RUMOR - GameStop not holding Wii U midnight launch becaus...

[robometal cowboy]

RUMOR - GameStop not holding Wii U midnight launch because of security reasons?
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The following information is said to come from a GameStop manager...

...word from corporate was they were "not allowed" to do a midnight launch. ...its because, unlike a game, these things are expensive and it could be a safety/security risk with it being so late.

Even weirder news, we're hearing that GameStop isn't opening early either. Way to go, GameStop! Thanks to KrazyKernal for the heads up!

[Crocodeo]

I don't blame them. Whats the earliest they open on console releases? Isn't it 9? Is that the usual open time?

[The_King_Up_North]

My Best Buy isn't having a midnight launch, so I feel for anyone who pre-ordered at a Gamestop that's also not having one.

[SDDMN]

Now this I can agree with Gamestop on, a new console can leave the chance of the buyer getting mugged or killed for it.

[MSU_CokeBoi]

Umm...unless something has changed since yesterday, my GS said that they ARE doing a midnight launch...BestBuy here said that they were not though.

[KingBroly]

BULL
shovel

Vita was expensive. Why'd you do a midnight launch for those?

[RD3AV5]

Yep. The Gamestop where I preordered mine confirmed the exact same thing. I'm pretty pissed because we had plans to play it all night.

[Eternal Rain]

I actually have to go with KingBroly on this one. They had a midnight launch for the 3DS last year with no problems. Now I'll grant MAYBE it's a seasonal thing. 3DS and Vita launched in spring, while Wii U is launching in November, right before the holiday shopping season. Things get CRAZY around that time.

Doesn't really change anything for me though. My plan that Sunday is wake up, breakfast, church, then head to GameStop to get Wii U (church usually lets out around 11:00, around when GS opens on Sundays).

[GekkouKitsune]

@KingBroly
because obviously no one was wanting them as much as the Wii U. The Vita is practically dead now anyway.

I will agree though that it's still sort of bull, especially holding a midnight release for a game but not a brand new console.

At the same time... Damn. They might actually have a good point, with the demand so high and as crazy as some people are these days, whether they want to play the system or sell for $$$ for who knows what.

I'll still be there to get mine when the doors open though.

[someone17]

dang that really really sucks, but it makes sense though, I remember when the wii and PS3 were released there were reports of robberies occurring outside game/electronic stores involving new systems.

@KingBroly

handheld video game systems dont have that super glamorous charm for crooks to jump someone for. a brand new home console, especially during holiday season sounds a bit more dangerous.

[Mewtaker]

Na this makes no sense at all. Is pathetic.

[pokemaster515]

I wasn't able to pre-order the Wii U at Gamestop so I had to settle for Best Buy. There are no Best Buys in my state doing a midnight launch but both in my city are able to do a midnight launch for Black Ops 2 -_-

[marsbarrow]

I personally agree with GameStop's stance. I would hate to see a young man or woman walking out with a new Wii U in hand, with another party hiding in the shadows of a poorly lit parking lot, and an opportunity to steal something so valuable.
I talked to my GameStop, in northern Minnesota and was told that they are going to try to open up early on Sunday but they have to wait until the extra hours are granted from management, which usually occurs by the previous Tuesday. So normally they open at 11, but they may be opening closer to 9... I was hoping for like 7 or 8, but 9 will do.

[snailperson]

Probably a good idea since Nintendo fans on average tend to skew younger than Sony/MS fans. If you disagree with this, well, its just an extra 10-12 hr wait anyway. C'man

[Amputech]

It probably STILL has to do with money honestly. They will be making like $2 off of Wii U (as they do most consoles) and most likely only have 40 or so available anyways. With certain software they could easily sell something like 100 copies at a midnight launch. That is where their profit is at.

That or someone at GS has it out for Nintendo /conspiracy theory

[Lakster37]

Kind of glad now that I ended up getting mine at Walmart (since both Gamestop and Best Buy were sold out). They're ALWAYS open, so they're having a midnight launch

[kernal]

the guy i talked to is a buddy of mine and he tells me everything straight. now, maybe it varies by regions, but the chains near me will not being doing midnight launch and from what ive read on the internet, neither will many others. what really bugs me though, is that they wont be opening early.. he had no clue why but we both joked that gamestop hates nintendo.

[Johnknight1]

I get this for places with a history of crime, but c'mon! Very few places are like that!

I think this is just because they don't want to pay extra for their workers staying up from midnight to 1 AM. I also think this is because workers don't want to work them. Quite frankly, I wouldn't blame them. However, if that is their reasoning, I wish GameStop would just flat out say that.

[SuperBrony64]

My GameStop won't do it because 'they aren't allowed to do them on the weekend.' Whatever that means, I guess I'll have to wait until the next morning to get my hands on the Wii U. Not that horrible, I had to do the same thing with every other Nintendo console before, I'll just get up earlier and wait outside as if it was a midnight launch :3

[cobaltorange]

Walmart will have it at midnight though.

[Topless Stang]

Walmart will have it at midnight though.

Which is why I ordered 2 from there after I found out I couldn't pick up my GameStop pre order until late Sunday Morning. What sucks is all of my GameStop games are preordered and paid off...so I guess I'll only have Nintendoland to tide me over.

[Chased]

Why the thumbs down? God, I will never understand these people in here!

[CorusFace]

it's not gamestop choosing to not do this. it's nintendo telling them not to do it. nintendo told gamestop NOT to do a midnight launch because of security reasons, and i get the feeling best buy was told the same thing. my gamestop was going to do a midnight launch and wanted to from the very start, but nintendo told all gamestop locales not to. again, this was nintendo's choice, not gamestops.

i can't believe i am defending gamestop.

[Bluejuan85]

I think this is for the best. I accept that they can open early on Sunday but Midnight Launch I think there could be trouble depending where you live. The Gamestop I always go to is fine but then again right next to it is a neighborhood that has some serious bad apples but no one has robbed the place but as much as I want the console its not worth dying for.

[Einlanzer]

The manager where I pre-ordered says he was going to try to get permission from the District manager to do a Midnight launch anyways. Would be nice, but I won't hold my breath.