Telltale Games prices on Steam

[Shen-Zhi]

I haven't found anything by searching the forums, so i hope i didn't miss any threads about this.

The question is; who is setting the prices for Telltale Games on Steam? TtG or Steam/Valve? As Steam refuses to give an answer in their forums and don't answer tickets about this, i think i'll ask Telltale Games directly.

Since around Dec. 17, 2008, Steam decided to charge €uros for european customers. But all they did, was changing the $ sign into €.

Example:

Telltale Everything Pack US: $69.99 = swiss francs 82.24
Telltale Everything Pack EU: €69.99 = swiss francs 108.66

(United Kingdom is the only european country having prices calculated to 'an' exchange rate - and it's even chepaer!
Telltale Everything Pack UK: £37.99 = swiss francs 66.10! But we're not allowed to buy in UK)

Let's stick to US $. In my case, recalculated at today's exchange rate in $ (if i was allowed to buy from the US, like before Dec. 17, 2008) the difference would be $24.35!

I wouldn't mind to pay one or two extra bucks for buying on steam, because i really want the dev's at Telltale to get the money they absolutely deserve, but the way Steam behaves right now, i'm glad i still can buy in $ directly from you.

Thx for an answer!

[clownkill]

Originally Posted by Shen-Zhi

who is setting the prices for Telltale Games on Steam?

When games are set at a correct rate I will buy some games until then I will get them elsewhere.

[Simplex]

I wonder why Telltalge Games ignores its fans and customers by ignoring this thread. Shame.

[Harald B]

Just dropped off the radar, I suspect. On-topic, I think this is Steam's doing: as far as I can tell it's the same for every game sold there. Which keeps me from buying any non-exclusives there; much as I like their concept, this is simply an insult.

[natlinxz]

Originally Posted by Simplex

I wonder why Telltalge Games ignores its fans and customers by ignoring this thread. Shame.

I think steam is just too hard to contact. It's one of the biggest game distributors in the world you know.

[joeldee]

Hi all,

Telltale works with Steam on pricing. Pricing in local currencies and incorporating VAT is relatively new to their system. The feedback here is appreciated.

Reading through the notes above, it seems that International pricing for the Everything Pack in particular is problematic, yes?

[Shen-Zhi]

Originally Posted by joeldee

Hi all,

Telltale works with Steam on pricing. Pricing in local currencies and incorporating VAT is relatively new to their system. The feedback here is appreciated.

Reading through the notes above, it seems that International pricing for the Everything Pack in particular is problematic, yes?

Actually; no. It's generally problematic. Steam calculated VAT perfectly fine before the local pricing. VAT was calculated for every country separately (i admit, i ASSUME, because Switzerland doesn't have any VAT on downloads - and i haven't been charged EVER).

But now they just say: VAT included where applicable - but that's not true, as we don't pay VAT on dl's, but the price is the same as in every €uro-zone country charging VAT (and btw, they all charge a different percentage). Apart from the fact, that e.g. Switzerland and Norway are not even part of the EU or the €uro-zone.

United Kingdom is in the EU, but not in the €uro-zone, but their price (in £) is nearly half of what we have to pay (referring to the everything pack - but quite the same for any other Telltale game).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming Telltale Games for anything, just Steam/Valve for their behaviour. All i wanted to know is, if Telltale is aware of this problem. Of course, Steam can set the prices as they wish, even if it's kind of .. eh.. sorry... stupid. Buying in US $ was fine with everybody, but as i said, that's not Telltale's problem.

[joeldee]

@Shen-Zhi

If I'm understanding correctly, some territories -- e.g. Switzerland, Norway -- are particularly inequitable in localized Steam pricing, correct? specifically in terms of VAT.

Just want to make sure that the biggest issues are clear.

[Shen-Zhi]

Originally Posted by joeldee

@Shen-Zhi

If I'm understanding correctly, some territories -- e.g. Switzerland, Norway -- are particularly inequitable in localized Steam pricing, correct? specifically in terms of VAT.

Just want to make sure that the biggest issues are clear.

Hey joeldee

First, you shouldn't worry about work today. It's Easter! Take a break and relax! Even if you're an atheist

It's a yes and a no about the territories. Let's take a look at Wallace & Grommit:

Steam US: $34.99
Steam EU: €34.99
Steam UK: £29.99

I leave it to you, to calculate the respective US $ prices from the european ones. It might help understanding the difference.

I cannot speak for anybody outside Switzerland. But yes, the "included" VAT is an extra 'fraud' for Switzerland and Norway (I bought Wallace & Grommit directly from Telltale without being charged any VAT for $26, like US customers could on Steam - yeah, the pre-purchase that was €26.24 or so).

I'll let the rest of Europe speak for themselves (I hope they will). But as far as I can remember, $1 is not equal to €1. With or without VAT, there is something wrong with Steam's local pricing system. Not Telltales' fault, but will they tolerate/support it?

Thx for listening.

[Harald B]

Originally Posted by Shen-Zhi

[snip]

I second all this. Joel, you should know that Telltale has taken to refunding inappropriately added tax on downloaded games for EU customers (I got a restitution for SBCG4AP a couple of days ago). Thus the argument that the price is higher because VAT is incorporated is nonsense. And even where tax is involved, a significant gap remains unaccounted for.
The fact of the matter is that Steam's complex procedure for determining the € price pretty much consists of replacing the $ symbol with a € symbol. At current exchange rates, that is an insult.

[DeeJay1]

@joeldee
Well, if you really, really, really want to know what's this price issue is all about you can read http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...d.php?t=770231
But beware - this thread has 334 pages and over 5000 replies from angry Steam users (no answer from Valve whatsoever for 4 months now). The Steam group which opposes the current currency situation has over 19000 members, many of whom where loyal customers from the start of this distribution platform. I think I would seriously consider changing my distributor if I were a publisher, because I think many of those customers won't return to Steam even if the pricing is right - not after being ignored for so many months now...

[MIK0]

Why Telltale doesn't put their game even on Stardock Impulse that it's a good service and use fair exchange rate (always shown on game pages)?

I don't understand the concept of exchange rate at this point if having a strong currency is translated in paying a lot more (not just more). We still have VAT (the favorable exchange rate nullificator tax) that is insulting to begin with, but having to pay more without reason it's too much.
I still think that buying TT games from TT directly is the way to go, but it's a pity that someone has to pay more for it on Steam.

[Tor]

I've created a simple Greasemonkey user script that makes it easier to compare Steam's regional prices. It can be installed in Firefox, Opera or Chrome, and makes the Steam web store display prices in all three currencies.



Try it if you're interested.

[leChuckie]

Hi Tor, just to let you know I have installed your script and hope to find it very useful, thanks.

Personally I do shop on Steam, but only after doing some spot checking on the web first, (in this day and age it's not too hard to find out if you are getting a good deal or not).

Personally I don't understand why you would buy Telltale games off steam, Telltale's system is very simple and easy to use, however I did buy the Civ Iv bundle only yesterday, and it looks like I got quite a good deal. Then again I live in the UK.

[Shen-Zhi]

Originally Posted by leChuckie

Hi Tor, just to let you know I have installed your script and hope to find it very useful, thanks.

Personally I do shop on Steam, but only after doing some spot checking on the web first, (in this day and age it's not too hard to find out if you are getting a good deal or not).

Personally I don't understand why you would buy Telltale games off steam, Telltale's system is very simple and easy to use, however I did buy the Civ Iv bundle only yesterday, and it looks like I got quite a good deal. Then again I live in the UK.

may i ask you a question? are the steam prices in the UK including VAT or is it added seperately at the checkout?

and i like steam because i don't have any game boxes around and i can install/use my games at different locations. but not at all cost.

[Morden]

I have noticed those price differences on Steam a while ago. They most commonly convert dollars directly to euros. Well, that's not a conversion. They just swap out the currency symbol. That's pretty damn uncool if you ask me, because all tax included, the prices do vary greatly.

But hey, who wants to buy Valve's DRM crap when you can get yourself a nice disc filled with goodies directly at Telltale? I never liked Steam and I only used it because I had to [to play HL series and other Valve games]. Not too long ago I have finally decided to uninstall Steam completely, because it will take a while before HL2: Episode 3 comes out and I've played quite enough of The Orange Box and Counter Strike.

In other words ... Forget about Steam and get yourself the real deal at one of Telltale's numerous discounts. This way you won't have to put up with all the DRM and you won't contribute to Newell's hot-dog fund.