^^^
Basically an authentication server that registers the key and keep it active everytime you play the game. Sort of like the UBISOFT authentication servers.
I'm from Australia too but I'm not really irked if the local retailer doesn't stock the game. Seriously mate, our currency is climbing yet software stays rock solid at AU$80-AU$100 a pop. There's been no change since the days our dollar was half a US dollar a couple of years ago. The local retailers aren't doing themselves a favour by ripping us off.
As someone else suggested just import the game from online outlets such as
www.dvdboxoffice.com. I got Beyond Divinity, Sacred, Farcry, BF1942 Vietnam for AU$50 each with free worldwide shipping. I got four great games for AU$200 instead of the AU$350-AU$400 I would have expected to pay in Australia.
Someone also mentioned hacked copies. The truth is any game, be it distributed online or physically, will be hacked/cracked and seeded at all the usual bittorrent sites. Most games are cracked and ready for download before they are even available at the stores. Especially with the penetration of broadband worldwide, piracy will always be there. Sure, not distributing online might slow it down but not by much, if at all.
There need's to be a revolution in anti-piracy technology that is transparent and not a pain in the [nocando] for the consumer (I'm looking at you UBISOFT).
