That’s because 2K is offering the first Mafia for free to anyone who “pre-purchases” Mafia II over Steam.
Although the sequel doesn’t continue the same story, it’s still worth checking out. Both games are set in the same world, and you’ll be able to spot a few references and cameo appearances in the sequel if you’ve played the first.
Mafia II [Steam]
Blake
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 1:09 PMHave they returned the price to it’s original value?
It was released at $59.95 US initially with the first Mafia as a bonus. Within 24 hour it jumped to $89.99 US.
The original price was enticing, the current price is laughable given that there is no valid reason for it to be so high. If you spoof regions you can get it at much cheaper prices, given there’s no shipping charges to be calculated into the sums, it’s clearly just money grabbing.
David Wildgoose
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 1:17 PMThe Steam price in Australia is US$79.99. The RRP in Australia is AU$99.95. So it’s slightly cheaper (ten bucks or so) on Steam.
Riavan
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 1:46 PMExcept everyone sells for 79.95 instore instead of a 99.95. So it’s not really cheaper and a waste of bandwidth.
David Wildgoose
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 2:02 PM2K doesn’t control what price retailers actually sell it for. However, 2K can’t say to Steam, “You guys sell it for AU$60, but EB, JB, GAME, etc, you have an RRP of $99.95.” Steam is another retailer and 2K have to play fair across the board.
This is why you should always shop around.
Andrew Burdusel
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 2:31 PMDo you know the price that retailers buy these games at? I assume at wholesale prices it would be about 40 – 50 a copy right?
David Wildgoose
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 2:43 PMIt’s more than that.
Aaron Meacham
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 4:43 PMway more than that. for example the price that retailers bought starcraft 2 for was around $69. which means that when Dick Smith and Harvey Norman sold it for $68, they were selling it at a loss.
alinos
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 3:46 PMbut dave 2k are telling steam what to set the prices as they have no obligation to match the store prices with digital distro.
most likely they’re pockering the extra
and the real sign that 2k screws over aussies is that there is normally a 5 dollar markup on dlc something rarely sold in stores until 6 months after release on line
2k is also the one of a few studios that regularly had this sort of pricing discrimination
theres also the fact that a digital copy has no box or book
if they must charge us more 60-70 is much more reasonable than there 79-89
Bob
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 6:31 PMDo you think that raising the price like this on steam, might be somewhat questionable.
Why do we have a $99.95 price tag on our games, shipping costs, exchange rate (back when our dollar was 55cents, I guess everyone forgot to lower the prices when the dollar went up) and staff in the store.
Now when you buy a game from steam, you can download it from America if you want, you are paying in US dollars, so why should publishers raise the price, because they can? its simply exploiting the fact that we are from Australia, but in reality an American customer can buy the same game, from the same server with the same currency and pay $20-30 less.
Now I do love steam and there are lots of good deals on there, and not everyone raises the price so much, but you do get cases like Modern Warfare 2 was $90 USD, a $40 hike. I ended up buying it from my local shop which came with a box and a CD, although it was the exact steam version!
I just can’t help but feel they are shooting themselves in the foot, I was considering getting mafia 2 for the $60 price, but at $80US I’m unsure about it, they could have been happy with selling more units (still at full US price, so they aren’t really losing money) instead try to suck as much money out of us, just because they can.
Anyway it would be nice to get peoples opinions on this.
visor45
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 3:53 PMI came across this site the other day,
http://www.game-lane.com.au/blog/entry/14-hot-pre-order-for-august-2010-mafia-2-collectors-edition-madden-nfl-11-kane-lynch-2-limited-edition.html
Mafia II (2) (PC) AU$59.95 (RRP: AU$ 99.95) You Save: 41% FREE SHIPPING
Mafia II (2) Collector’s Edition (PC) AU84.95 (RRP: AU$ 119.95) You Save: 30% FREE SHIPPING
Chuloopa
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 1:15 PMThere TOTALLY needs to be a gangland convention…
DONCON!
“Hi, i’m Al Capone and i’ll be seeing YOUS at DONCON 2010 in San Fransisco”
MILDLY IRATE VIDEO GAME GUY
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 1:43 PMWith a guest panel featuring Mick Gatto, Alphonse Gangitano, Carl Williams, Jason Moran, Mark Mora– wait, hmm…
MrBS
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 1:26 PMThis might have been a good deal for aussies when the offer launched at USD$49.99 but now that 2K have raised the price to USD$79.99 for the standard edition ro USD$89.99 its hardly a good deal.
706-2
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 4:29 PMI was kind of hoping this would just have a location for a cheap copy of Mafia 1. I’m not really interested in pre-odering Mafia 2 from steam, especially as I’ve never played the first one. Will have to see if any of my mates still have a copy.
johnrs911
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 9:08 PMKnew there was a reason I held onto this game. It’s on ebay if anyone is interested ;)
vash128
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 10:43 PMI own the first game but one day when I went to re-install it to give it another spin the second disk snapped in two when I tried to get it out of the cover. :(
Jeremy
Friday, August 13, 2010 at 10:00 AMCannot get Mafia to install on Windows 7. Just freezes. Pity the developer is too stingy and stupid to (a) patch the original game as they apparently have the Steam version or (b) sell the original game to entice gamers to pick up the new one when it sells.
As for 2K’s lame justifications for charging more for digital copies than physical, boxed copies – nothing more than contemptible pablum. If the market worked, the product that costs them less and gives gamers less would be CHEAPER. A lot cheaper. Not more expensive.