Nov 19th for UK retailers, fyi.

[UKchaos2]

Just to remind any Brits looking forward to or planning on taking days off on the 16th, by law retailers have to hold onto the game until the following friday. VU will ship it to them for the 16th, but they arent allowed to sell it on any other day than friday. Naturally, steam users are not effected by this.

If you preordered and your lucky, you might get it on the 18th, as i got Doom3 delivered on a thursday.

 

[Icarus]

Okay, I like to pride myself on law knowledge, but I am mainly International Copyright and American Criminal Law.

What is this law?

 

[UKchaos2]

Its to do with Charts, games have to be release on the same day to calcuate weekly sales figures and to promote a fair compition between retailers (best overall service/price rather than who can import fastest). Appies to DVD and music too.

This is the best link on the subject i could find with a quick google search. Sorry its a bit old, but im sure its still relevent.

http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=3093&Section=3

 

[Chris D]

On the plus side though - Steam users worlwide will get it on the 16th. I'm booking my holiday's today.

 

[Biozeminade]

Thank you, steam.

 

[Concept]

On the plus side though - Steam users worlwide will get it on the 16th. I'm booking my holiday's today.

Are you sure about that Chris?

Valve haven't announced what they plan to do with Steam and the various regions yet. VUG has only issued a press release regarding the retail versions which mentioned nothing about Steam (naturally, considering their position).

It's a fairly safe assumption to make of course that we'll get it on the 16th, but my worry is there's also a possibility the game will be unlocked based on the region of the Steam account or credit card holder.

If the game is delayed until the 19th due to retail pressure on the usual Friday release date, I just hope this doesn't get applied over to Steam as well. Hopefully, Valve will give the metaphorical finger to likes of GAME if they don't agree to a simultaneous worldwide release.

 

[Varsity]

It's a fairly safe assumption to make of course that we'll get it on the 16th, but my worry is there's also a possibility the game will be unlocked based on the region of the Steam account or credit card holder.

No, it WILL be simulatanous. How would your idea be policed, anyway?

 

[FISKER_Q]

Are you sure about that Chris?

Valve haven't announced what they plan to do with Steam and the various regions yet. VUG has only issued a press release regarding the retail versions which mentioned nothing about Steam (naturally, considering their position).

It's a fairly safe assumption to make of course that we'll get it on the 16th, but my worry is there's also a possibility the game will be unlocked based on the region of the Steam account or credit card holder.

If the game is delayed until the 19th due to retail pressure on the usual Friday release date, I just hope this doesn't get applied over to Steam as well. Hopefully, Valve will give the metaphorical finger to likes of GAME if they don't agree to a simultaneous worldwide release.

When you buy over Steam then you technically import the game from the US, we should be subject to the same dates and treatment as US Customers.

If it actually is a law that the game can't be released on other than fridays then i'm pretty surprised.

 

[Yombi]

Steam games arent released based on regions. Valve wouldnt do that. Even if they did, people will find other means of getting it

P.S. thats a pretty stupid law.

 

[Element Alpha]

If it actually is a law that the game can't be released on other than fridays then i'm pretty surprised.

I can already see it:

On a fine, fine morning, the members of the senate gather to discuss important matters that will affect the course of history.

-"we dontwanna have games only on teh fridayz"
-"werd"
-"werd"
-"teh lawz is teh aprovzor"

 

[Concept]

No, it WILL be simulatanous. How would your idea be policed, anyway?

It isn't an idea or a proposal. I don't want to see it delayed more than anyone else.

I'm talking specifically, if Valve were to release the game to match the retail date for each region over Steam (if they were delayed slightly after 16th), then they could do so through your account registration details or credit card details (billing address/holder address), for when it's unlocked for your account.

Simple as that really.

I also believe it will be simulataneous, but until Valve confirm VUG's press release on Steam Powered, then this can't be taken as 100% fact. No mention of Steam was in the press release, and the only information on the system has been a 'Gold' pop-up.

As I said, it's extremely likely we'll be getting it 12am PST, 16th November though.

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

I don't believe it's an actual law, but it's a very heavy agreement between retailers/publishers etc, for the purposes of accurate charting.

 

[KurtCobain]

Its worlwide release everywhere so 'laws' or agreements aside, bring it on the 16th

 

[Ragnarokk]

I would agree with Pi Mu Rho. The article you linked does not state it's a law that agmes come out on Friday. In the US over 99% of all movies come out on Tuesday, but it's not a law that they do. (I'd say on average 1 or 2 movies come out on Friday a year.)

They may hold it back until Friday to comply with standard practices, or they may release it on Tuesday to compete with steam.

 

[fez]

Im not sure if its law, but no shops will release the game in the UK before the 19th (friday) fact. happens with all games.

thank god for steam

 

[Dr0ndeh]

if this was true, no games would have a worldwide release, yet......loads do.

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

Not on a simultaneous date.

It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not, but new game releases only occur on Fridays. FACT.

 

[UKchaos2]

Maybe rule is a better word than law, but all UK retailers abide by it so call it whatever you want.

 

[Concept]

Not on a simultaneous date.

It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not, but new game releases only occur on Fridays. FACT.

True. But Halo 2's official date in the UK is oddly two days after the US, November 11th. Which is a Thursday I think.

Perhaps if GAME and the like are selling that particular game a day before Friday, then it may bode well for Half-Life 2. But I doubt it'll happen.

Still... When Valve get around to properly clarifying the Steam situation this should be academic to those of us who've purchased the game online. Hopefully.

 

[Kangy]

PHL had word that the release would be sim. that probably got skipped over in all the excitement.

 

[Concept]

PHL had word that the release would be sim. that probably got skipped over in all the excitement.

Yeah. I saw that.

The key word in their reply was 'should'.

Unfortunately they have no power over retailers here. Personally, I'd like to think retailers will break the Friday rule here if at all possible. If it isn't a law. And that Steam unlocking will be entirely based on the 16th.

 

[FISKER_Q]

Yeah. I saw that.

The key word in their reply was 'should'.

Unfortunately they have no power over retailers here. Personally, I'd like to think retailers will break the Friday rule here if at all possible. If it isn't a law. And that Steam unlocking will be entirely based on the 16th.

Vivendi can't afford a non-simoultaneous release. Vivendi just gotta make a deal, It's out the 16th november, not before, and not after. but ON 16TH NOVEMBER.

If they don't keep that they will be sued, if they don't want to agree to that they won't get the game distributed.

It's pretty lame they try to force release dates like that.

On the other hand Vivendi could delay both games until the friday

 

[Vidrio]

steam wins !

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Its to do with Charts, games have to be release on the same day to calcuate weekly sales figures and to promote a fair compition between retailers (best overall service/price rather than who can import fastest). Appies to DVD and music too.

This is the best link on the subject i could find with a quick google search. Sorry its a bit old, but im sure its still relevent.

http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=3093&Section=3

so this means a simutaneous release world wide is a no go? hmm...
well i was skeptical about it to begin with.. so really its not all that surprising to me.