Looks like cheap gadgets and appliances aren’t enough for Ruslan Kogan anymore. As of tonight his online store has dipped its toe into the world of video game retailing, but are they good value?
Six triple-A titles went live on Kogan’s online store this evening for both the PS3 and the Xbox 360, including Modern Warfare 3, FIFA 12 and Battlefield 3.
Both FIFA 12 and Battlefield 3 will set you back $49 plus shipping, while Modern Warfare 3 will cost you $56.
The games are international imports and as a result, Kogan stresses, the product “may not support online gaming” — something that’s likely to be a dealbreaker for three of the hottest multiplayer titles of the last 12 months.
Limitations aside though, the prices aren’t streets ahead of major Australian retailers. EB Games will sell you Battlefield 3 – Limited Edition on PS3 and Xbox 360 for (at the time of publication) $56 plus shipping. Admittedly, that’s a special. The normal RRP is $109.95.
Compare the price to popular international importer PlayAsia, though, and you’ll find yourself saving money — the stuff that folds, too. PlayAsia will sell you a copy of Battlefield 3 for Xbox 360 for $40.46, for example.
It’s nice to see Kogan get into games. Surely the market needs another player as GAME folds. We’re still waiting to hear back if Kogan will sell consoles, or if it’s just games.
The table above gives a clear win to Kogan. It’s reasonable to point out that the Harvey Norman site offers a much wider range of games, though as the games come from Europe, delivery can be slower (the Kogan titles ship from Hong Kong). There’s also a slight risk with any import title that online play might not work properly (an issue Kogan notes on its product pages).
Bottom line? If you’re after these particular titles, right now Kogan is a little cheaper than Harvey Morman, but PlayAsia is cheaper again for at least some titles. The ultimate lesson? Shopping around still pays. But I don’t expect we’ve seen the last of this particular battle.
Top image: Kogan Technologies
Republished from Gizmodo and Lifehacker.
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