164 réponses à ce sujet

[vometia]

Moondoggie wrote...

It works in theory sure but i guess people are happier with the status quo in the industry than trying to organise it all. Different countries have different rules so you'd need to get everywhere to agree on a single release day that everyone is happy with which is easier said than done. Some countries prefer game releases on weekends for example to stop lots of people skipping work and school. The most amusing case of this is in Japan where they made it solid law that Dragon Quest games only ever get released  on a weekend because it's so popular half the country would not be at work

I get what you're saying, though ultimately the answer boils down to "well that's the way we've always done it" which doesn't make for an especially convincing argument.

I suspect that much of the problem in the UK is that the big retailers have a stranglehold and for whatever reason they prefer to keep things the way they are, which is why we've also tended to "enjoy" such things as much higher CD prices than practically anywhere else.  Well bollocks to them: whenever I get the opporunity to avoid the "you'll have to wait 'til Friday because it's always been Friday" malarky I'll take it and someone else can have my money.  In the meantime, I'll continue to be mildly irritated by it--even if (like others) it's actually more convenient for me to get it on Friday at least this time, since getting it on Tuesday would mean I won't do a load of stuff that really needs to be done this week.  But I refuse to acknowledge the positive side.

[TallBearNC]

If u buy and have a US copy shipped to you, it would have unlocked on the 8th.. I know a lot of people in EU that have US versions shipped to them to get around this. If they sellers won't ship to EU, then u ship it to a friend in the US, then have them ship it to you

you just have to make sure you use US EA , etc login servers

[Theo Bell]

I'm sorry i haven't read through the whole thread but have you considered using a USA proxy to activate the game?

[TallBearNC]

Theo, I forgot EU people can do that too.. use a USA proxy so their IP addy appears to be in the US.

There has to be something legal about software release. In the us, it's ALWAYS tues... I know it's not a LAW or anything like that, but that's the day the multimedia industry has chosen and signed contracts with retailers, etc....

I'm pretty sure it's the same thing as EU. But when an EU based game is made, it always is released in EU on a FRI and doesn't hit the US till Tues It just depends on where the game is made. Even with digital download.. there are STILL import/export regulations to deal with So hence the delay

[R34P3RR3D33M3R]

Theo Bell wrote...

I'm sorry i haven't read through the whole thread but have you considered using a USA proxy to activate the game?

I have, but I have little hope that it'll work. Proxies don't seem to get me around the YouTube region restrictions on some videos either.
Thank you for the suggestion, though.

[Epic Legion]

American VPN should work. Just make sure you use USA EA account too.

[ladydesire]

What I don't understand is why waiting the three days is such a big deal. I mean, what if the game has a bug that somehow made it past the final QA checks and everyone that installs it and plays encounters that; would you want to be one of the people complaining abut the QA, or would you be thankful that you knew about the problem and could wait for a patch/

[TallBearNC]

Aye, you need a US key, a US proxy, AND a US EA account... I have the game on the PC, but my PS3 Also has an EU account also.. why? EU people get playstation perks that US people don't

[R34P3RR3D33M3R]

TallBearNC wrote...

I'm pretty sure it's the same thing as EU. But when an EU based game is made, it always is released in EU on a FRI and doesn't hit the US till Tues It just depends on where the game is made. Even with digital download.. there are STILL import/export regulations to deal with So hence the delay

At least one European game that I know of (I didn't do any research, so I only came across this one case - this may or may not be common practice), released in America before Europe, so it can't really be about shipping issues.

And the boxes already arrived here yesterday, so, well, it's pretty annoying I have to say.

Thanks again for your thoughts on the matter.
I also appreciate that the little bit of initial hostility some people brought to this thread, quickly vanished.

[Theo Bell]

If it's only on some videos that must mean that you were using proxies from a region that also has the restriction

I have used free vpn proxies that you can get anywhere these days to bypass activation dates several times - with DA:O actually and recently with Dawn of War 2: Retribution. Always works like a charm. So give it a shot in 3 days.

Modifié par Theo Bell, 05 mars 2011 - 06:50 .

[Sherana]

Who knows what the legal reasons are... probably the same ones that have the release timers in the US being set to timezones as well. East coast gets it three hours before west coast.

[R34P3RR3D33M3R]

ladydesire wrote...

What I don't understand is why waiting the three days is such a big deal. I mean, what if the game has a bug that somehow made it past the final QA checks and everyone that installs it and plays encounters that; would you want to be one of the people complaining abut the QA, or would you be thankful that you knew about the problem and could wait for a patch/

As someone who frequently participates in beta tests, I don't mind bugs at all. I'd rather get to play the game at the same day as everyone else and encounter a bug or two, than being forced to wait. Besides, I don't think any bugfixes worth mentioning will be done in those 3 days.

For everyone who has a problem with bugs and would rather wait for reviews and/or patches, that option always exists. Nobody is forcing anyone to get the game as soon as possible - everyone can wait for as long as they like.

[TallBearNC]

R34P3RR3D33M3R wrote...

TallBearNC wrote...

I'm pretty sure it's the same thing as EU. But when an EU based game is made, it always is released in EU on a FRI and doesn't hit the US till Tues It just depends on where the game is made. Even with digital download.. there are STILL import/export regulations to deal with So hence the delay

At least one European game that I know of (I didn't do any research, so I only came across this one case - this may or may not be common practice), released in America before Europe, so it can't really be about shipping issues.

And the boxes already arrived here yesterday, so, well, it's pretty annoying I have to say.

Thanks again for your thoughts on the matter.
I also appreciate that the little bit of initial hostility some people brought to this thread, quickly vanished.

It's nice to see some maturity on the forums heheheh. You have a VALID complaint. You aren't just a "whiner"

Yes people have said a 3 day wait is no big deal. In some ways they are right... but there's always human nature.. we want what others have that we do not.. and when people are playing.. YOU want to play.

I wish the rules were different, and I wish I could help you. I've posted the only ways I know of to get a EU game working "early"

Otherwise, I'd take the advice someone above me posted... you might be lucky.. the game could have horrific game stopping bugs that BW has to push out emergency patches over the first few days.. if that happens.. then you'll be GLAD you didn't start on the 8th and be frustrated

[Eludajae]

I am not certain it has to do with marketing or sales. I think they release dates are different are server limitations. Since Russia gets it on the 8th as well. I am thinking it has something to do with access and such. Not sure why Europe and Australia get 11th while Russia and North America gets 8th. But I think its more logistical than marketing.

[R34P3RR3D33M3R]

Theo Bell wrote...

If it's only on some videos that must mean that you were using proxies from a region that also has the restriction

I have used free vpn proxies that you can get anywhere these days to bypass activation dates several times - with DA:O actually and recently with Dawn of War 2: Retribution. Always works like a charm. So give it a shot in 3 days.

I was able to play the Vindictus beta with a USA proxy. I was not able to watch some region restricted videos on YouTube with a USA proxy however, while friends of mine who live in the USA could watch them without issues. They were the ones sending me the links to begin with.
It's really quite annoying when a friend sends you a link, and you can't watch it because you live somewhere else - when it's free to begin with.

Since the YouTube restriction is usually by Sony Music Entertainment, and the Release Control system is by Sony DCDU (or something like that), I assume that they won't let a simple USA proxy fool them easily either. But sure, I'll try. Thanks again for the suggestions.

[STARSBarry]

hmm ok let me think this through..... what your saying is the DRM system they have inplace is more or less restricting paying customers.... so bassicaly your only choice to play your legimately paid for product on the day it arrives not... 3 days later is to circumvent using a 3rd party program.... wow who would of thought that... DRM nailing it to the people who pay while the ones that dont.... well arnt effected by it at all.

[R34P3RR3D33M3R]

Eludajae wrote...

I am not certain it has to do with marketing or sales. I think they release dates are different are server limitations. Since Russia gets it on the 8th as well. I am thinking it has something to do with access and such. Not sure why Europe and Australia get 11th while Russia and North America gets 8th. But I think its more logistical than marketing.

Well, I personally can't imagine that server limitations could pose a problem. The only thing that will require servers, is the simple, one-time online activation when installing the game. Apart from that, they said, you'll be able to play the game offline, without ever requiring an internet connection again. This can hardly be a problem; considering BioWare/EA are planning to launch a huge MMORPG pretty soon, they'd better have the server capacity to deal with a few activations from Europe / Australia in addition to America and Russia.

Apart from that, the boxes are already here, so they got their other logistics right too.

[R34P3RR3D33M3R]

STARSBarry wrote...

hmm ok let me think this through..... what your saying is the DRM system they have inplace is more or less restricting paying customers.... so bassicaly your only choice to play your legimately paid for product on the day it arrives not... 3 days later is to circumvent using a 3rd party program.... wow who would of thought that... DRM nailing it to the people who pay while the ones that dont.... well arnt effected by it at all.

Yes, pretty much. It's really quite counter-productive. I'm no expert on the matter, but I do assume people who're experienced in videogame piracy also know ways around the online activations or Release Controls, so it probably hits the paying customers the hardest.

[STARSBarry]

rule of the thumb with DRM it always and only hits the paying cutomer, it never locks out pirates just the paying customers.... go figure.

Modifié par STARSBarry, 05 mars 2011 - 07:09 .

[Pyrate_d]

STARSBarry wrote...

rule of the thumb with DRM it always and only hits the paying cutomer, it never locks out pirates just the paying customers.... go figure.

so dramatic

[Soundsystem]

Am I the only one that thinks the release control system makes perfect sense?

I cannot speak to why the release dates between North America and Europe are different besides the only Tuesday/Friday excuse. Which I think is BS for those customers who live in Europe. (I live in Canada so I get it on the 8th but..)

It makes sense that EU copies, even the digital copies or boxes delivered to your house (as you say you are getting), are time released for the 11th. Otherwise it would be unfair to those who buy their games in the store, rather than getting them delivered or getting digital copies. It's unfair as is but it would be more unfair if those who bought from a store in EU had to wait til the 11th to buy there copies but those who got it in a different way could play it as soon as they recieved their copy.

[vometia]

TallBearNC wrote...

Yes people have said a 3 day wait is no big deal. In some ways they are right... but there's always human nature.. we want what others have that we do not.. and when people are playing.. YOU want to play.

I think the human nature element is really the point: although in absolute terms three days is no big deal, nobody likes being routinely given second-class treatment compared to someone else.  It's not surprising that people will start to object on that basis.

[Drakkon21]

Soundsystem wrote...

Am I the only one that thinks the release control system makes perfect sense?

I cannot speak to why the release dates between North America and Europe are different besides the only Tuesday/Friday excuse. Which I think is BS for those customers who live in Europe. (I live in Canada so I get it on the 8th but..)

It makes sense that EU copies, even the digital copies or boxes delivered to your house (as you say you are getting), are time released for the 11th. Otherwise it would be unfair to those who buy their games in the store, rather than getting them delivered or getting digital copies. It's unfair as is but it would be more unfair if those who bought from a store in EU had to wait til the 11th to buy there copies but those who got it in a different way could play it as soon as they recieved their copy.

yeah so we all should wait for the 11th. So it is fair for erverbody stupids argument I heard.
It just dosn´t make sense to lock it to a timeframe for whatever reason...

[AmstradHero]

vometia wrote...

Moondoggie wrote...

It works in theory sure but i guess people are happier with the status quo in the industry than trying to organise it all. Different countries have different rules so you'd need to get everywhere to agree on a single release day that everyone is happy with which is easier said than done. Some countries prefer game releases on weekends for example to stop lots of people skipping work and school.

I get what you're saying, though ultimately the answer boils down to "well that's the way we've always done it" which doesn't make for an especially convincing argument.

I know of no law in Australia that dictates the sale date of games to a particular day of the week. Some stores have been known to sell titles before the official Australian release date because:
a) They had received their shipment of the game
The official release date in the US had passed
c) Paying customers turned up to their store.
I actually obtained Mass Effect 1 before its official Australian release date this way.

The point here is "Why force people to wait when the stores have the games?" Now, I can see the point when it comes to things like movies - which are always released on a Thursday here. There is a timetable for customers to check and determine when they want to make time to watch a movie, and generally they know that the current daily schedule will stay the same until the next Thursday.

However, in the context of selling games, it makes no sense that stores not be allowed to sell copies until the country's "official release date." Stores have the game in stock and it's been released elsewhere in the world, so why do we bother placing arbitrary delays on some countries?

"Because that's the way it's done" is a poor excuse at best.

I'm not outraged by this process, I'm just curious to see whether there is any concrete reason behind this seemingly pointless delay. The technology and infrastructure exists to deliver simultaneous worldwide release of products. Why isn't that being utilised?

[Sergeant Pepper]

When they announced the US release date of 8th March I figured that would mean an 11th March release date here in the UK as all games are released on Friday here, except for some MMOs/MMO expansions, which, due to their nature, would make staggered releases utterly horrid so they are often released globally on the same date.

Personally, I'm glad it's going to be released on Friday here, I've booked a day off work so have Friday plus the weekend to play it - if it was released Tuesday I'm not sure I'd want to take that day off then back to work for 3 days. Being released Friday means I take a long weekend, which is always nice.

I'm in the process of pre-loading the game, which I got on Steam, and come Friday I'll be ready to enjoy DA2 and the long weekend as soon as get up

It's only 3 days after the US gets it and compared to how long we used to have to wait for games to be released here, many weeks or even months after the US got them, that's nothing really imo.