I am a little ticked at every game retailer in the KC area for having no idea what the heck there talking about. I purchased a "pre-order" from best buy knowing that it wouldnt nessarly reserve me a copy but at least figured they would have this game available on it release date. Come to find out, None of the bestbuy stores will have it for at least a week, and they don't know how many they are even getting. So oh well, I'll go buy it somewhere else, or so I thought. Called local EB games (normaly very knowledgeable) opening at midnight for halo 2 asking if they will have everquest as well, absoulutly they said, "come on up, we got in stock and will sell it after midnight" In my excitement arrived there 45 minutes later to see how big the hype was gonna be and how early I needed to get there. Everquest 2? they said? what system is that for? Ohh I dont see any here, we don't have any of those to sell". "I don't know when thats coming in." Try back next week. Left frustrated but still hopeful, so I proceeded to call everygame retailer within 50 miles of my home. Smaller gaming outfits promised more comming in within the 2 days. The funny part of this story is Wal-mart told me they had it and would be putting it out at midnight, arrived there around 9:00 pm spoke with 3 employees in eletronics who swore up and down they had 100's of copy in the back just waiting to be sold. A small crowd begain to form, and while waiting in excitment and feelings of complete joy, I had a thought....No other retailer, especily the big ones, had this game, and didnt expect it in till up to 2 weeks in some case's. Hmmm.. Decided to grab a store manager to verify that there employees did know the difference between Halo 2 and Everquest 2. He looked frighted...seeing the small army of sweaty geeks and MMORPG nuts begain to get larger. Running to the back room to check not wanting to admit there mistake, verified that EVerquest 2 not only wasnt there but the didnt have it on there new release list for the next 2 weeks. I smiled and desided that I would not mention this to the crowd, better the let them find out after waiting another 2 hours. Even more comical, I called 3 other supercenters in the area...They were all stating that they had it ready to go at midnight...
And i'm spent...
I leave you with a question though... Is EQ 2 really ready? Its seems strange that no major retailer recived the game to sell on its offical release date, trickling in stock over the course of 4 weeks before you can walk in and buy readily. Let the small retailer's (where only true hardcore fans would go to seek out the game, most of which expect and can forgive gliches) have stock. Wait to give it to the big boys until we are really ready for the unforgiveing masses.