a word to mods about release dates from retailers..

[bigun]

just wanted to say dont be so quick to dismiss retailer release dates out of hand. in the games industry retailers are an extremely important part of the chain. the amount of shelf space a game gets, whether it is promoted in store with posters etc, whether it has its own stand - these things are all very important in how a game sells - its marketing fact. in that respect, the publishers often try not to piss off retailers, and keep them updated on a games progress, so the retailer will have a rough idea of when to plan orders, deliverys and other things.

now im not saying that these random release dates you see all over the place are necessarily correct, because often they are not, just remember that if all the major retailers tend to move towards a simmilar date, then they probably know something we dont. dont assume that just because they are 'only stores selling the game' that they are kept in the dark as much as we are. remember when all the retailers pushed back their release dates to christmas 2003 even when valve were insisting the sep 30th date was still on? publishers and retailers have a closer relationship than you think - im not saying your average EB geeky shop assistant knows anything, but you can bet the boardroom does...

 

[Axyon]

just wanted to say dont be so quick to dismiss retailer release dates out of hand. in the games industry retailers are an extremely important part of the chain. the amount of shelf space a game gets, whether it is promoted in store with posters etc, whether it has its own stand - these things are all very important in how a game sells - its marketing fact. in that respect, the publishers often try not to piss off retailers, and keep them updated on a games progress, so the retailer will have a rough idea of when to plan orders, deliverys and other things.

now im not saying that these random release dates you see all over the place are necessarily correct, because often they are not, just remember that if all the major retailers tend to move towards a simmilar date, then they probably know something we dont. dont assume that just because they are 'only stores selling the game' that they are kept in the dark as much as we are. remember when all the retailers pushed back their release dates to christmas 2003 even when valve were insisting the sep 30th date was still on? publishers and retailers have a closer relationship than you think - im not saying your average EB geeky shop assistant knows anything, but you can bet the boardroom does...

I can see where you're coming from, but I'm almost certain that Valve would not only tell them the proposed release date, but us as well. The customer is the priority here, so they'd be better off giving us the actual release date first, rather than letting the retailers 'hint' it to us.

 

[SLH]

If valve was in a position to give a date to retailers i expect they'd give one to the gaming public as well, i meen we're gonna find out from retailers anyway.

The only reason as to why they'd just give a retailer a date is so that if they miss it it's the retailers fault not valve's. Although that would still piss off retailers so that contradicts that arguement.

 

[SLH]

I can see where you're coming from, but I'm almost certain that Valve would not only tell them the proposed release date, but us as well. The customer is the priority here, so they'd be better off giving us the actual release date first, rather than letting the retailers 'hint' it to us.

What he said.

 

[Mr-Fusion]

When it comes to dates you simply cannot trust retailers or Valve.

When the game is available for pre-load on steam i'll know it's coming.

 

[bigun]

well thats what has happened this time round, yes - gabe has said 'this summer' to us, so most retailers are pitching their tent in that timeframe also. however, if, (dare i say it?) HL2 slips again to an autumn or christmas release, and you start seeing retailers adjusting their release dates accordingly without hearing anything directly from valve, its a good bet that someone from sierra/vug has tipped them off. obviously since hl2 is self funded sierra have no control over the creative process in terms of ''publisher milestones'' which most other games have, but im sure theyre kept up to date on a weekly basis on the game's progress..

 

[Chris D]

It would be Vivendi that the retailers get their information from, and it's always so conflicting (or the retailers make it up themselves), that the only release date I'll ever believe is from Valve.

 

[Mattigus]

This isn't the first time I've said this, but I don't believe anyone when it comes do release dates (especially when the game starts with "Half-Life" and ends with a "2".) I'll believe a release date when that day comes, and I have Half-Life 2 in my own hands.

 

[KurtCobain]

Ye,i wuldnt beleive any release dates tbh, probly just retailers wanting pre-orders

I'll listen to a Release Date when it comes outa Gabe Newells gob

 

[bigun]

chris i gave you an eg of when the retailers estimates were correct about slippage from the sep 30th date even when valve kept insisting it was on.

im just saying tont be TOO dismissive of retailers dates as whilst they obviously arent in the know as much as say, sierra is, they are kept in the loop more than we are..

 

[Crusader]

How much would it suck if it was up for pre-load on steam for a week or so, and then they noticed a terrible bug and took it back off again for a month? I think I would just die...

 

[KurtCobain]

ide cry like a little girl who lost her barbie....

 

[Chris D]

chris i gave you an eg of when the retailers estimates were correct about slippage from the sep 30th date even when valve kept insisting it was on.

im just saying tont be TOO dismissive of retailers dates as whilst they obviously arent in the know as much as say, sierra is, they are kept in the loop more than we are..

Yep, don't worry, I remember.

There were shit loads of retailers all with different dates ranging from November 2003, Christmas 2003, January 2004, March 2004, April 2004.

What I'm saying is, even though they may have been correct about the date slipping, they didn't have a clue when it was slipping to.

Therefore if retailer x posts a date of July 2004, or retailer z posts a date of September 2004, I'm not going to believe it and I will dismiss the date.

Look around at all of the retailers sites, there's so much difference in all of the dates there's no way we can know if one is correct. I think Gamespot is even saying it's going to be released on August the 1st - it's a Sunday :|

Actually I reckon what's happening is Vivendi are telling all the retailers it'll be "Summer" and because their computer systems won't recognise the word "Summer" as any sort of date they have to estimate one themselves. That'll be why there's so many different dates. None of them can be trusted.