Australia Region Ripped Off!

[drady]

Seeing that Australia was and is a big support of blu-ray especially during the hi-def war, why are we being screwed with so little title releases compared to the US and other markets?

Its just pathetic!

[Mobe1969]

Yeah, it is annoying. I'm more annoyed by the fact that we again didn't get put in the same region as America, given we are allies and co-signers to the digital millennium act. That is how allies are treated...

At least we are in the same region as the UK this time.

The prices here suck too.

[WickyWoo]

Regions have nothing to do with governments and everything to do with how theatrical rights are typically split up

[Objectivity]

I thought the Australia government outlawed region coding. As a result, studios are releasing fewer movies there.

Don't you love it when government sticks its nose where it doesn't belong?

[slaizer2000]

you guys have kangaroos and koala bears. We do not. This evens things up a little

[WickyWoo]

thought the Australia government outlawed region coding. As a result, studios are releasing fewer movies there.

Don't you love it when government sticks its nose where it doesn't belong?

People were importing in massive quantities before they outlawed region coding

Australia has always been a catch 22. The expense of getting discs to market for a geographically scattered but still small population leads to smaller profits and higher cost of doing business.

The smaller selection leads people to import

Because people import, the smaller selection continues

[lgans316]

Similar to Japan the prices are a big rip-off in the OZ. The OZ sites have been offering HD DVD clearance sales with titles ranging from $6 to $14 including shipping. I hope that they do decent promotions for Blu-rays too. The best promotion I have seen was Buy 2 Get 1 Free on select Sony Blu-rays priced at $34 a piece. One thing I really like about the OZ releases are it's cover arts.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Regions have nothing to do with governments and everything to do with how theatrical rights are typically split up

Yeah, and you know who is responsible for the biggest abuse of region coding (eg, incessant back catalog locking)? An ex-Australian, Rupert Murdoch.

English speaking countries should stick together. Australia is always going to get screwed with releases as we are a much smaller country. So putting us with our allies would be nice.

[richieb1971]

I hear ya.

As a UK citizen I can testify how much it hurts to see Onkyo receivers go on vanns.com for £200 (£400 here in UK for same product). Blu rays in the USA typicalyl go for $20 (£10) when we get stitched up for £17-£22 a movie.

As everyone else says though, get a Reg A player. I'm planning to do exactly that soon. Sell my region B movies and replace them with A's and probably still make a small profit.

[wingnut0021]

I agree with everything in this thread, im not ****ing paying $42.00AU for a blu ray when the aus dollar s trading at 94UScents. Fox and disney can both suck my ass for using region coding.

[tardise]

Originally Posted by drady

Seeing that Australia was and is a big support of blu-ray especially during the hi-def war, why are we being screwed with so little title releases compared to the US and other markets?

Its just pathetic!

Our market is a drop in the ocean......

We had it for years with SD players - multi region players/firmware hacks didnt appear for a long time after the format started

Did u research the product b4 buying.... If it was such a BIG issue for u... y did u buy a region B player ?

[Tim Dawes]

i bought a ps3. it's a region b player lol

[gamer4eva]

Originally Posted by tardise

Did u research the product b4 buying.... If it was such a BIG issue for u... y did u buy a region B player ?

Maybe cause he lives there

and yes i totally agree with the topic poster but cause its a small market i dont think the studios care alot about it and thats the point where basically ppl like me(who dont shop online[me personally cause i dont have a credit card]) suffer

[Sky_Captain]

At least your artwork, save for the silly ratings logos, is actually better in most cases. The Aussie Fifth Element and Hellboy covers are excellent. Oh and thanks for releasing Die Hard With A Vengeance into the region-B world.

[WriteSimply]

My post won't solve problems. Get a PS3 from US, South East Asia or Japan.


fuad

[BluDomain]

[QUOTE=richieb1971;692752]..... Blu rays in the USA typicalyl go for $20 (£10) when we get stitched up for £17-£22 a movie......QUOTE]

You are including VAT. Studios can't be blamed for a governments taxing
system. I ordered Region Free "The Island" [Warner Home Video, UK] listed at £17.98, but after VAT was deducted for shipping to the U.S. it was £15.30. And I'm sure Warner Home Video has a substantial cost of doing business in the UK to pass on. Foreign DVD's in the U.S. typically run $26,
which is about $7 over a new DVD released by an U.S. based Studio. The same goes for Blu-ray's
I've ordered from Australia.

I'm just happy I am free import. I am sure there are some people in other parts of the World where
their Imports are confiscated at the border and selling Western DVD's in a local shop puts the
Retailer in jail. Count your blessings instead of complaining about a pound or two.

[Iceman_II]

Originally Posted by slaizer2000

you guys have kangaroos and koala bears. We do not. This evens things up a little

But it all tastes like chicken

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by tardise

Our market is a drop in the ocean......

We had it for years with SD players - multi region players/firmware hacks didnt appear for a long time after the format started

Did u research the product b4 buying.... If it was such a BIG issue for u... y did u buy a region B player ?

No way on SD - multi region players were available from Day 1. You could get modded Pioneers and nearly everything else. I got mine in 99 and it was unlocked.


I'm considering just getting a Region A PS3 and be done with it. But so far, there actually haven't been enough locked titles to cause me the right level of angst over it.

[Squozen]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

No way on SD - multi region players were available from Day 1. You could get modded Pioneers and nearly everything else. I got mine in 99 and it was unlocked.

I'm considering just getting a Region A PS3 and be done with it. But so far, there actually haven't been enough locked titles to cause me the right level of angst over it.

That's why I imported a Japanese PS3 (plus I saved $200 over the Australian price) - and I'll be importing a US standalone player down the line. I'll never be stuck with Australian titles, if only to avoid the huge, horrible classification box ruining the artwork for every single film released here.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by Squozen

That's why I imported a Japanese PS3 (plus I saved $200 over the Australian price) - and I'll be importing a US standalone player down the line. I'll never be stuck with Australian titles, if only to avoid the huge, horrible classification box ruining the artwork for every single film released here.

I got my PS3 free with my Bravia, so I can justify to my wife getting one.

I want something with universal power supply though (like a PS3) so I don't have to much about with a transformer.

I'm thinking of grabbing the Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle from the US.