Valve Locking Out Gamers Who Buy Orange Box Internationally

Via Opposable Thumbs, a post on the Consumerist site notes that some enterprising gamers who bought the Orange Box in a territory different than the one they lived (to save a few bucks) have now found themselves unable to play the game. "One user, Todd, explains that thousands of crafty North American gamers looking for a deal have 'bought the product (and hence, the serial numbers) at well known international game stores' at a significant markdown. Activation of the purchased titles went off without a hitch. However, Valve apparently has taken issue with the region-specificity of some international versions and has begun locking out accounts of those living in North America, but owning international serial numbers with the message that the purchased game is in the 'incorrect territory.'" Worse, folks who tried to 'make it right' by buying a local copy have found they're basically SOL. I've been a big fan of the Steam concept since it launched, but this is the sort of thing you need to communicate to your users before you sting them.

Comments

Re:Misconceptions running rampant

[rk]

Yeah, very big of them to only region-lock the least expensive versions of the game. They're like freakin' heroes. I suppose, just like the article, I'm stupid, so would you explain to me why only you smart people have no problem with Valve doing this?

Personally, I think region locking is crap and I don't put up with it. I would agree with an argument that it's their stuff and they can do whatever they want with it. But that whole "X can do whatever X wants with X's stuff" cuts all ways and I won't reward them with this X's money for their region-locked crap.

Re:Probably a requirement

[MaineCoon]

No, they'd lose money if they sold it at $10 EVERYWHERE. They make maybe $2-3 per copy sold in Russia... almost not even worth the effort. If they only made $2-3/copy sold everywhere, they'd need to sell 15-20 million units just to break even. That would be an astouding number of sales for ANY game, and unachievable, even for Valve.

By your logic, they should either sell it at $10 everywhere and lose massive amounts of money (i.e, they get screwed), or not sell it in markets where they have to mark it down to make it affordable (customers in those markets get screwed).

God forbid your sense of entitlement be trampled on by a company wanting to both make money by offering you a great product for a good price, and to only make a tiny profit offering that same great value to others who can barely afford it.