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  • Subject: No early release - an insiders's view (ilovebees speculation)
Subject: No early release - an insiders's view (ilovebees speculation)
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I admit it. I've been sucked in. I've traveled around the web, viewed hidden messages, perused various bee merchandise and, of course, read countless postings on this forum and others. So here's two-cents from someone with an inside view.

First a little background: I manage a store for a major video game chain. I don't claim to have any super secret information, just a few years experience selling games and observing the video game industry. So here's what I think (for what it's worth).

The game will not come out early. Why? In one word: MONEY! Video game retailers rely on taking reserves and base their orders on these numbers as well. A release this early would create massive chaos for retailers. Businesses don't like chaos. They want to forecast sales predictions based on hard facts - not some mad dash scramble. Most stores in our chain have hundreds of copies of HALO 2 reserved already. No doubt we will be able to get many more before Nov 9th. Microsoft would probably not risk alienating the retailers that they are counting on to sell the game to the public.

So what do I think will happen? From all I've gleaned I think that this is obviously a way to ramp up to the release and begin revealing plot points. Based on the clues originating from the ilovebees site, I think that there is a very strong likelyhood of a demo in the next OXM - or at the very least some incredible info (screenshots/movies/etc).

Like I said... just my two-cents!

  • 07.26.2004 9:58 PM PDT
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And a good 2 cents, too!

  • 07.26.2004 10:01 PM PDT
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Thanks. I'd like to think all my slaving away at selling games counts for something ;)

  • 07.26.2004 10:04 PM PDT
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man, that has been what I have been telling my friends that they wouldn't release the game early because of money. I'm glad to know someone else shares my opinion.

  • 07.26.2004 10:08 PM PDT
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Thankyou. really. Thank you so much. I appreciate someone finally posting something intelligent, i have been a bungie.net member a long time and the last month has probably been the worst for really stupid posts. this was a good thought through thread and i totally agree with you.

  • 07.26.2004 10:09 PM PDT
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Posted by: XSAVAGE
heh , i dont agree.

Stores dont control release dates.


That's not what I said. It would more accurate to say that MONEY controls release dates.

  • 07.26.2004 10:31 PM PDT
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*Gives Generalix a cookie*

In the end its not about the consumer, its all about the money.

  • 07.26.2004 10:32 PM PDT
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How many more preorders can stores take.. I know of some stores that have been taking them for about 2 years now.

  • 07.26.2004 10:34 PM PDT
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Posted by: IoS_BuZZ
How many more preorders can stores take.. I know of some stores that have been taking them for about 2 years now.


As many as we can! My store has over 400 but there is another store in my district with over 800. No doubt they will need a little time to produce the discs, boxes and manuals!

  • 07.26.2004 10:42 PM PDT
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business wise it's a very dumb move on bungie and microsoft's part if they are indeed releasing the game on 8/24

but i'd bet the farm and more than they aren't. releasing it on nov. 9th is just better business wise, for reasons i don't feel like explaining if you can't figure it out on your own.

a demo just seems so...i dunno..it's like it'd take something away form the anticipation and signifigance of november 9th..it's sort of THE day..what we've been waiting for. i hope it's just plot points...i wouldn't even care of it was just another huge trailer.

  • 07.26.2004 10:47 PM PDT
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It doesn't matter when they release it because whether said people reserve the game or not, they are still going to buy it. Also, it would be a brilliant business strategy to release it early. Trick your competitors so you have no competion (name one game coming out around Aug. 24), and give the games coming out around christmas a fighting chance for sales. Unreal Championship 2 has no chance coming out a couple weeks before Halo 2. Same with DOA: Ulitmate and Goldeneye: Rouge Agent. I, personally, believe it would be brilliant for them to release it early.

  • 07.26.2004 10:52 PM PDT
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Posted by: Kung Fu Jesus

a demo just seems so...i dunno..it's like it'd take something away form the anticipation and signifigance of november 9th..it's sort of THE day..what we've been waiting for. i hope it's just plot points...i wouldn't even care of it was just another huge trailer.


If they released a playable version of the demo from E3 2003 I don't think that would give too much away. I've watched that thing like 50 times. It wouldn't disappoint me at all to actaully get to mess around with it.

  • 07.26.2004 10:55 PM PDT
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Or maybe the release a demo with a level that isnt even in the game.. like when they released that custom mission for JK 2 it was to show off the engine and gameplay but not give the plot away.

  • 07.26.2004 10:57 PM PDT
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Quick question... What the BLAM! is ilovebees? at first i thought it was spam so i ignored it, now it seems to be a popular discussion. so please enlighten me

  • 07.26.2004 10:58 PM PDT
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Posted by: Vigilante X
Also, it would be a brilliant business strategy to release it early.


this guy could turn viagra into a failing business move lol

i'm not worried about the demo giving anything away, it's that we've waited forever and a day for the game to come out..it's sort of feels empty to try a little bit of it before "the big day". good things come to those who wait and i'd rather keep the anticipation and play it all at once.

  • 07.26.2004 11:00 PM PDT
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Posted by: Vigilante X
It doesn't matter when they release it because whether said people reserve the game or not, they are still going to buy it. Also, it would be a brilliant business strategy to release it early. Trick your competitors so you have no competion (name one game coming out around Aug. 24), and give the games coming out around christmas a fighting chance for sales. Unreal Championship 2 has no chance coming out a couple weeks before Halo 2. Same with DOA: Ulitmate and Goldeneye: Rouge Agent. I, personally, believe it would be brilliant for them to release it early.


While I would personally love for the game to come out early, I must disagree with your reasoning.

1) Game stores count on reserves and they all want the chance to get you to commit to getting the game at their store. Dramatically cutting that window after allowing retailers to make their forecasts and plans will not make them happy.

2) Game companies don't just wheel up to stores at random and dump off boxes of freshly shrink-wrapped games. There is quite a bit of planning and communication for a successful game launch. Think about manufacturing, printing, shipping, etc.

3) Why would Microsoft want to give the other guys a fighting chance. Of course they want other Xbox titles to sell for there system, but don't fool yourself into thinking that a mega-giant corporation like Microsoft is not going to do everything they can to insure maximum sales of arguably the most important game in their history.

4) Do you really think that the games you mentioned are going to rob Halo 2 of sales? These other games are going to sell on their own merits. Fans of these games will buy them regardless of Halo 2. Yes, there will be some situations where a mother with a christmas list will have to make a decision when "Timmy" lists three XBOX games and she intends on buying only one, but you know what "Timmy" will come back to the store on Dec 26 with the $50 that grandma gave him and get that other game anyway.

  • 07.26.2004 11:13 PM PDT