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Pikmin 3 GameStop incident: Difference between revisions

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(Changed page to be based around the event itself, rather than the Incident that happened at the event.)
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Pikmin 3'' GameStop incident}}{{game icons|p3=y}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Pikmin 3'' GameStop Hands-on event}}{{game icons|p3=y}}
[[File:Pikmin3HandsOnEventFlyer.jpg|thumb|300px|A flyer for the hands-on event advertising the promotion.]]  
[[File:Pikmin3HandsOnEventFlyer.jpg|thumb|300px|A flyer for the hands-on event advertising the promotion.]]  
{{merge|Pikmin 3}}


The '''''Pikmin 3'' GameStop incident''' refers to an incident involving the [[Wikipedia:GameStop|GameStop]] ''Pikmin 3'' Hands-on event, and a promotion for an early digital download of ''[[Pikmin 3]]'', which occurred on {{date|3|August|2013}}.
 
The '''''Pikmin 3'' GameStop Hands-on''' event was a Nintendo-hosted event which took place at over 250 [[Wikipedia:GameStop|GameStop]] and [[Wikipedia:EB Games|EB Games]] locations<ref>[http://www.gamestop.com/gs/landing/events/pikmin3demo/default.aspx Gamestop's store locator for the event on July 20th]</ref><ref>[http://www.gamestop.com/gs/landing/events/pikmin3demo/default2.aspx Gamestop's store locator for the event on July 21st]</ref>. The event took place on Saturday and Sunday, July 20th-21st at 1:00pm to 4:00pm EST. The event also featured a pre-order promotion for a digital download of ''[[Pikmin 3]]'' allowing the game to be downloaded on {{date|3|August|2013}}, a day before release of the game.


==History==
==History==
On {{date|15|July|2013}}, [[wikipedia:GameSpot|GameSpot]]'s and Nintendo of America's YouTube accounts had an identical video<ref name="video">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPnOrygkd8A The video on GameSpot's channel]</ref> uploaded to them, in which Reggie Fils-Amie, CEO of Nintendo of America, provided details on an upcoming event to be held at select GameStop locations in the USA, and select EB Games locations in Canada, which would occur from {{date|20|July|2013}} to {{date|21|July|2013}}. Those locations had a ''Pikmin 3'' demo booth installed, run by a Nintendo representative, where players could play an exclusive version of the [[Tropical Forest]] map.
On {{date|15|July|2013}}, [[wikipedia:GameSpot|GameSpot]]'s and Nintendo of America's YouTube accounts had an identical video<ref name="video">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPnOrygkd8A The video on GameSpot's channel]</ref> uploaded to them, in which Reggie Fils-Amie, CEO of Nintendo of America, provided details of the event. Those locations had a ''Pikmin 3'' demo booth installed, run by a Nintendo representative, where players could play an early demo version of Pikmin 3, featuring an exclusive version of the [[Tropical Forest]] map. This demo was the same one made available to play during E3 2013. Some stores were also giving away the same Pikmin 3 patches that were given out at E3 2013, as well as some Nintendo E3 themed lanyards. It was also reported that some other games which had demos available at E3, such as Mario & Luigi Dream Team, were shown off at some of the locations of the event.


Attendees who pre-purchased ''Pikmin 3'' at the event would not receive a physical copy of the game, but rather a special download code that could be redeemed on {{date|3|August|2013}}, allowing them to get the game a day before its official release. The code was to be sent to their GameStop membership inboxes on 11:59PM of {{date|2|August|2013}}.
Attendees who pre-purchased ''Pikmin 3'' at the event would receive a special download code from the Gamestop or EB Games website, that could be redeemed on {{date|3|August|2013}}, allowing them to get the game a day before its official release. The code was to be sent to their GameStop membership inboxes on 11:59PM of {{date|2|August|2013}}.


On that same day, many attendees awoke to find their inboxes empty, and returned to the GameStop locations to assess the problem. GameStop addressed the situation, apologizing and explaining that an error had caused 3 different [[Wikipedia:Stock keeping unit|SKUs]] for the same item to be made, with those who pre-purchased the game being randomly assigned one of the three, which was printed onto their purchase receipts. Since these SKUs were used to randomly generate the download codes for the early release, this caused several problems for attendees who hoped to get the game early.
==Early Download Incident==


==Faulty SKUs==
Many attendees who had pre-purchased the game at the event unfortunately did not receive their copies a day early. GameStop addressed the situation, apologizing and explaining that an error had caused 3 different [[Wikipedia:Stock keeping unit|SKUs]] for the same item to be made. Those who pre-purchased the game were randomly assigned one of the three, which was printed onto the purchase receipt. Since these SKUs were used to randomly generate the download codes for the early release, this caused several problems in the redemption of the game.
The faulty SKUS were the cause of the incident. It is estimated that most people received the first, while about a third have received the second SKU. Only a few known reports of the third one have been found. The following SKUs existed, sorted here in a non-official order.


#The first of the three SKUs was normal; customers that received this unit got their download code without a problem and obtained the game early.
It is estimated that most people's orders were placed in the correct SKU, allowing them to download their game a day early as intended. However about a third of the orders were marked as a regularly purchased downloaded copy of the game. Because of this, Gamestop could not verify whether or not the person actually attended the event, making it so they could not legally give said person an early copy of the game, forcing customers to wait until the game's actual release to play.
#The second SKU was accidentally listed as the download code sale, but was actually meant for the physical copy of the game, meaning that people who were assigned this SKU were unable to receive their game early and had to wait until the following day.
 
#The third SKU was meant to be for the physical copy of the game, but was accidentally listed for the retail copy of the game. Since the SKU involved with the early download code was programmed to no longer work after {{date|3|August|2013}}, attendees who were assigned this SKU tried to return to GameStop in hopes of getting the physical copy instead. However, because the SKU no longer worked, the registers at GameStop kept reading the attempted purchase change as an out-of-stock item. Fortunately, those who made the pre-purchase on {{date|21|July|2013}} were able to get a refund, due to the fact that the maximum number of days before refunds are no longer allowed at GameStop is 15. However, this also meant that those who pre-ordered the game on {{date|20|July}}, the first day of the event, were unable to get a refund, effectively having to pay for the game twice.
A few customers who pre-ordered a physical version of the game during the event had their game mistakenly listed as the early-access version of the game, which was digital. Since the SKU involved with the early download code was programmed to no longer work after {{date|3|August|2013}}, attendees who were assigned this SKU tried to return to GameStop in hopes of getting the physical copy instead. However, because the SKU no longer worked, the registers at GameStop kept reading the attempted purchase change as an out-of-stock item. Fortunately, those who made the pre-purchase on {{date|21|July|2013}} were able to get a refund, due to the fact that the maximum number of days before refunds are no longer allowed at GameStop is 15. However, this also meant that those who pre-ordered the game on {{date|20|July}}, the first day of the event, were unable to get a refund, effectively having to pay for the game twice.


==Aftermath==
Shortly after this unfortunate event occurred, many angry gamers who fell victim to the event took to social media<ref>[http://kousuketsubaki.deviantart.com/art/DaMN-IT-GAMESTOP-390602608 A user's complaint on deviantArt]</ref> and online forums<ref>[https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAAD4UV52wAtIAA A user's complaint] on [[Miiverse]]</ref>, making others aware of the occurrence. Many blamed GameStop's faulty download-code system and their apparent ambivalence towards the situation, while others blamed Nintendo themselves. Since then, Nintendo removed the original video detailing the event from their YouTube account. However, GameSpot's upload of the video remained online, and is still up to this day.<ref name="video" />
Shortly after this unfortunate event occurred, many angry gamers who fell victim to the event took to social media<ref>[http://kousuketsubaki.deviantart.com/art/DaMN-IT-GAMESTOP-390602608 A user's complaint on deviantArt]</ref> and online forums<ref>[https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAAD4UV52wAtIAA A user's complaint] on [[Miiverse]]</ref>, making others aware of the occurrence. Many blamed GameStop's faulty download-code system and their apparent ambivalence towards the situation, while others blamed Nintendo themselves. Since then, Nintendo removed the original video detailing the event from their YouTube account. However, GameSpot's upload of the video remained online, and is still up to this day.<ref name="video" />
==Gallery==
<gallery position="center">
Pikmin3HandsOnEventFlyer.jpg| The printed flyer handed out at Gamestop for the event.
Side_pikmin3demo.jpg|The advertisement on Gamestop's website.
Ebgames_canada_pikmin_3.jpg|The advertisement on EB Game's website.
960x170_Pikmin3Demo.jpg|The banner on Gamestop's website advertising the event.
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 17:32, June 21, 2015

A flyer for the hands-on event advertising the promotion.


The Pikmin 3 GameStop Hands-on event was a Nintendo-hosted event which took place at over 250 GameStop and EB Games locations[1][2]. The event took place on Saturday and Sunday, July 20th-21st at 1:00pm to 4:00pm EST. The event also featured a pre-order promotion for a digital download of Pikmin 3 allowing the game to be downloaded on August 3rd, 2013, a day before release of the game.

History

On July 15th, 2013, GameSpot's and Nintendo of America's YouTube accounts had an identical video[3] uploaded to them, in which Reggie Fils-Amie, CEO of Nintendo of America, provided details of the event. Those locations had a Pikmin 3 demo booth installed, run by a Nintendo representative, where players could play an early demo version of Pikmin 3, featuring an exclusive version of the Tropical Forest map. This demo was the same one made available to play during E3 2013. Some stores were also giving away the same Pikmin 3 patches that were given out at E3 2013, as well as some Nintendo E3 themed lanyards. It was also reported that some other games which had demos available at E3, such as Mario & Luigi Dream Team, were shown off at some of the locations of the event.

Attendees who pre-purchased Pikmin 3 at the event would receive a special download code from the Gamestop or EB Games website, that could be redeemed on August 3rd, 2013, allowing them to get the game a day before its official release. The code was to be sent to their GameStop membership inboxes on 11:59PM of August 2nd, 2013.

Early Download Incident

Many attendees who had pre-purchased the game at the event unfortunately did not receive their copies a day early. GameStop addressed the situation, apologizing and explaining that an error had caused 3 different SKUs for the same item to be made. Those who pre-purchased the game were randomly assigned one of the three, which was printed onto the purchase receipt. Since these SKUs were used to randomly generate the download codes for the early release, this caused several problems in the redemption of the game.

It is estimated that most people's orders were placed in the correct SKU, allowing them to download their game a day early as intended. However about a third of the orders were marked as a regularly purchased downloaded copy of the game. Because of this, Gamestop could not verify whether or not the person actually attended the event, making it so they could not legally give said person an early copy of the game, forcing customers to wait until the game's actual release to play.

A few customers who pre-ordered a physical version of the game during the event had their game mistakenly listed as the early-access version of the game, which was digital. Since the SKU involved with the early download code was programmed to no longer work after August 3rd, 2013, attendees who were assigned this SKU tried to return to GameStop in hopes of getting the physical copy instead. However, because the SKU no longer worked, the registers at GameStop kept reading the attempted purchase change as an out-of-stock item. Fortunately, those who made the pre-purchase on July 21st, 2013 were able to get a refund, due to the fact that the maximum number of days before refunds are no longer allowed at GameStop is 15. However, this also meant that those who pre-ordered the game on July 20th, the first day of the event, were unable to get a refund, effectively having to pay for the game twice.

Shortly after this unfortunate event occurred, many angry gamers who fell victim to the event took to social media[4] and online forums[5], making others aware of the occurrence. Many blamed GameStop's faulty download-code system and their apparent ambivalence towards the situation, while others blamed Nintendo themselves. Since then, Nintendo removed the original video detailing the event from their YouTube account. However, GameSpot's upload of the video remained online, and is still up to this day.[3]

Gallery

  • The printed flyer handed out at Gamestop for the event.

    The printed flyer handed out at Gamestop for the event.

  • The advertisement on Gamestop's website.

    The advertisement on Gamestop's website.

  • The advertisement on EB Game's website.

    The advertisement on EB Game's website.

  • The banner on Gamestop's website advertising the event.

    The banner on Gamestop's website advertising the event.

See also

References

  1. ^ Gamestop's store locator for the event on July 20th
  2. ^ Gamestop's store locator for the event on July 21st
  3. ^ a b The video on GameSpot's channel
  4. ^ A user's complaint on deviantArt
  5. ^ A user's complaint on Miiverse
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