Certain retailers across the UK, including Woolworths, began selling the highly anticipated World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade two days before the official launch tonight.
SPOnG spoke to Woolworths in Wakefield and were advised at 3:45pm that it had just two copies of the game left.
SPOnG had a word with a specialist local retailer about the early sales and was told: "We're under strict instructions from head office not to sell it early." Our contact told us that early sale of games is an on-going problem, with Woolworths being a noted culprit.
Once one retailer starts selling a game early (with the first offender usually being a non-specialist retailer) others will follow suit. "It's a bit tit for tat, really," our contact told us. As more retailers jump on the bandwagon the consequences become less pronounced due to publishers' inability to penalise large numbers of retailers. That said, early sales can lead to strained relationships with publishers, with stock allocation potentially being cut.
Our contact did speculate that early sales might be due to ignorance of release dates from non-specialist retailers as opposed to cut-throat retail.
Vivendi had no comment when SPOnG got in touch this afternoon. What it did confirm, however, is that the game won't even work yet due to the network not yet being active. So… certain retailers are sticking their necks out to sell a game that can't actually be played.
It's been a busy week for Vivendi. This latest news comes not long after worldwide World of Warcraft subscriptions topping the 8 million mark.
Did you pick up an early copy of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade? Have you seen any retailers doing the dirty and dishing it out early? Let SPOnG know in the Forum.
Our man in London will be dressed as Elf-Adam tonight at midnight to cover what Vivendi hopes will be a large turnout at the Oxford Street launch.
For more on World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade have a gander at SPOnG's dedicated page.
SPOnG spoke to Woolworths in Wakefield and were advised at 3:45pm that it had just two copies of the game left.
SPOnG had a word with a specialist local retailer about the early sales and was told: "We're under strict instructions from head office not to sell it early." Our contact told us that early sale of games is an on-going problem, with Woolworths being a noted culprit.
Once one retailer starts selling a game early (with the first offender usually being a non-specialist retailer) others will follow suit. "It's a bit tit for tat, really," our contact told us. As more retailers jump on the bandwagon the consequences become less pronounced due to publishers' inability to penalise large numbers of retailers. That said, early sales can lead to strained relationships with publishers, with stock allocation potentially being cut.
Our contact did speculate that early sales might be due to ignorance of release dates from non-specialist retailers as opposed to cut-throat retail.
Vivendi had no comment when SPOnG got in touch this afternoon. What it did confirm, however, is that the game won't even work yet due to the network not yet being active. So… certain retailers are sticking their necks out to sell a game that can't actually be played.
It's been a busy week for Vivendi. This latest news comes not long after worldwide World of Warcraft subscriptions topping the 8 million mark.
Did you pick up an early copy of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade? Have you seen any retailers doing the dirty and dishing it out early? Let SPOnG know in the Forum.
Our man in London will be dressed as Elf-Adam tonight at midnight to cover what Vivendi hopes will be a large turnout at the Oxford Street launch.
For more on World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade have a gander at SPOnG's dedicated page.
Read More Like This