[Image via "The GunStop Way" by LeetWorld and Smooth Few Films, a must-see for any GameStop customer.]
GameStop has produced a unique marketing strategy for the release of Modern Warfare 2. Flying in the face of professionalism, and risking a probable blacklisting by Activision, GameStop has uncharacteristically grown a huge set of brass ones and broken street date.
This is no new news. Joystiq, IGN and Kotaku have all reported on small mom and pop stores violating the official release date. This reportedly led to GameStop’s decision to break the street date as well. Here’s the catch: only certain locations are participating, and to varying degrees.
While all three previously mentioned sites virtually reported the same story, I’m pained to admit that Kotaku followed through and actually tracked down the actual GameStop locations that are participating in these street date shenanigans.
From reader tips and follow-up phone calls, Kotaku knows that stores in Bowie, Md., Bowling Green, Ohio, Reading, Pa., and New York City were involved.
GameSeizure.com can confirm that all these locations are still currently selling MW2 prior to the release date at the time of this post. However, while the Bowling Green and NYC (687 Broadway) stores are only releasing copies to customers that have pre-0rdered the game, the Bowie and Reading locations are shilling copies of the standard edition to anyone walking in the door. “Tell all your friends,” said a Bowie GameStop employee. He has no idea.
Unfortunately, my local GameStop locations are not so generous. The ten nearest stores to my location all reported that this was an “internet rumor” a “myth” and is “illegal”. Perhaps they didn’t get the corporate memo. Perhaps they have gun envy. The world may never know.
It will be interesting to see Activision’s response to GameStop’s blatant mishandling of the release date. With online sales and digital distribution becoming larger and larger factors in the gaming industry, could GameStop’s desperate move signal the beginning of the end for brick-and-mortar video game stores?
Doubtful. But it may be safe to say that there will be no pre-order bonus at GameStop for Modern Warfare 3.
