100°

Please explain prices: Parliament subpoenas Apple, Microsoft, Adobe

Federal Parliament has issued documents formally compelling major technology vendors Apple, Microsoft and Adobe to compulsorily appear before its committee investigating price hikes on technology products sold in Australia, in a move that finally ends months of stalling by the vendors, who have proven unwilling to voluntary discuss their pricing strategies in public.

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delimiter.com.au
joab7774090d ago

They shouldnt have to...this is absurd. Government doesnt answer to us. They are not transparent. If the prices are too high, dont buy it. Though, if they want an answer they only have to look to themselves as the dollar and pound become more and more worthless each day

calis4090d ago

You must live in a wonderful fantasy world.

joab7774090d ago

Actually I don't. I am not happy that prices are high and I wouldn't buy it and I would be pissed but the issue at hand is whether they should be forced to change them by government or even more importantly to explain pricing strategy. The problem is much more complex than this. I just love how we now live in a world where we want what we want, we don't want to pay much (which is fine) but we support crushing regulations and blame all problems on industry while letting government's skate. I know this is a broader issue but it's the reason everything is how it is today. The video game industry, just like almost every industry in the world (maybe Apple excluded for the moment) is in financial trouble. But we have no patience to let the market work. Complain, sign petitions etc., force them to change the pricing but government involvement should be a very rare occurrence. I guess I am crazy...we will see.

Hydralysk4090d ago (Edited 4090d ago )

Except when technology vendors mark up the price for reasons they don't explain, and there aren't alternative vendors for the product you want, you're SOL, which is a pretty legitemate reason for people to be pissed.

Just because you don't buy the product doesn't mean things will change. I don't buy CoD but that doesn't stop it from outselling everything year after year, and more games trying to copy it as a result.

If these companies are charging more money for the same products/services in AU than other locales for no observable reason, then the people deserve an answer as to why they're the ones being price gouged.

BitbyDeath4090d ago

You want our support you do.

nukeitall4090d ago (Edited 4090d ago )

I believe in a free country to, where I am free to markup the price of my product as I see fit. There is no reason why the government should be meddling in with my business.

It's not communism, and as long as I pay my taxes and there is real competition then I see no reason why the government should be able to say, you are forced to sell this at that price?

This is the equivalent of the government putting inquiring on why the working man's salary is so high!

All I can say is I is free market and supply/demand!

parkerpeters4090d ago

It isn't about capitalism, it isn't about freedom. It is about unethical business practices. Monopolies controlling you wallet. You want freedom? Adobe has your freedom on lockdown.

joab7774090d ago

Freedom isn't strengthened by running to government. We can both agree that the prices may be absurd but it is our responsibility to battle them. Yeah, it's unfortunate because we have lost our nerve and with past government intrusion, corporations have had to move factories and raise prices to maximize profits. I say it's great to get angry and fight back. It just isn't OK for government to be able to compel Corp to act except in rare instances. This isn't one!

nukeitall4090d ago (Edited 4089d ago )

@parkerpeters:

"It is about unethical business practices. Monopolies controlling you wallet."

You really need to go back *re-read* my comment. There is nothing unethical about having a large profit margin.

The question shouldn't be why are you charging so much, but rather why isn't there more competition between these companies?

Currently there is no monopoly in the video game industry, so the government need to stimulate competition and not meddle in business affairs.

"Adobe has your freedom on lockdown."

Adobe has practically been an industry standard now so they are pretty much a monopoly. However, that doesn't stop me from using a different competing product. The higher the profit margins, the bigger room for more competitors.

So no, Adobe doesn't have my freedom on lockdown, but they do make some darn good products.

Most consumers don't know how it is to run a business, so all they see is huge profit margins, but they never see the cost of running a business, nor do they see the fat tax bill you get stuck with.

That is why I love the US, despite all it's problems. If I work hard, I get to profit. If I do nothing, I earn almost nothing as it should be!

I don't want a bunch of lazy compadres hanging out getting high wages for doing almost nothing.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4090d ago
parkerpeters4090d ago

I for one, think this is a fantastic turn of events!

calis4090d ago

if anything happens. Our government is pretty soft on this stuff.

BanBrother4090d ago

Yes it is fantastic. They were talking about this ages ago, but obviously the big companies declined to comment (I think Apple had a BS excuse).

I doubt that our government will get anything done, they are utterly useless when it comes to technology. Too many old Christian men in Australian politics (not hitting at Christians, just that the old ones have that olden day thinking).

Too all those saying it is because of the dollar differences, you are wrong. The Australian dollar is currently at around 102.5 U.S cents, which dropped recently as it usually hovered around 104-105 US cents.
What about shipping? There is no way it costs $400 per iPad, unless they are flown overhere individually in golden wrapping.

I understand that things will be more expensive here, to to isolation and small market, but what about digital items? If we have to pay more for digital items (we do) than that is unfair. Robbery.

Tzuno4090d ago

you want your answer don't buy at high prices they will lower them :)

annus4090d ago

I don't want to pay $900 for an iPhone, yet many do, so the prices never drop. If it were that easy it would already be done. The way the world works is magical.

4lc4pon34090d ago

good its about time for aussies to get a cut. Prices in AUS are insane and they need someone to step in.

cl19834090d ago

I wonder if there's something more to this story from their lat paragraph, "If nothing else, at least seeing some more honest evidence in this case will help fuel a wider debate about how the Australian Government can create a more favourable environment for major technology companies to operate in Australia."

calis4090d ago

They're only doing it because companies realise we're going overseas to buy tech and they're losing money.

It's not for the peoples benefit.

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140°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos20h ago(Edited 20h ago)

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers16h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken3h ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g12h ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing12h ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H912h ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola8h ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn66911h ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle11h ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 3h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 1h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos22h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN15h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo17h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies13h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 3h ago (Edited 1d 3h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 1h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic11h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows9010h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 3h ago (Edited 1d 3h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 2h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 2h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long23h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 1h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d ago (Edited 1d ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 1h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

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130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg1d 4h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos1d 3h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion1d 3h ago (Edited 1d 3h ago )

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola23h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

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