I finally remembered to pick up my copy of Lost Odyssey today, after driving past the Gamestop I reserved it at for over a week. When I went in to the store, I found out that they didn’t hold pre-orders for more than 48 hours. After that they became regular copies that anyone could buy. Not sure if I agree with that, but I did pre-order it there so there’s not much I could do.
The manager informed me that they did have one copy left. Uh-oh. That meant it was the wall display unit. So they ring me up for my BRAND NEW GAME that thanks to Gamestop policy, has been opened so they could place the case on the shelf. Apparently the 40+ empty display cases that they had for the game before it had launched wouldn’t suffice. Nor does the company trust their employees enough to prevent theft from their store.
So here I am, paying full priced for an opened game. Gamestop employees can actually borrow any of these ‘”new games” whose case is on the wall to bring them home and play. How do I know my copy hasn’t been manhandled by some mouth breather?
The manager was nice enough to write an extensive note on the receipt stating that the game was actually new and that the little scratch we found was there when I bought it. I’ve got 30 days to exchange it if I like, but is it worth the effort if it plays?
I think this practice is scummy at the least. What do you think of it?
Today at the Game Developers Convention, developer Peter Molyneux announced some new details about Lionhead Studios highly anticipated sequal, Fable 2. Molyneux explained that players will be able to get a head start making money for Fable 2 before the game is even launched. Lionhead Studios has plans to release an XBLA game that provides you with a few different gambling opportunities to make you some gold. When the actual game launches, you’ll be able to import your money over to the game so you don’t start out poor.
With the success of Portal, one of the many games in the Orange Box, the debate has begun as to whether a three hour game can actually hold it’s own against giants like Halo. What exactly are we looking for from new games? Quality content or length? While some have voted Portal as 2007 Game of the Year, others have rejected it as anything more than part of a compilation.
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