“In Stores Today”? Maybe Not
Proudly proclaimed on the Sega of America blog is the news many Sonic fans have wanted to hear for months now: Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is in stores, ready for your purchase.
“Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is in stores today!” the blog reads, in part.
At least, that’s what was supposed to happen today. But as many fans have pointed out, tracking down a copy for sale hasn’t been so easy.
“Funny how SEGA themselves blogged today how the game is OUT IN STORES, when really it isn’t,” wrote GutsGO on today’s near inability to purchase ASR the Sega forums. He lives in heavily populated New Jersey.
“Sega clearly messed up yet again,” chimed in another Sega forumer, Old_Sonic, “And they won’t even post an explanation.”
They’re talking about what are best considered isolated cases of being able to pick up ASR today. No version appears immune to this problem, nor do most retailers.
Several accounts have been given about major retailers like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Gametop and even Target, who advertised availability of the Wii and DS versions by 8AM today in its Sunday flyer, instead not having any copies for sale.
“I like, literally called every Gamestop in Las Vegas, they say the same!” wrote another Sega forumer, S3VENTEEN, referring to phone calls put into retailers, checking on the status of the game.
Normally, this can be explained simply by disclosing Sega’s usual pattern with releases. Typically, a Sega game is in stores the day after a published release date.
But here’s where it gets a bit more troubling: As of tonight, a few listings indicate some retailers are not listing ASR availability until Thursday, or, in some cases, even Friday–the same day the game’s expected to be released in Europe.
And when those copies come in, there still may not be enough to go around, as was feared.
“When I went to Best Buy on lunch break the clerk said they are only receiving two copies of the game for Xbox 360,” GutsGO continued. “Hopefully this won’t be the norm but if anyone is holding off on picking the game up for a few weeks you MAY have a hard time doing so.”
We’d like to hear your stories. Did you get the game today? If not, how far and wide did you look for one? Tell us in our comments area.
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Best Buy’s website says that the Wii and PS3 versions are now gonna come out the 25th, while the 360 version is supposed to be out the 24th (tommorow).
Target lists 25th as the release on their web site
Man, making a big deal out of nothing
the game shipped today from wherever it was manufactured.. It will arrive at other places when it arrives.
Maybe other places are saying Thursday and Friday due to the snowstorm hitting the east coast, ever thought of that? =P
wow thats so cool im actually featured in an article here thats so epic, but i did call every store in Vegas!!!! I was pissed off, i was so excited that i could even spelled last night. It should be here tomorrow. if i have to wait till friday idk what i would do ugh!!!!, but its still cool im in an article in tssz awesome!!!!!
i meant sleep, see that how excited i am about this game i cant even spell right!!!
My gamestop said the game is available tomorrow.
Announcing a game’s shipping date as the “release date” is a very common practice. It should be in stores in most places by tomorrow.
Well…hopefully its available tomorrow. I was crazy hyped up today, and then this happens.
i feel ya guys lets pray that it is here tomorrow!!!!
Funny, i went to my local walmart today and they had the game in stock, with no problems. Unfortunately, i wont be able to get the game till Fridays anyway.
Well least some of the hype will calm down by then, i hope. SSBB was crazy when it was first released and played online…
I run into this problem ALL THE TIME working at GameStop. In the vast majority of cases, it’s the aforementioned “ship date, not shelf date” error (which makes me wish all games were street dated to avoid confusion).
However, the article makes it sound like it MIGHT actually be a bigger problem this time. Last I heard (which was earlier today when I went to pick up Heavy Rain), it’s due in tomorrow. I’ll be sure to call my store before going in to get the game tomorrow, just in case.
Something to consider: I know GameStop is really pulling back on copies of games ordered if there aren’t enough reservations. If Best Buy is doing the same, that might explain the store that’s only expecting TWO copies on 360 (especially considering the commercial failure of SEGA Superstars Tennis). So now is NOT the time to assume your store will have a copy of a game you’re looking forward to.
I get mine on the 5th…
I ordered the 360 version for in-store pickup at Best Buy. Hopefully it’ll be there when I get back from work.
I’ll hit up GameStop this morning and see if they have it now. They weren’t too sure if they were getting it at all.
I get mine later this year.XD Don’t want to pay about 500 SEK on a game that I’m not really so hyped for. I buy it when it cost something like 200 SEK(It’s like 23 $ or something)
For whatever it’s worth, I was right; reservations matter. My GameStop got 2 copies each on 360, Wii, and DS, but it got SIX copies on PS3 because there were two reservations (me and my brother).