God of War III, one of the biggest games of the year for Sony is now available in stores that didn’t break the release date – and as Gavin said earlier if you’re a PS3 owner there’s really no excuse to not get your hands on it. To celebrate the launch of such a colossal franchise, BT Games and Ster-Kinekor joined hands to host a midnight launch at many of the nation’s BT Games stores.
The main launch event took place at the Eastgate concept store, one of the venues where the Kratos cosplay competition was being held. I went along, because a midnight launch for one of the year’s most celebrated games, at one of the country’s most prominent gaming stores, complete with a bunch of guys playing dress-up would provide quite the spectacle, right? Well, no.
For some reason, public turn out at the event was abysmal, and I can’t really understand why. It’s God of War, and units were set-up to play the game early – why did hardly anyone show up? The bulk of the assembled crowd was made up of journalist types and employees from BT and Ster-Kinekor. A mere handful of people were there for the game’s launch and just one person attended as the ghost of Sparta , although he did a sterling job of it – and ended up winning the event’s prize. Pity he didn’t have much in the way of competition though.
Richard Hughes, Eastgate’s Own Kratos
Neither BT nor Ster-Kinekor can really be faulted, as the store was beautifully set up with some eye-catching God of War 3 displays, as well as the aforementioned demo units. Why then was the launch event itself a failure? Was there a lack of advertising for the event? Is it because a certain store released the game earlier than they should, negating the impact of a midnight launch? Are South African gamers a lazy bunch without real passion for their hobby – Or is the apathy just localised to Johannesburg?
Well, no on that one as well. Nick attended Menlyn launch which also hosted the cosplay competition – and not a single soul pitched up as Kratos. Any of you have an insight as to why?
—
Hey, Nick here.
As Geoff mentioned, I attended the launch in the Menlyn Shopping Centre in Pretoria last night and as was the case with East Rand, the turnout was pretty terrible. While a handful of people did eventually pitch just before midnight to collect their copy of God of War III, the store was pretty much empty for most of the night.
We also didn’t see anyone arrive in cosplay for the competition, meaning that just one entrant here would have won themselves a prize. With such a low attendance rate at such a massive games’ launch, one must only wonder if midnight launches’ days are numbered in South Africa.
Last Updated: March 17, 2010
daki-sama
March 17, 2010 at 13:11
The competition was inter-branch – meaning out of the 3 people nationally who dressed up as Kratos, there were 3 winners. We had a Kratos in BTGames Durban-Pavilion. He came second.
daki-sama
March 17, 2010 at 13:15
Oh, and there was no food at the Pav branch >:/
Nor were there consoles to try out the game, nor journalists etc etc. Give the Pav branch a bit of love BT!
Warp
March 17, 2010 at 13:20
Did not even know that there was going to be a launch. :pouty:
Kale
March 17, 2010 at 13:28
Well here’s my 5c worth.
I didn’t know there was a launch happening and second – no offense to BT but I’d rather buy my games cheaper at Kalahari.net.
Perhaps getting a BT community thing going in the form of gamerlobby. Create a repository of local gamers in the area – organize small events. Send some sms’s/emails out to customers who join. Make people want to support your store.- just a thought
WitWolfyZA
March 17, 2010 at 13:41
Well sorry guys FF13 made me poorer then a church mouse till the end of the month. I thought that BT at the top looked like East Gates’.
Mark my word, The GT5 one will the biggest one!
Lupus
March 17, 2010 at 13:42
With the prices being cheaper most places I honestly can see why BT was not full. Last time I remember seeing it full was for the Doom 3 launch at Northgate.
riezo
March 17, 2010 at 13:45
I knew there was going to be a launch. I didnt attend because I was scared of inflicting some serious hurt on those buying the game coz I cant afford it until Thursday next week.
The Ultimate Trilogy Edition sold so well that Ster Kinekor is sold out already.
Milesh Bhana
March 17, 2010 at 14:15
I’ve seen Zaps full off a successful midnight launches as well. (No cos-play tho, just a nice amount of people to make it a good social event)
Pity the BT one didn’t work out, looks like they and SK put alot of effort into it. I think the trick is to only do big launches for highly-anticipated multiplatform titles.
Bboy
March 17, 2010 at 14:22
Console gamers like to sit on couches and play games, not go to game outlets at midnight. That’s prolly why there was a bad turn out.
riezo
March 17, 2010 at 14:26
In recent history the only successful midnight launches I recall that were successful are those of CoD.
Oh yes that’s multiplatform!
Cant think of any PC midnight launches off hand in recent history that were a raging success either.
uberutang
March 17, 2010 at 14:33
I stopped going to Midnight launches, as they are 99% of the time: wait till 00:00 and pick up your copy.
No food
No Booze
No Booth Babes
No bands
gameplay I can see in teh web, and I can get the demo from the web… so really.. why drive all the way to some mall, just to pick up a game if that is all it is?
Spice up the events. Have bands, booze and babes and you might see people rocking up again!
batman
March 17, 2010 at 14:42
Maybe because people are finally starting to realise that BT Games are scum?
Al360
March 17, 2010 at 14:42
well here’s my 5c a group of about 12 of us were scourned by BT from the last launch where we were promised wallets with every pre-order whereby we nicely laughed by their childish staff and ignored by their managers when we send mail inquiring what happened.we’ve been to 4 and they were cool the last 1 left a bad taste in our mouths hence we will never support BTgames no more.No more i tell u so ya thats the general feeling in cape town. :cwy: :cwy:
bokka1
March 17, 2010 at 15:00
Maybe everybody was at home playing proper games on their Xbox.
I see one girl mistook the launch for a Bulls get together.
Zezz
March 17, 2010 at 15:03
Hey, the only reason why I didn’t attend was because I never bought my ultimate edition from BT Games. Take 2 has it for much less.
mitas
March 17, 2010 at 15:03
shame , i feel sorry for bt games , the sommerset west branch is full of assholes , i was in there to pick up a ps2 game and some douch bag said ” ps2 is dead why you buying games for it” fuk u mate who the hell are you to tell me what and what not i should buy…besides ps3 will have another price drop then will upgrade , but wont buy from a guy who tells me i am a idioet because a support ps2!!! piss off naier , go kak
Al360
March 17, 2010 at 15:15
sorry but btgames staff and owners don’t have any decent ethics when it comes to doing business they over charge rip people off as they have being doing for a while now with their trade-ins and don’t really care no more about their customers i’d rather support other vendors than BTGAMES
besides i catch their staff out lieing to the us all the time now i tell u do they think they so great to lie to customers and treat them like crap they need their egoes put in check
thats goes for canal walk and claremont branches
mitas
March 17, 2010 at 15:57
maybe we should start taking names down , and compile a list of these incdents so we can start making waves? whata u think?
uberutang
March 17, 2010 at 16:13
Why bother? I vote with my wallet. And BT has not seen my wallet for 2 years.
Bonk
March 17, 2010 at 16:52
Those idiots @ BT games will never see my money again. You walk into the store, they talk down to you like you some sort of child. I ordered something, they sent it to the wrong store for pickup, then if you try to change the pickup venue, they sent you a cheeky email. And 1 year later, I am still waiting for a reply. Oh did I mention the rude, childish staff.
mitas
March 17, 2010 at 19:13
you see? we need to name and shame guys , some body send bt games a link to this thread let them see what we are saying? maybe they dont know – how we feel about their staff talking to us like kids?
reminds me of my e73 papperweight xbox , i took it apart wqorked for about 5secs then poof , went to bt games and the guy , i quote said this ” ha ha ha , my tech wont even have a look at this its in piaces ” , well what kinda crap tech do u have if he cant even put a 360 back together…poor….anybody know a decent tech around the western cape area?
mitas
March 17, 2010 at 19:15
you see? we need to name and shame guys , some body send bt games a link to this thread let them see what we are saying? maybe they dont know – how we feel about their staff talking to us like kids?
reminds me of my e73 papperweight xbox , i took it apart wqorked for about 5secs then poof , went to bt games and the guy , i quote said this ” ha ha ha , my tech wont even have a look at this its in piaces ” , well what kinda crap tech do u have if he cant even put a 360 back together…poor….anybody know a decent tech around the western cape area? :face:
SenatorTod_ZA
March 17, 2010 at 15:32
Well I went up the road to the Greenstone branch cuz of two reasons:
1. Didn’t have time to go during the day – so i went at midnight when nobody else bothers me and
2. The staff there is really good and therefore i support that store.
Geoff
March 17, 2010 at 15:55
I have to agree that the Greenstone branch has some excellent staff. There’s a guy there whose name is Ian (i think) and he’s friendly, curteous, and has an unrivalled knowledge of all things game related.
David
March 18, 2010 at 13:23
The Greenstone branch is awesome, I use their rental service, so go there quite often, and all the staff there are always friendly and knowledgeable.
Didn’t attend the launch as I wasn’t aware of it and didn’t pre-order the game. Previous midnight launch for COD MW2 had I received a e-mail about it the week before, none for this one.
kab
March 17, 2010 at 15:37
Last BT launh I attended was for WoW. Pre ordered and payed months up front. Went to the launch, q’ed for 3 hours (seriously, can’t they just get a normal till?!) only to walk away with a standard edition copy as the collector’s were all sold out. Oh and 2 hours later I had to go to work. No thanks… I can wait a day.
Fred
March 17, 2010 at 15:39
Kalahari sends me the game for cheaper.
V@mp
March 17, 2010 at 21:02
Tygervalley’s branch was just as empty with one dude
dressing up.Apparently their Modern Warfare 2 one was
pretty decent.
I don’t have any problem with their staff though.
Greever
March 18, 2010 at 17:50
Iv never had a problem with BT Games in Menlyn.
They have always given me good service. Get my games on time. Didnt get GOW though! No PS3. :_(
SoulSlayer
March 18, 2010 at 22:39
http://www.btgames.co.za/cosplay.htm
Clicky here for the winners… and then please please tell me how the guy who got third didn’t win ?!?!?!
Seriously… they judged on accuracy, colour and personality… while very unaccurate costume… colours aren’t exactly right and he is smiling. Second place obviously a joke.. and third place.. although not entirely perfect… kinda looks the part !!!
What do you think? Another EPIC FAIL from BT?
Gavin Mannion
March 18, 2010 at 22:51
I have to agree, while the guy who won really has dressed up well the third place guy does look more realistic. But I guess that’s a matter of opinion as the first placed guy’s getup is more perfect… if that makes sense.
Second place… well that kind of proves the places weren’t judged properly. Good on him for entering but only a complete idiot would place him above the third placed contestant.
DarthPenguin
March 19, 2010 at 13:05
My friend is the guy who got “third” in the competition. We were told he got second place on the night though, so I’m really not sure. I think someone messed up at BT and put the photos in the wrong order.
Biased opinion (he is my friend and I did help with his costume :P), but I also think the guy who got “third” (according to the website) should have got first.. his swords actually look the part. The photo doesn’t show it well, but the blades never looked as cool :P.
OK.. biased opinion over 😛
mitas
March 19, 2010 at 13:42
1st and 3rd are alright…but the fat guy???com on what u smoking share some
Ernest
March 19, 2010 at 19:44
I lol’d, his surname is Hughes, not Heues 😛 but well played, its awesome being related to him. lol
RedSkull
March 21, 2010 at 15:14
Yea, Retarded voting on their part!! 2nd guy looks like he is ready to attack some nachos more than anything!! Bt, you are dumb ass excuses for midget donkeys. specially the owners!! retarded! I spit in your general direction!