Krunomo
Game Owner
 NWN: HotU
SW: KotOR PC
Mass Effect
Joined: 27 Jan 2006 |
 Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 04:55AM |
I tend to buy my games from the small games stores just to say ive done my part for small business. However, i am so glad i pre ordered ME from EB's Australia. I am now the proud owner of my copy of Mass Effect. Somebody at EB's head office is really going to get into trouble. But right now im off to play the game  |
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FirstCitizen
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Jade Empire:SE
NWN 2
NWN 2: MotB
NWN 2: SoZ
Mass Effect
Joined: 22 May 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 05:03AM |
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This is friggin redunkulous. |
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sparkasaurus
Game Owner
 Mass Effect
Joined: 05 Oct 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 05:03AM |
Quote: Posted 11/16/07 04:50 (GMT) by Mr chimpy
Please no retribution against us poor consumers!!!
The response regarding the early release in the US seemed to indicate that Bioware was peeved only at the distributors and not the consumers. |
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Azazel005
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
SW: KotOR Xbox
Mass Effect
Joined: 04 Jul 2002 |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 05:17AM |
I mean really what can they do? Boycott EB? Offer them less assistance despite the phenomal buying power of their stores?
With massive amount of consumer satisfaction with not being forced to wait while the product sits on the shelves out the back?
I know the EB franchiser I go to, and they are basically small business to, they just own the one and as far as tehy know are doing teh right thing. They have always been good to me, and I will continue to support their business. As I continue to support Bioware, and any of the extensions they deem necessary to develop the games I have enjoyed playing.
Marketing and equality issues aside, I am more annyoed with whatever decision is made that a game isn't released when its avaialable (that is the seller has their copies), I think it's a little unfair that I accept any delays up to that point without reasons and with complete understanding, but when the hard yards are done I may still have to wait for the allotted street date time to pass. |
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tom_sparky
Game Owner
 SW: KotOR Xbox
Mass Effect
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
From: Australia |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 05:18AM |
I just got back from my local EB - it's not in a capital city, but in country Australia (Albury NSW). After calling them on the phone this morning, they informed me that they would receive a shipment around lunchtime, containing Mass Effect, and that they would sell it straight away. I called later, and they were unpacking their shipment.
I travelled to the store, only to be told that Mass Effect had not arrived in the shipment, and they did not know why. They are now expecting it by Monday (the 19th).
I wonder whether the delay is due to rural location (and hence longer delivery times), or if Microsoft Australia somehow managed to delay/abort the delivery of Mass Effect? The store seems to believe it is just delayed, but I thought it could have possibly been interfered with? |
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Cpt.Sulkon
Game Owner
 SW: KotOR Xbox
Mass Effect
Joined: 25 Dec 2006 |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 05:51AM |
Why do they continue to toture us who preordered the game and just want it becuase its available. Hope you get it soon though heard alot of other peeps in AU got it from their EB
When I wake up I better get a bloody call from my GS saying they can sell it now.
All I'm gonna say about that. |
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tom_sparky
Game Owner
SW: KotOR Xbox
Mass Effect
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
From: Australia |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 05:53AM |
I emailed EB and it appears that they are still keen to distribute and sell Mass Effect before the 22nd, and either have not heard from Microsoft or have disregarded what they said 
Reply 1:
Quote: Hi Tom,
Albury being a remote store unfortunately appears to have missed the delivery, this is the case with a couple of Victorian Rural stores.
I have my dispatch manager on the case as we speak and should have an answer for you very soon.
I am sorry to say but the delivery may not get there now until Monday, I apologies for the inconvenience.
Thank you for your email.
Regards
Trent Weekes
Reply 2:
Quote: Hi Tom,
Good and Bad news.
The stock will not be delivered today, but we have managed to secure a Saturday delivery, so it should be there tomorrow morning.
Best to give the store a call at say lunch time. Since you have preordered though they should call you as soon as it arrives.
Regards
Trent Weekes
That's not so bad - I think I can cope with just 5 days early  Edited By tom_sparky on 11/16/07 05:54 |
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sparkasaurus
Game Owner
Mass Effect
Joined: 05 Oct 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 06:04AM |
Quote: Posted 11/16/07 05:17 (GMT) by Azazel005
I mean really what can they do? Boycott EB? Offer them less assistance despite the phenomal buying power of their stores?
With massive amount of consumer satisfaction with not being forced to wait while the product sits on the shelves out the back?
I know the EB franchiser I go to, and they are basically small business to, they just own the one and as far as tehy know are doing teh right thing. They have always been good to me, and I will continue to support their business. As I continue to support Bioware, and any of the extensions they deem necessary to develop the games I have enjoyed playing.
Marketing and equality issues aside, I am more annyoed with whatever decision is made that a game isn't released when its avaialable (that is the seller has their copies), I think it's a little unfair that I accept any delays up to that point without reasons and with complete understanding, but when the hard yards are done I may still have to wait for the allotted street date time to pass.
Your concept of consumer satisfaction is an interesting one. Though the people who have the option to get it early are able to and therefore be satisfied, the people who are waiting on the official release date who are "cheated" (I use the term very loosely) out of getting their copy at the same time might feel otherwise. Have a look at some of the now closed treads on the forums and you'll see that not everyone customer is happy that the game was released early.
As much as I'm a beneficiary of the early release date, I don't like the way EB handled the situation. Sure they got the sale and if that's all that matters, then so be it. From a goodwill point of view however, they've lost points with me.
A question for someone who knows about Bioware marketing. Is there a reason why release dates should be stuck to and not just release apon delivery? Any answer I have would be pure speculation. |
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bigthecat
Joined: 30 Dec 2003 |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 07:06AM |
Quote: Posted 11/16/07 06:04 (GMT) by sparkasaurus
A question for someone who knows about Bioware marketing. Is there a reason why release dates should be stuck to and not just release apon delivery? Any answer I have would be pure speculation.
The company that handles matters like these is the publisher, in this case Microsoft and not Bioware.
The reason they have a release date that they stick to is first to the retailers, to ensure the game is not put on sale before all retail companies have their stock, to ensure that no retailer has an advantage over another. Retailers aren't happy when their competitor is able to sell a product first, picking up early sales simply because their stock arrived on a Friday instead of a Monday. In cases such as these where one retailer breaks the date they have the best advantage there is, effectively having an exclusive for a short about of time. This doesn't help the publisher's relationship with other retailers when it's time to promote and sell their next product.
Release dates also ensure that the consumer knows that they can go out to any store on that date and be aware that they can pick up a copy. Consumers don't like going to the hassle of ringing and visiting multiple stores to get a game, unless they're getting it early of course. |
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sparkasaurus
Game Owner
Mass Effect
Joined: 05 Oct 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 07:15AM |
Quote: Posted 11/16/07 07:06 (GMT) by bigthecat
The company that handles matters like these is the publisher, in this case Microsoft and not Bioware.
There you go. Goes to show how little I know of the process
Thanks for the info. |
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skipper847
Joined: 29 Jan 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 02:40PM |
7 days to go and still no 360 back. Its been away for 16 days now for the RRD Arrggghhhh I carnt wait to get it back and at the moment im holding the box for assassins creed as well.  |
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PitchBlaq
Game Owner
 SW: KotOR Xbox
Jade Empire
Mass Effect
Joined: 06 Oct 2005 |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 03:18PM |
So... I take it EA will be handling the later releases? 
I don't really have a problem waiting a few days since I have other things to distract me, but from an objective standpoint, this release is really shoddy on Microsoft's part. I'm interested to see how something like this affects release date sales numbers -- do they consider day-and-date specifically, or year-to-date as the sales number?
I'm sure BioWare is happy to see so much interest in their game, but I'm not so sure Microsoft is happy that their launch is 'fubar'.
On the bright side, at least it's better than being delayed. Since they've dropped the ball in Australia, though, instead of trying to juggle the rest of our releases, couldn't they just let them all go so we can play? |
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mestoph1972
Joined: 14 Nov 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 03:38PM |
Quote: Posted 11/16/07 15:18 (GMT) by PitchBlaq
Since they've dropped the ball in Australia, though, instead of trying to juggle the rest of our releases, couldn't they just let them all go so we can play?
There's a very simple reason why MS won't allow the release date to be pushed up: sales figures. Here in the States, sales figures are announced on Mondays, so a Tuesday release date guarantees a full week's worth of sales tracking data. If MS were to authorize a release, say, today, that would only be giving them 3 days. Not too mention the fact that doing so would prevent retailers from ordering more copies for the weekend shopping rush.
So the bottom line is, as much as it sucks, don't expect MS to budge one iota on this one. It's just got not going to happen.
EB Games Australia pulled a very bone-headed stunt.  Edited By mestoph1972 on 11/16/07 15:42 |
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genofreak
Game Owner
NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
SW: KotOR PC
NWN 2
NWN 2: MotB
Mass Effect
Joined: 21 Sep 2007
From: Louisiana, USA |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 03:42PM |
I wonder then, will they calculate the early sales into the figures as well?
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XBL gamertag: Vamperium |
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rp2007
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
SW: KotOR PC
Jade Empire
Mass Effect
Joined: 13 Feb 2007
From: Lisboa, Portugal |
Posted: Friday, 16 November 2007 03:43PM |
This is just unfair as hell...
I have the preorder made back in september and I'm still waiting for the game (in Europe only in 23 Nov.) and people who havent even preorder are playing it around the world....
Not fair! |
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