Regional pricing is starting to fuck me off big time

Well steam just implements the pricing that the publisher sets. I imagine they don't complain too much about it though.
I can only speculate that publishers get a larger share of the profits of boxed product sales so digitally-delivered prices are set artifically high to "encourage" shop purchases. Either that or they're just being cocks and figure that we consumers can't do shit about it. Boxed product costs a lot more here too.

Its the developers that choose the price. Really there is no reason they should cost more.

Only instance I can remember is Sims Medieval, and that was a pricing error, not any particular generosity on Steam or EA's part. :p

Dictate? No, but thanks for putting words in my mouth.

I (and presumably others) have tried to contact publishers directly before. I've never gotten a reply beyond a form letter. There's no reason for them to acknowledge or react to a single user, it needs to be organised.

This

I noticed that (steamprices lists it as $79.95). I presume they'll "fix" it soon. Can't have NZ paying the same as the US for a premium title like that. :p

Damm and at 72$ and I thought we were screwed D:

Region locking has to do with licenses often enough. The publisher in one region might not be allowed to sell that game in another, because another company will have it there, so locked.

Yeah that's what I mean with trading for it. I shouldn't need to though, and it's just a hassle and inhabits a bit of a grey area in the EULA.