Navigation
Calendar
Quicksearch
Flickr Photostream
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Support Us
What I'm Reading
Report: Robots stack up to human professors in teaching Intro Stats | Inside Higher Ed
Just one of those mornings.
Combat Exoskeleton Marches Toward Afghanistan Deployment | Danger Room | Wired.com
Vigneault agrees to terms on extension with Canucks
How I Work: Yahoo!?s Doug Crockford On JavaScript - Internet and Website Design
Netflix Says It Boosted "Mad Men" Ratings - Peter Kafka - Media - AllThingsD
Burning planet leaves dust in its wake ? News in Science (ABC Science)
05/23/12, 53
Just one of those mornings.
05/23/12, 51
Combat Exoskeleton Marches Toward Afghanistan Deployment | Danger Room | Wired.com
05/23/12, 50
Vigneault agrees to terms on extension with Canucks
05/23/12, 50
How I Work: Yahoo!?s Doug Crockford On JavaScript - Internet and Website Design
05/23/12, 41
Netflix Says It Boosted "Mad Men" Ratings - Peter Kafka - Media - AllThingsD
05/23/12, 56
Burning planet leaves dust in its wake ? News in Science (ABC Science)
05/23/12, 44
Archives
Categories
Syndicate This Blog
Thursday, December 20. 2007
Smuggling Rock Band Into Canada
One of this Christmas season's most sought after videogames is Rock Band which is a competitor to Guitar Hero. It's a four player game where you can choose to play guitar, bass guitar, drums, and vocals. It has been described as the ultimate party game. In either case, demand has been off the charts because of all the hype surrounding this game.
The game was released in the US on November 20th, and there's a chronic shortage of the game. Even worse, the Canadian release of the game was delayed until today, and shortages are expected to be worse in Canada. The CBC covers this in an article entitled, "Rock Band shortages sure to anger gamers."
My friend Adam wanted this game, but knew that the release in Canada was going to be delayed until December 20th. So how could he somehow get a copy earlier than that? It would have to come from someone who was living in the US.... hmmm.... who would fit that criteria?
The game was released in the US on November 20th, and there's a chronic shortage of the game. Even worse, the Canadian release of the game was delayed until today, and shortages are expected to be worse in Canada. The CBC covers this in an article entitled, "Rock Band shortages sure to anger gamers."
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.
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.
My friend Adam wanted this game, but knew that the release in Canada was going to be delayed until December 20th. So how could he somehow get a copy earlier than that? It would have to come from someone who was living in the US.... hmmm.... who would fit that criteria?
So, I committed to sending Adam a copy of Rock Band from the Americas. I went to a few electronics stores before the November 20th release, and they were already sold out. I put my deposit down, and they warned that they had no idea when they would get more copies in. The shipments were random drop shipments straight from the source, so they had no idea how many they were getting.
They had a number of copies where you can buy the game only (ie minus the guitars, drums, etc). But, that's ridiculous because you can't exactly play the game without them. They had six copies of the XBox 360 versions left of the full Rock Band bundle, but I was looking for a PS3 version.
About two weeks and a half weeks later, I finally got the phone call that my copy of Rock Band had finally come in. For a brief moment in time, I held Rock Band in my hands, and I was in awe. As I triumphantly returned to work with my hunt trophy, co-workers starred in amazement that I managed to find a copy of Rock Band. Unfortunately, I had it in my possession for about half an hour before I shipped it off to Canada to Adam. I was sure to buy postal insurance on it, because I'm sure this was a highly desirable object, and someone might want to jack it.
One of my co-workers wanted to buy a copy of Rock Band for his kids for Christmas, and wasn't able to find any through conventional means. So, he had to buy it off E-Bay for $275 which is quite the premium for the game. My guess is that Rock Band will fetch an even handsomer reward in Canada.
In either case, if you would like a copy of Rock Band, I think I may know a guy who could hook you up
.
They had a number of copies where you can buy the game only (ie minus the guitars, drums, etc). But, that's ridiculous because you can't exactly play the game without them. They had six copies of the XBox 360 versions left of the full Rock Band bundle, but I was looking for a PS3 version.
About two weeks and a half weeks later, I finally got the phone call that my copy of Rock Band had finally come in. For a brief moment in time, I held Rock Band in my hands, and I was in awe. As I triumphantly returned to work with my hunt trophy, co-workers starred in amazement that I managed to find a copy of Rock Band. Unfortunately, I had it in my possession for about half an hour before I shipped it off to Canada to Adam. I was sure to buy postal insurance on it, because I'm sure this was a highly desirable object, and someone might want to jack it.
One of my co-workers wanted to buy a copy of Rock Band for his kids for Christmas, and wasn't able to find any through conventional means. So, he had to buy it off E-Bay for $275 which is quite the premium for the game. My guess is that Rock Band will fetch an even handsomer reward in Canada.
In either case, if you would like a copy of Rock Band, I think I may know a guy who could hook you up
. Comments
Display comments as
(Linear | Threaded)
No comments
Add Comment
--David Petraeus (1974-present), American General