Buying games in Thaialnd

[Julio]

So I am currently over here in Thailand and I open up steam on the browser and it automatically gave me the prices in BAHT because of the location filter. And I noticed that many games are much cheaper than they are in the United States. So I was thinking I'd buy some games. I'm only here for another week so I changed my region and all that on the desktop version of steam as well. However, I read somewhere else online that since many people use VPN's to try and get cheaper prices, there game isn't when there country is correct. Will I be able to play the games when i go back home?

[Levi]

Originally posted by Han Polo:

I read somewhere else online that since many people use VPN's to try and get cheaper prices

VPN and other proxying methods are not allowed as per the Steam SSA.

You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, Valve may terminate your access to your Account.

Section 3 A | Payment Methods - http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/

[Ogami]

The games will work as long as you are in Thailand but if you return to the USA they most likely will no longer install/play. You will get a " you are currently not in the region this game was purchased in" error message.

BUT, every game that has been in your library for 90 days will become region free and can be installed/played everywhere in the world.
So, you basically just have to wait till the 90 days since you bought the game are up, after that they will work normally in the USA.

[Julio]

Originally posted by Ogami:

The games will work as long as you are in Thailand but if you return to the USA they most likely will no longer install/play. You will get a " you are currently not in the region this game was purchased in" error message.

BUT, every game that has been in your library for 90 days will become region free and can be installed/played everywhere in the world.
So, you basically just have to wait till the 90 days since you bought the game are up, after that they will work normally in the USA.

Ok, say I wouldn't be able to play the game for 90 days? Is there anyway to circumvent that. I could do like 30 days because I planned on making myself an actual good gaming PC when i got back home instead of this laptop I have, but not being able to play the game for 3 months would be unfortunate.

[Ogami]

Originally posted by Han Polo:

Ok, say I wouldn't be able to play the game for 90 days? Is there anyway to circumvent that. I could do like 30 days because I planned on making myself an actual good gaming PC when i got back home instead of this laptop I have, but not being able to play the game for 3 months would be unfortunate.

No legal way, no. If the game is region locked to Thailand ( which is highly likely because of the much cheaper prices) it will no longer start when you are in the USA. Steam checks your IP and if its not of the country the game was bought in, it will not work.
And circumventing that check by using a VPN or similar is against the Steam TOS and can get your whole account suspended.
So not worth the risk. You will need to wait the whole 90 days till the game loses its region restrictions.
Or buy a international version of the game in the first place that has no regional restrictions.

[Julio]

Originally posted by Ogami:

Originally posted by Han Polo:

Ok, say I wouldn't be able to play the game for 90 days? Is there anyway to circumvent that. I could do like 30 days because I planned on making myself an actual good gaming PC when i got back home instead of this laptop I have, but not being able to play the game for 3 months would be unfortunate.

No legal way, no. If the game is region locked to Thailand ( which is highly likely because of the much cheaper prices) it will no longer start when you are in the USA. Steam checks your IP and if its not of the country the game was bought in, it will not work.
And circumventing that check by using a VPN or similar is against the Steam TOS and can get your whole account suspended.
So not worth the risk. You will need to wait the whole 90 days till the game loses its region restrictions.
Or buy a international version of the game in the first place that has no regional restrictions.

Okay, the game I wanted to get was the Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Eternal Bundle, which here has a price equivalent of about 48 USD, and in the US the one game alone is 45 and the bundle being 90. The international edition you refer too? do you mean like buying it from a retailer?

[Ogami]

Originally posted by Han Polo:

Okay, the game I wanted to get was the Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Eternal Bundle, which here has a price equivalent of about 48 USD, and in the US the one game alone is 45 and the bundle being 90. The international edition you refer too? do you mean like buying it from a retailer?

Yes, buying a Steam key from a authorized reseller store like Greenmangaming or similar.
The prices are most likely higher then in the Thai Steam Store but if you dont want to wait 90 days after buying the game to play it in the USA, its pretty much your only option.

[Julio]

Originally posted by Ogami:

Yes, buying a Steam key from a authorized reseller store like Greenmangaming or similar.
The prices are most likely higher then in the Thai Steam Store but if you dont want to wait 90 days after buying the game to play it in the USA, its pretty much your only option.

Alrighty, well thanks anyway bud. I don't know if i'll save myself 45 bucks and wait 90 days or not. Or maybe I won't buy it and see if it goes on sale during the summer sale.

Thanks again though