Tag Archives: retail

Steam: Is a Rip off – Steam Vs Retail Sales Prices

img_66901_steam_450x360While looking on steam at the price of the new Call of Duty Game Modern Warfare 2 game and being shocked at the price their charging i got an email from play.com telling about how you can pre-order the game and have it on the day of release. When i checked out the two prices it turned out there a huge €15 difference.

Ive posted before about how games on steam are more expensive and its generally known. But how can they justify the charge of €60 for a PC Game? Most PC Games never are more than about €45 in a retail shop on steam however they normally hit €50 or more. So after a little searching i found out that theres are website about this very topic.

So i checked out the prices of 3 new upcoming PC Games and heres the results below;

Call of duty: Modern Warfare 2

Dragons Age of Origin:

Left for Dead 2

  • Steam Price €44.49 (with 10% off)
  • Play.com  €35.49
  • Direct2Drive.co.uk
  • Amazon.co.uk £26.99 / €30

(prices correct as of 6-nov-09)

Average difference in price is about €12 and this is for a digital download with no DVD, case or manual how on earth can this be justified?  Im going to post the prices of the same against Directtodrive which is another digital download service later.

Heres a site i found exposing the problems with steams service;

steamunpowered.eu

Even if after all that if you still dont believe it check out this artivle from the theinquirer.net which lists even more games and the price rip-off;

Company of Heros: Tales of Valor [Steam = £29.99 / Play.com =£17.99]

Football Manager 2009 [Steam = £29.99 / Play.com =£14.99]

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II [Steam = £34.99 / Play.com =£22.99]

Empire: Total War [Steam = £39.99 / Play.com =£29.99]

Half-Life 2: Orange Box [Steam = £16.99 / Play.com =£14.99]

Call of Duty: World at War [Steam = £29.99 / Play.com =£29.99]

Bioshock [Steam = £13.99 / Play.com =£9.99]

Ton clancy’s: End War [Steam = £34.99 / Play.com =£14.99]

Drakensang [Steam = £29.99 / Play.com =£17.99]

X3: Terran Conflict [Steam = £22.99 / Play.com =£14.99]

Grand Theft Auto IV [Steam = £26.99 / Play.com =£24.99]

Vin Diesel: Wheelman [Steam = £29.99 / Play.com =£17.99]

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.K. [Steam = £34.99 / Play.com =£17.99]

Fear 2 [Steam = £24.99 / Play.com =£24.99]

Crysis: Maximum Edition [Steam = £32.99 / Play.com =£26.99]