Australia is a nation full of gamers, with more participants per head of population than most countries around the globe. That being said, people Down Under are also quite a savvy bunch, often looking at convenience and choice when shaping their purchasing decisions, plus how much they trust the providers they use most frequently, whether it’s for the quality of products and services or the protection of their information.
Digital Download Pricing
Never before has obtaining the latest games been more convenient, whether you’re looking for PC and console or mobile gaming options. The widespread availability of digital download platforms means that within a matter of minutes, players have access to a huge selection of games, which can then be downloaded straight to their preferred gaming devices.
However, that ease of access and convenience is often tempered by high prices, especially for Australian consumers, who have become increasingly annoyed about having to pay more for their games than other countries around the world. And it’s not like the Australian market is any smaller by comparison, given the $4.12 billion AUD spent in 2022 for video games and associated hardware, bucking the trend for declining sales noted elsewhere.
Some of the latest AAA game titles now cost over $100 AUD to purchase. Publishers often say this is due to the increasing costs involved in producing video games, although that’s not strictly true. One big influence is the value of the Australian dollar, compared to other currencies, particularly against the US dollar as the base currency that companies use to establish their pricing.
Intriguingly, this has led many Australians to shop around more. Digital download platforms remain the primary source for purchases, especially whenever there are deals and offers available. But one interesting observation is that in the last couple of years, traditional retail stores have also seen a spike in video game sales. Consumers are increasingly likely to forego the online convenience, whenever it means getting better prices or discounts.
Online Casino Gaming
According to recent studies across all entertainment segments, online gambling is the most popular activity and also generates the highest revenues. Australians have long held an affinity for gambling as a pastime, therefore in the digital age, it’s hardly surprising to discover that more than 81% of the population regularly wagers.
But there’s one particular element that often frustrates casino gamers, given that nobody likes to wait a long time to collect their winnings. Indeed, this one key element can often be the biggest frustration for Aussies, who sometimes end up wating for weeks for transactions to be completed, and that’s never a good sign. Indeed, it’s a red flag indicating that it’s time to move on and look elsewhere instead.
Nevertheless, as the latest in-depth reviews for online casinos that payout fast clearly highlight, Australian gambling sites with the best reputations usually tend to provide the swiftest withdrawal options. Additional benefits include the provision of varied and trusted banking methods, which can also speed up the process of getting paid significantly, plus responsive and attentive customer support.
Protecting Your Data
These days, offline gaming practically doesn’t exist anymore. Regardless of where you purchase games, whether it’s via physical retail outlets or digital download storefronts, they typically require online activation or opening an account of some form. This typically requires users to provide not only contact data, such as an email address or mobile number, but also sensitive financial information for payments.
Unfortunately, the games industry has been faced with some major setbacks in recent years, particularly when it comes to the protection of user data, seriously damaging confidence and trust among consumers. While there have been a variety of cases, one of the biggest and most recent was a security breach at 2K games, who also happen to produce some of the biggest selling titles in Australia.
Although 2K insisted that no financial information or passwords were compromised, just like those elsewhere around the world, Aussie consumers were understandably concerned their data hadn’t been sufficiently protected. Only time will tell if the company suffers any negative fallout, such as reduced sales or lack of confidence going forward. But gamers can also take measures to protect their own data on gaming platforms.
The simplest step is to regularly change account passwords, using a mixture of lower- and upper-case letters, combined with numbers and symbols. Never share your passwords or data with anyone else, and always be wary of potentially malicious links, which can be sent via email or text messaging services. Likewise, use payment methods that require two-step authentication, ensuring your personal and financial data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
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