass Effect II...

Who gives a toss about Canada - the world certainly doesn't revolve around Canada and don't you know it.

Um, I pay the US price converted to canadian dollars, why shouldn't you? Perhaps that is clearer for you. What the jab about canada had to do with anything I'm not sure, but we sure don't get any breaks because other games are cheaper.

There is no such thing as a UK copy of Elemental. The price difference is because the download/direct sale price is USD$49.99 (being the publisher, we most generally charge MSRP so as to not annoy retailers), with no regional exceptions or special prices. If you were to buy any of those games above at the US price, you'd be paying the same for them.

At the end of the day, I don't care about the technicalities, that's for publishers to sort out.  I look at the bottom line because, as a customer,  that's what counts because it's real.

And from where I am, the bottom line is that if I buy Civ V or SC2 or ME2 or BC2 ( etc etc.) I will pay "less" than Elemental. That's simply a fact, regardless of the excuses or technicalities.  And the point of this whole thread.

(Admitedly, if the release results could have justified it being more expensive than all those others products, then there would be fewer comments on this thread.  But right now, no way is it justified being more expensive.)

Every country their own con and pros, taxes and rules, regulations and more and value of their currency.

And poor retail and the rules   =(

Some publishers got more sway~

*Glad with euro, although less then used to be, for buying games* *Less glad with euro for other things and initial conversions*

So, then, you do feel you should pay less than the rest of us?

I think that 30 pounds is a fair price based on the conversion rate that google gave me from USD. However, I do also believe that its not a good idea to charge more than civilization 5, they should lower the price to match Civ 5.

You always have the option of buying the US version from Amazon for ~$30 and shipping it to yourself for another $10 lets say. This would get you down to the 25-27 pound range i believe.

The irony being digital distribution was always sold on the idea it would lead to cheaper prices due to the cost savings it entailed

Though the comparison is somewhat strange. Amazon and similar digital distributors always sell things cheaper, since they do pass on their savings from being online only to the consumer, so comparing to them for average pricing is always going to be skewed.

From Game or Gamestation, which being brick and mortar are a better reflection of the regular prices, Civ V is currently £24.99 for the regular bundle, but everywhere seems to be discounting it at launch - RRP is £34.99 (and on Steam, RRP is £39.99). Starcraft II is £34.99, Deus Ex Human Revolution is discounted for pre-order but has an RRP of £39.99, Dragon Age II RRP £34.99 (pre-order discount again) and so on.

The average price of a new game has been at the £35 mark for about two years now. That's why most people buy them from Amazon in the first place, since the average there tends towards £25.

Thanks kryo, seems like a pretty clear and simple explaination. In anycase I feel Elemental is good value for money even if it is oddly priced in the UK market thanks to the exchange rate, for two very good reasons.

1 - As someone who pre-ordered to take part in the beta the launch problems mean I'm going to get the first two expansions free , a big thanks to Stardock for that. It wasn't necassary but I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.

2 - I know from experience all the work Stardock put into adding to their games in free updates, making them in the long run best value for money in the games industry.

I should add some games are sold in the high street in the UK for £34.99 although you can normaly get them cheaper through amazon.

And then there's ppl like me. If Elemental cost £100 or more, I'd still buy it....simply because Stardock is they company they are. I know the release hasn't been flawless, but in terms of product support and general "just being awesome guys" there's no other company like SD out there

Fanboi? Perhaps....but I think it's merited.

Asmodean

And today I find my notification that HM Revenue and Customs would like me to pay to import it into the country. Whatever happened to us being a nation of smugglers dammit?

That's why I don't like globalized digital platforms that disallows region pricing

You can't expect to sell a can of pop having the same price in India with the US for example.

I understand that Stardock has to charge at MRSP because of retailer relatons, but the problem is, retail channel in UK is nonexistent, and I am sure many other countries as well. If the number of retailer is few, you should offer discounts to those countries to remain price competitive. Or, open up retail channels. If you are not trying to saturate the retail channel, as a publisher, you are NOT doing a proper job. That's economics 101.

If I am able to buy this game in Amazon UK, I wouldn't have needed to make this thread.

For those who bring foreign exchange and say others in the globe should pay what they pay in their home country, e.g. Canada, is irrelevant.

'Value' of an item is determined NOT by price at some other country at other country's currency, that's not how economics work, but by relative price versus other items at home country.

For example, when I was in China I went to supermarket. An apple at 1.5 yuan is expensive in China's terms, but an an apple 10 pence in UK is very cheap. If you open a Tesco supermarket (UK company) in China, you cannot charge the Chinese 3 yuan an apple, and tell them that's what we pay in the UK and expect them to buy it. And this is not the complete analogy. Imagine this Tesco supermarket is the ONLY source for apples.

Also, I understand why someone would like to support the company and have no problem of paying premium. But not everyone do that and what they see is a price uncompetitive product on market.

As soon as the record deficit hits, every source of tax income is being secured.