Hello
I was wondering if anyone can confirm the price that Halo: CEA will be in the US please. I thought I read somewhere that it would be $40 instead of $60 (which correct me if I’m wrong… is that the usual price for games in the US? $60?).
If that’s all true, then that would be two thirds of the price of a full game.
Yes, I do believe it is going to be $39.99, which makes sense for a remake. As for the normal price of games it is indeed usually $60 for a brand new one. I don’t think I’ve ever really seen a fully fledged retail game go for less than $60 on release.
Here is my next question then…
In the UK, the game is being sold at £34.99.
The standard retail value of a new game is currently at £44.99. You don’t need to be an expert at math to know that £34.99 isn’t two thirds of £44.99. So why are we being charged more?
I spoke to GAME, quite a reputable store. And they explained that the price is a result of what the publisher offers. Microsoft Game Studios are the publishers of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
So…
Why are Microsoft Game Studios charging the UK more?
> Here is my next question then…
>
> In the UK, the game is being sold at £34.99.
>
> The standard retail value of a new game is currently at £44.99. You don’t need to be an expert at math to know that £34.99 isn’t two thirds of £44.99. So why are we being charged more?
>
> I spoke to GAME, quite a reputable store. And they explained that the price is a result of what the publisher offers. Microsoft Game Studios are the publishers of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
>
> So…
>
> Why are Microsoft Game Studios charging the UK more?
reason 1-money
reason 2-it costs more money to ship something overseas than to ship something by a truck in america
But I don’t understand.
£45 is relative to $60. So why isn’t $40 relative to the price of Halo: CEA here in the UK?
The cost is about 100 hours of my life being taken by playing single player over and over.
> > Here is my next question then…
> >
> > In the UK, the game is being sold at £34.99.
> >
> > The standard retail value of a new game is currently at £44.99. You don’t need to be an expert at math to know that £34.99 isn’t two thirds of £44.99. So why are we being charged more?
> >
> > I spoke to GAME, quite a reputable store. And they explained that the price is a result of what the publisher offers. Microsoft Game Studios are the publishers of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
> >
> > So…
> >
> > Why are Microsoft Game Studios charging the UK more?
>
> reason 1-money
> reason 2-it costs more money to ship something overseas than to ship something by a truck in america
Games in the UK DO NOT come from america, they are created in either Ireland or Germany.
Because your price includes vat and america’s doesnt. Also you vat is like twice the vat america gets.
> > > Here is my next question then…
> > >
> > > In the UK, the game is being sold at £34.99.
> > >
> > > The standard retail value of a new game is currently at £44.99. You don’t need to be an expert at math to know that £34.99 isn’t two thirds of £44.99. So why are we being charged more?
> > >
> > > I spoke to GAME, quite a reputable store. And they explained that the price is a result of what the publisher offers. Microsoft Game Studios are the publishers of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
> > >
> > > So…
> > >
> > > Why are Microsoft Game Studios charging the UK more?
> >
> > reason 1-money
> > reason 2-it costs more money to ship something overseas than to ship something by a truck in america
>
> Games in the UK DO NOT come from america, they are created in either Ireland or Germany.
than that makes it option number 1
So it’s either because of Microsoft? Or it’s because of VAT?
No, like i said your prices already include your tax (Vat) where in america it doesnt show it till purchase. If you took your vat rates and put in on the 40$ it would be 47$
Why do video games cost so much in Australia?
I know this reads Australia, but I believe the same principles would apply to the UK. This issue has been discussed a number of times on this forum, and as you can read in the article, quite a few other places as well, and for quite some time.
This is a lengthy article, but I think it helps to understand why this is. If you don’t want to read it than a summary might be:
“From a business perspective, there is a lot of complexity involved,” claims Ephraim, “from very volatile exchange rates, to taxes and duties, distribution and transit costs, marketing and operational costs, size of market and so on. We try to be as comparable as possible within these parameters.” -Michael Ephraim with Sony
This article may not explain in a clear cut fashion the reasons for this, but hey, that’s economics for you.
There seems to be a silver lining though, according to the article, it may not always be this way.
The funny thing is that video game prices vary a lot already in Europe. For example, I ordered the limited edition of Reach from Amazon.uk although I’m from Austria, and I paid € 70 (give or take a € or two). If I had ordered it from Amazon.de, i.e. the German and Austria Amazon, I would have paid almost € 90.
39:99 in the US. Great deal actually