Check it out:

http://www.planetgamecube.com/news.c...n=item&id=2349

They're hoping to steal the thunder of the X-Box launch, apparently...

Thoughts?

I think most places are still holding firm to the 18th... and I doubt that many of them even have the units yet, probably won't until the end of the week anyway.

Did you actually read the linked story?

Thanks for the news, I guess I'll be making a few phone calls in the next couple days.

I can't vouch for the reliability of the source - I'm not a frequent visitor to PlanetGameCube - but I doubt they'd publish a story like this without confirmation. At any rate, I'll be monitoring the message boards and gaming sites over the next few days, and calling/visiting the stores starting tonight. If anyone gets word on a store or chain selling 'Cubes, please post here and let us all know.

What a week this'll be, eh?

I think this is probably valid, however based on a few variables.

- Did the store do pre-orders? If so, then I doubt they would be releasing them, especially the stores that have none for general sale.

- How much storage does the store have available? Many small places, such as an EB or Babbages (at least in my mall) have small storerooms that could be very cramped if they receive GC and XBox at the same time.

Frankly, with a solidly advertised release date, this does nothing to help Nintendo "take away from Microsoft's thunder," and sounds more like something done on a regional basis. Trust me, a small violation of a release date that is neither advertised, or even known by most of the stores (like the article says) definitely does nothing to a system that is prominently advertised as having an earlier release date. By now, most people are decided on one, the other, or both.

Yes, that was my assumption as well - I think this decision will have more of an effect on department stores and such (Target, Wal-mart, K-Mart, etc.), who aren't doing any pre-orders.

First of all, judging by the story, I don't think this will be done on a regional basis; I think it'll be widespread, with one caveat...which ties into your point about stores not being aware of this decision. If an unaware store suddenly gets a dozen calls referencing Nintendo's decision, they might call their Nintendo rep, get the word, and put the systems out for sale. Stores that don't get pestered will probably stick to the standard launch day (the 18th).

As for your last point, I agree completely - I don't expect any hardcore fans of either system to be swayed by this decision. But, consider the "soccer moms" and "Joe Sixpacks" who wander into Wal-mart on Wednesday or Thursday to pick up an X-Box and see only GameCubes on the shelf. They may just pick it up 'cause it's there and little Timmy wants a new console.

Anyway, those are just my thoughts. Certainly an interesting move on Nintendo's part. Makes me wonder why they bothered setting an "official" launch day in the first place...

I don't think much will come of this. Stores aren't going to know that they can sell them early, and as a result the majority will stick to the release date. I called my local Wal-mart and asked about it and informed them of the article and they said they still wouldn't sell them until midnight on Saturday.

People on the planetgamecube boards are posting similar results with all the stores they have called.

I think the only way they'll get sold early is if a major chain decides to break the date. KB did this with the N64, and most other stores followed suit, hopefully they, or someone else will do this again.

I find it hard to believe that any stores would release it early. Considering most of the big stores have had their advertising set for weeks, it really wouldn't benefit Nintendo to let stores sell early.

Look at the past Sunday's ads. Not much at all about the Gamecube. Mostly about advertising the XBox's release date. Nintendo wants to release when the retailers will be advertising it. The wheels are already set in motion. Why stop a good thing now?

That's a very good point. This week's ads for BB and CC featured mainly XBox (and some PS2), meaning that GC's later release date will give them something to advertise for next week. The thing that most of these stores want is traffic. If they can get people in the stores on two different dates, there is more of a chance that you will buy other things, whether it just be more games/accessories, or it be a major purchase such as a TV or something else.

I still believe that this is a regional issue. With as close as it is to launch, and as few systems as should be available (in both instances), I don't think it will have as much of an impact as something like beating street date by a month or so.

Camelot Music aka TWEC aka FYE is going to sell the GC as soon as they get them. I saw a post by an employee on plantgamecube saying they got an e-mail saying they were to put them out as soon as I they got them. I called my local store, and he confirmed all of that. They get shipments on Mondays and Thursdays. They hadn't received any yet today, so they probably won't have any until Thursday. I'll let you know if I find out anything else.

What do TWEC and FYE stand for?

good nfo

I can see smaller retailers like TWEC selling them early... but not the mass merchandisers. I was in Wal-Mart Today, and they had a big sign that said "Game Cube launches Nov. 18" So did Target. And TRU. If it's not availible, couldn't "Joe Sixpack" and "Soccer Mom" claim bait and switch?

It's OK for Nintendo to say that they *can* sell them, but if a retailler advertised a release date, but the store sells them earlier, I could see an irate mom saying they "lured" her into the store by letting her think she can can get a GC when, in fact, they decided to sell them early.

It just seems like more trouble than it would be worth for many retaillers. What do you guys think?

TWEC = The World's Entertainment Center

Cheesy, huh?

http://cube.ign.com/news/39848.html


another story on it

Are they selling it for retail? I think we may have one or two of those in my city.

I TOTALLY agree with that point. I definetly would NOT want to be working on Sunday morning with NO systems...have a line of people outside, only to tell them that our store decided to sell them early. That would NOT be cool. I will talk to my manager at Target and make sure we are not selling them early.

Damnit, I had made up my mind on my Sunday strategy and this crap comes out! That would suck to be outside of the local BB for a few hours only to find out that they sold out on Wednesday or something!

Yeah...now imagine what it'd be like in NY or LA or CHI, or any other large area where 100s of people lined up to pick it up. You'd have rioting. If any of you here are gym shoe collectors, think back to the Air Jordan Retro XI grey/grey release in March of this year...

I had my plan all laid out, too. Going out of CHI to my G/F's house... Taking her to dinner and Harry Potter, then lining up at Wally World. I have to head out there to get my XBox anyway, so...

Anyone here work in retail? What have your stores said?

my local BB is already selling games (I bought Rogue Leader II yesterday). Do you think that means they'll sell the hardware early?

One thing I did want to mention is that even with all the talk on gaming sites and message boards, no one has yet submitted a scan of a receipt or any other proof that they have bought a pre-launch GC. Until I see proof or actually see a GC in stores, I guess I have to agree with the doubters here.

Also, having read everyone's comments, it does seem more likely that different stores and chains may make individual decisions on whether to sell early, possibly based on whether they've advertised the 18th launch date.

Still, if anyone manages to get a Cube early, please post and let us know.

From what I've read the Gamecube shouldn't be that hard to find. The X-Box on the other hand.....

LOL, yeah since they had to cut the promised number of units... What's the number at now anyway?

*sigh* Microsoft never said they were cutting the number of units. In fact, they havn't said a word about it. Analysts are throwing out numbers like 300,000 as guesses, but nobody really knows.

Here is a quote from the VP of the XBox division if you want to get an idea of how many they will have. Keep in mind they have been manufactuing these for about 7 weeks now.

GS: So those final numbers, do you have any specifics for us?

EF: I can't really talk about specific launch units, but let me give you a little scoop. I can tell you that we made 27,000 units last Friday alone. That's more than Sony was manufacturing PS2s, in a week, when it first launched. And our facilities are manufacturing units six days a week, so you can do the math.

Link

at my store we're getting 8 xbox systems, 4 jet GC's, and 3 indigo GC's.

also, we were indeed authorized to sell them early. (FYE)