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PlayStation (Games)

Katamari Damacy Sold Out 70

Posted by Zonk from the retailers-take-notice dept.
mausmalone writes "Katamari Damacy is completely sold out at most game retailers." The relatively unknown game is completely out of stock because retailers base their orders on preorders...which they didn't allow for this title.
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Katamari Damacy Sold Out More

Katamari Damacy Sold Out

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  • I believe it (Score:2, Funny)

    by fwitness ( 195565 )
    Since I've never heard of it, and now I want it. Gonna go have to go find it now.

    Baaaaa
    • The article said that the only real place to find a copy is at the EB Games site, but I'll bet other online-only retailers will have it (since their entire stock is at your disposal).
      • I bought it at EB, it was out of stock but I'll get it whenever they get some more. It's not like I'm dying to play it. It'll be a suprise whenever it shows up.
  • Is it relatively obscure as Zonk describes it, or is it "Namco's highly anticipated, indescribable, rolling, sticking action/puzzle title" as Gamespot describes it?

    • Re:So which is it? (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Pluvius ( 734915 )
      I'd say that it was highly anticipated by "in-the-know" gamers (not to mention people in the game industry itself) and not much else. Though word-of-mouth seems to have worked in the game's favor since it got media attention a few months ago.

      Rob

  • So which is it (again)? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Pluvius ( 734915 ) <pluvius3NO@SPAMgmail.com> on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @02:53PM (#10386996) Journal
    The relatively unknown game is completely out of stock because retailers base their orders on preorders...which they didn't allow for this title.

    If that's true, then why does the article say this:

    This time, your local game store employee's dire warning came true--if you didn't preorder a copy of Katamari before its release date, you were out of luck.

    According to the article, the reason why Katamari Damacy was sold out so quickly is purely that retailers thought that no one would want a quirky Japanese game.

    Rob
    • Actually, the real reason why retails thought no one would want this game is because of lack of publicity and marketing. I could walk down to my local game store and pre-order a copy of Quake 4 even if theres no publicity out for it or anything right now, but if you ask them directly and its in their database they'll pre-order it for you.

      Its just a matter of being in the database and you, the consumer, asking for it. The only difference is, which game do you think Joe Average is going to know more about? H

  • Preorders suck (Score:5, Informative)

    by ivan256 ( 17499 ) * on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @02:58PM (#10387070)
    Why do people pre-order?

    Hold on to your money and buy it when it comes out. If it sells out, they'll get more. Pre-ordering just allows game shops to keep crappier sellection on hand all while providing them with contact info for them to market to you through. If they're going to get your $50 anyway, why give it to them 3 months in advance?

    • Re:Preorders suck (Score:4, Interesting)

      by Quarters ( 18322 ) on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @03:32PM (#10387522)
      What type of contact info have you had to hand over for a pre-order?

      Never, in all of the times I've pre-ordered, have I ever had to give anything other than my name and a contact phone #. The phone # has only ever been used to call me to let me know the game is in. I've never once received an unwanted phone solictation from the game retailer, or any game related company.

      I don't pre-order often, just for games I know will sell out early (e.g. Doom3). But, to dismiss pre-ordering is bad because of a claim of invasion of privacy is just spreading FUD.

      • I actually have received solicitation from a pre-order, however it was to advertise that I could trade in 3 games to be able to get an extra $10 off my pre-order.

        However, I was able to tell them (in this case, EBGames) to put a mark on my account that says "No Promo Calls" since I give them my cell and they call me in the daytime. Now they only call me when a game comes in, so it's all good.

      • Re:Preorders suck (Score:3, Insightful)

        by ivan256 ( 17499 ) *
        I don't pre-order often, just for games I know will sell out early (e.g. Doom3).

        I think Doom 3 is a perfect example of a game that won't sell out early, and, of course, didn't sell out at all.

        The only two really good reasons I can think of for preordering, is if the game *isn't* really hyped and the store may not be planning on stocking it, or if you get some bonus for pre-ordering.

        As for marketing issues, KBToys takes your address. And yes, you start getting junk mail afterwards. Luckily I've moved sin
    • Some people want to guarantee they'll have the game the day it is out. Sometimes stores offer incentives for pre-ordering, such as a free bonus item like a soundtrack or whatever. The only time I myself have only preordered games to get those bonus items.

    • Re:Preorders suck (Score:4, Interesting)

      by magiluke ( 629097 ) <magiluke@mad.scientist.com> on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @03:38PM (#10387579)
      Sometimes, though, they offer some sort of incentive for preordering, like a compilation of the predicessors of the game (like Zelda did), or a shirt, or a better price, or something like that. So sometimes it kind of is worth doing...
      • Not only that, but it ensures you'll have a copy on the release date. If I didn't pre-order Zelda: Wind Waker, I probably would've had to wait a few weeks (and I wouldn't have gotten that bonus disc to play in the meantime).

        Apparently, a neat trick is to spend $5 on a pre-order and get the bonus thingy, then come back and cancel your pre-order (you'll get the $5 back as store credit). Then either (a) use the $5 to get something else, or (b) pre-order something else, get the bonus and repeat. A month ag
    • Sometimes you pre-order and have it delivered, and it will arrive on the release date in your mailbox (on your doorstep, what ever, probably door step as most places go UPS or FedEx vs USPS). Saves you the time of having to go out and get it. (As was the case of one of the LotR movies ordered from Costco).
      Of course, some might not ship it until the release date, so you have to wait a few days for it to show up(or not, depending on the shipping option). You still have to wait, but it will be shipped and bec
      • Of course, some might not ship it until the release date, so you have to wait a few days for it to show up(or not, depending on the shipping option). You still have to wait, but it will be shipped and because it was in stock instead of on back order.

        Or Gamestop might have screwed up and didn't have any copies of NWN in the massive effing warehouse 20 miles from here, and had to ship me it from Togo (why else would it take that long?). I had to wait 2 weeks for it after it came out, knowing I could go to
    • I'll give you an example of why people pre-order. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas comes out soon, and I know it will sell out instantly, yet I know I want it right away because I'm a big fan. The pre-order is a guarantee that I get it as soon as possible, which obviously isn't one of your priorities.

      And as for why give it to them three months in advance? Because they'll be under budget crunches, and that might help them make my finished game better.

      • There's no way in hell that San Andreas is going to sell out. There were MAJOR shortages on GTA3, but that's because nobody really expected it to be such a big hit. When Vice City came around most retailers expected it to sell like hotcakes so there were few stock problems. Considering that San Andreas is one of the very few big games released this october, and that the last GTA games have been selling well for more than a year after their release, I don't see how retailers are going to order to few copies

        • When Vice City came around most retailers expected it to sell like hotcakes so there were few stock problems

          really? well, then that explains why i couldn't find a copy for a week after it was released, every day the same thing
          them: "sorry, we sold out already"
          me: "but its only 10:00, you just opened an hour ago"
          them: "sorry, try again tommorrow" GTA: San Andreas == pre-ordered for me, same goes for GT4

    • Re:Preorders suck (Score:5, Informative)

      by SansTinfoilHat ( 759207 ) on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @08:20PM (#10390114)
      Why do people pre-order?

      As someone who was wise enough (heh) to preorder Katamari Damacy, let me chime in.

      There are two reasons to preorder:

      1. To make sure you have the game when it comes out.
      I preordered Katamari Damacy a week or two before it came out. It wasn't like I needed those $21 in the meantime and since it was a title that I knew would be difficult to find, it gave me piece of mind. This logic fails when the game is something like GTA:San Andreas or Halo 2, because you know any store will have plenty of copies.

      2. To take advantage of a good deal or special gift.
      This is where it makes sense to preorder GTA:SA or Halo 2. I have Halo 2 preordered because I was able to get a VERY GOOD DEAL on it if I preordered. Would I have been able to walk into the store and slap down $54 on 11/9 and still get the same game? Yes, but why pay that much? I also have a good deal of geeky game t-shirts that I got because I preordered that I enjoy and couldn't get anywhere else. If that is your thing, then preordering is a good idea.

      Unless one of those two hold, then preordering is simply giving EB or Gamespot an interest free loan.
    • Sometimes I pre-order because otherwise, I'll _never_ get it. Other times, it's because I like shopping at a good store and figure I'll pre-order so I don't forget or miss out.

      Now, too many shops use a bizarre parody of 'just in time' inventory that goes like this:

      1) They order 1 copy of "Item X" because it's not a guaranteed hit.
      2) They sell their 1 "Item X". No one else sees "Item X", so they don't bother to re-order.
      3) They pat themselves on the back for making a good call and not 'overordering' "Item
    • I will pre-order a game if it comes with a bonus disc or prize of some kind. EB lets you put down $5 to guarantee a game on the day of release, And if you decide you don't want the game, just get your money back! The best part? You can keep the pre-order "prize"!!!
    • Pre-ordering just allows game shops to keep crappier sellection on hand all while providing them with contact info for them to market to you through. If they're going to get your $50 anyway, why give it to them 3 months in advance?

      Not to mention that, but for PC games it REALLY sucks. Imagine pre-ordering Half life 2 a year and a month ago thinking it was going to make last septembers release date (or whenever it was around then). The $50 you plop down on a game allows the retailer to make interest on

  • Bargain! (Score:3, Interesting)

    by astrokid ( 779104 ) on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @03:00PM (#10387103)
    This game is a steal at $20. Its about time more developers tooks risks instead of rehashing the same old games.

    I'm hoping to find a copy before the scalpers on EBAY horde all available copies.

    For those on the west coast, I heard Fry's was selling the title for 14.99.
    • It's selling extremely well. Expect another printing/more to be ordered. You'll see it back on store shelves soon. In fact, I think most Gamestops got their weekly shipments in last night ...
    • Last night I checked eBay; the highest price for a copy was $22.50. Like many supply crunches, this one will blow over in, like, a week.

  • Soundtrack (Score:2, Interesting)

    by astrokid ( 779104 )
    The soundtrack to the game is also very quirky and catchy.
    Download a few tracks here and if you like it you can purchase the official release here [yesasia.com]

  • Play This Game! (Score:3, Funny)

    by Crutcher ( 24607 ) on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @03:12PM (#10387298) Homepage
    This game has a) the stupidest premise, and b) the most awesome gameplay of any game that I've seen or played which has come out in the past 5 years. Play it, if you can get a copy!
    • you'd be surprised how often those two concepts cross over. the dreamcast has HORDES of stupid little games that are insanely great. (and to a lesser extent, ps2, though admittedly, a bunch of them are games that were ports of japan-only dreamcast games.)

  • Man, Did I Get Lucky... (Score:3, Funny)

    by DLWormwood ( 154934 ) <[moc.em] [ta] [doowmrow]> on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @03:14PM (#10387319) Homepage
    ...I first read about this game a year ago, and developed a mild curiousity about it. I asked about this game a month ago, when I first found out about it's NA release, however, since I wasn't too keen on actually playing it, I never pre-ordered it.

    However, I showed up the day after release and asked around, and the store operator remembered asking about it and had a copy held for me at a neighboring store, if I could pick it up within 18 hours. The other store actually had to turn away about 4-5 other buyers before I showed up with only an hour to spare. Moral: be good chums with your video game store staff and they'll help you in a pinch.

    That said, I'm glad I got it. I still haven't beated it, despite the game's "short length," since it gets a little frustrating on the later levels. However, this is the happiest game I've ever played, despite the fact that you are ruthlessly wadding people and animals up in a ball to hurl them in the cold recesses of space.

    WARNING: Do not play while taking drugs. You won't be able to tell when they wear off...

    • I blew through all the "plotline levels", having to repeat two of the levels once each. My second time through the final level (missed it by a mile the first time -- knowing the general layout of the town helps) I got a 801m katamari which was good enough to qualify for eternal. However, some of the side levels are HARD AS HELL. The bear one is annoying me to death. I keep running over the damn teddy bear. God: "BEEAAAAR!!!" as the level ends and my pathetic Bear star goes up :). If you haven't played

  • Possibly not sold out everywhere? (Score:3, Informative)

    by Pentomino ( 129125 ) on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @03:19PM (#10387398) Homepage Journal
    The article seems to focus on SF Bay area retailers. SF is a tech-savvy, geek-rich town with a healthy Asian population to boot, so it stands to reason more people there would have heard about it. At least eight per vicinity-of-a-store.

    Here in Phoenix/Tempe, I just sauntered into Fry's Electronics and bought one of three copies on display, Friday night. I wonder if they've sold out yet. So it's worth giving your local retailer a call to see if they have it in. And remember, "Katamari" is easier to spell over the phone than "Damacy", "Damashii", "DeMacci", or "Dummycheese".

    I'm pretty much hooked on the game. I've played all the levels, and I can still see myself putting the game in about once a day for the foreseeable future. It makes me just want to share it with everybody.

  • Some allowed preorders. (Score:4, Informative)

    by vitaflo ( 20507 ) on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @03:22PM (#10387419) Homepage
    Both EB and Gamestop's online stores had preorders available for the game, Gamestop being the first to do so (which is where I preordered from). They most certainly had a small shipment as Gamestop.com sold out on the day of release.

    I don't really fault retailers that much, since this is a budget title, and most of the fever over the game has been decidedly word of mouth as there hasn't been a big promotional campaign for the title.

    With that said, this is one of the most unique and fresh titles I've played in years. You'd do yourself a huge favor to get it...if you can find a copy.
    • I don't really fault retailers that much, since this is a budget title, and most of the fever over the game has been decidedly word of mouth as there hasn't been a big promotional campaign for the title.
      I can't really fault them either. When I went to one to pre-order, they basically said that their inventory computer didn't allow pre-orders for KD. This happened in several stores, so it's probably not a one-time glitch.

  • This game is FABULOUS (Score:3, Informative)

    by Oz0ne ( 13272 ) on Wednesday September 29, 2004 @03:47PM (#10387712) Homepage
    Easily one of the most creative games I've played in years. Very simple gameplay mechanics, HUGE world to explore, addictive, and.. *GASP* FUN!

    Anyone can pick this game up and love it. I mean anyone. Very quirky humor, 100% replayable.. many many times. Amazingly good soundtrack.

    If there was a legit video game awards this should get game of the year, or decade. I'd say it's as ground breaking in creativity/addictivity as tetris was in it's day.

  • I have this. (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I had to call every store in my little midwestern city and finally found a new game store that had just opened - they had two copies. Quite a bit of legwork, and god DAMN was it worth it.

    This game is totally fantastic. Fun, simple controls, perfect aesthetics and style. Nearly pick-up-and-play, with 100% satisfying gameplay every single round, every time.

    It'll probably only last a month in terms of replay, but at $19.99, why not?

    I showed it off to some coworkers and now they are all buying copies themse
  • Japanese Video Game Designers(Shrooms + Multiple Viewings of Yellow Submarine + Caramel)= Katamari Damacy

    What the hell are those pandas doing anyway?
  • I went to a couple shops and they have a half dozen copies on the shelves. I'm in Canada, though.
  • I love everything about this game. I bought the last copy at my local Gamestop last week. My girlfriend and I have played the crap out of Katamari Damacy and we finished it today. Extremely simple, but constantly rewarding. All wrapped up with a quirky art style and eastern religious undertones. And the soundtrack is amazing.

    If you like games, you owe it to yourself to go pick this up once stores get restocked.
  • Maybe people are drooling over the game's innovation a bit much. It seems like an update to the old Pac Man game.

    A good, strong update, defintely worthy of praise. Like the wonderful revelation when Mario got moved to 3-D on the N64. But we shouldn't be acting like we've never seen anything like it before.

  • When I heard from someone who had got it, (I'd been waiting for months for the US release,) I called my local Fry's, and I went down that evening and managed to get a copy on sale for 14.99 (that day only) Now if only I owned a PS2...

  • Let me see if I have this right.. (Score:3, Funny)

    by Toby_Tyke ( 797359 ) on Thursday September 30, 2004 @05:46PM (#10399701) Journal
    It's a video game, right? But, but, you don't shoot things?

    And there are no rocket luanchers? Or machine guns?

    No, I just don't understand.

    Seriously, I had'nt heard of this, but it looks fantastic.
  • Sad to think that this yummy goodness is only available in Japan and North America. Has anyone heard of a possible release in Europe?

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