- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
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.