Retail Availability: UPDATE!

from GalCiv2 Forums

We've gotten word from Take 2 (our distributor) today that they are putting Galactic Civilizations II into the channel as fast as possible.

Simply put, indie games don't tend to have this kind of demand so they're struggling to meet the demand.  It should be pretty thoroughly stocked by Friday (2 days from now) though some places sporadically do have it in stock.

If there was a graph of "interest level" in the game, it spiked massively as February rolled around from being a smaller title to being a very high demand title.  So everyone's playing catch-up.

If you've pre-ordered it from retail or are planning to get it at retail, please don't cancel your order.  We'll make it worth your while.  We will try to release an update this Friday afternoon to coincide with the wider availability so that you have something to look forward to when you bring the game home beyond what's already available.

We'll put together a Journal entry on what will be in that update, we're still deciding. Probably some additional maps, scenarios, and some bug fixes, tweaks, etc. 

So if it's not at your local store yet, it should be by Friday.  Purchasing at retail helps ensure that the game stays on store shelves longer.

59,332 views 107 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, I already cancelled my local EB Games pre-order and downloaded.

When I talked to the guy at the store (who is usually pretty knowledgeable) he indicated that it could be a few days.

So, I cancelled and setup a CD order from Stardock.

I guess I am completely out of luck all the way around!

I just CAN'T win.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Im a bit pissed off. Eb said they would be have it today.

So i called them today to see if they have it and they said it would be in tomorrow or friday

O'well I guess I will just keep on twiddling my thumbs in the mean time.
CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
You win, Kapeman. Years ago, when I was excited about the realease of MOO3 (for some unknown reason) my local Mega Store told me every day for a week or more after release that the game wasn't out yet. What he meant (according to a friend of a friend who worked there) is it wasn't OUT of the CRATE that was sitting in the back room yet.

I vowed to not buy retail anymore. But then I recently had a horrible experience with another company's electronic d/l. The demo worked fine, the full game didn't. When I said, hey I'd like to try it on a different computer they called me a pirate and thanked me for my credit card number.

I will say that I've never had a problem (with three different games now) with Stardock. You are in good hands.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
narf.... called EB today also and recieved pretty the same response ( hasnt arrived @ their warehouse etc check tomorrow). really tempted to cancel if not for Frogboy's request. Any way we can recieve temporary serials #'s that will expire on Friday (if you can get a list of ppl from EB or any other gamestore that has preordered it) so we dont have to wait forever (and help ensure that innocent EBGames employees survive the weekend lol) *twiddles thumbs*
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
If there was a graph of "interest level" in the game, it spiked massively as February rolled around from being a smaller title to being a very high demand title. So everyone's playing catch-up.

If you've pre-ordered it from retail or are planning to get it at retail, please don't cancel your order. We'll make it worth your while. We will try to release an update this Friday afternoon to coincide with the wider availability so that you have something to look forward to when you bring the game home beyond what's already available.

We'll put together a Journal entry on what will be in that update, we're still deciding.

In other words, Stardock cares, so don't fret. No big surprise about the spike in interest, many people have been waiting 10 years for this game. Sure, in many respects its just a retread of GC1 with MOO2-reminiscent starship customization wrapped inside a great 3d engine, but the fact is that's exactly what people have been waiting 10 years for!
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm canceling and downloading rather than have the possibility of being told it not being there tommorow again.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I wish that the new journal entry had been posted before I canceled my EB Games pre-order.

Oh, well!

Someone from Stardock please have pity on a poor, impatient soul!!!
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
As others have said--you are in great hands with Stardock. They stand by their customers and have excellent support.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad -- I'm not sure I understand this.

Many of us pre-ordered through EBgames or other e-tailers weeks or months ago. Those pre-February pre-orders should indicate a certain level of demand, lower than the February level, but a level of demand nonetheless.

So why is it that Take 2 was unable to deliver to EB enough by Feb. 21 to at least satisfy the pre-February pre-orders? The EBgames.com customer rep I spoke to said they have not received a single copy! The 'surprised by level of demand' excuse doesn't wash if the pre-orders that are over a month old have not shipped. Maybe I'm missing something.

I would guess you're unhappy with Take 2 at this point.


Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
tylertoo,

I was thinking the exact same thing. Seems to me that Take Two just plain screwed up.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I found a copy. I'm going to guard it's location until I get mine though. They only have three and I can't get there for about 5 hours. (Don't give me any looks. You know you would do the same.) I'll post where it's at when I get home.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I also went to EB and they said they just didnt get their shipment. So i went to best buy and they had 3 or 4 in stock so here I am with a boxed copy installing it right now! cant wait!
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
I was going to get mine from EB today but after finding out they didn't have it I was impatient and decided to buy it online, I'm sorry Frogboy, had this been posted about an hour earlier I would have waited an extra day or two.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
I preordered at the local Gamestop. It was supposed to get here today (the 22nd), but it isn't yet. "Check again tomorrow" they said.
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Ordered it from Gamestop.com, and the date on their site silently slipped to the 22nd. Even paid extra for next day air. Cancel. The game should have been in stores on the 20th for shipment and release on the 21st. Although I'm sure your Stardock margin is quite a bit higher... hmmm.....
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
Of the three possibilites (interest higher, lower, or exactly as expected), having a higher than expected interest is theoretically a very good problem to have. I agree with TylerToo, though, that you would expect that they would AT LEAST ship enough to meet the old preorders. (There's no "analysis" about estimated interest needed at that point, if they've got their credit card ready to charge as soon as it ships.)

I don't expect Stardock would take Take Two to task in front of the public (please, not in front of the kids). However, I do hope that Take Two's error (if the fault indeed lies with them) doesn't end up costing Stardock potential sales. It sounds like the main thing it is doing is shifting the sales out of the retail and into the direct purchases.
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
Oh and its $5 more expensive from stardock then from retail... and retail gets extra stuff? Huh?
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm not cancelling my preorder, as annoying as it might be. I'm willing to help Stardock out with keeping the game on the shelves. Not that I'm not angry -- at Take 2. But it's not going to kill me to wait a few more days.
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
I've been playing non-stop with the download. Taking a quick break.

I understand the whole "we want the game box seen on a lot of store shelves" aspect. However, I'm wondering if this is really THAT relevant given the typical 4X game purchaser. I could be wrong but I'd think the 4X purchasers have broadband and occasionally read game reviews.

Wouldn't ads on the right websites that steer to the download do as good as store shelves? Since as was posted, you get twice as much income from the download versus a box.
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
If they had to count on income from gc2 to stay afloat as a developer, yeah. They've said multiple times that they're in a unique position as their primary source of income doesn't come from making games. Hence they want exposure.

Speaking from personal experience, "ads on the right websites" don't mean squat as who honestly browses without using adblock anyway?
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm not cancelling my preorder, as annoying as it might be.


Nor am I, Lucian--frustrating though it may be. I want to support Stardock as best as I'm able. Besides, I want the extra goodies that come with the pre-ordered Collector's Edition.

In a way, it's maybe for the best--at least for me. I've actually got a lot of stuff going on this week anyway, so I don't really need the distraction right now. Plus, by not getting the game until Friday, it will allow me to focus completely on the game all weekend.

That said, however, it doesn't change the fact that I'm really ****ing irriated with Take Two at the moment.

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Wow, you are actually pushing out more content for a understandable error on a distributors part?

Holy hell, I just bought every product you got. Even the ones I dont need.

Dear God, a company that gives a damn.

Thank you, thank you (sobs) oh God thank you.

(grin)
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
Actually, it's $5 less if you buy direct from Stardock via totalgaming.net. If you buy 10 tokens, they cost $70 and the game costs 5 tokens. (I.e., $35) If you say "what am I going to do with the other 5 tokens", you know that there's likely going to be an expansion, or other stardock games, or other nice games already available on totalgaming.net.
Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
I pre-orded through ebgames but they still haven't shipped. I was looking forward to playing it this weekend so I am considering canceling my order and trying to find it when it hit retail shelves. If I buy it retail will I still get all the extra stuff, like the poster, that I would get with the pre-order?
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
It would of been nice if your distributor had shipped enough units to cover the preorders at places like ebgames.com...

I will wait though, I have Civ 4 and Empire at War to satisfy me until the game arrives!!!