When's the last time you saw a new DVD release not on a Tuesday? Or a movie not on a Wednesday/Friday? Or why do the vast majority of retail games release on Tuesdays? US and Europe both have their "days" when stuff normally happens. Ever notice how the difference is usually always 2-3 days?

You might not agree with it, but it's most definitely not "arbitrary".

Although the initiative is admirable, I would have started with: "Europe, one release date for all."

Seriously, from the time Grey Matter(in perfect English) was available in Germany, to when I got it from someone who could buy of German Amazon(it think that's what it was), to when the exact same version was released in the rest of Europe, to when it was released on digital distribution(it's on sale on Impulse if you want a very good adventure), between all these, the game had 5 release dates. That is what irks me the most. 

With digital distribution, there shouldn't be problems like these. To hell with brick and mortar stores, the last good one in my town moved somewhere else and I haven't been able to find it in the last 4 years. Also, a bigger irk for me is publishers imposing region limits on digital distribution, like Ubisoft and EA do to Impulse. It's very annoying.

However, there are some simply baffling examples.  Take, for example, Pilot Wings Resort on the 3DS.  It wasn't finished for the Japan launch date in February, however it will be available for the American release date on the 26th of March.  No problem at all so far.  The same game - in english - isn't available for the Australian release on the 31st of March, and it currently doesn't have a release date at all.  Thanks to regional restrictions, I can't import this title.  I can, however, pirate it and use third party firm ware to play it exactly as intended.

Just because it worked one way for so long, doesn't mean that the situation doesn't need to change.

I forsee logistics being a problem regarding getting games out on time, however, I think publishers also have some priorities regarding releases as well. That being said, a few days isnt something to really be at arms about.

Regarding Australia, you guys need to talk to your politicians. From what I understand, they have basically a tryannical stance regarding video gaming.

With regards to no R rating for video games, there has to be an agreement with all the states' Attorneys General before that can be implemented, and currently there are three dissenting states (maybe down to two soon).  This is despite research putting the average age of gamers now at 30 years.  The government seems to be stuck in a time warp with some of the views on gaming computing in Australia.  And the ratings of games are on a case-by-case basis, and there are lots of inconsistencies.  There are some games given an MA15+ rating, for example Grand Theft Auto games, that even with proposed adding of a R category for games, would have been refused an R rating such as has been proposed due to a viewpoint of glorification of criminal activities.

Also, keep in mind that movies currently have an R rating and games don't.  That's another possible inconsistency.

Best regards,
Steven.

Oh well, Australia does have other good points.  And the games I like to play don't tend to be incredibly violent ones (unless you count killing demons in D2 as violent ).  But I tend to prefer turn-based games like HOMM2, Wesnoth, Civ4 mods and Elemental of course.   And no, I haven't particularly got into Jagged Alliance games.

Best regards,
Steven.