issues with game supply on release.

[HUGEkebab]

do u guys think its going to be impossible to get this game until a couple of weeks after release.

ive got a feeling its going to break a few records.

im preordering with amazon but f knows if they will have any copies on release.

 

[Dunsel]

I wouldn't be surprised if HL2 had the largest initial pressing of CDs in PC game history. Sierra should be aware of the high demand, given the high numbers opreorders and the gaming community excitement.

Also, Sierra's Marketing Weasel (Alex Rodberg) revealed on the Homeworld 2 forums a few days ago that merchants use about 10 times the preorder numbers about 30 days before release to estimate their orders for the initial release of a game.

But I also wouldn't be surprised if word-of-mouth caused HL2 to be in short supply about a week or two after release. Recommendations and commendations are what really sell products. Those who have been following HL2 info since the E3 announcements will buy it right away, but most people don't follow the gaming news very closely. They will wait until they hear about how the game actually plays.

 

[Squilly]

steam

i guess quite a few people will be buying hl2 over steam if it's quite a bit cheaper...maybe

 

[Delicious Bass]

im gonna preorder it once i get the money, which wont be too much longer:afro:

 

[ApocalypseNow]

If steam was selling it for around 30$, also lets say they released it a day or two early, and they I could get a constant 3.0mb per second as I do right now off steam. Then I would buy it off steam....

 

[BWMASTER]

I don't see any reason too buy it over steam.....

 

[urseus]

Originally posted by HUGEkebab

im preordering with amazon but f knows if they will have any copies on release.

That makes no sense whatso ever. Do you know what pre-order means?

 

[d8cam]

i put down a 5 dollar preorder in early june at EB Games just in case....but I might buy off steam

 

[trantjd]

Slightly OT, but does anyone know if the Special Edition is available for pre-order anywhere?

Thanks!

 

[Sirius]

Re: Re: issues with game supply on release.

Originally posted by urseus
That makes no sense whatso ever. Do you know what pre-order means?

Just because you pre-order doesn't always mean you'll get your copy. I worked for Gamestop up until just recently, and there were several games that we weren't able to fill the pre-order on. I believe GTA: Vice City was one of them. Sometimes they break the pre-order list into two seperate lists. The first half get the games from the first shipment, and the second half get games from the second shipment. Whenever that may be.

 

[EVIL]

Originally posted by ApocalypseNow
If steam was selling it for around 30$, also lets say they released it a day or two early, and they I could get a constant 3.0mb per second as I do right now off steam. Then I would buy it off steam....

3 mb = mbit. lol steam is shows the transfer in bits, so 3mb / 8 = 375 kbyte per second

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

I pre ordered it from GAME in early June when they first started allowing you to. Yes over kill but shortly after that they displayed a message saying demand was high and you should get in your order early. (obviously thats partly their to make money but they cant lie so...). They will soon be if not already be at the point where they take pre orders but wont have a copy until the next load comes in. Fortunately i got mine in quite early and their pre order (as far as i can tell) system is first come first serve. So i will be getting a copy. GAME are the largest seller in the UK and possibly Europe so i know they will be stoking a lot of copies. Anyway what I'm saying is that on September 30 i will have a copy. Even if i don't it doesn't matter because I'm not getting a decent computer until October 25th.

 

[dis]

I used to pre-order games, but it's just a pain in the neck to wait for the store to call me. I'd much rather take my chances and walk into a store. I think HL2 is going to sell out, but it'll take a few days or maybe a week. You have to remember that most people won't have heard of the game - only us hardcore fans.

But back to what I was saying, I prefer to wait till the day of release and walk into the local Target or what have you and find a copy, cinch. I got GTA Vice City and GBA SP in the first week of release without preorders.

Another thing I think stores do is set aside some of the first shipment for non pre-orders. So what I think happens sometimes is you have a pre-order but they don't call you because only so much of the first shipment is allotted for their total pre-orders and so you have to wait for the second shipment - even though they may actually have enough copies to cover your order. So you could have gotten a copy by walking in on the first day, but you get screwed because you're way down on the pre-order list and get stuck waiting. Now, I don't know if this really happens, but I've never seen a store make a first shipment completely pre-orders.