Haze Been Offered For Free In The US/Canada

Gamestop's in the US and Canada have been sending out flyers to inform those interested in Haze that they can basically get the game free upon release. There is a catch though, as they will have to bring the game back after a week. The flyer (which you can see at the link) states that those that put down their money for the game early will be given the offer to return the game after a weeks play for a full refund in store credit.

[Neo-Delta]

Isn't that just renting, lol...

[sonarus]

haha this is fantastic. However i doubt i will be done with haze in a week considering the online features and the 4 player coop. I get the feeling this game is going to be good. I am guessing Ubisoft would have to sanction a thing like this and to offer a 1 week return shows tremendous confidence in ur product

[zdonit]

Renting still costs money though, so this is a bit better. I am sure Gamestop are hoping many people forget to return though :S

[fusionboxer]

Actually EB/Gamestop are most likely hoping that gamers BRING BACK haze in one week.

Reason is that the flyer says you get store credit meaning no matter what, your money is already spent and it's just a matter of buying Haze or something else. On top of that EB will be able to stockpile a bunch of used hazes which in turn mean more potential sales of their game informer 10% off used games edge card.

Nevertheless if this is true i'll simply wait for the used copy so I can get my discount off as i'm sure many (if marketed well) will go for this deal.

[Proxy]

"I'd like to return my copy of Haze."
"Thank You, you've received store credit."
"Hey, do you by any chance have a used copy of Haze?"
"Actually, we just got one in, and it's only 40$. Here you go."
"Thanks! What a great deal!"

[Torch]

LOLz!

[rayzorn]

damn man you just made me laugh harder than i have in the past year. thanks lmfao

[Guwapo77]

The only problem with that is those that been to Gamestop knows, new releases MIGHT drop $5.

I thought I was going to pick up a used copy of Burnout for about $40. Yeah regular price $62.99, used $55.99.

[wow4u]

@1.3

Ask yourself: Who is paying for this? And, why are they doing it?

It is clear that the Publisher/Developer is financing this. The retailer has no incentive to do this with Haze over another title. So, why choose Haze? Because the Publisher/Dev is paying them for this.

So, the second question: Why?

So that they can get Haze onto the sales charts. Frankly, this is just like the CD&BOOK industry do. They BUY THEIR OWN PRODUCT, that way, they get listed on Top-Sales charts.

It an make the product appear to be desired; "A Top Ten Title!!1!" and such.

This is a very very very shifty move by the Publisher/Dev. to buy their way to good press.

Perhaps they made a deal with EBGames in order to get them to increase their original purchase-order.

Something like: "If you buy 100,000 copies for the shift date, we'll give you them for $5-off normal wholesale price" -- then, when Haze is returned to used stock at EBGames, it becomes revenue-neutral for them to do this.

===

Anyone who thinks this is a POSITIVE thing are fooling themselves. This is a very very very dirty trick.

[Harry190]

how unusual

[Chubear]

I remember EB games and some others had the same type of promo for a couple of anticipated games.

One that dashes to mind is god of war II which had the same offer when I got it but I never returned it within the time frame and I doubt many people did either.

It's a nice hook that's all.

[Torch]

Yeah, you took the words right outta my mouth.

I specifically remember this deal EB Games Canada was offering last March with the release of God of War II...I remember doing a double-take when the clerk mentioned it to me, and reiterated to him twice to make sure I wasn't missing something.

By the way, not only did that copy not make it back to the store since it was a gift for my twelve-year-old cousin (whose YET to finish the game...DAMN that giant Medusa blob!), but I ended up with my own personal copy as part of my birthday gift one week later.

Haze on the other hand...that may be well worth the offer, especially considering that the game's quality is still unproven, and I did have an interest in it...though primarily early on, and the delays-upon-delay has somewhat put a damper on that initial appeal.

Yup, I think I'm gonna bite!

(Bubbles to zdonit for this great little tip!)

[wow4u]

@2.1

That might make sense, if Haze was anticipated. It looks wholly uninteresting. Medicore and derivitive is being generous.

[Danja]

ohh so basically we get to rent the game for free...then if we like it we but it...

was planning to buy it on day one ne ways.

[Douche]

I have a feeling Free Radical and Gamestop are just that confident with Haze. I've already got it pre-ordered the full amount. Looks like a pretty win-win scenario. I'm sure I'll be keeping it though.

[Cwalat]

After a week ppl won't mind keeping this game when seeing how great the online is, then they won't have to return the game cause they already paid. :D smart Free Radical.

[smokeymicpot]

This is not a bad idea. Its a rental but also its able to store your money for MGS4 so you don't spend it.

[mithril]

@Neo-Delta - Isn't that just renting, lol...
it's a renting for free because the store refund full price.

but the real deal is wait one week before buy and buy a one week used copy for less ;)

probably all this used copy sold with rebate ?

[Asurastrike]

Either they are really confident you will enjoy the game, or they are really looking for a way to get preorders.

[deeznuts]

They only reduce the used price by $5. They've obviously done this before so they know what thy're doing. For every one person who doesn't return the game it covers 12 people who do end up returning (assuming they sell all the copies). And I doubt the number returning is even close to that.

Shoot I get lazy to return stuff within 30 days. I got a closet full of crap I don't use, all because I bought but too lazy to return. Clothes, light bulbs etc.

[Guwapo77]

I posted basically what you said above. $5 is all you get off on "new" used games.

[wow4u]

They've clearly worked something out with the Dev/Publisher in order to get the pre-orders and 1st week sales up.

The Dev/Publisher knows that the game isnt going to sell that well, so they're basically trying to buy their way into the Top Sales Lists.

Its the same shifty, back-alley nonsense that gets crap books and CDs onto the Best Sellers lists.

For instance, in the Book Publishing world, agents from the Publisher will goto bookstores and buy hundreds of copies. These copies are then used as free-give aways and other marketing.

What is the benefit of doing this? Well, every printed copy gets sold in the first week, and they get on Best Sellers lists, making what is otherwise a Turd look like someone wants to buy it.

Hence, what you see here with Haze.

The practice, needless to say, is HIGHLY frowned upon by the rest of the honest industry.

[Rice]

Thats the deal eb gave me 2 months ago....WTF They said i have a week of playing the game and if i dont like it i can return it for store credit and or a game with equal or less value if i preorder it...

[ElfShotTheFood]

That headline hurts to read.

[solar]

haha! n1.

[Dante43]

So yeah, they are doing this so that you get your 60$ STUCK IN EBGAMES CREDIT, so you HAVE TO SPEND it there. But still it good for them and you, since if you dont like the game, just return it and wait for a better one.

[steriotyp]

if you pay cash or credit, you can get your money back. You only have to keep credit when you trade in. I am not terribly sure about this one. I am a GameStope employee and have yet to see this ad around. Does anyone have a direct link to the flyer? like a printable one?

[gEnKiE]

I'll be keeping this game for the online if its any good, well if its ever released....

[BloodySinner]

Very strange...

[ikiru3385]

isn't this already part of Gamestop's policy?

[RecSpec]

Nope, you can't give games back for full price if they have been opened.

[TheExecutive]

thats actually a really good business proposition. People like the idea of a risk free buy and in the end they are less likely to take things back if it appeals to them at all and even if it doesnt they still have the possibility of not bringing it back. My only question is can EB send the openned games back to the manufacturer without penalty?

[EZCheez]

They are guaranteeing the sale of the game, and even if you do return it it's in-store credit.

Then, on the flipside, they will be selling the used version at a steep price.

It's almost like Gamestop is trying to make twice as much money off of one game. I expect to see more deals like this considering how "great" everyone thinks it is, and Gamestop knows it is. For them at least.

[Armyless]

This guarantees a game sale.

Either they sell Haze, or a game of equal or greater value.

[permutated]

This means they're satisfied with the game.

Good sign IMO.

[Forgranted]

Its "Free"... thats "Radical"!!, couldn't help myself the pun basically made itself ;). Maybe its intensional

[aDub]

I'm sorry but I didn't see any link to GameStop or any source for that matter, I call bullshit. I see that a couple of GameStop employees already have said they haven't seen this offer and you know what they say - If it sounds to good to be true...

I seriously doubt this is even real.

[ISA_Scum]

They'd have to give the game for free to get me interested in it again after so many unjustified delays.

[americanGTA]

another delay to make changes? gar! WHEN IS IT GONNA END

[JoelR]

Stupid idea - It's just going to cannibalize sales from the game.
Haze - 500k sold Gamestop 1 million copies sold >_<
Developer gets screwed again.I am totally against selling and buying used games - it just steals from developers who have a hard enough time existing with the costs involved in todays markets.

*wonders when Sony will start tying game serials to consoles.....

[TheExecutive]

Correct me if I am wrong but retailers buy the game from the manufacturers and then sell them. I see what you are saying though, they have 2 potential customers but if they buy a used one then they only had one.

However, we must consider that the buyer of the used game may never have bought the game at the 'new' pricing. The used buyer is never a guaranteed sell to the developer and if its a good game they may even buy the developers next game.

I think its a little premature to say that buying and selling used games takes away from the developer but i understand what you are saying. It all depends on the consumer.

[TwissT]

Thats awesome its like a try before you buy thing. Very smart of them to do so.

[Frnicatr]

This could mean that Gamestop/EBGames knows that this will be a good title and no one will want to return, therefore they're offering this to entice people about buying this game. Normally you wouldn't be allowed to return an open game, so this would be a good deal for the consumer.

[resistance100]

Gamestation do that on every single game here in the UK, if you don't like a game you can return it within 7 days and get to swap it for another game or a credit note

[Frnicatr]

That's the UK! We don't get those kinds of consumer friendly stores here. GameSpot/EBGames are designed to rip you off.

[Chubear]

That's the same type of deal that was done with god of war II when it came out.

Needless to say not many people actually returned it anyways. There's a reason they promote it like this.

[MUGEN]

gamestop had a 7 day return policy years ago(2003 or 2004 i think they stopped this) where you could return games you just bought and tired.

a good thing we have internet review sites so we don't have to be stuck with sh!tty games.

maybe this is a start of something good or another skeem to gain intrest on your pre-order money in the bank to pay the bills.

[Bolts]

There are two ways to look at this.

1. They are extremely confident about their game. A good sign.
2. They're trying to regain your interest in a year full of blockbuster titles. Desperate.

Either way it's a bold move. I just might check it out.

[RoseSapphire]

Sorry, I don't believe this. I manage a Gamestop and not a single one in the area has this offer.

[jackdoe]

Seems like a sh!t deal. Even if you return the game within a week, all you get is store credit, and I personally do not want store credit at Gamestop/EBGames, notorious for screwing over customers.

[OoOLeafsOoO]

Oh wait, thats just some cheap rip off

[Danja]

nice try...but Halo had it's day realized how fast the hye around Halo 3 dyed down....the game sucks...

Haze will own Halo in MP...

[HarryEtTubMan]

LMAO Jealous XBOTS just get over it. We are getting all the good games... you can look at us type aobut how fun they are online. And stay jealous

Master Chief copies off the Power Rangers. LMAO. And that doesn't even looking ANYTHING Like Master Queef.

[OoOLeafsOoO]

you guys do realize that Haze is only a timed exclusive...right?

[Fat Bastard]

Ya artard, MGS4, KZ2, and LBP will also be timed exclusives. Keep telling yourself that. You're so dumb, Free Radical continues to say how Haze will be a PS3 exclusive you cunt. Your useless garbage box with its limited DVD drive and 2005 hardware can't possibly play the amazing PS3 exclusives.

[OoOLeafsOoO]

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/20...

[Fat Bastard]

That was from July of last year stupid. When Free Radical announced that it would be pushed back from it's january release, they announced that it would stay exclusive. look it up in the n4g search bar artard.

[OoOLeafsOoO]

Oh wait...thats not the chief...thats just some cheap rip off

[jackdoe]

So if someone wears a helmet, then he is a Master Chief ripoff? So are the characters from Japanese Super Sentai shows Master Chief ripoffs then? Sigh. Idiot.

[PirateThom]

Master Chief is a rip off of someone wearing a green motocross helmet and suit.

[OoOLeafsOoO]

lol, i make one fanboyish statement towards the 360 and i get flamed but if someone makes a fanboyish statement towards the ps3 then its allowed, this has become a joke and a pro-ps3 fanboy site

[psiom]

Does EB in the US not do this?

Here in Aus if you buy a game at EB you can take it back after a week and swap it no questions asked, no strings attached. Any game, any time.

Lots of people do it, although for a game you like you obviously keep it anyway. I think Haze is shaping up pretty well, and looks like it has pretty awesome online potential, so is it worth only having it for a week?

[Pugovitz]

Only for used games in the US

[kspraydad]

I'd rather rent the game for 3 or 4 bucks and not tie up 60 with EB which I find overpriced in Canada.

[psiom]

is overpriced here a swell.

For a game I know I want to keep I'll get from other places instead.

I can sometimes find a game for AUD$20-$30 cheaper than what EB wants.

[ScottEFresh]

Already got mine pre-ordered so this is a great offer. Although Im almost positive I'm going to want to keep the game, if it really does suck then I have my bases covered.

[InMyOpinion]

I'd be surprised if anyone keeps it for more than three days.

[Fux4Bux]

That's a pretty good offer. They're prettymuch saying we guarantee this game is good.

[wow4u]

Uhm, no. They are saying the game is crap, and it wont sell unless they change their policy and accept it back after a week.

They're essentially buying their own product to inflate the 1st week sales numbers.

The book & CD business does this too, and its a dirty trick to make a turd appear like the market likes it.

[UltramanJ]

How can anyone actually believe that Gamestop is going to let you take home a new game, and then return it thus forcing them to sell it used while giving you your money back? I'll believe it when I see it.

[Genesis5]

Yeah sounds kind of doubtful. But here in Canada EB games which is owned by Gamestop. Sell their used games for $5.00 less than the new ones.I never buy them.for the extra $5.00 I'll just buy the new one.

[Teabag Sony]

Gamestop is one of the worst places to buy your games from, pure ripoff artist there. Beware of the fine print on this one if it is true.

[Scenarist]

This is great ....I hope everyone knows that on used games you can rent for free anytime..

Buy a used game anytime , within 7 days take it back to the store
return it for a full refund ,,if u havent beaten it ,,,buy it again and do it again... great deal for games like Heavanly Sword , and lots of other single player games

[pdee705]

this is obviously wrong. i am an employee of gamestop and any ad that comes out of the stores in any way never have ebgames in larger print than the gamestop print. probably just true for canada.

[Bleucrunch]

your kidding right Jenzo???

[wow4u]

So, it looks like the Publisher & Developer are looking to *BUY* their way to 1st place on the sales charts?

The book and music industry do this too. This way, they can have press releases about being "number one hit" and such.

Sony is going to do the same thing by releasing the MGS4 bundle: Buy their way to good sales.

And, this is VERY shifty behaviour. Talk about sad.

[Lord Vader]

IF TRUE: This does not sound good for Haze....

Maybe good for sales, but obviously it's being considered because the game is looking subpar....

Hopefully this article is incorrect...

=(

[Pugovitz]

Developers have been complaining for years about used game sales but have tolerated it so far. This is GameStop's blatant attempt to get a used game sale before the new game is even released. This means that after a week GS could have thousands of used games that sell for only $5 less than new, and GS gets full profit.

[mccomber]

Interesting idea, I've got a copy preordered (did it back when it was a holiday release...) so I'll definitely pick it up at this point. I was getting a bit worried about it after all these delays and thought about putting that money towards another title, but this definitely makes me second-guess that plan.

[Daz]

Where its been delayed a while, there trying to get the interest back, that it had last year.
Thats why i think there doing this.

[Goodfella78]

looking at his posting picture jenzo must still be a dedicated commodore vic 20 fanboy so the brilliance of haze escapes him.

[undacovabrothe]

I LIKE THIS!... If this game is good and a lot of people use this deal then thats a bigger community to help prolong the game. If this game is not that good just average the bigger community will still make the game good. If the game is bad I can return it and put the money down for MGS coming out next month so win-win-win situation for me.

[silenius]

I Guess its good for the Ps3 owners to have somthing ''Like Halo''
I have to say it's pretty impresive... so enjoy

[B Man]

Unlike those morons at EB/Gamestop, Wal-Mart has pretty much an open return policy for *I believe* 3 months... might even be 6. Full refund, cash as long as you have the receipt. Game can even be open and they'll take it. So F EB... those of us that need the money and still want to play games can do the Wal-Mart scam any day.

[mccomber]

http://www.walmartstores.co...