GameStop's GTA IV midnight launch mega-list
As always, customers shouldn't plan on showing up at the launch without a pre-order and expect a copy to be waiting like at other retailers. It's surprising to still find customers at every major midnight launch disappointed when the Gamestop clerk tells the people without a pre-order to take a walk. When will people learn that Gamestop has rules?!
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(Page 1) Reader Comments
=D
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My store is pretty small, and the town around it is growing. For big titles (GTA, HALO, SSBB) we NEVER ran out of extra copies.
*shrug*
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That said, it's been YEARS since I've actually seen a game sell out (atleast around here, a metropolitan area). With DVD's being so cheap to produce, and boxes being just slightly more expensive, there is no reason why there should ever be a shortage. If anything, MAYBE they will sell out of the special edition version, but I even doubt that.
Ever since Gamestop started their policy of taking the discs out of their boxes, and throwing them loose into a drawer under the counter, I've never bought a game from them. If I pay 60 bucks (90 in the case of GTAIV) for a game, I want the friggin thing to be in mint condition when I get it. Not to mention that Babbages was my favorite store in the history of stores....and they ruined it.....but that's water under the bridge now.... ;_;
also, i remember going into Walmart the day after the Halo 3 launch and browsing the game section. everyone i talked to about the game (since i dont play it) said that it was sold out at all the game stores, but Walmart had like 4 game rows FULL of just Halo 3 plus a couple more stacks at the bottom of the case. but that could be an exception cause it was such a huge release.
i know if i go to the stores early enough, i really dont need a preorder but i do it anyway just for the security. by the time a new game comes out im usually so pumped for it that i dont want to risk not being able to find it on launch day. i also like being able to say "i already got it preordered" or "ive had it preordered for like X months" when people ask me if ive heard about a game coming out (kinda nerd status thing i guess). plus gas is too expensive to be driving all over town treasure hunting a game.
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OMG!
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In one hand, I have the MGO beta I'll start on Saturday.
In the other hand, I'll have Grand Theft Auto IV on Tuesday.
Balanced precariously on my cock, I'll have Mario Kart Wii.
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I'm going to call the word "social" an ironic word choice for that particular situation...
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Also, I think a lot of it is bragging rights.... so you can get online the next day and brag about how you know how it ends, etc.
You only live once, and there are a million things in life that only come around once...so you better believe I'm gonna be there, just like I was for Halo 3 when I had an 8am exam the day of the launch....
You can sleep when you're dead. Playing video games in heaven has still yet to be confirmed!!! :-D
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The $5 is always refundable, so the Pre-Order doesn't really cost anything.
I always Pre-Order anything I'm interested in, there's no reason to drive all over town looking for the game I want when I could have a copy waiting behind the counter for me- not to mention get a call to remind me when the game comes out.
I don't understand all of the negative feelings toward Pre-Orders (although I certainly understand them toward GameStop specifically)
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If you are so scared about a company earning interest on your five dollars, just preorder like two days before the game comes out to minimize their gain. Of course, I expect that you will be pulling this five dollars out of a multinational-transglobal-intercontinental hedge-sweep-money market-foreign currency fund like all the big shots do.
And if you think titles don't sell out, ask Atlas or NIS customers about that one... or all the people who couldn't find Splinter Cell Double Agent the week it came out, all the local Gamestops and almost every other store in the area where sold out (at least from the sounds of the people who came into the store I hung out at).
And honestly, those of you complaining about the interest that GS might be making on your crummy $5, none (and I mean NONE) of you better get an income tax return each year, because if anyone doesn't need to be making high interest on your money it's the Government (and they keep it for the whole year, not just a few months).
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Several commenters had it right, Its about convenience, and yes games do sell out. Go looking at Wal Mart for Persona 3, or anything by Atlus. If its something you want, it will be there for you, if you change your mind, get your money back.
And as far as I know, it is definitely NOT Gamestop policy to open boxes and throw games loose into a drawer. They may be put in sleeves and filed away, but if they are just thrown in loose, send in a complaint, and that will change fast.
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my kansas city gamestop where i made my pre-order is having a midnight release where they are only giving me a receipt to pick up my game tomorrow. huh?
when i asked them what the hell they were talking about, they said they knew it made no sense, but that is what they were told to do.
so be warned and let me know if anyone here's the same thing.
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