GameStop Snubs Killzone 2 Out of a Midnight Release

With the release of Killzone 2 just a matter of a few weeks away, GamingFront.net have discovered that due to low pre-orders most GameStop Stores will not have a midnight launch party.

[sonarus]

Not surprised really. All the gamestops i see are bombarded with SF4 and Halo wars posters. Even FEAR 2 has posters but i have only seen one KZ2 poster or ad in a gamstop and thats just the pre order demo promotion. I can still see R2 posters even, sony doesn't even have free demo for the PS3's at the store.

If the sales flop we will all know why. Sony advertising is SH!T. The worst part is Helghast look so cool. All you need is one full sized poster of a helghast in gamestop store, and KZ2 demo running on the gamestop PS3's and perhaps some type of trade in bonus like 20% on trade ins towards KZ2 preorder and the pre orders will rise. But sony always marketing is always asleep

Anyway good thing i don't care about sales:D

[sonarus]

Well there aren't really any big name games coming out anytime soon so even if it did have number 1 pre orders thats not saying much. Outselling Halo wars/ SF4 isn't really a big deal for a title of Killzone 2 potential.

2 weeks left till the game releases and no gamestop advertising = fail. No matter how many ads they get on TV no gamestop advertising = fail

[Jinxstar]

This is probably more of an economy thing then a "Anti Sony" thing imho... Even GS is doing poor in sales and not opening the stores for a midnight release nationwide will probably save them a few hundred thousand... Walmart is open 24 hours in some places if people really need the game at midnight...

[CaseyRyback_CPO]

Games dont have to sell everything day one and close up shop the next day. Especially those games that dont have 30 million dollar ad campaigns which end up getting out sold by PurPals.

Even more so for sony since they dont have to rely on 1 hit to sustain an entire generation of gaming. Factor in advertising budgets to the 2009 lineup. I'm willing to bet there will be more ads for Uncharted 2 than KZ2, Advertising will matter more with a pricecut around times when the world isn't in its WORST ECONOMY EVER.

I know the PS community wants KZ2 to do well, but it will. Relatively to the amount of advertising invested into it. Do you think Kojima is losing sleep over 4.5 million units sold of a game?

The only company to do 247 advertising is MS, and look at how many more games came from those sales years ago, none. Compared to look how many games Sony is pushing out, they sell well enough for the sequels most of the time. They aren't in it to be rich, else they wouldn't be in the game business. To turn a profit, yes, but its clearly about the game quality more than churning out things that sell, else Sony would make all of their games with the Unreal Engine.

Gamers should be happy they get to play the game that "sold" the PS3. The game with second to none graphics, gameplay, sound, and just overall experience. Its why we game. Not because of advertising. If thats all that mattered, I'd just own a Wii.

edit:

1 N4G Website account - Free
1 N4G story about KZ2 - Free
Sonarus responding to himself? Priceless.

[lokiroo420]

Didnt gamestop only offer a theme or some crap, of course people will go elsewhere for the demo offer.

[Jinxstar]

I think the theme was Best buy. GS gave the Demo a month early... or 20ish days early.

[GWAVE]

Gamestop promotes whatever game it wants. Period. Believe me, I know. I used to work for them in a management position. It has less to do with what sells and more to do with what upper management wants. Our store was a "pro-Sony" store where we sold a lot of Sony products, yet we were still urged to push 360s, 360 games, and 360 accessories.

And whether a game gets a midnight release or not has little to do with overall preorders. An individual store or even an entire district can do a midnight launch if the district manager gives it the OK. There are plenty of midnight launches that are "forced" upon stores (like The Force Unleashed was forced upon a lot of stores even though no one had preorders above 40 units) regardless of preorders.

So, just a tip from the inside...if Gamestop does or doesn't have a midnight launch for a big game, it isn't because of a surplus or lack of preorders. It's because someone at the top arbitrarily decided it was/wasn't worth it.

[N4M3L355]

You make a good point, bubbles for you!

[Rampant]

You guys do realise that 1.3 million preorders for europe means that stores have ordered 1.3 million games from Sony, not that every1 of them is preordered by consumers, right?

guys????

RIGHT????

[CaseyRyback_CPO]

But of course, it has to be really clarified when someone is talking about Sony though, I mean REALLY REALLY clarified just so no Sony fan gets excited(remember sony is DOOMED), unlike those pre orders for Gears and Halo. No clarification needed for some reason. Wonder why that is.

[Droid Smasha]

you're talking to urself?

[GrieverSoul]

Once again this article is about US, right?
There is more land out there besides the US! Lets see how things in Europe! By the way, Sonarus, youre talking to yourself?

[Montrealien]

If you`re in Montreal we will be having a midnight launch for the game, as long as I get a street dated product from sony before the 27th. I can do what ever I want at my Microplay, I don`t have a mega corporation to baby sit me on things like this. This game deserves all the push it can, it looks like a great game.

[AssassinHD]

I am sure I am not the only one who preordered from Amazon. The Home clothing (as ultimately meaningless as it is) is quite a bit more desirable than an early demo.

[Rampant]

Because Sony Fanboys live in a little box that needs to be opened sometime?

[SL1M DADDY]

PS3 owners will be getting the majority of the games from other retail outlets since the PS3 is not pushed at the Gamestop locations like the 360. Heck, I have both systems and feel like a criminal when I walk into Gamestop and ask for a PS3 title. Their crap and so rather than wasting my time with Gamestop - Xbox 360 fanboys, i spend my money elsewhere. If they want to make me feel bad when I want a PS3 game then they won't get my cash when I buy any title, 360 or PS3.

Gamestop = Douche bags

[The Lazy One]

perhaps because of low preorders?

I think the biggest part of the problem is that sony doesn't have the money to push it's games right now if it wants to keep it's games division out of the red. Sure, it's saving money to advertise closer to the launch of killzone 2, and given the situation I'd say that's the best plan, but it's really going to hurt the game from what it could have sold with a better advertising budget.

They missed a huge opportunity with the superbowl, or even having a short 1 week ad campaign around the time the super bowl was to build a little extra hype.

[solidt12]

My Gamestop is having a midnight launch. I guess it just depends on where you live.

[edgeofblade]

What's so cool about the Helghast? They look completely generic, and don't try to deny it. I might mistake a Killzone 2 ad for a Fallout 3 ad.

And I'll tell you the problem with advertising Killzone 2. It's a game called "Killzone". Did anyone actually think about how generic that name is? Deathfield. Areamurder. Homicidesector. Neighborhood of the Deceased. Precinct of the Departed. It's like some clueless Japanese business men tried to name a game that would appeal to western audience on the assumption that Americans are violent, macho cavemen.

[Sarcasm]

I Blame Sony.

They ruined it with no Superbowl ads. They ruined it with no Burger King Helghast french fries. And now they're screwing up by not releasing ads early enough.

[JeffGUNZ]

BS, don't give me that. Our economy was in this recession when Gears 2 came out and I was standing there in line at midnight with 500 other people. Game stop didn't cancel it. No one, other then fanboys, care about KZ2. It's a decent game with great graphics.

[specialguest]

Sonarus forgot to sign into his other account and accidently replied to himself, lol. Busted!

[N4360G]

LOL most people don't pre-order games,they just go to the store and pick them up.

[Ldubbz]

First of all, that was one of the funniest posts I have read...Deathfield...Areamurde r...LMAO!!!

Honestly, I have thought the same thing before too. The title is just too "hit the nail on the head". Where's the intrigue? Even the enemies...guys with masks and red lights (they dont look goofy tho)? They pretty much look like Darth Vader if u ask me.

The name is okay I guess...Helghast. But even that is pretty unimaginitive...Hell+Ghast = Helghast.

As minor as this all sounds, it helps to create the world in which the game takes place; the less believable and contrived the world feels the less immersive the game is. And the less people are pulled into that world, the less excitement there is for the actual game.

[Sitdown]

thank you all for the great laughs concerning Sonarus responding to himself......especially CaseyRyback_CPO and specialguest.

[butterfinger]

Killzone 2 is #1 on the best sellers list on http://www.gamestop.com, and it has been for over a month now. I'll most likely pick my copy up at Wal-Mart since they put their new games out at 11:00.

[Blaze929]

so the cat has finally come out of the bag.

[Trebius]

Never seen anyone reply to themselves...that made me laugh.

[UnwanteDreamz]

My local GS had a midnight launch for FO3 and there were only like 15 people there including myself so I don't see why they wouldn't have one for KZ2. Guess I'll have to call and confirm now.

[gijose]

has anyone realized that this might be for north america? where sony has declined to divulge pre-order information?

they only released europe pre-order numbers as far as I know

[beavis4play]

will someone explain to me: i just looked at the gamestop "bestsellers list" and KZ2 is still at #1. and it's been at the top spot for a while; so, if it's still selling better than anything else......wouldn't a midnight launch be appropriate?

like i said......i don't do midnight launches, but it is curious.
anyone have an answer?

[Blaze929]

well its simple really...there isnt any other "big title" coming out besides Street Fighter 4. Gamecrazy is doing an event, SF4 tournament.

But that explains why it was at #1, there literally isnt any other game. like they said, its low pre-order numbers which wouldnt benefit them in doing a midnight launch event if no one is gonna show.

[butterfinger]

The most likely answer to your question is that the game is selling better online than it is in the actual stores.

[beavis4play]

really, you don't consider the RE franchise to be big?

good point butterfinger!

anyways, thanks for the responses guys.

[acedoh]

a big deal... The game still has a couple of weeks and possibly pre-orders will increase. A couple of weeks ago I checked at my local Gamestop and the employee said pre-orders are half what they would be for a game like Madden. SONY needs to up their game and get the advertising rolling. I am still waiting to see the first commercial. SONY's conservative style may end up biting them in the rear end.

[Blaze929]

well we still got a month+ till the release of Resident Evil 5.

[FarEastOrient]

I pre-ordered both Halo Wars and Killzone 2 through Amazon because they have better pre-order packages. I can't be the only one and a bummer for Gamestop since they payed for the downloadable content to be exclusive to them. As a programmer myself I have access to the UK servers so I could get the demo through them if I wanted.

Are there others that did the same thing?

[BRG9000]

You nailed it edge. If I saw a commercial and heard the bland name "Killzone" and saw the Helghasts for the first time, I wouldn't see why I should care about this game. The F.E.A.R. 2 commercials, however, catch my eye because they do a decent job of showing what separates that game from what's out there.

Killzone 2 is good sure, but it fails at different, at least at shallow levels which is all that advertising can express.

[butterfinger]

RE5 comes out only 2 weeks after Killzone 2, and Killzone 2 has been the number one on Gamestop for well over a month now.

[Mikerra17]

my gamestop is having a midnight release

you should go talk to the manager

but you are all correct most of them are xbots this is the only GS employee I have found that is a PS3 fanboy good thing he is a manager

[komp]

VGW have done an article about how with no Midnight Launches mentioned people will be relying on postal deliveries (most) and how this is going to leave a few people very sad on Day1.
Have a read
http://www.n4g.com/gaming/N...

[Rhythmattic]

@specialguest RE: Sonarus.

Well Spotted. You nailed that one buddy.

Maybe he should have 3 user accounts, Me, Myself and I.

[prowiew]

I remember when I went one day to a midnight release (halo 2), and when I saw the line, I got in the car and went home. I am an impatient man. Hate midnight releases.

[Simon_Brezhnev]

whats funny is i thought killzone 2 was number 1 in pre-orders at gamestop but im not surprised this how the microsoft affiliates work

[sonyjunky279]

yea i know, but its kinda sad 2 weeks and I have yet to see an add on Tv...

[omodis420]

I hear you man. Sony messed up again!

[happyface]

preorders at Gamestop must be worse than thought because Gamestop will always do midnight release if preorders are high

they even did one for Force Unleashed because the preorders were surprisingly high

[Zeus Lee]

Sonarus,you need to check which account you're commenting with buddy.

[sonyjunky279]

hahaha I saw that too

[Halochampian]

lol. good job sonarus.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

It blended in nicely with the comments. Makes me wonder how many PS3 folks have many accounts all talking, agreeing and replying to themselves. No wonder this place looks like a Sony fanclub. lol

[RebornSpy]

it's crazy! For all you know, I am Halochampian on a different acccunt. O.o

[disrupt3r]

You and Me.

[grantps3]

its not sony's fault, its gamestop.

Also, killzone is up against resident evil 5, since its multiplatform and a really popular game is could have outsold killzone. So i guess killzone 2 is selling pretty well

[omodis420]

Sony should have done their damn job and made sure that there were stipulations in the contract with GameStop that spoke to advertising. Obviously Sony hasn't learned their lessons this Gen. Now an amazing game will suffer. And a great developer will suffer as well.

DAMN SONY!!!

[rucky]

Dude chill Feb 27 is a Friday. Some people would much prefer grabbing their copies after work or school.

[edgeofblade]

Don't worry, omodis420. If the game is good, sales will normalize after launch, even without a glut of sales upfront.

Of course, if the game isn't that good, then they will be even worse off. The fact that they aren't pushing pre-orders is a sign of strength to me...

[FF7numbaone]

Europe loves killzone. I remember watching them play in the killzone online servers. I'm wondering how the game will do in America. I wonder what sony will do for the commercial....Gears of war 1 commercial was epic.

[Graphics Whore]

I guess pre-orders into the hundreds of thousands possibly a million doesn't constitute as 'much'. Lol.

[dork1337]

My store has 12 pre orders. The problem is ps3 owners think they are to good to pre order games. You lose 0 dollars by pre ordering, yet ps3 owners refuse.

Gamestop has done all it can to promote this game, Demo, we have had 2-3 posters up for the last 2 months.

Sony is the one who isn't advertising their game.

haha millions, you are an idiot. go ask your gamestop how many they have, even if you lived in LA, i bet its under 100

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Don't try to generalize console owners...I Pre-ordered at least 90%
of my games..even Lord of the rings conquest..which like 11 people bought..

And yes you do lose money on a pre-order..it cost an extra 5$

[butterfinger]

"haha millions, you are an idiot. go ask your gamestop how many they have, even if you lived in LA, i bet its under 100"

You called another member an idiot when you clearly misunderstood what GW was trying to say. Apparently you have forgotten that going into a Gamestop and pre-ordering the game isn't the only way to pre-order from Gamestop. Killzone 2 has been the #1 bestseller on Gamestop's website for over a month now, so I would imagine that hundreds of thousands are at least possible. You perfectly exemplify the typical Gamestop employee, though (uninformed and arrogant). Congrats!

[gijose]

I'm not sure how they do things in Canada, but at least at my Gamestop, the $5 dollar pre-order counts as a credit for the game. kind of like a down payment. you can pay the game full in price before hand, it doesn't cost you anything extra

even if you decide to preorder a title, then decide to not buy it, you can have that 5$ in store credit transferred to a different title.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Yeah well..that's the magic of gamestop i guess.But at my EBgames in Laval

Instead of say 65$ for killzone 2.It would be 70$.(with pre-order)

No store credit.Nothing like that.Just cost's an extra 5$ to have a guaranteed copy waiting for you.

[gijose]

is just stupid

who would pay that?

do the game stores around you not have enough pull or something to secure enough copies to satisfy demand?

[Aclay]

Since people in the U.S. could get their hands on the demo WITHOUT pre-ordering KZ2 because they could just download it from the EU store, my guess is that they just didn't pre-order it and will be getting it on release day instead.... however, I pre-ordered mine from Amazon.com with Release Date delivery

... And who knows, maybe this is a sign that PS3 gamers just aren't giving Gamestop a lot of their business anymore, because I stopped going to Gamestop last April and haven't been back since.

[omodis420]

I disagree. Those of us that post on N4G as a hobby knew to get it off the Euro store. Your average PS3 owner doesn't. GameStop and Sony both dropped the ball. Don't make excuses demand more of your PS3!!!

[interrergator]

dammit i wanted to play it at 1230 in the morning

[Surfman]

gamestops are xbots, no surprises

[TheMART]

Surfman is a butthurt PS3 fandroid, no surprises.

[Montrealien]

Hey surfman, you dirty little fanboy :P

I will be selling them at midnight as long as I get some before the 27th, let me know.

[cryymoar]

gamestop doesn't tell all stores they cant have a midnight launch. it's varies from store to store depending on how many pre-orders there are. if 99% of stores have 1 pre-order and 1 store has 100+ somehow, that store will most likely have a midnight launch because of the high volume of pre-orders. Payroll just have to give the okay to hand the store the hours, which is like 5 maybe.
Also, midnight launches aren't determined 2 and a half weeks before launch, this is something determined a few days before launch, we still have a while to go to see how the pre-orders go first.
I already talked to my store manager, she said we will most likely have one, we have money for pizza anyway. ;D
But idc, she said she'd break the street date and sell it to me if all else fails.

[Kill Crow]

again ... sounds like the R2/LBP fail bug of 2008 .... !!!

I'm deliberately NOT buying my copy in the first week to keep the numbers down !!!!

[Wizeguy21]

Didn't we have a report that said GAMESTOP had 1 million pre-order already! This is BS.. these 2 stories contradict each other

[tako2000]

that's Europe figure, no one knew how many pre-order in NA area.

The assumed low pre-order at NA area can't say surprising, since 1) I hadn't see "any" KZ2 advertising camping anywhere and 2) GameStop had been focus on SF4 advertising (with big ass poster and hanger)!!

Let's see if thing changed after the release of SF4 and the promised KZ2 camping kicked in after mid-Feb.

BTW I reserve mine at Sony store, GameStop have a bad habit to release game "after" the release day. So GameStop customers get the game at 28th rather then 27th, (some invoice sh#t maybe...) but Sony sure to get the game in store at 27th, enough said.

[edgeofblade]

So, the story you think is right is the one that suits you. Maybe the 1 million pre-orders isn't true.

[Wizeguy21]

You are right.. it was europe.. oh well.. thnx for the info! Damn.. I hope people were just smart enough NOT to get there copy at gamestop!

[KingME]

It's must be a scandal. How could they not do a Midnight opening for KZ2 of all games. Gamestop must have gotten a kickback from Microsoft to keep their doors closed.

Hmmm...There must be a reason sony is being mums about US preorder numbers.

[happyface]

I believe MS secretly gives Gamestop lots of money so they disrespect the ps3 and killzone

[edgeofblade]

No. I'm 99% sure Microsoft is not paying off anyone to dis on the PS3. This is a conspiracy theory, and as such, it's extremely unlikely. Enough with the Microsoft hate. I suppose if Killzone 2 isn't GOTY, it's Microsoft's fault some how, right?

[Marie]

Really, who didn't see this coming.

[happyface]

have you seen Killzone's graphics??

the graphics should make this game sell at least 10 million and millions of preorders

[HighDefinition]

That`s won`t stop the Titan.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[MADPIRAHNA]

When Wal-Mart always has midnight releases. Im not sure about other "24 hour" stores, but I always go to Wal Mart at midnight for the games I want badly.

[Enterprise-E]

Because people are not going to Gamestop to buy the game. I know I am not. I am going to best buy and get my copy. Just like i did with Gears of War 2.

I hate going to Gamestop to buy games or anything else from them. I mean has any one looked at the used games prices? Just down right stealing.

We really need an alternative to Gamestop.

[omodis420]

Best Buy is all about money as well. So what's your point. You feel better because you went to a giant monopolistic chain store?

[MegaMohsi]

Maybe they did have low pre-orders? Who knows. What does it matter anyway if it opens at midnight or a few more hours the next day? That won't affect sales, will it? I think they have more pre-orders than any other PS3 exclusive but still not enough for a midnight release. MGS4 probably only had a midnight release because of the combination of the game and the 80gb bundle coming out

[Omega4]

Now we know why SCEA doesnt want to release pre-order numbers for Killzone 2

[bassturd]

good news. Gamestop sux....less sales there = the better.

[JustinSaneV2]

I just called two local GameStops and both stated that they probably won't have midnight launches (but of course one of them randomly threw in that they will probably be doing one for Halo Wars).

These are Kansas City locations BTW.

[JustinSaneV2]

Just called one more good measure and they too stated they doubted they were going to have a midnight launch.

They'll hold a midnight launch for Halo Wars but not a likely system seller like Killzone 2?

*edit*

LOL at the people disagreeing with my first statement. Pitiful drones.

[Wolf873]

there's not a single mention of Killzone-2 coming out, they still have their old posters up.

[solidt12]

Yeah I was shocked when I went to Gamestop this weekend and all they had was FEAR 2 posters up.

[rhood022]

Gamestop are a bunch of liars. Pre-orders have no weight in whether a game has a midnight launch. It's whatever they BELIEVE which games will sell--based usually on name-brand. It's a totally arbitrary decision to do midnight launches and is not based on any actual sales figures.

For example, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed had a midnight launch in my area but the game only sold 1 million copies in the first week.

Hell, Quantum of Solace had one too.
--------

Btw, how many pre-orders does Halo Wars have (which will probably get a midnight release)

MS is known for touting these numbers (look at what they did for Halo 3 pre-order figures).

Considering the game comes before Killzone 2, why has MS been so quiet for this game?

[DJ]

As people can pre-order at pretty much every other retailer. I got my KZ2 pre-order at Best Buy, and I know Amazon has pre-orders as well.

[sutton32]

americans get your acts together and preorder!!

[Droid Smasha]

ahahaha

[Droid Smasha]

What? I thought SDF said there were 2 mil+ preorders between EU and NA already

[Kyur4ThePain]

Did you do a little research after you posted the first version and realized you needed to edit it a bit not to look like a complete biscuit?
At least you had the sense to do that.

[iceman2885]

Amazon.com had a pre-order coupon on top of an already discounted price where all was said and done I only had to pay $52 for the game (free shipping because I have amazon prime), so they won out for me.

[Chrisy]

Well thats good. No one wants to see another france ps3 launch embarrassment:(. That was really akward since no one showed up. Even the haters were embarrassed

[shovelbum]

I love how all this emphasis is placed on pre-orders. I pre-order games quite often but I don't always buy the game; I just roll that 5 bucks to another title at BB. I'll be getting KZ2 personally but who really cares about pre-orders. I am more interested in sale numbers. I think it'll do just fine but I don't expect any daily, weekly or monthly records to be broken.

[schmeidenkamp]

let me give you some more intel from an actual GameStop employee. This isn't Sony's fault nor is is microsofts. Its gamestops. Each month we get a booklet that tells us which games need to get advertised, then we receive the shipment of ads and we put them up accordingly. Gamestop caters 100% to microsoft. Even though the store that i work at is definitely on the sony side, we're still required to advertise what the bigwigs want. we just had to put up all of our stupid halo wars crap and street fighter 4 stuff. even though KZ2 is dominating in terms of preorders. at my location at least. hell, we even had to put up a poster for that lame ass wanted game. we have more than enough preorders to justify a midnight launch. like one of the other guys said though, its not up to the store, its up to the higher up managers i.e. district, regional.

[sinny]

That's what happens when you don't give anything worthy for preordering the game at your store.

[dukadork2]

ps3 fans are smart: they don't give their money to gamestop, they just give'em a big fat finger and buy games online.

the demo thing is hilarious: they thought they had a great selling point but everybody created european accounts instead and downloaded it from the euro store: LMAO!

gamestop is for xb!tches and retarded noobs

[Montrealien]

you got it all figured out, here`s a cookie.

*hands dork a cookie*

[Chrisy]

''ps3 fans are smart: they don't give their money to gamestop''

Looks like even the dumbest ps3 fans are smart enough to avoid buying ps3 games. According to NPD they dont buy them at any shop. Who would have thought :O PS3 fans, smart................ :O

[dork1337]

its not a selling point, they dont make money off pre orders, douche nut

[dukadork2]

@Montrealien: thx but i was just wondering, don't you have something more interesting? i dunno, like with chocolate chips?

@Chrisy: just imagining how jealous and pissed off you're gonna be at KZ2 is enough to put a smile on my face. cryyy xb!tch!

@dork1337: nice avatar, i'm flattered... sorry i insulted your employer

[redsquad]

To those in that other article who said 'PS3 Fanboys' were the 'worst', I give you CHRISY!!!! A tool is a tool, no matter what console they choose to support.

[Shane Kim]

I thought the guy at SCEE said that it allready had 1.1 million pre-orders.

[Montrealien]

fine you whinning baby..

*hands dukadork2 the lovely things in the pic*

[Marcelles25]

they dont make money off of preorders hahahahaha they make 5 bucks everyone RETARD

[thereapersson]

Just knock it off already. Quit giving PS3 owners a bad name with your nonsense.

[Kyur4ThePain]

I just looked at the top of the thread - Sonarus, you really fcked up, didn't you?
Don't blame anyone but yourself if you're never taken seriously again.

Anyway...Amazon.com orderer here.

[QUNE]

/danked

[GarandShooter]

Next account name suggestion: Soranus

Was that wrong of me?

I'm sorry...

[celldomceen1]

My gamestop in bumblef*ck illinois said they dont think they will get enough of the copies, because they have so many pre-orders

[schmeidenkamp]

well not for the people that miss out. but more than likely there will be the idiots who pre-order at your store, forget about the preorder and then buy it elsewhere

[maverick1191]

tbh the only thing i care about right now is the postman delivering it to my door on time who even does midnight launches games are far far cheaper on the net now

[Rockxy]

Sorry guys, I dont have time for KZ2, Cause I'll be playing Street fighter 4 all year long yahooooooooo, yata!

[Joey Greco RULES]

Go to any 7-11 or Walmart(supercenter) and you can get it at midnight, and 9 times out of 10, 7-11 will break the street date and sell it to you a week early.

The only good thing about Gamestop, is sometimes they give you "exclusive" goodies for buying it from them.

[schmeidenkamp]

its really funny how 7-11 is doing games now.
like they need one more reason for people to rob 'em

[iEternal]

lol i know... especially during a semi-recession - where people are out robbing places and people even more.

[Joey Greco RULES]

You two are brilliant!
*finds ski mask*

lol

[rbanke]

I'm a bit suprised. My local GameStop has NEVER done a ps3 midnight release, but they are doing one for Killzone 2. I've asked them 3 seperate times and each time they say they are definitly doing one. It was the only reason i pre-ordered with them.

If my GS is doing one, it suprises me that others arent

[dkgshiz]

They are easily the most creepy people Ive ever seen. Gamestop sure likes to hire really creepy people. They generally don't shower for weeks and seem to dress like old people. They even smell like old people, old people that don't shower for weeks :( They also look like your typical child molester. I'm glad I get all my games at Bestbuy.

[iEternal]

that's just funny.

The guy who manages the Gamestop where I live is cool. No creepy people there. Usually just teenagers and people in their 20's work there.

[dcbronco]

Doing those launches must cost the store a good amount of money. I bet the publisher or dev gives them a little incentive to do one. I've heard the pre-orders were over a million(which is a lot) so Sony must not have been able to give them the extra incentive to open late. Actually if they give something to get those openings, it's not in Sony's interest to do so at this time. They need to make as much as they can from Killzone. And giving extra to the stores for a game that will sell just as well during regular hours isn't worth it.

[itchy18]

I don't my games at gamestop. I buy games on Amazon.com(ONLINE). I only paid $46 for killzone 2, free 2 day shipping, no tax. now who's smart now? and btw, i don't care about midnight launches.

[baraka007]

AHHH!! COBRAS!!!!

[Myst]

Well I'm just glad that the release date falls on a Saturday, if lucky I can take the day off and take a break from classes as well as work to get a few game play hours in online and offline :). Don't care for midnight releases all to much, as long as their is a copy waiting for me there and hopefully I'll get the day off then all will be well at least for me :)

[LethalToxins]

Sony really sucks at advertising. They probably miss out on about one million sales for each of their big games because of this. They lead marketer is no rocket surgeon, that's for sure.

[Ldubbz]

Sorry to all u conspiracy nuts out there, but THERE IS NO SECRET COLLUSION BETWEEN GS AND MS!!!

Look, its quite simple. GS is a BUSINESS. For them to stay open for a midnight launch, they have to pay people to keep the stores open. And if the game doesnt have enough pre-orders by a certain date, then there is no midnight launch. What would they want to lose $$$ for ?

There is nothing else to it. Games like Halo, GTA and even Gears get these launches because not only do they generate huge pre-orders, but they sell systems at the same time.

But this is not a knock against Killzone; it has nothing to do with how good the game is or isnt. While K2 may be ridiculous hyped here, the real world is a far different place. People are hard to excite for a sequel to a mediocre game from 4 1/2 years ago.

Maybe Sony should have had that Super Bowl commercial. Really, they should have had a Killzone blowout on PSN; free demo (for everyone), themes, movies, interviews, etc.

EDIT: Also, sometimes the publisher will pay for a midnight launch (its part of the ad budget) campaign as well. If Sony didnt do that you cant blame GS. And I live in Los Angeles; I dont know what happens at the GS stores where some of you live, but all of the ones in the LA area are chill. The clerks are cool, and I always see them giving their honest opinion when people ask for it. The used games are definitely pricey; thats why they always run promotions for trade-ins and stuff like that. That option doesnt even exist really at Best Buy or Target or Walmart.

[Tins23]

I totally agree with your statement. I mange a GS store in Canada. we are in a mall location and would have to pay for myself and 2 staff PLUS, the mall security to be there to let people in and out of the mall. My store isn't biased at all i can honestly tell you that i have more pre-orders for SF4 than i do for KillZone2, and we are using everybit of marketing material that Sony has given us.

[GarandShooter]

I've found that as well. I'm in Pennsylvania and the employees at the two stores in my area are cool. The managers at both stores are decent guys, and it sets the basic attitude for the stores. One manager is pro 360, but he's not anti PS3. I have no problem doing business at either location.

[knightoftears]

It's not the game itself, it's the place. Gamestop is the worst place ever, and I will never buy or pre-order from them. However, my local Walmart will sell me the game at midnight on the 26th, so I'm set. Screw a midnight launch party, nobody wants to stay around for that when they can be home playing the game they just paid for with their hard earned cash.

[RadientFlux]

doesn't really concern me as I've never been a fan of midnight launches though I am interested in why not having one is classified as snubing the game

[THE TRUTH]

The way I see it is it's Gamestops loss if they choose to NOT open there doors a 1200AM! They won't be seeing a dime of my money because these days I can go to several stores open 24hours that will be happy to provide me what I want.

Personally I think this advertising crap is really overrated, can it help push a few extra consoles and a few extra games.... maybe. My feeling is a game like Killzone 2 doesn't NEED advertising to sell well, this game WILL sell by word of mouth. Judging by how every single story or subject that relates to Killzone 2 is just swarmed to Feb 25-27 will be a huge day for Sony, PS3 owners, GG and anyone who is smart enough to attch there name to this game.

So go ahead Gamestop be stupid if you want to, but I for one know for a fact they will be kicking themselves later when this game sells like hot cakes come Feb25th. Gamestop isn't the only place to buy Killzone 2 or a PS3 it's 2009 people.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Just like a droid, "Killzone is going to smash the 3fixMe and destroy you xbots, we just ain't going to buy it" XD

[butterfinger]

is so predictable and repetitive. I guess now I'll finally put you on the ignore list with the other people that never contribute anything worthwhile to these articles.

[Magna Farta]

...considering that midnight sales are usually attented by sweaty fat kids who haven't showered in at the very least 18-24 hours. Waiting in line, listening to their verbal hard-ons about the game they're minutes away from buying.

I think I'll live...not to mention I pre-ordered mine at GS to get the demo code, and just now Game Crazy is taking $5 pre-orders, and you get a free KZ2 shirt. I'm thinking about pre-ordering there too just to get me a shirt.

[soljah]

good so now when stores get the game next week. instead of sitting in a stock room put them out for sale like all other releases.

[Sharingan_no_Kakashi]

would u guys be quiet. sony's knows wat theyre doing and they dont need 14 year old kids telling them how to do it. its pretty obvious this is GS's fault. Sony's advertising close to the release of the game which is the same strategy everyone uses. Its like no1 here pays attention to the industry at all. -_-

[Thoreau]

i am tired of the 360 loving websites.

[Itrguy001]

most gamestops' will do that because they want to make sales look bad. and make fuking fanboys like POG/Why Dis/lightningps3ps3/saint sony fcking hypocrite mofo/agent "Transvestite" VX/etc etc. say "oh Killzone is a flop for not making 1million in 1 day"

[SpikeSpiegel]

Okay then.... :P

[Onrefni]

The staff wasn't to bright or friendly. The one taking the order asked which console I wanted it for, then the other one informed her, "Just PS3 it's a Sony game" which was followed by "speaking of Sony, PS3 sucks."

It was weird to hear from an employee. I would have said something, but there's no point in starting an argument over any console. Why "fight" over a piece of plastic?

[hulud86]

Good for you. Glad to hear somebody on this site is not a cry baby.

[r4nger]

Midnight launches never ever made sense to me... pointless queues and standing around doesnt = good shopping exprience - ive waited 4 years for this, i can handle 8 more hours until it opens at its normal hours...

[hulud86]

I love reading all these excuses why this happened. Yeah I bet no one is going to the biggest video game retailer in the U.S. to pre-order games.

GameStop's profits rise every quarter even in this economy. Face it they thinks this title isn't going to sell that well because nobody is buying it and they are usually right.

[xg-ei8ht]

http://www.play.com/Games/P...

That's where mines pre-ordered.

£29.99.

SWEET!!

[Figboy]

i pre-ordered Killzone 2 at the game store across the street from my house (and it's closer than the GameStop a few blocks down the street. lol).

i could care less about midnight releases, and the game store i pre-ordered at usually gets games a good week or more before they release, so i'm saved the trouble of waiting in an obnoxious line in the dead of night.

[Enigma_2099]

... I never understood the fascination of standing around in the middle of the night to get a game that you can come back and pick up later after you're well and rested.

[N2NOther]

I've attended ONE midnight launch as a customer and that was GTA IV...If I didn't work at the store and walk in at 11:45, and walk out at 12:00am, I wouldn't have done it.

[anubis12]

1 less midnight id have to do. + ill just get the game before we close....

[Pootie Tang]

Does it Really matter???

It comes out Friday so you still get Friday night and the whole weekend to play it? PS3 online will be crazy that weekend, should be fun

[moodymofo]

guess ill see if i can find a 24 hour wall mart that will be putting it out at midnight or even a 7-11 since they got into the video game biz. i know it will be out somewhere at midnight and i intend to find them

[N4Garbage]

When I visited my brother down south in Louisiana Ps3 is like a mortal sin.

I bought a copy of Uncharted and the guy at the counter looked at me right in the face and asked "You do know this on Playstation3 right?"

I said yes.

Then he says "You REALLY have one of those?"

It was funny because he was in shock so when he bagged up my game he put all these launch Ps3 booklets and pamphlets and crap in there.

I'll never forget that day.

[N2NOther]

"Gamestop promotes whatever game it wants. Period. Believe me, I know. I used to work for them in a management position. It has less to do with what sells and more to do with what upper management wants. Our store was a "pro-Sony" store where we sold a lot of Sony products, yet we were still urged to push 360s, 360 games, and 360 accessories.

And whether a game gets a midnight release or not has little to do with overall preorders. An individual store or even an entire district can do a midnight launch if the district manager gives it the OK. There are plenty of midnight launches that are "forced" upon stores (like The Force Unleashed was forced upon a lot of stores even though no one had preorders above 40 units) regardless of preorders.

So, just a tip from the inside...if Gamestop does or doesn't have a midnight launch for a big game, it isn't because of a surplus or lack of preorders. It's because someone at the top arbitrarily decided it was/wasn't worth it."

Wow, not one word of that is true...Gamestop doesn't advertise what it wants, they advertise what PAYS for advertisement...There is an entire display, taking up valuable retail space, in every Gamestop that is paid for by EA...All the FEAR 2 ads these past couple of months...Paid for by Warner Bros....It's called marketing and all of that space is paid for by the individual companies. If there are little to no Killzone 2 ads, that's because of Sony.

Sony constantly fails to generate buzz about their own games. Those demo codess being an a piece of paper? Sony. The fact that there are low pre-orders has everything to do with Sony not only not advertising this monstrous game, but supplying such a limited amount of demo codes. It should have been generated by emails like the COD beta and such.

As for the Force Unleashed...Yes, that midnight launch was a waste of everyone's time, but the game had a lot of buzz as projected through market research. They gambled and lost...Gamestop is first and foremost, a cheap, low cost - high profit company. Such a gamble comes back to them and they say "Well, we don't want to stay open for 4 extra hours, paying staff, for 20 people to show up and get this game" so they don't do it...Again, this falls back on Sony. Star Wars was advertised for not only months, but it was part of their "Power Trade" promotion, which usually leads to a midnight launch, but yet Killzone, which should be, wasn't.

I worked at a Gamestop and I can tell you that every single PS3 owner that walked through that door heard about Killzone 2 from me...And I can tell you that about 60% of them either hadn't heard of it, or hated the first one...No matter how much praise I heaped on it, even showing them the Playstation magazine review, they were wary of it and didn't reserve it. It shouldn't be our responsibility by I took it on myself to try and promote the game because I believe in it.

Then you have to factor in that 360 games outsell PS3 games at about a ratio of 2 to 1. Its hard to get behind and spend money in hopes to make a profit on something that the consumers, themselves, don't seem to get behind...

Sure it sucks that there won't me a midnight, but this game will sell well from word of mouth. I've even convinced a friend to spend his tax return on a PS3 just so we can play this together and make a KZ2 clan.

[N2NOther]

This may sound crazy, but I'm not touching the online until I beat the solo campaign and I've always been like this.

[mc-fine]

Killzone isn't a well established franchise. When i first saw the name I thought "there was a part one?". The game is yet to prove itself. The Halo 2 and 3 hype and anticipation was far greater than the original.

Knock Sony all you want but there is already tremendous hype for the game on the web. If it delivers it will sell well. Especially if there is a robust online community.

[hydro-lx]

thats not the reason why they take off midnight release foo! resistance 2 didn't have that many pre-orders and it still got mid-night release! the link to the article didn't work for me, but anyways, im sure your sources are wrong...

[TheOutsider]

THIS GAME WILL F**KEN KICK A$$!! Sorry bots! only on PS3!! HA HA HA HA HAH HA! Enjoy your DLC and replaying your Game of the Year " BLOWJOB KAZOOIE"!!

[C_Dub]

And it was for GTA IV. I may or may not ever do that again. This news doesn't surprise me in the least because KZ2 doesn't have the fanbase of GTA or Halo therefor why host a MNR for a game in which maybe 20 people show up? :P

I'm getting it a few days after release when I get paid, I think it'll rock so don't think I'm a hater lol.