Katamari Damacy Sold Out

mausmalone writes "Katamari Damacy is completely sold out at most game retailers." The relatively unknown game is completely out of stock because retailers base their orders on preorders...which they didn't allow for this title.

Comments

So which is it (again)?

[Pluvius]

The relatively unknown game is completely out of stock because retailers base their orders on preorders...which they didn't allow for this title.

If that's true, then why does the article say this:

This time, your local game store employee's dire warning came true--if you didn't preorder a copy of Katamari before its release date, you were out of luck.

According to the article, the reason why Katamari Damacy was sold out so quickly is purely that retailers thought that no one would want a quirky Japanese game.

Rob

Re:So which is it?

[Pluvius]

I'd say that it was highly anticipated by "in-the-know" gamers (not to mention people in the game industry itself) and not much else. Though word-of-mouth seems to have worked in the game's favor since it got media attention a few months ago.

Rob

Preorders suck

[ivan256]

Why do people pre-order?

Hold on to your money and buy it when it comes out. If it sells out, they'll get more. Pre-ordering just allows game shops to keep crappier sellection on hand all while providing them with contact info for them to market to you through. If they're going to get your $50 anyway, why give it to them 3 months in advance?

Re:Preorders suck

[Quarters]

What type of contact info have you had to hand over for a pre-order?

Never, in all of the times I've pre-ordered, have I ever had to give anything other than my name and a contact phone #. The phone # has only ever been used to call me to let me know the game is in. I've never once received an unwanted phone solictation from the game retailer, or any game related company.

I don't pre-order often, just for games I know will sell out early (e.g. Doom3). But, to dismiss pre-ordering is bad because of a claim of invasion of privacy is just spreading FUD.

Re:Preorders suck

[GamingEngineer]

Some people want to guarantee they'll have the game the day it is out. Sometimes stores offer incentives for pre-ordering, such as a free bonus item like a soundtrack or whatever. The only time I myself have only preordered games to get those bonus items.

Re:Preorders suck

[magiluke]

Sometimes, though, they offer some sort of incentive for preordering, like a compilation of the predicessors of the game (like Zelda did), or a shirt, or a better price, or something like that. So sometimes it kind of is worth doing...

Re:Preorders suck

[SansTinfoilHat]

Why do people pre-order?

As someone who was wise enough (heh) to preorder Katamari Damacy, let me chime in.

There are two reasons to preorder:

1. To make sure you have the game when it comes out.
I preordered Katamari Damacy a week or two before it came out. It wasn't like I needed those $21 in the meantime and since it was a title that I knew would be difficult to find, it gave me piece of mind. This logic fails when the game is something like GTA:San Andreas or Halo 2, because you know any store will have plenty of copies.

2. To take advantage of a good deal or special gift.
This is where it makes sense to preorder GTA:SA or Halo 2. I have Halo 2 preordered because I was able to get a VERY GOOD DEAL on it if I preordered. Would I have been able to walk into the store and slap down $54 on 11/9 and still get the same game? Yes, but why pay that much? I also have a good deal of geeky game t-shirts that I got because I preordered that I enjoy and couldn't get anywhere else. If that is your thing, then preordering is a good idea.

Unless one of those two hold, then preordering is simply giving EB or Gamespot an interest free loan.

Re:Preorders suck

[ivan256]

I don't pre-order often, just for games I know will sell out early (e.g. Doom3).

I think Doom 3 is a perfect example of a game that won't sell out early, and, of course, didn't sell out at all.

The only two really good reasons I can think of for preordering, is if the game *isn't* really hyped and the store may not be planning on stocking it, or if you get some bonus for pre-ordering.

As for marketing issues, KBToys takes your address. And yes, you start getting junk mail afterwards. Luckily I've moved since I pre-ordered my PS2.

Re:Stupid game

[Anonymous Coward]

> What a STUPID game.

No, you're stupid.

> DUMB.. god damn... are japanese people really so easily amused?

No, you're dumb.

There...now I feel better!

Bargain!

[astrokid]

This game is a steal at $20. Its about time more developers tooks risks instead of rehashing the same old games.

I'm hoping to find a copy before the scalpers on EBAY horde all available copies.

For those on the west coast, I heard Fry's was selling the title for 14.99.

Soundtrack

[astrokid]

The soundtrack to the game is also very quirky and catchy.
Download a few tracks here and if you like it you can purchase the official release here

Play This Game!

[Crutcher]

This game has a) the stupidest premise, and b) the most awesome gameplay of any game that I've seen or played which has come out in the past 5 years. Play it, if you can get a copy!

Man, Did I Get Lucky...

[DLWormwood]

...I first read about this game a year ago, and developed a mild curiousity about it. I asked about this game a month ago, when I first found out about it's NA release, however, since I wasn't too keen on actually playing it, I never pre-ordered it.

However, I showed up the day after release and asked around, and the store operator remembered asking about it and had a copy held for me at a neighboring store, if I could pick it up within 18 hours. The other store actually had to turn away about 4-5 other buyers before I showed up with only an hour to spare. Moral: be good chums with your video game store staff and they'll help you in a pinch.

That said, I'm glad I got it. I still haven't beated it, despite the game's "short length," since it gets a little frustrating on the later levels. However, this is the happiest game I've ever played, despite the fact that you are ruthlessly wadding people and animals up in a ball to hurl them in the cold recesses of space.

WARNING: Do not play while taking drugs. You won't be able to tell when they wear off...

Possibly not sold out everywhere?

[Pentomino]

The article seems to focus on SF Bay area retailers. SF is a tech-savvy, geek-rich town with a healthy Asian population to boot, so it stands to reason more people there would have heard about it. At least eight per vicinity-of-a-store.

Here in Phoenix/Tempe, I just sauntered into Fry's Electronics and bought one of three copies on display, Friday night. I wonder if they've sold out yet. So it's worth giving your local retailer a call to see if they have it in. And remember, "Katamari" is easier to spell over the phone than "Damacy", "Damashii", "DeMacci", or "Dummycheese".

I'm pretty much hooked on the game. I've played all the levels, and I can still see myself putting the game in about once a day for the foreseeable future. It makes me just want to share it with everybody.

Some allowed preorders.

[vitaflo]

Both EB and Gamestop's online stores had preorders available for the game, Gamestop being the first to do so (which is where I preordered from). They most certainly had a small shipment as Gamestop.com sold out on the day of release.

I don't really fault retailers that much, since this is a budget title, and most of the fever over the game has been decidedly word of mouth as there hasn't been a big promotional campaign for the title.

With that said, this is one of the most unique and fresh titles I've played in years. You'd do yourself a huge favor to get it...if you can find a copy.

This game is FABULOUS

[Oz0ne]

Easily one of the most creative games I've played in years. Very simple gameplay mechanics, HUGE world to explore, addictive, and.. *GASP* FUN!

Anyone can pick this game up and love it. I mean anyone. Very quirky humor, 100% replayable.. many many times. Amazingly good soundtrack.

If there was a legit video game awards this should get game of the year, or decade. I'd say it's as ground breaking in creativity/addictivity as tetris was in it's day.

Re:Fuck you all

[Pentomino]

To be honest, most American gamers know what's coming out of Japan, and they're just as formulaic as American games. We've got our first-person shooters and mission-based driving games, while they've got fighters, insanely long RPG's, and quite a few too many card-based battle games.

So, while we're celebrating how Japanese the game is, it's really secondary to how non-formulaic the game is, compared to what we've usually been seeing.

This is especially true of Playstation 2 owners. Gamecube owners are already accustomed to formula-breaking games; they have Pikmin, after all.

Is this the same slashdot?

[Ayanami Rei]

Is this the same slashdot where people bitch and moan and joke about Doom III and DNF and Final Fantasy XXX and Peter Molyineux and how there's no original games anymore?

Let me see if I have this right..

[Toby_Tyke]

It's a video game, right? But, but, you don't shoot things?

And there are no rocket luanchers? Or machine guns?

No, I just don't understand.

Seriously, I had'nt heard of this, but it looks fantastic.