No, I Will NOT Break Street Date For You!

[Mike Taylor]

We just had a few real winners come in today asking if we'd sell them a copy of Halo 4 a day early, since we aren't part of the midnight release. Sorry, but my job is a little too precious to me. You'll have to wait like everybody else.

[Crossbow]

Except for where you're located, I'd say you were dealing with one of my coworkers. He's so jazzed about the game, he took tomorrow off to play.


I was almost looking forward to him not getting power back until this weekend, but I didn't need him going to jail.


(Yes, he has power. It should even stay on for him.)

[fireheart]

I remember when Skyrim's street date was broken....

My boyfriend grumbled that because he'd bought his copy via Steam, he couldn't play it before his coworkers

[Krysalis]

If BF and I were a lot more sucky, maybe this sound like us. Just barely paid it off in time, hoping for the midnight launch.

Because we'll play it tomorrow! (Something called sleep gets in the way...)

[BrenDAnn]

Funny you should mention Halo 4. My oldest nephew is at a launch party for it at the local GameStore as we speak. He texted me saying there's a huge line there. I'm sure none of THOSE people were upset about the street date...anxious, yes, but not upset and wanting GameStore to break the date and the law.

[DeltaBladeX]

And I'm sure if you did, they would be back to complain about having their XBox Live account banned. I remember that was happening to everyone playing that game when it was leaked.

[Zellie Crescent]

The gamestop I reserved mine at canceled it's midnight release, apparently they were only able to get in 40 copies due to Sandys bullshit. So about halfway through the mall a security guard asks me how I got in and what I'm doing there, he proceeds to tell me the above and that they will be open tomorrow at 10. I say thank you and leave pissed off.

[Estil]

I would be VERY careful about anyone begging to break the street date of a product...because (and yes I know I've said this way too many times) for all we know, it could very well be someone sent undercover to bust any stores who break the street date (you know, by refusing to sell that store any more of their products or something).

[ZombieDeterrent]

I had a few of these while working for the big W.... they would ask for X/Y/Z game/dvd/cd a day or two early... because "you've got them right there! i can see them!"

one particular repeat offender eventually got the response he wanted... almost...

"sure, i'll sell it to you... 10k up front to cover my fine and the same again every year to cover my unemployability after breaking a very basic and very strict rule."

he always came in bang on 9am on release days after that

[Jay 2K Winger]

I got a game once by breaking the street date. It was at the Volde Mart next to the wholesale club, and I think it was for the original Saints Row. It was coming out the next day, and it was around 9pm/9:30pm. I asked if I could buy it and the Volde Mart drone pulled it from the case and rang it up. If the register had rejected it, I'd have said "Okay, I'll wait until tomorrow," and left.

Which is exactly what I did when Saints Row 2 came out and I tried my luck again. They pulled it, but the register wouldn't scan it. So I nodded, said, "Thanks anyway," and went home.

[PepperElf]

The gamestop I reserved mine at canceled it's midnight release, apparently they were only able to get in 40 copies due to Sandys bullshit. So about halfway through the mall a security guard asks me how I got in and what I'm doing there, he proceeds to tell me the above and that they will be open tomorrow at 10. I say thank you and leave pissed off.

Ugh. I feel bad for the store. That's going to cut into their sales I bet.

I would be VERY careful about anyone begging to break the street date of a product...because (and yes I know I've said this way too many times) for all we know, it could very well be someone sent undercover to bust any stores who break the street date (you know, by refusing to sell that store any more of their products or something).

ooo good point!

[Bunny the Veggie Slayer]

Sort of related:

Last month I had a couple of weeks off work that coincided with the release of XCOM and Dishonored (still say that should be spelled with a u). Had them both pre-loaded via Steam. Midnight rolls round for release day and I fire them up...

And wait 45 minutes while Steam unpacks and installs all the files!


A more recent example, las week I saw Rocksmith for the PC in my local GAME. Thought "What the heck" and bought it. What do I find out when I get home? Ubisoft shipped them without activation codes! Still got to commend their support desk, I got a code emailed to me inside a couple of hours.

Just got to fix the intonation on my crappy fender now

[Anglesmith]

When Epic Mickey released (I can't recall the year at the moment) it was featured in our weekly Ad, with a blurb saying it wouldn't be available till Tuesday. We had some pissed off customers that day and a clueless Electronics associate who didn't understand why she couldn't sell the game.

[downforit2008]

Reminds me of how we'll all be getting angry customers again this year who throw a fit because we won't sell them items on Black Friday prices at any other day of the week, and all because they don't feel like shopping on Black Friday! Good luck to all of you who have to deal with that once more!

[Tiberious]

Funny you should mention Halo 4. My oldest nephew is at a launch party for it at the local GameStore as we speak. He texted me saying there's a huge line there. I'm sure none of THOSE people were upset about the street date...anxious, yes, but not upset and wanting GameStore to break the date and the law.

My brother and I had a good laugh at the expense of the crowds at the two of them we passed that we could see as we were on the way home from getting the game.

We'd stopped at a Meijers about 11:30, and asked if they would sell a copy then. When denied and told to come back at 11:55, we spent the time wandering around and doing the rest of our shopping.

Came back at the appointed time, and were the first in a line of about 5. As we waited, we joked around a bit, saying some of the things an SC might say, but in a tone and cadence that made it clear we were in no way serious, and didn't even bother keeping a straight face.

I absolutely hate GameStop, and don't go to them unless it's absolute last resort, or they're taking a loss on things to get stuff sold.