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FEATURE
STEAM Report Card
Electronic
Arts
MASS EFFECT 2
Comments: EA is one of the biggest
games publishers in the world, and next
to 2K and Activision, one of the worst
performers when it comes to pricing. Almost
every single major release is overpriced or
has a significant AU levy sitting on top. For
example, before the recent sales, Dragon
Age, which came out almost a year ago, and
Mass Effect 2, which came out in January,
both included a $40US levy, same with
C&C4 and Bad Company 2. Most of these
games have dropped in price now, so it pays
to be patient, but still, you shouldn’t have
to wait so long to see depreciation seep
through to the digital storefront.
Grade:
A B C D E F
STEAM Report Card
Sega
Comments: Almost all of Sega’s steam
catalogue, from their console releases to
their PC published fare, are subject to a price
premium for AU. As with EA, there existed quite
a few higher priced titles before the 2010 sale
– Aliens Vs Predator smacked you with a $15
levy, Napoleon: Total War a chunky $30, while
the slew of old MegaDrive games had a small
but still irritating 50c increase. Prices have
dropped slightly in the new year, but the cycle
is likely to repeat for their 2011 releases.
Grade:
A B C D E F
STEAM Report Card
NCSoft
Comments: This MMORPG powerhouse,
publishers of Guild Wars, Aion and
City of Heroes, have always been very
straightforward and upfront with their
releases. Worldwide unlock dates, fair and
equitable pricing, great pre-order incentives
and regular discounts. If only a few other of
the big boys followed their example.
Grade:
A B C D E F
STEAM Report Card
Square Enix
& Eidos
Interactive
Comments: Another publisher that has
recently undergone some changes, this
strange coalition has introduced price and
catalogue parity across their AU and US
stores. Let’s hope this stays in place with the
upcoming release of the next Batman title.
Grade:
A B C D E F
STEAM Report Card
Ubisoft
Comments: Ubisoft’s case is surprisingly
positive, considering the performance of the
other major developers. Assassin’s Creed
2,Prince of Persia: TFS, R.U.S.E, Settler’s 7,
H.A.W.X 2, and Splinter Cell Conviction all
carry price parity with the US store. They’ve
been pretty good with lowering the price of
older titles and tend to not separate release
dates between regions. Well done for bucking
the trend, Ubisoft.
Grade:
A B C D E F
14 www.pixelhunt.com.au
JANUARY 2011