The problem is much deeper specifically with regard to India. Some companies have managed to fix one aspect of the issue - namely pricing - but if games are going to be released in India (I refer to the PC versions specifically) 3 months (or never at all) after their international release then whats the point? Pirates aren't going to wait that long (probably release games much earlier) and nor are die hard gamers.
Take BFBC2 for example.
When you open
EA Video Games - Electronic Arts, the first thing you are asked is to choose your country. I select India which then redirects you to
EA India | Action, Racing, Strategy, Online, Sports, Sims, Mobile and Family Video Games.. Great so far.
I then head over to the "Shop" section as I am interested in info regarding pricing and availability of BFBC2. There is none. The EA store
Electronic Arts Asia Online Store - Welcome
apparently doesnt have an option to pre-order games - only released games are listed (as far as I could see).
I then head over to the news section
DICE Raises The Bar For Online Warfare With Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Console Demo and PC Demo - Experience This Year?s Best Online Multiplayer Game before it Hits Stores on March 2
where it says-
"Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be in stores on March 2, 2010 in North America and March 4, 2010 in Europe for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the PC."
No mention of Asia, let alone India. So where does that leave me? With the only option of pre-ordering via Steam and paying $50. Or waiting without any clue whatsoever when the game will be "officially" launched with Indian pricing.
Its all very well to blame everything on "piracy". I have been waiting 5 months now for TFU-Sith Edition to be released in India. Still waiting. Game distributors need to understand that some of their policies actually contribute to piracy.
Then again, India is prolly an insignificant source of revenue so can you really blame them? Its the classic chicken and egg situation.
If anyone has any info on the pricing/availability of BFBC2 please let me know....
The problem is much deeper specifically with regard to India. Some companies have managed to fix one aspect of the issue - namely pricing - but if games are going to be released in India (I refer to the PC versions specifically) 3 months (or never at all) after their international release then whats the point? Pirates aren't going to wait that long (probably release games much earlier) and nor are die hard gamers.
Take BFBC2 for example.
When you open
EA Video Games - Electronic Arts, the first thing you are asked is to choose your country. I select India which then redirects you to
EA India | Action, Racing, Strategy, Online, Sports, Sims, Mobile and Family Video Games. Great so far.
I then head over to the "Shop" section as I am interested in info regarding pricing and availability of BFBC2. There is none. The EA store
Electronic Arts Asia Online Store - Welcome
apparently doesnt have an option to pre-order games - only released games are listed (as far as I could see).
I then head over to the news section
DICE Raises The Bar For Online Warfare With Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Console Demo and PC Demo - Experience This Year?s Best Online Multiplayer Game before it Hits Stores on March 2
where it says-
"Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be in stores on March 2, 2010 in North America and March 4, 2010 in Europe for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the PC."
No mention of Asia, let alone India. So where does that leave me? With the only option of pre-ordering via Steam and paying $50. Or waiting without any clue whatsoever when the game will be "officially" launched with Indian pricing.
Its all very well to blame everything on "piracy". I have been waiting 5 months now for TFU:Sith Edition to be released in India. Still waiting. Game distributors need to understand that some of their policies actually contribute to piracy.
Then again, India is prolly an insignificant source of revenue so can you really blame them? Its the classic chicken and egg situation.
If anyone has any info on the pricing/availability of BFBC2 please let me know....