Chan's Personal Blog

There are going to be a good number of disappointed and angry rock-star wannabes on Thursday as video game retailers are expecting massive shortages of the year's most hotly awaited — and possibly most bungled — release, Rock Band.

On the eve of the game's full Canadian release, retailers still weren't sure how many copies they could expect, or if the shipments would even show up. [...]

Tracie Snitker, a spokesperson for Harmonix, the game's producer, said the shortages are because of massive, unexpected demand. The game's distributor Electronic Arts ensured there was enough supply in the U.S, but the game kept selling out.

The problem is in the manufacturing of the instruments that accompany the game.

"It's even worse than other peripheral-based products," she said.

Gamers haven't bought that excuse, given that Rock Band has been a heavily hyped title since it was showed off at the E3 Media and Games Summit in May, and have said distributors rushed the game in order to hit the key holiday buying season.