Will If's North America Launch be as Disastrous as Awakening's?

[Jagged Jagen]

Do you think FE:If's launch will be as disastrous as Awakening's? Regardless of your opinion on Awakening (we already have 20+ pages on that), I don't think many can deny that Awakening's launch was a mess. Be it its early launch in Canada, the shortages of retail copies, Those who pre-ordered dependent on location had troubles getting the art book, and it was an all around mess. I personally had to rely on downloading the game and it took up most of my SD when DLC was factored in.

A part of me has hope that If won't be so bad, but I'm not holding my breath. In my city, STEAM was sold out at most locations, but low sales kept it on some shelves. FE sells significantly better than STEAM. This is before we factor in the messes that are the Special Edition New 3DS's, The Gamecube Controller Adapters and the holy grail of rare merch, amiibo. I personally collect those and they can be nightmare inducing.

I have hopes that Nintendo will do the right thing, but I'm not holding my breath. Something tells me that one version of the game will be under stocked should the multiple editions make their way to FE. I think the likely candidates are the Special Edition and Black Kingdom, but I'm not sure. I'm not hoping, but I'm preparing my F5 button.

What about you, do you think it will be another launch disaster of Nintendo style proportions?

[Roflolxp54]

I certainly hope that physical copies of FE:if wouldn't be a supply-and-demand disaster upon launch but I wouldn't hold my breath as product shortages seem to be a thing recently with several stuff you mentioned along with physical copes of LoZ: Majora's Mask 3D and the Majora's Mask edition New 3DS XLs.

Part of me's thinking that Nintendo may be trying to wean us off by making us download the games instead of hunting physical copes down. I mean, there is stuff like save backups and what not.

Edited April 28, 2015 by Roflolxp54

[Thane]

Sadly, I can't offer any particularly valuable input since I waltzed into a store at random and bought Fire Emblem: Awakening on a whim because I had heard it was good, and I needed a 3DS for the next Ace Attorney anyway. Strange how I loved the game I hadn't planned on buying and disliked the one I had been looking forward to for months.

Anyway, wasn't Awakening available on the eshop on day one? Or are we solely talking physical copies here? One would assume they'll have plenty of copies ready after Awakening's success.

Edited April 28, 2015 by Thane

[Asoleos]

I had this problem as well, the store had a late shipment meaning I had to come in a week later and I had only got on because I had preordered. I got the art book thankfully but there is a chance that this will happen again if amiibos are any indication.

Only thing one can do is preorder and hope that current trends don't apply to FE If.

Edited April 28, 2015 by Asoleos

[Jagged Jagen]

Sadly, I can't offer any particularly valuable input since I waltzed into a store at random and bought Fire Emblem: Awakening on a whim because I had heard it was good, and I needed a 3DS for the next Ace Attorney anyway. Strange how I loved the game I hadn't planned on buying and disliked the one I had been looking forward to for months.

Anyway, wasn't Awakening available on the eshop on day one? Or are we solely talking physical copies here? One would assume they'll have plenty of copies ready after Awakening's success.

More physical copies. The E-shop is great but it can take up too much space.

[Respite&Nepenthe]

I didn't have any problems with getting Awakening (no pre-order, just walked into GameStop on release day), but I live in the middle of nowhere...

I've a definite preference for physical copies, as well.

[Jagged Jagen]

I didn't have any problems with getting Awakening (no pre-order, just walked into GameStop on release day), but I live in the middle of nowhere...

I've a definite preference for physical copies, as well.

Admittedly, on Launch Day I went to TRU and was told that they wouldn't be getting a shipment until May. I later did see 1 copy at EB Games (Canadian Gamestop) 4 weeks later, but I had downloaded by then. I do prefer physical copies.

[Ryo]

I've always preferred download version because I don't want to go through the stress with pre-ordering and stock issues. Shipping fee is also a problem (and yes, I actually have to import the game in order to play it). Downloading is the only way to guarantee that I can play on launch day. The down-side, of course, is that I can never get access to the glorious goods that are exclusive to the special edition (Nintendo, give me if's artbook right now ;_; )

[HF Makalov Fanboy Kai]

i don't think it'll be as bad because FE wasn't popular back then, now it is so i think they will be prepaired

[Thane]

Heh, for once, I'm actually interested in the artbook, if only to find out what the bloody hell they were thinking when coming up with those extravagant designs.

"So yeah, then we asked ourselves: is there some way we can make them even MORE flashy?"

[eclipse]

I think mine was delayed a bit, but that's because I went all-out on my order (which my store was nice enough to change two days before release). However, shipping delays are expected in Hawaii, and I got everything at once, so I didn't see it as a disaster. I'm not so impatient that I'll call a week's delay a catastrophe!

Come to think of it, other than slight delays, I can't think of anything I preordered that would garner this kind of topic title.

[Jagged Jagen]

I think mine was delayed a bit, but that's because I went all-out on my order (which my store was nice enough to change two days before release). However, shipping delays are expected in Hawaii, and I got everything at once, so I didn't see it as a disaster. I'm not so impatient that I'll call a week's delay a catastrophe!

Come to think of it, other than slight delays, I can't think of anything I preordered that would garner this kind of topic title.

It was a month's delay up here, so I can't really fully say. I do remember media coverage for the shortages though.

[goodperson707]

^ yeah i kinda forget how long for phys copies up here but a month sounds about right, i just ended up getting the dig copy.

[Shadow Stalker X]

If's release should turn out better than Awakening's overall. I think the Awakening demo had a more drastic effect on sales than Nintendo anticipated, which led to the supply issues. Now that Nintendo has a better scope of the interest in Fire Emblem, they probably won't make the same mistake again. Though I'm all for them releasing another demo.

[eclipse]

It was a month's delay up here, so I can't really fully say. I do remember media coverage for the shortages though.

Oh, you're in Canada (which is another country, even if US/Canada relations are really friendly). I wonder if the delay was due to a customs mishap or something equally inane?

If's release should turn out better than Awakening's overall. I think the Awakening demo had a more drastic effect on sales than Nintendo anticipated, which led to the supply issues. Now that Nintendo has a better scope of the interest in Fire Emblem, they probably won't make the same mistake again. Though I'm all for them releasing another demo.

If the Amiibos are any indication, there's going to be someone left hanging out to dry. If it's me, oh well. I'll be antsy, but I'm willing to wait. Sooner or later, it'll come.

[Book of Ereshkigal]

I honestly can see supply issues popping up. I'm preordering the moment it is possible.

[Shadow Stalker X]

If the Amiibos are any indication, there's going to be someone left hanging out to dry. If it's me, oh well. I'll be antsy, but I'm willing to wait. Sooner or later, it'll come.

I would think that amiibos are more expensive to make than game carts (a lot more collectable, too), and you don't typically see scalpers going after games (unless it's a special edition). Besides, worse case scenario, there's still an eShop release.

[Integrity]

i had about a week delay on my preorder

i don't think it'll be as bad because FE wasn't popular back then, now it is so i think they will be prepaired

i think this is true.

[Jedi]

IF will probably be retailed better, call it a hunch.

[nhaer042]

I'm possibly going to preorder my copy. I don't know if there will be supply issues but I'm not taking chances.

[MoonlitSonata]

Oh god I hope not. I mean, for Awakening those who ordered the cart at my gamestop were able to pick up day 1, but I had ordered a limited edition 3DS and that came in a week late. Hopefully they realize that FE is an anticipated title and adjust supply accordingly.

[Vitezen]

It's less likely since there's more obvious demand for the game, but you can never say for sure.

[falcoknights]

if i manage to get a job this summer and have enough money left over after school stuff, i'm definitely preordering if there's a special edition with an artbook, or if it does end up being two, with a two-in-one edition. because i'm going for the two-in-one.

otherwise, i'm willing to wait, totally. i want to be in the hype (instead of wandering in ~10 months later, lol) this time, because holy wow was that disorienting the first time.

[EricaofRenais]

I hope not, I did not have a problem because I ordered the FEA 3DS with the game from the GameStop website because I waited to buy a 3DS until Awakening came out plus I had a job then but I did not preorder it because I had to save up for a month and I managed to get it with no problems right before they sold out. I am going to preorder If as soon as I can so that I get it, and yeah I think Nintendo is trying to get people to use the E-shop more and more because the downloads are pure profit for them, while it costs them more to make physical copies of the game, then to just put it on the E-shop.

[Kikirini]

God, I hope not. I live in the middle of nowhere, and even my Gamestop hadn't received any copies of FE:A. It was especially frustrating since I had also gotten the limited edition 3DS for my husband.