User blog:Masarujasu/Android Pricing

One cost for all - it sounds good in principle, but is a mere platitude.

Here's the mobacoin packages on Android (GooglePlay).

Each package tier is worth the same amount of coins for the same dollar value.

If you live in the US, you get what you pay for on GooglePlay. We'd probably treat this as the baseline pricing structure. Prices are normalized around what the market will bear, and what the market will bear is based on perceived consumer value in relation to the cost of living.

In Australia, we pay in AUD - currency conversion is decoupled from the USD; we are independent in that regard. Right now, AUD is weaker than than USD, but the tier packages are the same. Australians pay less than their American counterparts whenever the AUD is weaker in comparison. Currently we are paying 10% less at a rate approximately 1 AUD = 0.90 USD. This is marginal though. Cost of living is largely equitable between the two countries. For someone that does a lot of USD shopping on ebay, I am used to paying a premium but it isn't a vicious premium that I cannot afford.

Now consider a country like Malaysia. They also pay in USD, however the currency conversion is roughly 1 USD = 3.3 RM. This is very high in relation to the cost of living, considering a typical store bought meal costs 3-5 RM. Purchasing 100 USD worth of coins is equivalent to 60 meals (330 RM). Costs are prohibitive in some countries. I know there is a huge contigent of players from Malaysia and Singapore active on this wiki who cannot afford to go T1 simply due to the prohibitive costs in relation to cost of living.

Therefore have a bit of patience with players in other countries who choose to play freely. It may be not so much a choice as a restriction. Be more mindful of circumstance outside your own - especially if you are privileged enough to be able to throw large sums around on a whim.

Pricing is a lot more complicated if you choose to look beyond your own circumstances. There is no level playing field - this is a myth. It is insular rhetoric.

Regards, Masa