Ratchet & Clank was set for release on Oct 30 in the US, but over the last couple of days there have been multiple reports claiming some retailers were going to be selling the game at an earlier than planned date. These rumours were initially said to be false. However, Sony have said the following on their official forum:
“As frequent PlayStation.Blog readers will remember, about two weeks back we announced Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction had gone gold and would ship to stores Oct 30. Well, due to some unexpected quickness at the factory, a vast majority of retailers have already received the game. With that, some retailers are choosing to release the game next week instead of waiting until the 30, which we are all too happy to allow. Official launch date remains October 30, but for those who can’t wait to use your trigger fingers on the Tornado Launcher (or any other weapon in Ratchet’s arsenal), check with your local game retailer next week.”
Does this in any way give us a slight hope that we may get an earlier release in the UK? or maybe even the demo before Christmas. Anyone…?
Comment by Jeebers — Oct 19, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Can always import, never forget that the ps3 - region free for games
Comment by JohnSketch — Oct 19, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Seeing JohnSketch’s post about importing a game reminded me I wanted to ask if anyone here know a shop or webshop in the UK which are likely to sell DualShock controllers imported from Japan once they are available there?
Comment by Christian — Oct 19, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
I’ve preordered from Movietyme, I really can’t wait for this game after playing the demo.
Comment by Pete Cullen — Oct 19, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
I thought this was a European blog?
Please less of the (more) bad news for Euro PS3 owners..
It’s bad enough that US PS3 owners have had the demo in their hands for weeks now, and Europeans have not has even a whisper. Now it turns out the US are likely to be getting the full game, before we even get the DEMO.
Come on Sony, sort out your PR disaster machine..
In the past 6 months, the are the promises you have broken:
Home beta (broken), PSN major update (broken), more timely Euro PSN releases (broken).
Comment by Mark — Oct 19, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
We would have been able to buy the Dual Shock 3 and imported games from lik-sang, but no more…. (Thanks Sony)
As for other importers, superufo.com might be an option, I can’t think of other e-tailers (I’m at work and the links don’t work here), but most of the other PS3 ‘news’ sites carry ads.
Comment by Demibeard — Oct 19, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Hope it hits the UK early as well.
Comment by Savage — Oct 19, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
@ pete cullen - importing sounds like a good idea to me. It’s a nice price on that site you mentioned. However, won’t I get stung for import duty?
Comment by reakt — Oct 19, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
@Mark:
It is obvious to me that it doesn’t make sense for Sony to synchronize the release of game demo’s unless they plan to
synchronize game release dates. Most game developers, including Sony themselves, seem to do different release dates based on geography. While I don’t see the clear logic or advantage in that practice apart from some practical issues around certification and translation, I don’t think demanding Europe PSN versions of the demo’s is any use before the game industry gives up the notion of different international release dates. In the meantime if you want access to game demo’s long before they will be launched in Europe download them from the US store.
Comment by Christian — Oct 19, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
@ Christian
Surely you don’t think that logic applies to titles such as ‘Pixelrace’, ‘Everyday Shooter’, ‘Super Puzzle Fighter HD’ and stuff like ‘Calling all Cars’ before it.
These titles are only available online, so distribution is irrelevant.
?
Comment by GIANT ENEMY CRAB — Oct 19, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
@GIANT ENEMY CRAB
As I said that apart from practical issues such as translation and certification I am not sure if the current practice of large differences in launch dates has any inherent value to gaming companies anymore apart from being able to decide to not spend time and money on getting certifications and translations done if the game is likely to be a loss making enterprise. But from a marketing perspective, if you for whatever reason the gaming companies still have for doing the international launches at different times have the releases done at different times, then it doesn´t make sense to release the demoes long in advance of the actual game releases, as you will lose a lot of the marketing effect of the demo, ie people have tried the demo and moved on the the next cool thing before the game hits the stores. This is true no matter what kind of distribution channel you use.
So my point was that the problem to be addressed is the large time gaps for games between US, Japan and Europe, cause if that gets changed the demo release dates changes should follow.
Comment by Christian — Oct 19, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
lol
I read this article when it was first posted and there were no comments. Thought “ooh a good news story, I’d like to see how the complainers twist this one around”
And you managed it, well done guys
Next thing you know Sony will announce a PS3 price-drop and you’ll somehow manage to make it something to compla.. oh wait, you beat me to it.
Suggestion for 3speech: Finish every article with a standard paragraph along the lines of “Dammit, I don’t care about [insert subject], I want [insert game/demo] now! instead of the stuff you’re offering, and I fail to understand that Sony has more customers than just me, and that it’s actually pretty dumb to expect them to drop everything just to give me what *I* want, and I intend to complain in the comments to EVERY article until they give it me.
If you include that at the end of every article, the moaners might feel their point has been made for them and actually read the article, instead of skipping straight to comments, just seeing it as a new post to use as a soapbox.
Comment by mudskipper — Oct 19, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Is the reason we receive demos and payable content later due to the difference in US NTSC and our PAL tvs?
I remember in the PS2 days games taking longer to arrive and when finally here having different framerates than the earlier versions (Devil May Cry).
Comment by Pauly454 — Oct 19, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
@Christian
Sorry, I am not willing to “download them from the US store.” My PSN acount is worth more than that. The fear of being banned for breaking T&C’s means I play by the rules. However in Sony land, you get punished this this, will stepped release dates.
I mean come on, R&C has gone gold, the translations are done, The release dates in EU and US are within weeks of each other, I really can’t understand WHY sound would want to annoy a whole continent of European PS3 owners, time and time again. Perhaps it’s some kind of social experiement to see how far they can go.
I think the way European PS3 owners are being treated, goes along way to WHY the PS3’s name is mud in the gaming community. Sony really need to get their act together FAST, whilst it’s still got any credability left.
Comment by Mark — Oct 19, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
i played the demo,and it is good,but the ganme still remains low on my must have list…but this is still great news that this is happening
Comment by metallicorphan — Oct 19, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
This is a EU blog, stop posting dissapointing news for us.
I have no idea how a earlier release date for US has anything to do with us in EU
Comment by zebradof — Oct 19, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
Without meaning to sound militant, importing from the states will send a message to SCEE. But then if they can’t function as a business people will go elsewhere. Fact of life.
Comment by Terry — Oct 20, 2007 @ 11:27 am
@Terry
Yes. I allready downloaded Everyday Shooter from the states. Ill keep buying my games from the usa if SCEE dont get their act together. At least give us an explanation for the delays.
Comment by NAT_TA — Oct 21, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
If you want to get this game around the 23rd of October, then you should consider importing from MovieTyme.com. It is only £29.99 as well.
http://www.movietyme.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=38161¤cy=GBP
Comment by stephen92 — Oct 21, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
I heard its only an average game anyway.
Comment by BENNE77 — Oct 22, 2007 @ 8:45 am
@19. Just done that. It’s my first time - I hope it goes well. Get it early & save a tenner. Nice one.
@18. Your working the system well. Good for you.
@20. How’s the weather on your planet?
Comment by BlueGene — Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:40 am
@19
I’ve bookmarked that site, cheers fella!
Comment by Terry — Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:51 am
Just get the Demo from the US store like everyone else. If you wait for SCEE to get a clue the game will already have gone platinum.
Comment by AliC — Oct 22, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
I thought the demo was pretty good actually, not sure if I’ll be getting it being 26 years young and all but its definitely got appeal for all ages. Does anyone have some information for me on Resident Evil 5, thats the big ONE I’m waiting for, the trails gone cold lately…
Comment by Terry — Oct 22, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Regardless of my age (20’s) i still find Ratchet and Clank damn right enjoyable ^_^ !!!!
I’ll never grow up! i refuse to >.
Comment by JohnSketch — Oct 22, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Whhooo,
yes,the bullet just went through the church
the EU-region can enjoy the demo,which didn’t need any translation, as of 1 november .
i don’t know what bandwith they use by SCEE,but 900 MB ,takes me a couple of minutes to download,instead of 3 weeks, so why could they do the same from the US ?
we still can buy it from the 9th of november
Comment by Darkie — Oct 22, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a comment