Well, it's them who didn't allow me to buy my games on my own home country, and force me to get them on the country I'm currently traveling in at that point in time. I had enough Bioshocks locked in German language, thank you. So if they want to put different prices to different areas and lock region content, they will reap what they sow. And I don't feel the least bit of remorse.

Personally, I would see abuse when you buy it via proxy and whatnot. But not when trading with other people, specially with a friend. I buy games for my friends too, when I'm in $ or £ countries.

PS: I meant what I said about Russian friends. I have met several, and while we have lost contact nowadays they were good people. And they did smile.

I fail to see the difference.

The point is. Games are significantly cheaper in Russia because the average Russian has a lot less in his pocket than the average EU 1 citizen.

Now, getting the occasional game from a real friend over there isn't really an issue. But systematically using those prices is not really kosher to me. And the more this happens, the more games will be playable only with a Russian ip. Which I can understand. If the consumer doesn't act consciously by themselves, why tread them as if they would.

I understand your point, but I still don't feel bad about it. It's the same as getting my Irish friends Spanish tobacco, because it's a lot cheaper. Or getting aquantainces in Norway a bottle of Basque patxaran or Belgian beer, it's insanely expensive over there. I don't see anything wrong with good old fashioned contraband among friends, internet just makes it easier.

Sure, on extremely large quantities it can fuck us all up, but what we're talking about this one game which happens to be considerably overprized in €. And I honestly don't think people with an stable income (myself included, even if it's kinda low) cares that much about the 3€ you save in such a deal. The ones who do care are the people with limited money, and I think it's better to have them get the game cheaper in Russia than free on piratebay.

It's unlikely, but I'm hoping Galactic Civilizations 2 goes on sale again. I missed it both times previously (the first time I forgot and the second time I was unconscious with tiredness), and I want to pick it up.

Hey, any GOGers own Guns of Icarus Online? It's on flash sale at the moment, and I'm considering picking it up, but I'd want people to play with if I do.

EDIT: Went ahead and got it, so let me know if you play/bought it.

This, ladies and gentleman, is why we have region-locks everywhere.

Indeed.

nvm

I'm honestly curious, as I haven't kept up with gaming news and this is the first related forum I've ever hung out in. I'm saying this so you don't take me the wrong way.

So this contraband is why consoles are region locked? The reason why I can't play games that haven't been released in my country is that people might go and buy them there? It always made little sense to me that a game like Valkyria Chronicles III, which I really wanted to play yet was never released outside Japan, is unplayable to me even if I actually went to Japan to buy it.

I would say the lock they put on the language is enough encouragement for people not to do this. When I bought Bioshock on steam while I was in Germany for a business trip, due to a daily deal, I ended up with a game I could only play in German. Steam refused to let me switch to other languages, the best I could get was to get the game refunded for "a one time good will gesture".

Among other issues.

The simple fact is that disposable income standards vary wildly across the world. For that reason you have to sell at a much lower price in places like Russia to get any sales, but then people in other countries take advantage of it which makes publishers try and restrict access.

And this happened on big enough numbers to make publishers care enough to enforce the whole region lock thing? I know some of my friends import PS3 titles from the UK, as it is cheaper there and there appears to be a company shipping all around Europe. But I would have thought the risk of this going on massive scale began with digital distribution, where you just need to email a key and not mail a whole box, yet the region lock has been going on at least since PS2 times (probably longer, but I was never a console player and thus have no idea)

I believe i'm almost cured from my GOOTA GET 'EM ALL DEALS syndrome.. Purchased only a few DLC, Freedom Force & Grotesque Tactics packs, and dirt cheap indies games this time!! My bill should be around 40€.. Yeah, me!

If it was insignificant why would they block it?

Yes, I know, that was my point. I was responding to his belief it's no big deal. If it was no big deal they wouldn't bother trying to prevent it.