Retail Release

[targul]

Just called 5 different EB Games Stores. They all had received todays shipments. Not one of them had the game. Since I have called them so often they new what it was now.

Called CompUSA they do not have it.

Called Best Buy they do not have it.

Called Staples they do not have it.

None of these stores have it now or have received it.

Now we know as we said retail did not work. I asked and each had already received todays shipment so that is not the problem.

The good side of this is the DD did come out first. The bad thing is the DD came out almost a month after we could have gotten it.

I will no longer be posting on this item since it is now available by the only reliable means of DD.

Please in the future put DD as the primary and the retail the secondary the way it should have been this time.

Have your bean counters examine this using cost accounting and see if you really made a profit. It will be interesting to see if there is an increase in profit even though you were able to make the customers really unhappy with you.

[Marc von Martial]

Yes, the customer is allways right.

I will no longer be posting on this item

[&o]

[HercMighty]

I am Sick of EB and will for now on use the DD option. Sorry Matrix but either your games don't make it up high enough in their sales or EB is just screwed up. I pre-ordered this game and used the option to pick up in store. Well guess what no game, and the EB Rep at the store has no idea what is going on all he knew was the game wasn't on his shipping list and people who waited for the DD option are getting it today. I had thought the DD option was going to wait till after it had been out in the stores for a little while? So Matrix asked us to buy it in the stores so I honored the request and now look at me NO GAME. [:-]

[Marc von Martial]

or EB is just screwed up

Where is the news? I mean I order regularly from them (oversea exports). I have yet to see them (or the other big players) be on the date they posted. It´s no news, my recent experience was with "Brothers in Arms" (a highly anticipated major release, so it´s not because we´re too "unimportant"). I think it has much more to do with the fact that that EB is really big. The bigger the more sluggish [;)]. But then again I don´t find it to be a problem, since it´s normal.

The only reliable big retailer I know of is Amazon.com (or their respective country outlet), with more then 300 purchases from them I have not even had an issue to complain about, that´s including amazon.com, .de and .co.uk

[Erik Rutins]

Herc,

We expected the game would be in stores by today at the latest. We're working to make sure there are no retail issues - the download had always been scheduled for today with the knowledge that store copies should show up over the weekend or on Monday.

All I can say is that it will definitely go on sale in stores this week. Whatever the source of the current delays and confusion, I assure you that it is very much on their radar, at least at the corporate and distribution level.

It's up to you to decide if, in the scheme of things, you can wait a day or two for the full boxed copy or if you would prefer to download it now. We weren't trying to set up this dilemma for customers, quite the opposite, and hopefully within the next day those retail copies will show up.

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

Thought I should post this here too...

I thought those of you waiting for the retail release might want to see what's included. I've scanned in the contents of my sample retail copy for you to have a look. In my opinion, it's worth the wait. The box came out looking beautiful, the manual is 128 pages, including the covers and is comprehensive, legible and well organized (in my opinion). The full color CD looks great and the sleeve includes your serial number on the back. Finally, you get a copy of our nifty new full color Winter 2005 catalog, which includes info and screenshots on pretty much every game in our line-up.

Anyway, here's a scan of the box and contents just laid out on my scanner.

[EnPeaSea]

I have not even bothered to call a retailer yet. Experience has taught me that Ebgames/Gamestop/Bestbuy/Ect never make their projected release dates for niche computer games.

It is better to save your energy and start inquiring about the game 3-7 days after the release date.

[HercMighty]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Herc,

We expected the game would be in stores by today at the latest. We're working to make sure there are no retail issues - the download had always been scheduled for today with the knowledge that store copies should show up over the weekend or on Monday.

All I can say is that it will definitely go on sale in stores this week. Whatever the source of the current delays and confusion, I assure you that it is very much on their radar, at least at the corporate and distribution level.

It's up to you to decide if, in the scheme of things, you can wait a day or two for the full boxed copy or if you would prefer to download it now. We weren't trying to set up this dilemma for customers, quite the opposite, and hopefully within the next day those retail copies will show up.

Regards,

- Erik

I am going to wait, and it was a vent more at EB than at Matrix. This will be my last pre-order from them and I will go DD on any further purchases, as PDF manuals are more than sufficient.

Regards

[Scott_WAR]

[:D]Same here, canceled 2 preorders before finally going the DD route.
Here is my take on it.
Because of retail outletas not wanting the game avialable before they have it on their shelves, we had to wait an extra month for the DD option.
Now, the game IS NOT available at retail outlets, but the DD is.
Now exactly why were we made to wait a month for DD again?
Seems like we were made to wait, for no real reason now doesnt it...... which is what I have been saying the whole time.

REMEMBER this Matrix.[:D]

[Cmdrcain]

[:D]

Was out doing other post easter shopping and checked around:

EB Games: Didn't have, Didn't seem know what it was.

Best Buy: Didn't have, at least person didnt know of it, suggested I check and order through their online store [:'(]

Compusa: Didn't have, again person didn't know about it. Not on their list of "coming soon"

Even checked while doing food shopping at local walmart superstore, wasn't on racks, of course only walmart canada was listed as supposedly getting it.

I'll give it a couple days, since price is same and I like to curl up with a printed manuel on the sofa to read... I wonder if you might consider seeing if theres any demand for printed manuels at an extra cost ordered separate by DD customers when something like this occurs...

[&o]



[&o]

[TheHellPatrol]

ORIGINAL: Scott_WAR

Same here, canceled 2 preorders before finally going the DD route.
Here is my take on it.
Because of retail outletas not wanting the game avialable before they have it on their shelves, we had to wait an extra month for the DD option.
Now, the game IS NOT available at retail outlets, but the DD is.
Now exactly why did were made to wait a month for DD again?
Seems like we were made to wait, for no real reason now doesnt it...... which is what I have been saying the whole time.

REMEMBER this Matrix.

[8|]What's that Metallica song again?...Sad But True[:D]

[Erik Rutins]

It's obviously not what we wanted, to have the releases unsynchronized between retail and download, but it looks like at worst there will be a day or three difference. All we can do is ask for your patience, sometimes synchronization between multiple supply chains doesn't work as planned or intended. The retailers want to sell this game as much as we do, so whatever the problem is I'm sure you'll see copies soon.

Regards,

- Erik

[TheHellPatrol]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

It's obviously not what we wanted, to have the releases unsynchronized between retail and download, but it looks like at worst there will be a day or three difference. All we can do is ask for your patience, sometimes synchronization between multiple supply chains doesn't work as planned or intended. The retailers want to sell this game as much as we do, so whatever the problem is I'm sure you'll see copies soon.

Regards,

- Erik

I was perfectly fine with the dd but then you guys went and got all "experimental" on me[;)], even suggesting the "boxed" version over the dd as it has a "manual" etc...
The first time i dd'd a game i was suspicious and wary...now it's all backwards[:'(]. I realize the more subtle[;)] aspects of purchasing WAW retail so again i feel compelled to go back to plan A (again): dd+retail. So i hope your not sold out of the dd version, what a long strange trip it's been.

[Horsejaw]

When I get my retail version I'll probably give my DD version to my friend. Then leave it up to him if he wants a retail version with a manual. Turn based stratagey isn't his cup of tea ,but I did get him to start playing Axis & Allies board games, so who knows.

[aletoledo]

I really wanted to buy it retail, in order to support their efforts with retail. However I have very little patience I guess and have gone with the digital download.

I would have liked the manual, I tend to read them in the bathroom (i know too much info!).

[Bossy573]

Anyway, here's a scan of the box and contents just laid out on my scanner.

Any chance on a map with this? [:)]

Stopped at EB on the way home from work and the guy (who actually seemed like he gave a hoot) couldn't explain it. He did tell me someone from the store would call when they received the shipment. I'm thinking they are feeling sorry for me as I've been in the place 5 times in the last 7 days, this forelorn sad-sack looking for this evasive, "obscure" war-game.....[;)]

I'm thinking it is probably the PSP release which is playing a part in the chaos as well. I'm really tempted to go with the DD but will take the advice given and see what happens tomorrow.

[Paul Vebber]

YEs, we just happened to pick the same time to realease this game as PSP...For some unknown reason, EB et al are much more concerned about that than GGWaW...

[TheHellPatrol]

ORIGINAL: Paul Vebber

YEs, we just happened to pick the same time to realease this game as PSP...

Now that's confidence...i can see it now, the new Matrix trademark line: "Matrix Games, are you man enough to play one?"[:D][;)]

[BrianfromSeattle]

My first post...

The frustration is evident, the desire is hot and anger is flaring...

Based on everything I've read, this is completely justified, but not because the game has been unreceived by a few days. It's because we all know this is a going to be a very fine game. Then we will be singing praises about this game, dimhappily playing it, analyzing it, discussing it, AARing it.

Then the designers will in turn be happy, until it begins the next time...

When the players will begin to say, so how come World at War, Civil War version hasn't been released yet, why not, and what is the precise date of that release going to be, what hour? And by the way, where's the World at War, WW1 version, and....so it goes...

The designers and publishers should be flattered and proud, and we the games, should get every last chore out of the way, because I think, that once we get this game, for those of us who have lawns, the grass will grow long.

[gunnergoz]

I phoned my local EB's and Gamespot's all day and none of them had the game yet. On the other hand, EB Online just gave me a tracking number for my pre-order, so I guess I'm not cancelling that! [&o][&o][:D]