The problem I see with people complaining they won't have their boxes on time and this doesn't go for people outside the US/Canada is that they are going by estimates on an order page.I know people flame Gamestop alot but I have pre-ordered a few mmo's from them and they have all shown up on release day if you have paid for next day air since they will ship them out the day before release, I have done it for Warhammer, got it on release day and Aion, and got it on release day.Peoples problem is they are looking at estimated ship/recieve dates not actaul ship/recieve dates (heres pointing at you Amazon), these people just need to chill and wait till its closer to release before they start to panic on when they will get their boxes.

Bioware did not lie to anyone. I understand your frustration, but a lie would indicate that they were trying to decieve you. They changed what the original plan was, so they updated the site to reflect it. Maybe they did not handle it as well as it should have been, but having played a TON of MMOs, I can tell you that they are like saints compared to some companies. You still have/had the opportunity to cancel your pre-order.  You should be greatful that they are going out of there way to ship it from online retailers faster.

This is why people should order digital or in-store! I know tons of MMOs give a grace period,but I don't ever risk it so it never affects me. You took the chance at ordering it online, so you should be willing to wait an extra day or two to play after the headstart.

Sorry it didn't work out OP. You should have done a bit of homework befor trotting off to Amazon to make sure that the product was viable in your territory. More so should have done due diligence before recommending it to your bros.

Lesson learned. You will still give them your money because you want their product. 

This is not the only dissapointment here in the states I can tell you about: over 500,000 customers who reserved their copy from Walmart had their pre-orders "accidentally" deleted by Walmart, no recoursive action. Now they were given the option to reserve it through EA's Origin service. How convienient...how shady.

_{I keep forgetting that this is the only game in town.}

Originally posted by Inktomi

Sorry it didn't work out OP. You should have done a bit of homework befor trotting off to Amazon to make sure that the product was viable in your territory. More so should have done due diligence before recommending it to your bros.

Lesson learned. You will still give them your money because you want their product. 

This is not the only dissapointment here in the states I can tell you about: over 500,000 customers who reserved their copy from Walmart had their pre-orders "accidentally" deleted by Walmart, no recoursive action. Now they were given the option to reserve it through EA's Origin service. How convienient...how shady.

 

 

_{I keep forgetting that this is the only game in town.}

Not likely to be a conspiracy as you point out. This has been cleared up and was actually an error on Wal-Mart's part. You think Wal-Mart wants this kind of press? EA just ships the boxes to Wal-Mart warehouses, they don't have anything to do with orders or shipments beyond that. http://www.oldrepublic.net/260-walmart-swtor-pre-order-issue-has-been-resolved.html

Can someone explain grace period to me?  I dont know what the big ideal is, you still get to play the pre-release right? or Do we have to wait on the physical copy?  Im confused.

Originally posted by Zylaxx

Can someone explain grace period to me?  I dont know what the big ideal is, you still get to play the pre-release right? or Do we have to wait on the physical copy?  Im confused.

A grace period is when the developer of an MMO allows you a small "grace period" to enter your code after a headstart while you await your shipment of a game. So if you just finished the  3 day headstart and the game comes out, you don't have to enter your code until the "grace period" is over. They usually last about a week at the most because you can essentially pre-order the game and play it until the grace-period is over without paying for anything but the 5$ pre-order.

Thing is, many of us have already PAID for the game and were given a release date. The fact that they didn't allow for a grace period for shipping to those of us who bought physical copies online is like if an Activision rep came into your house 7 days after buying MW3 and took it and said "You can have this back in 7 days". Granted, most services ship early to guarantee launch day delivery for titles like this but then it depends on the retailer.

Originally posted by Aurorus

Thing is, many of us have already PAID for the game and were given a release date. The fact that they didn't allow for a grace period for shipping to those of us who bought physical copies online is like if an Activision rep came into your house 7 days after buying MW3 and took it and said "You can have this back in 7 days". Granted, most services ship early to guarantee launch day delivery for titles like this but then it depends on the retailer.

Thing is, it works like any other product in this case. Having a headstart or a grace period is a privilege, not a right. Once you place your order and the product has shipped it works like anything else--you get it and than you get to play it. 

@ Aurorus 

Its not the same thing as if activision came and took your game. You guys are really making a big deal out of nothing.  Bunch of crybabes i swear. Seriously as others have stated. You were not lied to. Go spend some time with your family if you have not already alienated them to the point where you want to spend all of xmas on a  video game. 

People keep saying it's only a day or 2.  My shipping date was for Dec 29 - Jan 9.  I changed my shipping method, now it says 25th.  I refuse to pay anymore for shipping.  I don't really care about the few days.  What I do care about is leveling up with my friends.  

@ 

bleyzwun

looks like you either live in an area that the game isnt being published just yet, Or you picked the wrong palce to order. EA/bioware have been doing a ton to make this a great launch. And i will be completely honest so far they are way ahead of so many mmo's when it comes to prelaunches. They are keeping everyone informed and they are trying to get everyone there copies early. Aswell they gave us 2 extra days on early start. So keep QQing it does everyone so much good. At least its entertaining i guess

Why didn't you just have someone in the states buy the digital code for you ? I did that for the 2 australians in my guild and they are good to go. Paypal works wonders

Originally posted by zerrin

@ Aurorus 

 

Its not the same thing as if activision came and took your game. You guys are really making a big deal out of nothing.  Bunch of crybabes i swear. Seriously as others have stated. You were not lied to. Go spend some time with your family if you have not already alienated them to the point where you want to spend all of xmas on a  video game. 

Not really, I got mine from gamestop so I will have it most likely at midnight or launch day but I would be upset if I was one of the hundres of thousands who won't get their copy thus suffering a break of service. I am assuming some people who scheduled vacations etc. to coincide with the release date and now will have that time mean nothing. It's just slightly inconsiderate of the dev/publisher to their already payed for customers.

Originally posted by Aurorus

Originally posted by zerrin

@ Aurorus 

 

Its not the same thing as if activision came and took your game. You guys are really making a big deal out of nothing.  Bunch of crybabes i swear. Seriously as others have stated. You were not lied to. Go spend some time with your family if you have not already alienated them to the point where you want to spend all of xmas on a  video game. 

Not really, I got mine from gamestop so I will have it most likely at midnight or launch day but I would be upset if I was one of the hundres of thousands who won't get their copy thus suffering a break of service. I am assuming some people who scheduled vacations etc. to coincide with the release date and now will have that time mean nothing. It's just slightly inconsiderate of the dev/publisher to their already payed for customers.

Its not inconsiderate. They have been doing everything in there power to get it shipped to people earlier and any many places in the USA people are going to be getting there copy early. Also if you planned on taking vacation time for this game release it would of been smarter for you to order a digital copy, that way your guarenteed to have your cd key so there would be no interuption. And dont give me that oooo but i want a hard copy bullshit. And you say already paid customer, Check your bank statement have you been charged for anything yet. Nope didnt think so. So calling yourself and already paid for customers, well your a soon to be payed customer. People should realize that a digital copy is going to allow you a guarantee that your going to get a game on release day. 

lol... I am in the states.  I ordered off Amazon, which is what I always do.  I have never had this problem with any other MMO I preordered.  This is the first time there was no grace period.  I was also under the impression there would be a grace period, or I would have gone with the digital copy.  

Whatever, though.  Not a huge deal.  I just would have liked to level up with some of my friends.  It also kinda sucks cuz I told my friend, who is way more excited about this game, to get it from Amazon. 

EA fucked up on this one.  If they just said they didn't know if there would be a grace period, or flat out said no, this wouldn't be a problem for some people.  What's worse is, it seems more like a push for people to go with their Origins service than anything else.  

Seriously though, if you are having to wait 7 days (or more) for it to be delivered, pick a different retailer to order from. Many have release date delivery. They have already started shipping the games, so stores with reasonable shipping times might still get them to you on time. They also extended the early access period to up to 7 days.

If you have already paid in full, that is completely on your retailer. Even the $5 preorder charge is the retailer. Some places charge nothing to pre-order. Plus the preorder is no different that buying the game later. You aren't paying extra when you pre-order, and in many cases, you aren't paying anything toward the game until they ship it. If you ordered the game at release, and ordered from the same retailer, you would have the same delay. There would be no grace period then. The difference is that you would get no early access time either.

They are trying very hard to get the game to retailers with plenty of time to ship them in a reasonable time frame. Most people will have the game in time.

Yeah, paying customers will not have a grace period. You know who else won't? Non-paying customers. It will clear out the server queues of all the people that got free pre-orders that don't plan to pay. That is a benefit to the paying customers that do get their game at release.

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Originally posted by bleyzwun
People keep saying it's only a day or 2. My shipping date was for Dec 29 - Jan 9. I changed my shipping method, now it says 25th. I refuse to pay anymore for shipping. I don't really care about the few days. What I do care about is leveling up with my friends.

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I don't know what to tell you. 3 weeks to deliver a game is not acceptable. Order from somewhere else. Maybe the place that your friends are getting theirs from....or get the download version.

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Originally posted by bleyzwun

EA fucked up on this one. If they just said they didn't know if there would be a grace period, or flat out said no, this wouldn't be a problem for some people. What's worse is, it seems more like a push for people to go with their Origins service than anything else.

---

No question about it. They made a mistake. That happens in big companies, which is why some devs post very little info on their message boards, because if things change, people act as if it was a blood oath.

The pushing people to Origin makes no sense, at all. If that were the case, wouldn't everyone's delivery be delayed? I ordered from Amazon, and my delivery date is still set for the 20th.

I think we have all learned an important lesson here...don't be Australian.

Hey thanks for the info!

(gives thumbs up)

I don't trust Wal-mart as far as I can throw them. Glad it worked out for them. Carry on.

Nevermind.

The game is being released for retailers to send out on the 15th. The reason there is no grace period is because Bioware are trying to ensure you all get the game EARLY.

If your retailer isn't aware of this fact point it out to them.