Who has purchased their copy of SMAC from Best Buy or CompUSA?

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Author Topic:   Who has purchased their copy of SMAC from Best Buy or CompUSA?

Xentropy posted 02-11-99 12:49 PM ET
It appears from reading the threads that neither Best Buy nor CompUSA have even *heard* of the game (<SARCASM>great job at distribution, EA.. really..</SARCASM> )... My local BB and CUSA are the same... They asked me to *spell* the name, then kept saying they didn't have it on their shipping lists for the next month, under any incarnation (I tried every variation I could think of on the name)... Apparantly online, EB, and Babbages are the only places to get this thing, and I live in an area with neither of those stores available... I have to rely on Best Buy and CompUSA to get the thing...
So I'd like anyone who's purchased their copy at either of these two stores to please post on this thread and give me some piece of mind that EA hasn't completely left these major retail chains out of the loop because of some misguided notion that Alpha Centauri isn't a game for the general public or something...
I'll feel *much* better if a Best Buy *anywhere* has it yet... If not, though, ... well, if EA's US office gets bombed by terrorists, it wasn't me ;>
Cyberduck posted 02-11-99 01:44 PM ET
well, the CompUsa here in Washington state had an 'coming soon' game list. SMAC was listed as releasing in Feburary, but no specific date was listed. The clerk I spoke to not only had never heard of the game, but couldn't find any reference to it in their computer.
Encoly posted 02-11-99 01:46 PM ET
I just checked both here in Northern VA - no games, no promos, no knowledge.
Yrth posted 02-11-99 01:52 PM ET
I never fail to be amazed at how little "some" of the clerks at Best Buy or CompUSA know of upcoming games (or computer equipment in general -- of course, there are always knowledgeable exceptions).
However, I would think the least they could do as part of their professional development (to at least be able to answer questions) is flip through a game mag now and then. The lady at the local EB here knows everything about all the upcoming stuff (PC, Playstations, etc.). One can tell she loves her job. It's always more enjoyable when you deal with knowledgeable people. Heck, you don't have to know anything about the game, but at least know its on a release date.
CaptComal posted 02-11-99 02:11 PM ET
CompUSA in Wisconsin knew nothing about it.
I bought mine at Software Etc who had it in stock.
DanS posted 02-11-99 02:15 PM ET
I'm in the DC area and got Best Buy to bring it up on their inventory screen. It's under "Sid Meier" rather than "Alpha Centauri." They had a date of the 15th. I bought it at EBX, since they had plenty.
Khan Singh posted 02-11-99 02:21 PM ET
Same experience, the clerk at Comp USA had never hear of it. EB didn't have it or BestBuy. Got mine at Babbages for $39.99.
Seely posted 02-11-99 03:21 PM ET
You should have ordered it from EA Direct. I wasn't expecting to get it on time, but it arrived at my house on Tuesday the 9th. I was immensely pleased, and there was no hassle. If you figure that the game will retail for either $44.99 +tax or $47.99+tax at BB or CompUSA, then the saving is no more than 7 or 8 dollars tops versus the $54.95 total that I paid EA Direct. Although this price difference may be a bigger concern for most folks than it happened to be for me, it was well worth the convenience!
Yrth posted 02-11-99 04:08 PM ET
I used to try and get games for a cheaper price at Best Buy or CompUSA (avg. $40) versus getting them at Babbages or Electronic Boutique (avg. $50). However, I realized that the price difference between them is not that great anymore. Plus, they take longer to get the games. Best Buy charges $50 very frequently now; likewise CompUSA. Plus, they are slower to drop their prices on old games than EB is. So now I almost always go to EB since they offer $10 rebates on many new games (Alpha Centauri is one) and the prices are not much more.
I picked up Alpha Centauri for $39.99 at EB and will mail my $10 rebate out tomorrow.
True, the rebate takes a while to get to me (this annoys) but, when it gets here, I promptly apply it to the next game I want. Besides, even if you picked it up for, say, $50, they'll match a Best Buy or CompUSA price if there is a sale within 10 days of purchase.
The DirectorGeneral posted 02-11-99 04:29 PM ET
I am one of the rare CompUSA employees that keeps wired into the gaming community. Thus I am now known as the "game Guy" in my store, and all the other staffers send all game related questions to me. It would be nice if such a position was formalized in our corporate system.....
Anyways, I've been hyping SMAC since last june here.
By the by, If anyone still needs a copy and lives in SE Michigan, here at CompUSA Novi we just got ours (about 30).
JSorense? Y'need SMAC?
TheHelperMonkey posted 02-11-99 04:31 PM ET
I called CUSA yesterday (the 10th) and asked
if they AC. They didn't know what it is. Even if I spelled it the right way. The reason I went to CompUsa was becuase it was cheaper and closer to me. Now, my local EB is selling it for 34.99 without the 10$ rebate. Clearly I am probably switching to EB to but games that I really want to play, but other wise I'll got CUSA (I bought Starcraft at EB before CUSA got it a after).
Borodino posted 02-11-99 04:37 PM ET
DG,
Nice to see you again! jsorense lives in California, so I doubt he could get it from you. I, on the other hand live, in Plymouth, so you may see me up at your store in the near future.
Leit posted 02-15-99 02:36 AM ET
I work at the compusa in tulsa, and we have the game, and will be putting on the shelf on monday. been waiting for ages for the game. I managed to snag a copy for myself already of course
Borodino posted 02-15-99 05:52 AM ET
I bought my copy at the Director General's store yesterday. Wandered around a bit to see if I could find anyone with his [real] name, bu tnever did.
iratheous posted 02-15-99 08:05 AM ET
The best buy here said they didn't have any on order (this was after trying "Alpha Centauri" and THEN trying Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri" and finally foun it in "Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri" (you had to spell it exact, no wildcards ug..) Well they said they had none on order so I drove an hour to EB and bought it there and the very next day saw it at best buy anyways... Also Comp USA Does have it I saw it yesterday thre.
The DirectorGeneral posted 02-15-99 08:52 AM ET
Sorry Borodino, I don't usualy work weekends anymore...
JT posted 02-15-99 10:32 AM ET
Bought it a Best Buy. They had tons! Bijillions in just one store!
pcgamez posted 02-15-99 10:42 AM ET
I bought mine from COMPUSA on Friday. They had it in the back room.
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Author	Topic: Who has purchased their copy of SMAC from Best Buy or CompUSA?
Xentropy	posted 02-11-99 12:49 PM ET It appears from reading the threads that neither Best Buy nor CompUSA have even heard of the game (<SARCASM>great job at distribution, EA.. really..</SARCASM> )... My local BB and CUSA are the same... They asked me to spell the name, then kept saying they didn't have it on their shipping lists for the next month, under any incarnation (I tried every variation I could think of on the name)... Apparantly online, EB, and Babbages are the only places to get this thing, and I live in an area with neither of those stores available... I have to rely on Best Buy and CompUSA to get the thing... So I'd like anyone who's purchased their copy at either of these two stores to please post on this thread and give me some piece of mind that EA hasn't completely left these major retail chains out of the loop because of some misguided notion that Alpha Centauri isn't a game for the general public or something... I'll feel much better if a Best Buy anywhere has it yet... If not, though, ... well, if EA's US office gets bombed by terrorists, it wasn't me ;>
Cyberduck	posted 02-11-99 01:44 PM ET well, the CompUsa here in Washington state had an 'coming soon' game list. SMAC was listed as releasing in Feburary, but no specific date was listed. The clerk I spoke to not only had never heard of the game, but couldn't find any reference to it in their computer.
Encoly	posted 02-11-99 01:46 PM ET I just checked both here in Northern VA - no games, no promos, no knowledge.
Yrth	posted 02-11-99 01:52 PM ET I never fail to be amazed at how little "some" of the clerks at Best Buy or CompUSA know of upcoming games (or computer equipment in general -- of course, there are always knowledgeable exceptions). However, I would think the least they could do as part of their professional development (to at least be able to answer questions) is flip through a game mag now and then. The lady at the local EB here knows everything about all the upcoming stuff (PC, Playstations, etc.). One can tell she loves her job. It's always more enjoyable when you deal with knowledgeable people. Heck, you don't have to know anything about the game, but at least know its on a release date.
CaptComal	posted 02-11-99 02:11 PM ET CompUSA in Wisconsin knew nothing about it. I bought mine at Software Etc who had it in stock.
DanS	posted 02-11-99 02:15 PM ET I'm in the DC area and got Best Buy to bring it up on their inventory screen. It's under "Sid Meier" rather than "Alpha Centauri." They had a date of the 15th. I bought it at EBX, since they had plenty.
Khan Singh	posted 02-11-99 02:21 PM ET Same experience, the clerk at Comp USA had never hear of it. EB didn't have it or BestBuy. Got mine at Babbages for $39.99.
Seely	posted 02-11-99 03:21 PM ET You should have ordered it from EA Direct. I wasn't expecting to get it on time, but it arrived at my house on Tuesday the 9th. I was immensely pleased, and there was no hassle. If you figure that the game will retail for either $44.99 +tax or $47.99+tax at BB or CompUSA, then the saving is no more than 7 or 8 dollars tops versus the $54.95 total that I paid EA Direct. Although this price difference may be a bigger concern for most folks than it happened to be for me, it was well worth the convenience!
Yrth	posted 02-11-99 04:08 PM ET I used to try and get games for a cheaper price at Best Buy or CompUSA (avg. $40) versus getting them at Babbages or Electronic Boutique (avg. $50). However, I realized that the price difference between them is not that great anymore. Plus, they take longer to get the games. Best Buy charges $50 very frequently now; likewise CompUSA. Plus, they are slower to drop their prices on old games than EB is. So now I almost always go to EB since they offer $10 rebates on many new games (Alpha Centauri is one) and the prices are not much more. I picked up Alpha Centauri for $39.99 at EB and will mail my $10 rebate out tomorrow. True, the rebate takes a while to get to me (this annoys) but, when it gets here, I promptly apply it to the next game I want. Besides, even if you picked it up for, say, $50, they'll match a Best Buy or CompUSA price if there is a sale within 10 days of purchase.
The DirectorGeneral	posted 02-11-99 04:29 PM ET I am one of the rare CompUSA employees that keeps wired into the gaming community. Thus I am now known as the "game Guy" in my store, and all the other staffers send all game related questions to me. It would be nice if such a position was formalized in our corporate system..... Anyways, I've been hyping SMAC since last june here. By the by, If anyone still needs a copy and lives in SE Michigan, here at CompUSA Novi we just got ours (about 30). JSorense? Y'need SMAC?
TheHelperMonkey	posted 02-11-99 04:31 PM ET I called CUSA yesterday (the 10th) and asked if they AC. They didn't know what it is. Even if I spelled it the right way. The reason I went to CompUsa was becuase it was cheaper and closer to me. Now, my local EB is selling it for 34.99 without the 10$ rebate. Clearly I am probably switching to EB to but games that I really want to play, but other wise I'll got CUSA (I bought Starcraft at EB before CUSA got it a after).
Borodino	posted 02-11-99 04:37 PM ET DG, Nice to see you again! jsorense lives in California, so I doubt he could get it from you. I, on the other hand live, in Plymouth, so you may see me up at your store in the near future.
Leit	posted 02-15-99 02:36 AM ET I work at the compusa in tulsa, and we have the game, and will be putting on the shelf on monday. been waiting for ages for the game. I managed to snag a copy for myself already of course
Borodino	posted 02-15-99 05:52 AM ET I bought my copy at the Director General's store yesterday. Wandered around a bit to see if I could find anyone with his [real] name, bu tnever did.
iratheous	posted 02-15-99 08:05 AM ET The best buy here said they didn't have any on order (this was after trying "Alpha Centauri" and THEN trying Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri" and finally foun it in "Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri" (you had to spell it exact, no wildcards ug..) Well they said they had none on order so I drove an hour to EB and bought it there and the very next day saw it at best buy anyways... Also Comp USA Does have it I saw it yesterday thre.
The DirectorGeneral	posted 02-15-99 08:52 AM ET Sorry Borodino, I don't usualy work weekends anymore...
JT	posted 02-15-99 10:32 AM ET Bought it a Best Buy. They had tons! Bijillions in just one store!
pcgamez	posted 02-15-99 10:42 AM ET I bought mine from COMPUSA on Friday. They had it in the back room.