Post by: WindyMan on April 18, 2007, 05:17:49 PM
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=13347
NINTENDO ADVISES POKÉMON FANS: PRE-ORDERS TOP 500,000
April 18, 2007--Pre-orders for the upcoming Pokémon® Diamond and Pokémon® Pearl video games for the portable Nintendo DS™ have topped one half million in the United States, and Nintendo is advising fans to brace themselves for the next wave of Poké-mania. Based on the huge pre-sales for Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, Nintendo expects them to be among the top-selling games for all of 2007.
With four days to go until they arrive, more than 533,000 pre-orders have been taken for Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl. Already these games have more than doubled the pre-sale numbers of Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen, which launched in 2004. Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen went on to sell more than 3.4 million combined in North America.
Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl have consistently ranked among the top-selling video game products on Amazon.com, and there are still four days until launch.
Pokémon became a nationwide hit the instant it arrived in the United States in 1998. Now a new wave of Pokémon excitement is on its way, complete with more than 100 new Pokémon characters, the ability for players to battle wirelessly on Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection and voice-chat abilities, which act like a cell phone but with connection among friends only.
The Official Nintendo Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Player's Guide also will be available at retail on April 22. For more information about the games, visit www.Pokemon-Games.com
Post by: NWR_pap64 on April 18, 2007, 05:29:08 PM
Post by: Artimus on April 18, 2007, 05:36:25 PM
Post by: Urkel on April 18, 2007, 06:07:35 PM
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... Oh.
Post by: nickmitch on April 18, 2007, 06:09:39 PM
Post by: pyrokamileon on April 18, 2007, 06:24:01 PM
Post by: that Baby guy on April 18, 2007, 06:37:11 PM
However, if the game looks like it will have few printings, like PW:AA and Trauma Center, it might be worth it, but really, there's no reason to, other than in those circumstances.
Post by: ShyGuy on April 18, 2007, 06:41:50 PM
Post by: that Baby guy on April 18, 2007, 06:46:19 PM
Post by: Jome20 on April 18, 2007, 06:57:33 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: thatguy
NOOOOOO I hate preorders. Look, this is one of Nintendo's biggest franchises. While EB and GS may sell out, almost no other place will, because they actually order enough. The main two stores that offer presales, are GS and EB, and when popular games come out, they intentionally order fewer copies than they know they need, to create an artificial shortage to encourage more preordering next time. It's a dirty trick, and if the game is going to have several printings, there's no reason to even consider preordering it.
However, if the game looks like it will have few printings, like PW:AA and Trauma Center, it might be worth it, but really, there's no reason to, other than in those circumstances.
I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark and assume that you've never actually worked for either of these companies.
Being that I have, I can safely say that GS or EB never purposely order a shortage of games in order to create an artificial shortage / hype for a game.
GameStops and EB Games tend to sell out more frequently than other stores for two main reasons. First, they're specifically a video game store that pretty much ONLY sells games. Because of this, they tend to be the first option for several customers because where's the best place to pick up a new game? How about the game store!
The second reason, is that although these game stores are very popular with new hot titles they are always very small stores and therefore receive much smaller shipments than what a Walmart would receive. Look at the size of most GS and EB stores, they're tiny in comparison to stores like Best Buy, Circuit City, Walmart, Target, etc.
It has nothing to do with the stores purposely ordering limited quantities in order to increase demand.
Post by: Kairon on April 18, 2007, 07:15:25 PM
Though, I WILL bet that GameStop has really exact sales forecasting systems and they probably make sure they don't have excess games lying around.
That said... I just remembered that I DID pre-order this game! ...from amazon.com.
~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: TJ Spyke on April 18, 2007, 07:29:03 PM
Post by: that Baby guy on April 18, 2007, 07:32:54 PM
The difference is that these EB and GS are more aggressive with their tactics, that instead of just offering a preorder, they press their employees to sell a certain amount of preorders among other things, because of the increased utility available from that preorder. I know I'm not the only one who's dealt with this type of treatment, I've even watched it happen to others, in multiple cities, as well. On top of that, I've read about it on the internet, from others, though this is less credible. Anyways, no I have not worked at a store like that, but a few years ago, I was one of those kids that were the great friends with all the other kids that worked in the store, and I have to say, these things were the bottom lines of what they told me. Other than that, I've read about the utility of Gift Cards and Preorders in economic reports and information.
I also know that the employees that work in an individual store are not the ones that actually order the items, there is either a manager of some sort, or a computer that uses an algorithm to determine how to order a product, that takes preorders into accounts.
Also, your comparison of gaming specialty stores to that of a department store is fallacious. You use size in your comparison, and in general, the size of a video game section in a department store is smaller than that of a gaming specialty store. Also, the specialty stores, at least every single one I've been in, have had stock rooms where they hold extra merchandise. Department stores typically do not store video game stock they have in their stock room, unless they receive the item before street date. They usually put all stock on the floor, and when they are out of any gaming item, if you ask a clerk about it, this is exactly what they will tell you.
Edit: So basically, if you care to be business-savvy, you know preorders are a poor decision, for loss of utility of your own money. Though, like I said before, there are a few cases where preordering secures you an actual copy of the game, whereas normally, you would have little to no chance of ever being able to buy the game new.
Post by: Ceric on April 19, 2007, 06:28:16 AM
Post by: IceCold on April 19, 2007, 08:01:34 AM
QuoteNot to mention I read somewhere that Future Shop itself saves millions of dollars from unspent gift cards every year..
Actually, it works a lot like gift cards. Stores sell gift cards to get money immediately, rather than later. When someone buys a gift card, though the store gets the same amount of revenue from the items bought for the value of the card, the store gets increased utility from having the money earlier. This means that they can invest the money however they choose, and most likely turn it into more money sooner.
Post by: nitsu niflheim on April 19, 2007, 08:07:12 AM
Post by: Kairon on April 19, 2007, 03:46:52 PM
I kid I kid. I'm giving Nintendo free money too! I bought Legend of Kage. And LIKED it.
~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: nitsu niflheim on April 19, 2007, 04:04:22 PM
Post by: Kairon on April 19, 2007, 04:06:31 PM
~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: nitsu niflheim on April 20, 2007, 04:06:52 AM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on April 20, 2007, 12:27:11 PM
Post by: Mario323 on April 20, 2007, 06:34:51 PM
Post by: Infernal Monkey on April 20, 2007, 11:33:53 PM
America's gotta consume 'em all!
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on April 22, 2007, 03:25:19 PM
