Topic: Street Dates just pointless nowadays - AC2 and L4D2 = sold early by GameStop

[MysterD]

First, we had Borderlands get attention for its street date being broken. Then, we had MW2.

Next up, Assassin's Creed 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 being released early in Jersey by some GameStops.

[idolminds]

Oh no! People will be able to purchase and play a completely legitimate, finished product two days early!

[MysterD]

Oh no! People will be able to purchase and play a completely legitimate, finished product two days early!

Maybe on the consoles!

I'm betting L4D2 PC, you'll only be allowed to install it.
You'll have to wait to unlock it over Steam.

[PyroMenace]

I hope they keep doing this, and a mass boycott made up of a large number of major dev and publisher teams forms and totally sticks it to their face. No more games for you douchebags!

[MysterD]

I hope they keep doing this, and a mass boycott made up of a large number of major dev and publisher teams forms and totally sticks it to their face. No more games for you douchebags!

LOL. That'd actually be hilarious.

Real talk though - if GameStop or any other retailer gets copies of a game, they should be able to sell it. Even if the game doesn't unlock until X date - it just should be stated on the box when the game will unlock, if that's the case. If Steam can do pre-load installs, why can't retailers let me do the same?

[idolminds]

Yeah, L4D wont unlock. I just hate that enforced street date crap. The game comes out this week, so who cares if a couple places break street date and some people get to play it early. Is it really worth locking those people out of their purchases?

But I also agree with Pyro. Punish Gamestop! Thats who should be punished anyway, but man those dudes are slimy.

[MysterD]

Yeah, L4D wont unlock. I just hate that enforced street date crap. The game comes out this week, so who cares if a couple places break street date and some people get to play it early. Is it really worth locking those people out of their purchases?

I agree w/ this 100%.

But I also agree with Pyro. Punish Gamestop! Thats who should be punished anyway, but man those dudes are slimy.

Can't argue w/ that too much, either...

Next thought is - why did 2K press out Borderlands PC so early and ship it right along-side w/ the console version to many retailers and force them to hold it back one whole week if the game was planning to be optimized in one week? 2K and Gearbox wanted to patch the game up during that one week windows - and well, we see how that turned out; turned out to be more of an ordeal than they expected, as the patch is just getting reviewed for "certification" RIGHT now. Who's to say 2K wouldn't abuse the power and tell GS and BB to hold onto the PC version game until the first patch passes "certification?" I'm sure stores don't wanna keep their inventory stored forever - especially if gamers want it NOW and it's already sitting there idly.

[W7RE]

My Gamestop never sells stuff early.

They did give me a cheap wooden airplane thing with "Assassin's Creed 2" stamped on the top though.

[Cobra951]

Yeah, L4D wont unlock. I just hate that enforced street date crap. The game comes out this week, so who cares if a couple places break street date and some people get to play it early. Is it really worth locking those people out of their purchases?

But I also agree with Pyro. Punish Gamestop! Thats who should be punished anyway, but man those dudes are slimy.

I still think anyone who knowingly buys something they need to ask permission to use after the purchase is asking for a ream job.  It's still a deal breaker for me, meaning I won't buy such a software product until I know there's a suitable activation crack available.