Well, it seems that EB Games Australia wide have decided to jump the gun. They are releasing Mass Effect today, a week early. I went in this morning to pick up a copy for a friend of mine (I do not have a 360, he does) after receiving an email from the EB Games mailing list.
People with pre-orders should have received a call this morning, when the trucks rolled in.
Now, I'm not one for far flung theories, but could this be because of the delay of Assassin's Creed in Australia and NZ. As most Australian gamers sadly know, AC has been delayed a week in this country because of some kind of issue. It's not too hard to believe that EB, expecting to make a pretty buck this week from the release of one big game, decided to release another big game to make up for the loss.
This probably is also to eliminate the extreme rush that they would have had next week, when AC and Mass Effect were to be released on the same day.
Update (Finally figured out how to edit):
Here is Bioware's response to the EB Games's announcement:
From http://masseffect.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=582720&forum=104&sp=390
"They are wrong. (About the early release date)
We have spoken to Microsoft Australia and they have spoken with EA Australia's head office. NO copy of Mass Effect will be sold before it's Nov 22 launch date. Sorry."
Sorry to make a liar out of you, Bioware. Seems like people all over the country are doing the same thing.
We have spoken to Microsoft Australia and they have spoken with EA Australia's head office. NO copy of Mass Effect will be sold before it's Nov 22 launch date. Sorry."
Sorry to make a liar out of you, Bioware, but I bought a copy of Mass Effect today. Seems like people all over the country are doing the same thing.
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Oh, and here is the proof that it is in stores today:
http://www.ebgames.com.au/Xbox/product.cfm?ID=4754
Bioware has responded saying they've called the heads of EB have been assured that the street date will be broken. I guess we'll see.
Update: Here is the word from Bioware, that I think that Aerox was talking about
http://masseffect.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=582720&forum=104&sp=390
"
They are wrong. (About the early release date)
We have spoken to Microsoft Australia and they have spoken with EA Australia's head office. NO copy of Mass Effect will be sold before it's Nov 22 launch date. Sorry."
Sorry to make a liar out of you, Bioware, but I bought a copy of Mass Effect today. Seems like people all over the country are doing the same thing.