3 Day Game Delay?

[SamStar42]

Never understood this. I was planning on going out to get Portal 2 tomorrow morning as I live in good ole' hometown Britannia, and as it's a fairly big release I assumed it'd be released Tuesday. However, it's releasing Friday...for some unknown reason. Why is this? Games like Reach, Black Ops etc. are released retail same day in US as UK, why the difference? Pisses me off as I'm going to have to wait 72 more devastating hours until rescue arrives.

So yeah, anyone know the reason?

 

[Heathrow]

What? Portal 2 is being released everywhere in less than 5 hours.
http://www.aperturescience.com/glados@home/

 

[spartan231490]

Cuz friday is a better and smarter day to release a game? Is valve based in the US? Is portal more popular in the US? Those would be my guesses.

 

[Woodsey]

I dunno, I'll be playing Portal 2 at approximately 7am tomorrow.

I thought all the Portal 2 releases were simultaneous, not just the Steam copies. Could be wrong though. And its something to do with regions, but since that matters less and less, it is fucking stupid.

The amount of games I get through Steam, and the fact that publishers postpone digital copies as well is ridiculous.

 

[SamStar42]

What? Portal 2 is being released everywhere in less than 5 hours.
http://www.aperturescience.com/glados@home/

Unlike a lot of people on these boards I am a lowly peasant, and my laptop isn't powerful enough to run Portal 2. I was getting it for my 360.

Cuz friday is a better and smarter day to release a game? Is valve based in the US? Is portal more popular in the US? Those would be my guesses.

Not for me, I have stuff to do this weekend. And Tuesday means you have more time to own it in your arms.

And regardless of the US thing, I still assume we have a big part in sales, so I'm guessing it's redundant.

 

[TheMann]

08:57 - Default boot scheduled to finish in 10:45:26
08:58 - Activating emergency distributed computing grid...
09:00 - GLaDOS@home starting...
09:01 - Recruiting cpus to force faster boot sequence...
19:55 - Calculations complete for The Wonderful End of the World. Recalculating a new launch projection...
11:55 - Calculations complete for 1... 2... 3... Kick It!. Recalculating a new launch projection...
21:00 - Calculations complete for AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! - A Reckless Disregard for Gravity. Recalculating a new launch projection...
04:00 - Calculations complete for RUSH. Recalculating a new launch projection...
10:15 - Calculations complete for Cogs. Recalculating a new launch projection...
15:35 - Calculations complete for Toki Tori. Recalculating a new launch projection...
20:20 - Calculations complete for BIT.TRIP BEAT. Recalculating a new launch projection...
10:50 - Engaging starch-based power cells
11:00 - Reboot safety test protocol initiated...
11:00 - Relaxation chamber locks released...
11:00 - Involuntary hazard mitigation associates have assumed testing positions...
11:00 - Pre-release lethality assessment initiated...
12:40 - Calculations complete for Audiosurf. Recalculating a new launch projection...
15:35 - Calculations complete for The Ball. Recalculating a new launch projection...
20:00 - Preliminary lethality assessment complete
20:00 - Results inconclusive
20:00 - Expanding candidate pool

There's some great seemingly GlaDOS generated lines in there. Definitely looking forward to playing this one.

 

[MisterShine]

So yeah, anyone know the reason?

From what I read from a marketing guy on the bioware forums, traditionally, entertainment products tend to be released on Tuesdays in the U.S., and the UK has always done them on Fridays. Publishers are just sticking with the status quo. They're aware its kind of ridiculous in todays global economy, but there it is.

 

[fletch_talon]

So yeah, anyone know the reason?

From what I read from a marketing guy on the bioware forums, traditionally, entertainment products tend to be released on Tuesdays in the U.S., and the UK has always done them on Fridays. Publishers are just sticking with the status quo. They're aware its kind of ridiculous in todays global economy, but there it is.

Here in Aus major games are usually released on Thursdays (from what I've seen).
Likely because our major retailers start new catalogues/sales on thursdays and its also (at least in QLD) late night shopping, where most stores remain open until 9.

 

[Hashime]

What? Portal 2 is being released everywhere in less than 5 hours.
http://www.aperturescience.com/glados@home/

Damn, 51 minutes, it is almost midnight here, and I have an exam tomorrow, but I am staying up!