EA and street dates

[mrprice33]

Quote: Originally Posted by berad88

True that I was incorrect in calling it a law. However a street date is designed to give all stores a fair chance to sell the game on the same date. Its more than a marketing tool to let customers know when the game is available. Not everything is about the customer. It is to give all stores a fair chance to sell the item on the same day.

It serves both purposes, actually. Primarily it is to ensure that retailers all have a fair chance to sales, but stating that the game comes out "July 13th" as opposed to "the second week in July" is a good thing for the consumer.

[zztrainv2]

Quote: Originally Posted by NaptownMVP

A street date is not a law. Nobody's going to jail if they break street. Street dates are set by the manufacturer, and if you break the date, you answer to the manufacturer. They can levy fines, or withhold/limit future allotments of product. Why does EA have street dates? So they can promote July 13th instead of "At some point, whenever we get it to the stores". As for your message saying great job scoring an early copy, that's no proof. EA probably gave away copies of Madden (like they've done for this year's NCAA), and it was a generic message to those people designed to change on release day.

Proof of what?

[Unlucky 13]

I cant speak for EA, but I work for a large retaler (1000+ stores), and when MS Office 2010 was shipped to us recently, we were sent a memo that if any of the stores sold a copy before the street date, the company would face a 7-figure fine for each "offense", and those responsible may be fired. I would imagine that EA works in a similar way with their retailers.

[getItIn]

I was just about to come here to talk about these stupid release dates. Just release the game when it's finished. Plus they've already given the game to different people. Some famous people have the game, so allow the regular folk to go purchase. THat game should come out this wk. I'm starving for this game now.

[spacefunk]

I wonder how many of these people itching for the game to come out early will trade it in for Madden in a month because they're bored with it?

[NaptownMVP]

Quote: Originally Posted by zztrainv2

Proof of what?

The OP said that this message was proof that EA doesn't care if the street date is broken.

Quote:

I would imagine that EA works in a similar way with their retailers.

They do.

[zztrainv2]

Quote: Originally Posted by NaptownMVP

The OP said that this message was proof that EA doesn't care if the street date is broken. They do.

I am the OP, I never said I had proof of anything. I said that I do not believe that they actually care, I explained why I thought that (the message), and concluded "What does that tell you?"

You are of course free to disagree.

[NaptownMVP]

What I meant was that the message isn't evidence that EA doesn't care, because they do. But you are free to disagree.