Request to EM/Square Enix to remove Steam regional activation blocks

[Dr Bob]

Hi.

Let me start off by describing Steam as a global digital distribution platform.

Now, the reason why I'm making this thread is because, historically, Steamworks-enabled games have blocked activations of your game depending on where you live in the world.

Why is this a problem? Say I pre-order a game and luckily receive it in the mail one or two days early. Well, that's fantastic - except I have to wait until a certain day to activate the game and start playing because I live in a certain territory.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is scheduled to be released on the 23rd of August for the Americas, and the 26th of August for Europe.

I usually receive games at least one or two days early if I pre-order them. What this means is that I will have my copy of the game, but I will have to wait until the magical day Friday to begin playing it, because I live in Europe.

Another problem is that if I had ordered the game for a console, then I would have been able to just start playing as soon as I got it.

I am asking the community manager to perhaps discuss this issue with Square Enix, because activation restrictions based on regional location is a real hindrance for a global digital distribution platform.

Thanks for reading.

TL;DR: Your game could come early, but you won't be able to play it until the magical day Friday which is when Europeans are allowed to have access to the game.

[Rainhands]

It's just 2 days. Play another game or watch a movie in the meantime. Whatever. The game is supposed to be released on a certain date, just ease up and wait. I also live in England but do not ask for the date to be shifted to MY time.

[JCpie]

Why do different countries/continents have different release dates anyway?

[Dr Bob]

Originally Posted by Rainhands

It's just 2 days. Play another game or watch a movie in the meantime. Whatever. The game is supposed to be released on a certain date, just ease up and wait. I also live in England but do not ask for the date to be shifted to MY time.

It's a global digital distribution platform, why should Europeans wait three days to have access to the game?

Are you trying to insinuate that you are a better person for not asking what I'm asking?

[Arbie]

I would like this so I can use the internet between American game release and when I play it.

SPOILERSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[subtlesnake]

If Steam breaks the date then the other shops will have to break the date, or they'll lose business, so what you're essentially arguing for is one global date. I would guess though that there are various distributional reasons for the existing structure (Tuesday in US, Friday in UK/Europe), so it's unlikely to change - at least not without retailer support.

[mad825]

Originally Posted by Dr Bob

It's a global digital distribution platform, why should Europeans wait three days to have access to the game?

Because SE said so, It's their game and they can do whatever they like. You want a reason why they are saying this? then tough luck because none of us are ever going to get one.

Not only that, it's complying with Steam's T&C.

[Irate Iguana]

Originally Posted by subtlesnake

I would guess though that there are various distributional reasons for the existing structure (Tuesday in US, Friday in UK/Europe), so it's unlikely to change - at least not without retailer support.

Various games already have worldwide release dates. It seems that it just comes down to whether or not a publisher is willing to push for a worldwide release or not.

[mahmoudd]

Originally Posted by JCpie

Why do different countries/continents have different release dates anyway?

maybe a problem of management

[jaycw2309]

Why do US games get released on Tuesday, UK on Friday?.. we didnt start that trend but its the norm.. entire distribution companies are based around this timing system.. Some games try for the same day simultaneous worldwide, and unfortunately guarenteed you'll get a store or distributor somewhere breaking the date etc..

Steam may be a digital distribution therefore available almost anywhere in the world, but the product they are selling isnt ONLY being sold via them on the web. Retailers will be selling copies too (not everyone can afford to have over 8GB download usage on a single item on their net packages - yes i KNOW some can but not all). Therefore they are following the same retail distribution timing scheme.
Region locks are in place to stop `grey` importing, which whilst consumers may not really care where they get their product from as they just want `A` copy of the game, to the companies who distribute (and ourselves who pay for distribution) each territory has a very different cost base and price to ship to etc and these are reflected in local prices (ask anyone in Tazmania for example about cost of games and they will probably cry as they so expensive to get imported etc)

[Kvltism]

tl;dr? You're playing along with a lame duck price-fixing model.

[Zakka]

Originally Posted by jaycw2309

Why do US games get released on Tuesday, UK on Friday?.. we didnt start that trend but its the norm.. entire distribution companies are based around this timing system.. Some games try for the same day simultaneous worldwide, and unfortunately guarenteed you'll get a store or distributor somewhere breaking the date etc..

Steam may be a digital distribution therefore available almost anywhere in the world, but the product they are selling isnt ONLY being sold via them on the web. Retailers will be selling copies too (not everyone can afford to have over 8GB download usage on a single item on their net packages - yes i KNOW some can but not all). Therefore they are following the same retail distribution timing scheme.
Region locks are in place to stop `grey` importing, which whilst consumers may not really care where they get their product from as they just want `A` copy of the game, to the companies who distribute (and ourselves who pay for distribution) each territory has a very different cost base and price to ship to etc and these are reflected in local prices (ask anyone in Tazmania for example about cost of games and they will probably cry as they so expensive to get imported etc)

Thanks for the answer

[FuzzyPuffin]

Originally Posted by jaycw2309

Region locks are in place to stop `grey` importing, which whilst consumers may not really care where they get their product from as they just want `A` copy of the game, to the companies who distribute (and ourselves who pay for distribution) each territory has a very different cost base and price to ship to etc and these are reflected in local prices (ask anyone in Tazmania for example about cost of games and they will probably cry as they so expensive to get imported etc)

Thanks for posting. Can you confirm DX has such a region lock? I'm importing the AE from the UK so I can get both preorder bonuses.

[[FGS]Shadowrunner]

Originally Posted by jaycw2309

Why do US games get released on Tuesday, UK on Friday?.. we didnt start that trend but its the norm.. entire distribution companies are based around this timing system.. Some games try for the same day simultaneous worldwide, and unfortunately guarenteed you'll get a store or distributor somewhere breaking the date etc..

Steam may be a digital distribution therefore available almost anywhere in the world, but the product they are selling isnt ONLY being sold via them on the web. Retailers will be selling copies too (not everyone can afford to have over 8GB download usage on a single item on their net packages - yes i KNOW some can but not all). Therefore they are following the same retail distribution timing scheme.
Region locks are in place to stop `grey` importing, which whilst consumers may not really care where they get their product from as they just want `A` copy of the game, to the companies who distribute (and ourselves who pay for distribution) each territory has a very different cost base and price to ship to etc and these are reflected in local prices (ask anyone in Tazmania for example about cost of games and they will probably cry as they so expensive to get imported etc)

Really interesting, and it's wise to be selling hard copies, since some DX fans are still on 56k and guess what, that is in Canada!

[ArcR]

Thanks jaycw2309

[PlasmaSnake101]

ITT: Euro's get upset about how jelly they are of Americans.

On a serious note, I can understand why your upset. However, the differences between release dates never bothered me. Release dates are stupid if a game is ready to go while in store. In my opinion a store should be able to put the products they purchase for retail on the shelf whenever they like.

[Dr Bob]

Originally Posted by viverravid

*edited out*

I shouldn't have to do this, plus there's a chance I could get banned.

Originally Posted by jaycw2309

Why do US games get released on Tuesday, UK on Friday?.. we didnt start that trend but its the norm.. entire distribution companies are based around this timing system.. Some games try for the same day simultaneous worldwide, and unfortunately guarenteed you'll get a store or distributor somewhere breaking the date etc..

Steam may be a digital distribution therefore available almost anywhere in the world, but the product they are selling isnt ONLY being sold via them on the web. Retailers will be selling copies too (not everyone can afford to have over 8GB download usage on a single item on their net packages - yes i KNOW some can but not all). Therefore they are following the same retail distribution timing scheme.
Region locks are in place to stop `grey` importing, which whilst consumers may not really care where they get their product from as they just want `A` copy of the game, to the companies who distribute (and ourselves who pay for distribution) each territory has a very different cost base and price to ship to etc and these are reflected in local prices (ask anyone in Tazmania for example about cost of games and they will probably cry as they so expensive to get imported etc)

Here's the thing: I could get the console version the same amount of days early and I could play it instantly if I wanted to.

An activation block is unnecessary and unwarranted for PC.

[Kvltism]

Regional lockouts are anti-competitive, and poor business practice. That's the skinny.

[Viktoria]

Deleted post and issued infraction.
Just a reminder to all not to suggest the use of illegal software, new members should read the forum rules please.

[[FGS]Shadowrunner]

I think you mean deleted infraction and issued ban, but we understood

On behalf of DX1 community, apologies. The offending agent has been sent to a FEMA correctional facility and is being reprogrammed.

I joked before, but it's like adding a mini-game to the overall experience, Deus Ex fans will pride themselves on "beating" security implementations.

3 days is nothing.

[subtlesnake]

Originally Posted by Dr Bob

Here's the thing: I could get the console version the same amount of days early and I could play it instantly if I wanted to.

Maybe, but shops still aren't allowed to 'officially' sell it early.

[Dr Bob]

Originally Posted by subtlesnake

Maybe, but shops still aren't allowed to 'officially' sell it early.

Pre-orders placed online almost always arrive early. This is what I am talking about, not retail store pre-orders.

A pre-order for the console version of this game can be played as soon as you get it in the mail.

For the PC version, you will have to wait until the day your territory is allowed to play it; you have the game - you bought a license to play it. Unfortunately, it will have to sit on your desk until you're allowed to play it.

See the problem here?

[subtlesnake]

The difference is that the console versions are released when they're physically shipped; the PC version is released when it's unlocked. So if you unlock the game for those lucky enough to secure copies, you unlock it for everyone.

So essentially you're changing the release date - for the retailers as well, since they'll have to follow suit.

[Dr Bob]

Originally Posted by subtlesnake

The difference is that the console versions are released when they're physically shipped; the PC version is released when it's unlocked. So if you unlock the game for those lucky enough to secure copies, you unlock it for everyone.

So essentially you're changing the release date - for the retailers as well, since they'll have to follow suit.

That wasn't a problem with Portal 2.

[Viktoria]

Originally Posted by [FGS]Shadowrunner

I think you mean deleted infraction and issued ban, but we understood

Umm, not really. In vBulletin talk, moderators "give you an infraction" if you break the rules.
LOL, but, I know exactly what you mean if we think of the general definition.