Gamestop Midnight Release

[jonfitzsimon]

My gamestop has yet to confirm it, but the manager said that they were trying really hard to be able to. They did it for GH3 so i am hoping that they will do it for Rock Band. It seems that these midnight releases are all the rage nowadays. Has anyone else heard anything about their Gamestop?

[Eman311]

man i really doubt it for rock band, its gotten lots of great press but prob not enough hype.

I'll hope for you though!

[Keebler]

They did it for GH3 - why not Rock Band?

[RkBndDrmr]

I bet they will. Those boxes are gonna take up a lot of room. I think they will try and clear em out ASAP

[Patch_]

The game has the hype, it's got the press but I doubt it happens, why ?

It comes out Black friday and I don't see Gamestop opening at midnight to release it. I'm sure they'll be a huge line for the game in the morning though so yeah, Pre-order is always the way to go.

Edit: Holy hell, wow, I really need to be let in on the know, went to check the release date topic only to find out it's out on the 20th, I just pre-ordered this game monday and they said "Yep, comes out black friday" well, it's good news to say the least.

Then yes, my guess would be a Midnight release.

Edit 2: Yep, just caught that. Some great news, I wonder when it was changed, I've got to tell some friends about this because we all think it still comes out black friday.

[Keebler]

The game has the hype, it's got the press but I doubt it happens, why ?

It comes out Black friday and I don't see Gamestop opening at midnight to release it. I'm sure they'll be a huge line for the game in the morning though so yeah, Pre-order is always the way to go.

You might wanna recheck your sources. Game comes out Nov 20 now.

[McDeezy]

We are having one. For rockband plus masseffect.

[jonfitzsimon]

I need to do all the convincing i can to the manager at my gamestop!

[bounchfx]

stores around here did not do it for GH3, but they sure as hell better do it for RB or I am cancelling faster than something thats fast

[Catalytic]

Put me in the "not very likely" category. With the price tag, it is doubtful that they will get enough preorders to justify the midnight release, unlike GH3. Fingers crossed that it will happen, but it doesn't seem likely to me.

[jlc510]

If none of my local video game stores don't sell the game at midnight, I'll just go to Wal Mart or another 24 hr department store. I think video game stores should be open until 12:30 AM on Monday night/Tuesday mornings. At least if I had my own store I would.

[chief2oo2]

Good luck making sales at 12:30 on weekday night on a normal basis. And the hype issue: from all talk I heard when picking up GH3, nearly everyone getting GH3 was getting Rock Band. My local gamestop was a cpl weeks ago at least still taking pre-orders, but were going to stop soon because they said the manufacture promises so many shipment intially, then after that it will slow down. Moral to this, preorder or get in line with the rest of black Friday crowd to get it or buy it on ebay for $500??? who knows. People will pay for anything in demand.

[Clutch414]

Wow...Rock Band and Mass Effect. I don't know which to play.

I'm having a Rock Band party at my house on Friday the 23rd, so maybe I'll just get some sweet Mass Effect play time in on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

[admanimal]

Moral to this, preorder or get in line with the rest of black Friday crowd to get it or buy it on ebay for $500??? who knows.

It's not coming out on black Friday anymore...

[Pandacon]

My Gamestop isn't doing it, the manager told me that after thier GTA3 midnight launch, where neighbors complained and the cops threatened the manager at the time with jail, they stopped doing midnight launches all together.

[Electric_Zen]

My Gamestop isn't doing it, the manager told me that after thier GTA3 midnight launch, where neighbors complained and the cops threatened the manager at the time with jail, they stopped doing midnight launches all together.

The manager should have jacked the cop's car, ran him over, and terrorized the town until his warning level was up to five stars. Would have been a good promo.

[TheTogfather]

We are having one. For rockband plus masseffect.

THAT is why there will be midnight releases...can't believe I just now realized it, but yah, that game is big enough to warrant one on it's own, and coupled w/ the Rock Band release, I'd consider it almost a sure thing. Damn...now what am I gonna do...take off work for Tuesday too?

[Xanthous]

The manager should have jacked the cop's car, ran him over, and terrorized the town until his warning level was up to five stars. Would have been a good promo.

Oh lordy. Mountain Dew, all over my monitor. Any my nose burns like you wouldn't believe.

[FatWilma]

i asked the manager of my local gamestop sat night when i was pickin up gh3 if they were doin one for RB and he said it depended on how many pre-orders they had beforehand. when u add the fact that mass effect is coming out same day, i'm sure there will be plenty of pre-orders for both games to warrant a midnight release at my gamestop. obviously, the only way to be sure is to check with u're local stores' manager.

[jq71586]

What about Rock Band and Uncharted??

Us PS3 owners have to pick up two games at once too!

But with those three massive games coming out on that one day every place should be doing a midnight release.

[jonfitzsimon]

i called my gamestop and he said well, the game was just changed back from the 23rd to the 21st so i am not sure yet. I told him that the release date was the 20th and wouldnt believe me. I politely asked him to check his system and he said "Oh, you know what? Your right.... well then we might have a mid night release..."

This tool obviously didnt know what he was talking about, so i guess i am only going to deal with managers from now on no matter where i go.

[Beihana]

Also Unreal Tournament 3 just got confirmed for a Nov. 20th Release Date so im sure thats going add the pre-orders for that day. I know im getting it at least :)

[jq71586]

Also Unreal Tournament 3 just got confirmed for a Nov. 20th Release Date so im sure thats going add the pre-orders for that day. I know im getting it at least :)

Which version PC, PS3 or both? :D

EDIT: I'm going to assume PC because I'm fairly sure the PS3 version was delayed to a later date like the Orange Box.

[hankmallon]

I bet they will. Those boxes are gonna take up a lot of room. I think they will try and clear em out ASAP

At first I was thinking that they wouldn't, but after reading what you say you have a really good point. I don't even know where they're going to have the room for a 5 of these boxes. If there are a lot of preorders they definitely should do a midnight launch so they have breathing room in the store.

[jonfitzsimon]

I just got back from the gamestop where i preordered Rock Band at and they said that they will most likely not do a midnight release. None of them were the manager, so i will take what they said with a grain of salt. But they said that since so many big games come out that day (Mass Effect, Unreal Tournament 3, Rock Band and a few others) that it would be too crazy because everyone would come in for whatever game they wanted, not just Rock Band. It both makes sense and doesnt at the same time.

[Rocker2]

I don't think they will because most people who are getting Rock Band have already preordered it. When you preorder your bundle it is reserved and isn't going anywhere so a midnight release isn't really necessary.

[jonfitzsimon]

I am not sure if i believe in that theory. They have had a midnight release for both Halo2 and 3 when all of those people had it paid off. As a matter of fact, they say if you are coming to the midnight release to make sure that you have it paid off just so that it will make it easier at midnight when you come and pick it up.

[LongDarkBlues]

My place confirmed no midnight sale because not enough people paid off their preorders beforehand. Lame...

[HeXcoda]

My place confirmed no midnight sale because not enough people paid off their preorders beforehand. Lame...

I smell lies intended to scare/shame customers into paying preorders up front. They never intended to do a midnight sale, odds are, regardless.

[Quad_Ridin_CPA]

I have a question...

My GameStop is located in a Mall, so I'm not really sure if they can/how they would have a midnight release. Also, am I required to pay for the entire preorder before? I didn't think I was but I don't want that to be a technicality that stops me from getting the game either. Thanks.

[MdubMedia]

You do NOT have to pay for the preorder in full....for RB, you need to put at least $25 down to preorder it

[Quad_Ridin_CPA]

I've done that, so I should be good. I just didn't want to get there after work on Tuesday and have them say that since it was not paid in full we sold it, ya know?

[opackfan]

Gotta love those GameStop midnight releases at the mall, every cookie/candy/food store walks around the line w/ free samples. The mall where I live is EASY, the lines are maybe 20 people long or less, and it's mostly MILFs shopping for thier kiddies xmas gifts.

[MdubMedia]

Yeah...I'm going to go to my gamestop on the 19th where I preordered it ( with $25 down ) to find out if they're doing a mignight release...either way, to "guarantee" my copy I'm going to pay it off...

[jq71586]

If I would have to guess I would say no, since there are so many huge titles coming out that day (Rock Band, Mass Effect, Uncharted, Unreal Tournament 3 for PC) there would just be so many people lining up outside for one or a combination of those games.

It may take a long time to get all of those people in and then out of the door. And even if they do have a Rock Band midnight release you could hear people clamoring why the other big games didn't get midnight releases and some people who might be picking up 2 different games (like me, Uncharted) don't want to line up an hour or so before midnight and then go back early the next morning to pick up another game.

If they do have a midnight release it would be for all the games, or no midnight release and just sell everything on the morning of the 20th. And I would lean towards most places not doing a midnight release.

[Beihana]

IS the CONFIRMED shipping date the 19th?? I could have sworn I seen them mention recently( last two days) that it ships on the 20th to be in stores the 21st :(.

Dont get me wrong I have also seen interviews where they said somethign along the lines of that you should in line on the 19th for it but im not sure.

[MartyMcFly]

It's definitely in the stores on the 20th. If you pre-order online through EB or Gamestop it says right there "Pre-order by 11am on Nov. 19th and guaranteed delivery on Nov. 20th."

But I think a Midnight Release is very likely. I remember when Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas had a midnight release.

They had a line only for people who reserved, or were buying GTA:SA, and then any other customers that wanted to come in could buy whatever.

So think about this, a line for people to buy Rock Band, and have the store open for those 10 people that are buying whatever else.

[AVC808]

It's definitely in the stores on the 20th. If you pre-order online through EB or Gamestop it says right there "Pre-order by 11am on Oct. 19th and guaranteed delivery on Oct. 20th."

wow a whole month early!?! :p

[Quastor]

I can only hope they do some sort of midnight release. I paid off my pre-order last night. I've got class the night of the 20th, so if I have to pick it up during my lunch break at work, I won't be able to break the box open until 10 pm. :(

[Quad_Ridin_CPA]

If mine ends up doing a midnight release I may take Tuesday off as well as Wednesday! Six days of f-in rockin with my bro on lead, my best bud on bass, wife on vocals, and myself on drums! I think I'm salivating already!!!

[Alkohawlik21]

Ok, here's the deal. I talked to my GameStop manager, and this is what he said, after he confirmed that the game is DEFINITELY coming out on the 20th.

In order for them to have a midnight release, that particular store MUST have 100 preorders for that specific game. It doesn't matter if another game has 100 preorders. But that still doesn't guarentee a midnight release.

Here's what I'm getting at in example form. My GameStop has 70 reservations for Rock Band. That's the most that they have for any game coming out on the 20th. If they somehow get 100 copies of Mass Effect reserved, they still can't do the pre-release for Rock Band. The reason is that they need the space by the counter for the game with all the reservations.

The guy told me that if they get to 100, they'll do the midnight release. The only problem is that if you already reserved a bundle, you can't reserve a second. Something about shipping requirements. It sucks.

[toefer]

Here's what I'm getting at in example form. My GameStop has 70 reservations for Rock Band. That's the most that they have for any game coming out on the 20th. If they somehow get 100 copies of Mass Effect reserved, they still can't do the pre-release for Rock Band. The reason is that they need the space by the counter for the game with all the reservations.

Score one more for GameStop people being one step above us average folk on the ladder of intelligence.

So if Mass Effect has 100 pre-orders, and Rock Band has 75, they won't let me come pick up my RB bundle, and instead would prefer to just keep 75 boxes stacked up throughout the morning?

I understand that some of these stores are small, and 100 people could pack the place. But that's even more of a reason to get rid of RB as early as possible. If you're going to be open at midnight regardless, it only makes sense to release the game.

Can they actually refuse to sell me a copy of a game I bought, if it's the release date, the game is sitting 5 feet away?

[MartyMcFly]

wow a whole month early!?! :p

Don't start with me! :p

[Alkohawlik21]

Score one more for GameStop people being one step above us average folk on the ladder of intelligence.

So if Mass Effect has 100 pre-orders, and Rock Band has 75, they won't let me come pick up my RB bundle, and instead would prefer to just keep 75 boxes stacked up throughout the morning?

I understand that some of these stores are small, and 100 people could pack the place. But that's even more of a reason to get rid of RB as early as possible. If you're going to be open at midnight regardless, it only makes sense to release the game.

Can they actually refuse to sell me a copy of a game I bought, if it's the release date, the game is sitting 5 feet away?

I know it sounds stupid, but here's the thing (and, yet again, another thing I talked to the local manager about). They have to ring the register to close the system. When they do the pre-release, what you do is pay off the game completely, or you have already, they'll run it through and close it out around 11 or so. If they haven't done that, then they can refuse the transaction. But, alas, the point is mute. I went to trade in a few things to put toward the purchase, and the guy told me that they most likely will be doing a midnight release at this store (and I was wrong with the numbers; there's only 20 bundles reserved). It's all on manager preference for midnight releases, apparantly. I guess he just told me about the 100 copies to make it sound like the call was over his head or something.

[Biggins]

I hate it when my points are mute. No one can hear the important things they have to say.


j/k

[presticle]

I work for Gamestop. A midnight launch is being considered since Rock Band and Mass Effect come out on the same day, but there's no official word yet.

[palofex]

I work for Gamestop. A midnight launch is being considered since Rock Band and Mass Effect come out on the same day, but there's no official word yet.

Hopefully there is a midnight launch but I'm thinking there probably won't be.

[xenopherus]

Ah, but what about if there are two game stores in the same mall? There's a gamestop AND EB games at the mall I have RB preordered at. If each store equals out to 100 preorders altogether then would they have a midnight release? I'll call to find out...

But even if they don't, on a day with so many games coming out all at once (Mass Effect, Uncharted, Rockband) couldn't they just bend the rules a bit? So what if they don't have exactly 100 preorders.

[tf5_bassist]

Honestly, they'd be certifiably ******ed not to do a midnight release for RB, Mass Effect, and Uncharted. Unfortunately, my work blocks most gaming-related websites, including the gamestop and ebgames sites, ign, etc etc... However, a google result found this:

http://www.destructoid.com/gamestop-lists-rock-band-peripherals-with-a-2008-release-date-48182.phtml

from the snippet in the google result, it looks like Sam's Club will be hosting a midnight Rock Band release event... If someone feels like pasting the article here, that'd be awesome.

[Biggins]

My local Gamestop's management have confirmed to me that they will not be doing a midnight release mostly due to the fact that they will only have enough bundles to cover their pre-orders.
They pretty much said that if you didn't pre-order, you aren't getting a copy for Christmas. I'm not sure if this applies to the non-bundled copies of the game or not, but he was fairly adamant about this in the case of the bundles.
He could have just been over-reacting to the situation, and personally, I never take anyone's word as gold so take from this what you will.
I'm just glad that I decided to pre-order several months ago before all this information came out.

[jonfitzsimon]

I am bummed, but it would be silly for a store who only was able to allow 10-20 preorders to stay open past midnight. Well, actually 20*$169.99 is actually a decent amount of money that the store would be able to bring in. Plus, if they would let the other preorders from all the other games releasing that day, it would be very profitable. Freaking Gamestop, Midnight Release please!!!

[Chris_Gonzalez]

I am bummed, but it would be silly for a store who only was able to allow 10-20 preorders to stay open past midnight. Well, actually 20*$169.99 is actually a decent amount of money that the store would be able to bring in. Plus, if they would let the other preorders from all the other games releasing that day, it would be very profitable. Freaking Gamestop, Midnight Release please!!!

I think the Gamestop I preordered at is going to have a midnight launch. I'm sure that they want to clear that space as fast as they can. But we'll see. I've got school that day anyway, so I'm not that sure if I could do a midnight launch.

[King_Nuthin]

I haven't seen any major advertising for Nov 20 as Rock Band day, people in Canada have no clue when they will or won't be seeing it and the Pre-order site on the board listed the date as Nov 27th last time I checked. With all this in mind, is a midnight release really necessary? Is Nov 20th a contractual street date or is it a target date where stores can sell it the moment they get it in?

[21stbionic]

I called the game stop where I pre ordered mine to check and see if my reservation was for the PS3.I asked if they would have a midnight release on rock band and he said "I will be having a midnight release for rock band."

[Snowwolf]

The Game stop where I am at said they will not have a Midnight release. So is this a store by store decision? They said there were only 6 pre-orders so far. I find that hard to believe, but then the guy said that there is a High demand for it. I don't know if he really knows what he was talking about. I am going to call back before the release again to verify. If this game is in such high demand, they why aren't people going to pre-order it? Any suggestions? I actually have 2 on pre-order so I can have 2 drum sets and 2 mics so me and my wife can have sing and drum off's. If it is going to be in high demand I might just sell it and make a few extra bucks.

[hankmallon]

Its every other one I think. The one I had my pre-order at wasn't so I cancelled and transferred it to the one a mile away in a tiny strip mall of Gamestop, Starbucks, Quiznos, Tanning, UPS, and Tmobile. They're having a midnight launch.

[Alkohawlik21]

I depends on the manager. I posted here about the midnight release, but my GameStop is DEFINITELY doing it, even though there are only 21 reservations.

[tf5_bassist]

so far, the few stores around here I've called aren't having one or don't know... and apparently one of them is fully booked on reserves, and another one has two left for the 360. wtf.