Howdy. Here's the problem. I'm from Latvia (Lithuanians has the same problem), and Skyrim (Rage, apparently, too) is not available in my region. Why?

When searching on the internet, I've found opinions that some russian company might be the official distributor for my region. I sure hope not. Does somebody up there think that everyone in Eastern Europe speaks Russian? Because that's what we're going to get - some poorly localized, completely translated parody of Skyrim.

So, when is Skyrim released worldwide?

Can you not just download the game from a legitimate source, or buy it on any other European website?

It wouldn't matter, how will I activate my copy on Steam? Check this topic: http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1242199-skyrim-and-steam/

This is ridiculous, there is no official information available; or it's stashed away so deep?

Ah, I am sorry.

I never registered my copy; I downloaded the game (with added benefit that it installs without steam) and have purchased the boxed game after installing...

Yea, something strange is going on here. I (I live in Slovenia) wanted to buy the game on direct2drive, but couldn't because it was region restricted. Somebody living 20km away (in Austria) from me could, but I couldn't. Direct2drive support explained that this was publisher's decision. Ended up overpaying in the rip-off Steam store.
At this point I'd say something racist about stupid Americans, but I think I better stop.

Well, the reason why I want a Steam copy, is mods. I suspect they might be available only on Steam versions. Take Half-Life for example.

Isn't there some problems between 1C/Cenega and Valve?

Can't be Valve, because every other game (apart from Bethesda's Rage and Skyrim) seems to be available. Oblivion, Morrowind, New Vegas .. they are all there.

I had the same problem with Steam and Hungary. I saw the pre order ads in the Steam Store a month or so back, but by the time the game was released, Skyrim was no longer available to buy. I had to hunt down a physical copy complete with activation code and instruction manual. Was a throwback to the bygone days. But one good thing did come of my purchase from the brick and mortar store....I got a poster and map of Skyrim free with the game Not a bad deal.

I think you can still activate it even though it's not available in your region on steam.

Shogun 2 Total War is not available in my region but I bought the box edition from retail store and activated it on steam successfully.

Everybody is selling steam activation codes. This is a steam only game so wherever you buy it, you will use it with steam.

Because the publisher wanted his cut for boxed version.

The boxed version registers on Steam, and you can't even play it without Steam now - at all. So it really doesn't matter where you buy it. You can change your language in the Steam later, but my (also EEuropean) version had english option during installation.

If you have a friend from another country, he can gift you the game over Steam. That's what I did with a friend who currently works in Czech Republic, as he couldn't buy the game on his version of Steam Store.