C&C3 Release - Late Release in UK

First blog here for quite a while, and i'm going to have a chat about EA's release methods for Command and Conquer 3. (in some ways this applies to many other publishers)

EA released C&C3 as ever, via shops...and also by EA Link. For those not in the know EA Link is EA's Online Content Delivery System, similar to Steam...just a buggier version.

So the game was meant to be released on the 28th in the US(and maybe Australia too) and the 30th in the rest of the world. Must note that those who purchased via EA Link would only get access to the game according to their region. So no early access for UK gamers who purchased the game via Link. This has caused confusion for those who didn't realise this would happen.

Another issue is that C&C3 was actually released on the 27th in the US via Link and some stores. We have all heard about release dates being pushed back but this was a rare instance of the game coming out earlier than scheduled, and with it being planned by the Publishers.

So the US get the game a day before planned release, as do some people in the EU where stores in some countries decided to sell the game early.

Yet again, us in the UK get screwed over. Can't EA ensure supply chains are set-up as they should be so they can do a simultaneous worldwide release? Apparently not.

This may just be a small issue that i am talking about more than it deserves, but it must be noted that similar happened with STALKER coming out a couple of days in the UK after the US launch.

Surely this just encourages pirating of games? People who don't want to wait a few days knowing US gamers are playing already may in some cases resort to pirating. This happened with STALKER, as soon as people got the game before the UK release they would start getting hacks and cracks on torrent sites.

Surely and caring Publisher will do a Universal launch to give everyone a fair crack at the whip to play the game.

Good to be back blogging!