mrv3000 | (no subject)

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So for all you gamer types, if a gaming company's site says they've "officially started shipping" today, does that mean to retailers as well? Or just to the people that ordered from the site, and the retailers already have the game in a back room but haven't put it out yet in order to annoy someone who swung by Target early this morning?

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It depends. I'd need to know the context.

Generally when a game is finished the company talks about it "going gold". What this typically means is that a completely finished install CD of the game, the "gold CD" is shipped to the manufacturer.

Depending on whether the game will have a simultaneous global release, as some games aim for, or will be coming out at different dates in different countries, the manufacturing process can be longer/shorter.

Typically about 2-4 weeks after the "gone gold" announcement, the game will start being shipped to retailers. Most companies will announce a date on which the game will be available. Do you have that?

So what I'm guessing is happening is that the game has been manufactured and is now shipping to retailers, even their own store web site is effectively a retailer, and should be available for purchase very soon - or be on the way if you made a pre-order.

Not sure how global this is. Mwah.

http://www.herinteractive.com/prod/index.shtml

I didn't pre-order it but was hoping to just pick it up at the store. So maybe it'll show up sometime this week instead of today.

Given that it says that the game will be available on for download on Friday

"Legend of the Crystal Skull will be available for download starting 10/12."

that would suggest to me that it probably won't be in stores before that date, or possibly the day before. So by "shipping" they probably mean shipping to retailers.

Oh, I didn't even notice where it said when the download would be available. I'll probably hunt around for it this weekend then.

*laughs at you*

DIABLO PLAYER!

Diablo is tough! You don't drive a blue roadster and rely on your pals Bess and George! You don't canoodle with Ned! It's life or death, baby!

But...Nancy can fall through the ice! And DIE! Before starting up again right before the death.

Also, there's the secret side game of "figure out how to break up with Ned to possibly hook up with Frank Hardy." I haven't cracked that one yet, but betcha Diablo doesn't have that!

That is true. I have not yet found any way to hook up with Frank Hardy. Darn it. I have such fond memories of Frank from the TV series. Parker Stevenson...hubba hubba!

Hey, I resemble that giant-wall-of-fire-casting remark!

You are so cute! I've given up on expecting games to be reliably on time into stores. And I usually Amazon them, anyway. They arrive when they arrive...

So, I need to check out the Nancy Drew games, huh?

You are aware there's like 11 of them, right? I know you haven't played them all yet...

Oh, and also, I was really excited about a new Nancy Drew game for the Nintendo DS, except I read really bad reviews of it at Amazon that said it was totally easy and lame compared to the other games. So :(

Oh look at that. There was a special game just for Nintendo DS. Huh.

I love my DS and I want more wonderful games for it!!! Except maybe not that one, apparently.

I need a gamer icon.

There are 17 now and I've played all but about 5 I think. *coughs*

Wow. You've been busy.

I would say that in your case, it's been shipped to the retailers' distribution centers, so that the distros have it by today. Conservatively, I'd say they'll be on store shelves this time next week.

Maybe I'll run over this weekend. Or find an excuse to check around Wednesday. :D

Gee, this wouldn't have anything to do with the release of the new Nancy Drew game, would it?

An official ship date often doesn't mean much, unless it's for a big release like Halo 3 or Super Mario Galaxy. For less popular titles, the stores'll get it when they get their regular shipments.

Gee, this wouldn't have anything to do with the release of the new Nancy Drew game, would it?

Nooooooooo.

An official ship date often doesn't mean much, unless it's for a big release like Halo 3 or Super Mario Galaxy. For less popular titles, the stores'll get it when they get their regular shipments.

BUT...! Halo 3. Pffft. Halo 3 doesn't have slider puzzles. *mutters*

Halo 3 doesn't have slider puzzles.

But it has The Covenant, and Grunts, and Jackals, and Elites, and Hunters, and, Brutes, and The Flood, and *drum roll* THE MASTER CHIEF!!!!

But instead of figuring out the secret to the old clock, Master Chief would have blown it up!

Not necessarily. The Spartans were trained to be highly intelligent, innovative, as well as extraordinary soldiers. The books, if not the games necessarily, give a lot of back story on them.

Though I'll admit that I'm sure the Master Chief would have taken a somewhat more direct approach on some occasions, there are also times in the game where something a bit more thoughtful is more likely to keep you alive.

Awww....You've discovered the bane of gamers everywhere. *pats*

If they say they've shipped games on October 8th*, stores should have it on October 9th. HOWEVER. Most stores get stock on Wednesdays (which is why ship dates are usually Tuesdays. Having a Monday ship date is weird) so that's probably the earliest you should go and check.

* We won't discuss preliminary ship dates. Or pre-ordering. *twitch*

Knowing me I probably will go back to the store on Wednesday instead of waiting for the weekend. Heh.

That was my plan. The only reason I didn't go to Target today was because I didn't have time.

PS: I rue the day you started talking about Nancy Drew. Rue.

Mwahahaha!

OMG THERE IS A DEMO?!?! *downloads*

Um....I mean...curse you. Seriously, I am two steps away from making detailed posts about my Nancy Drew gaming experience.

PS: OMG that little girl in Blackmoor Manor really was a devil child!! And were you talking about the glowsticks before. That part was so creepy. Especially with the ambient noises. Thanks, game, I totally could have done without the random scraping sounds and boiler acting up! AUGH.

Oooh. Also, I gathered there was a bit where I was supposed to wake up in the middle of the night and see spooky things, but that never happened in my game. I feel cheated. Also? There are eyes next to Jane's door that blink and that never got explained and I am so creeped out about that. Again, AUGH.

*looks at everything she just wrote* Once again? Rue.

Um....I mean...curse you. Seriously, I am two steps away from making detailed posts about my Nancy Drew gaming experience.

And you haven't because...

PS: OMG that little girl in Blackmoor Manor really was a devil child!! And were you talking about the glowsticks before. That part was so creepy. Especially with the ambient noises. Thanks, game, I totally could have done without the random scraping sounds and boiler acting up! AUGH.

YES YES YES! The glow sticks!!! That was just WRONG. The first time I went down, I found the puzzle at the bottom - "Well, I don't know how to do this. Shame. *RUNS LIKE HELL OUT OF THERE*" And then the parrot mocked me.

Oooh. Also, I gathered there was a bit where I was supposed to wake up in the middle of the night and see spooky things, but that never happened in my game. I feel cheated. Also? There are eyes next to Jane's door that blink and that never got explained and I am so creeped out about that. Again, AUGH.

That did happen to me. There was something weird above the bed - pictures that changed, all the while everything was swirly and chanty.

I never saw the eyes by Jane's door though, which I had read about in a walkthrough. Probably depends on what order you do things.

*looks at everything she just wrote* Once again? Rue.

HA!

Yours is a sad addiction, my friend. *shakes head*

*lol*

I can't help it!

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