To Sheboygan,
I did not read the 7 following pages of text, but I'll take a wild guess that people flamed you for not knowing. Know that I'm with you on this one. The same thing happenend to me back when COH came out. The same pre-order two day head start thing was being done and I got the retail box about two days prior to the actual "normal" server start. When I tried to complain about this, I got so much flaiming that I simply had to let the matter be. I was ready for the same thing this time.
Even though alot of places where talking about the two day head start, it does not excuse that the most important place that should be talking about that little bit of information did not mention anything about it: the store clerk. I totally agree with you on this. Some of us actually shop casually when we want something - hell, if we are too busy in real life, we might even just call and put stuff asside without asking too many questions. When I go and buy a game that I know I want, I don't necessarly check out the boards, web sites and all that stuff. I might not even notice a poster about the said product I'm going for when I enter the store - often easily missed when they are in a sea of advertisment anyway. Most of the time, I drive to the store, I rush in, buy my stuff, leave. Yes, you heard me. Just like when I buy groceries.
All this would have been simply avoided (both times, for you and me) if the stores would have not sold the RETAIL box before the actual starting date. If they insisted on selling the games before that, then the least they could have done is give the bonus CD with it. It's as simple as that. I don't like buying things I can't use right away, and I especially hate the fact that they don't mention on he box that the game won't be playable prior to a specific date.
So for those of us who actually buy things like most other people do, which is by having a minimum information about the product like price compare and so on, details like "you won't be able to use this because the makers of the game will block you from doing so" when it's not even on the box, just might like to hear about that information when we hand the cash over the counter.
I'm mostly complaining about the first time this has happenend to me. I'm sad to see that it happenned to other people as well this time around. I still think that it's wrong, and I bet you would have been less mad if the clerk would have at the very least explained this to you (some people who pre-ordered like me where very happy to see the box come in early since it let's us keep playing passed midnight on Sunday).
They should have never put it on the shelves before the 31st. That's all.
