World of Warcraft pulled from shelves!
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jan 13th 2005 at 4:00PM }
Reports are pouring in that Blizzard has
pulled WoW from retailer's shelves. Why, you ask? It simply was selling too many copies—setting opening-day
PC game records. And since when was
that a bad thing for a publisher? Well, according to an anonymous Best Buy that was ordered to pull the game on
Monday:
"They oversold and their servers couldn't support the strain."
Interesting… we'll keep you posted.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
steve @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Can you provide links or facts to back these "reports" up? I'm only asking because I've heard these same "reports", rumours as I prefer to call them, for weeks now. My friend in L.A. was unable to find the game in any stores for a long period of time lately. But the walmart near me just outside Chicago has shelves full of them. Is this just a rumour made up to cover the fact that there are just that many more computer nerds on the west coast?
:)
CDog @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Everyone should just move over to City of Heroes. That's where the action is at, AND their servers are able to handle it all.
http://coh.tacosntonic.com
anonymous @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
well I live in the DC area, and there are no copies to be had in the beltway area. We've called every EB, Gamstop, Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, & Walmart in a 25 mile radius, and not a copy to be had since the Christmas blitz.
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
lol, holy shit. poor EQ2. I suppose when WoW was in the making for 5 years it got quite a fanbase. Then again, Blizzard has always delivered solid games made to perfection. This isn't really a suprise. Just wait til all the free month's subscriptions end, they get their phat profit on Jan 25th, then a few more servers will go up. =)
Danny @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Just goes to show what can happen when you actually take the time and money to make a good game. If this is true, then it is a minor stumbling block before continuing to blow away sales records.
LINES @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
You want to know why CoH can handle the work load? they have 100 000 users. WoW has 6+ times that... Btw, CoH Blows. thank god i quit in time
JoaquinR @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
LINES, how come you only have negative things to say about anything? Seems like all your posts are negative about how one product "blows" or is for "babies".
CDog @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
LOL JoaquinR, you're right. LINES, next time provide some proof because you're just plain wrong. Way back in August COH had over 180,000 users. I'm sure that number has grown since then, plus they are about to release it in Europe which is sure to crank it up.
http://www.plaync.com/about/press_release_080204.html
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
'Way back in August COH had over 180,000 users. I'm sure that number has grown since then'
Right, and EverQuest had 300-400k users back in August. A thing called World of Warcraft dropped though. Chances are 80% of the users from Warcraft came from pre-existing MMORPG's, like CoH, EQ, SWG and DAoC. So CoH's population has probably dropped a noticable chunk. WoW is dominating, their servers are exploding, and all we can sit back and laugh as hundreds of thousands of lives are lost to the MMORPG disease.
Kevin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
I don't see the appeal of this game. I played in 2 beta events and after the first one, I was so dog tired of "collect me 30 animal parts for this pointless quest so you can do another pointless quest." Yes, there is an addictive nature to upgrading your character, but the means to do it was so dull. I also considered the time that was slipping by that I could be upgrading my personal life instead and it became really frustrating.
Guild Wars, on the other hand, provided me with the fun factor I craved. I've been through three beta events with them and keep finding new, dynamic and interesting types of quests. Different type of game, but it scratches that "character upgrade" itch I have and is much more fun to play WITH people.
Kevin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM
Just a note though, I did like WOW to begin with and I applaud the decision to stick with low-poly, high-style design instead of EQII's lifeless and generic looking world that has tons of pixel-shader effects on it. Blizzard must be very brave to release something as simple-looking in this day and age of "graphic whores". I like the look, especially of the Tauren, a LOT!