Shipping dates: not a new concept
By sterbacblu 1 Comments
Since I can remember, games did not follow the trend of other media like music, movies, books, etc., where they say "this is when such-and-such is coming out." Instead, they say "this is when the game ships." I went to another site's forum to see if a certain trend was occurring, I won't say of what game they were talking about so as not to embarrass them, but it comes out this week and it isn't tennis.
Well, the game "ships" today. Needless to say, they are having meltdowns over the fact that it's not in stores yet or they didn't get their call from GameStop. Stories of them going to an EB and the clerk telling them "it's not in" and then pre-orders being cancelled.
The concept of "shipping dates" are not new, yet every time a game comes out you see this trend. "OMG I didn't realize it was the shipping date...oh well, one more day."
This is why with major titles like Halos and GTAs you see "street dates" as in "this is the day it will be in stores" otherwise people would flip the hell out in masses. I worked in a game store for over a year, and I always warned people when they pre-ordered or inquired about a game that the date you see is the day before it will be here, but they'd never listen. Thank goodness I don't work with the public anymore.
Anyway, please...start understanding this concept, games have shipping dates 95% of the time...be patient! Trust me, I wish I had a new game to play right now on my pseudo-Sunday, but I'll deal with what I got. Always an opportunity to make 8.3 million more gold for your Fable 2 character.
On a related note, my Chase Cameron Utley jersey is at a post office somewhere in the city, woo! Now they better get it here today, otherwise I'm canceling my pre-order.