What a day. As we’ve already discussed today, early access to SWTOR for those who pre-ordered, is getting close.
However, a more important issue for Oceanic players is the confirmation that there will be no grace period.
The Pre-Order FAQ now states this:
So that means: even if you get early access, you can’t continue to play the game until you have your SWTOR product code. For most of us down this end of the world, that means waiting for a boxed copy to arrive from overseas. In my case, Amazon US is stating a delivery date of the 10th January 2012 as it won’t be shipped until the 21st December, the day after launch – even though I pre-ordered back in late July.
There’s some other interesting points made on the issue in a thread on our own forums – and from doing the rounds of other forums, not surprisingly there’s a lot of unhappy people.
Bioware’s Stephen Reid has said they are working with Amazon to speed up shipments but that availability of product on launch date is unlikely for Oceanic players. So that doesn’t sound too promising either.
To attempt some balance though, these events need to be viewed through the prism of launch territories. Because the decision was made by Bioware to launch in the USA and in parts of Europe only, the grace period issue is pretty much negated in those areas as people will get their copy prior to launch date. The rest of us can’t expect the same given we’re not in the launch territory. I’m by no means saying I agree with the way the launch areas were determined, but it’s a reality and there are ramifications from that decision, of which the grace period is one.
So what can you do about it? I’ve gone a relatively extreme route given here at TOROZ we intend on reporting on SWTOR news throughout the launch period. I’ve ordered a second copy of SWTOR and had it shipped to a friend in the US (with delivery date of 20th December), who will then kindly let me know the product code so I can continue to play once early access finishes. Would I normally do that? No. Do I like having to buy two copies of the same game to be able to play? No – but for me it’s a necessary evil. The only other option you have is to enjoy whatever early access you have and then psych yourself up for a Xmas/ New Year break from the game and hope our postal services aren’t too laid back after a few days off.
Over to you: what’s your take on the grace period?
One last thing, thanks to TOGmmog on our forums – Hitler’s take on the no grace period issue:
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This is pathetic. You have got to be kidding, I’ve been looking forward to this game so much. I get a few days of play then I can’t play for the rest of the month? Stupid, stupid, STUPID.
Want them to care? Vote with your feet. I suspect that like me, you won’t. We put up with a lot of crap from the starwars franchise, why would we stop giving them money now? We wouldn’t and we won’t.
i did
i bought as christmas presents that i was told should arrive the 20th to 21 not i am informed of 22nd as earliest and since i am flying out early am i can’t even get them.
EA/BW must have the last name scrouge.
G2play is the way to go, just ordered went smooth, will now cancel my amazon pre-order
i did the same as you but i cant find when it will be delivered or anything like that mind telling me how these guys work?
i did the same as you but i cant find when it will be delivered or anything like that mind telling me how these guys work?
they are a cd-key site…they will just email you the cd key with the option of DLing the client from their server…no physical copies will be given
you sure? the g2play site says: “The key provided by G2PLAY is an official EA Retail Key. It is activated through the Origin, enables you to play on official EA servers and your game will be kept updated with the latest patches via the Origin platform. To activate our key via Origin simply download for free the official Origin Manager, create a new Origin account or login into your existing account, click Activation and enter your product key.” .. SO according to that you still need to log onto Origin.. and we know that’s not gonna happen from AU.
Activation is via the SWTOR website and not origin client itself.
I pre-ordered from amazon and when I entered the key on the SWTOR website the game appeared in my origin games lists.
Activating a G2play key will work just fine.
from twitter:
MOBSTER7David
@SWTOR do you have to have a origin account to play the old repbulic?
7 hours ago
in reply to ↑
@SWTORThe Old Republic
@MOBSTER7 Nope, you only need to make an account on our page. Although this account will allow you to access Origin.
6 hours ago via TweetDeck
Mate, did you use an aus credit card? I read elsewhere online retailers were blocking redzone cc.
Also, any idea if cancelling amazon borks your preorder code? Thanks for the info
Lo mate, i’m sure cancelling the amazon pre-order will kill early game access, so I’m not going to cancel it yet, I might even pay for it and re-sell on e-bay the actual game. I’ll use the G2play code for the actual game on the SWTOR website
Yeah they get them from origin and origin will release them all by the 16th, so you your all set for the game key in time for the 20th.
seriously? its 7 days stop being bunch of whining b****ches and btw if you go with priority international delivery you get it between the 23 and 29th of december
you gotta be joking mate, we have paid money for this game, it’s not some free MMO. of course people are going to be pissed if they don’t get their merchandise at the same time the rest of the world is, such an ignorant comment man
open your order…mine says same thing…then it says will NOT arrive till after the 25th
seriously? learn to count b***ch and btw if early access starts on the 13th and my expensive CE with priority international delivery doesn’t arrive until the 29th of December that is, by my count, SIXTEEN days later than people who bought the standard cheapy digital download from Origin.
My Amazon is currently listing a shipping date of the 21st and arrival date between 23rd – 29th. This time of the year, I highly doubt it will arrive before Christmas unless it is sent well before the 21st, and if it arrives before the 29th, I would be very surprised.
Hopefully they can get Amazon to ship it at least a little earlier than the 21st, it might not make it for launch, but with luck it could cut down the wait after launch.
If Amazon shipped on the 15th like retailers are going to in Europe it will arrive on either the 23rd or 27th… One can hope it would only take 8 days – but given christmas and boxing day the 27th isn’t much better given a 5 day head-start…
Even if you look at it through the prism of Bioware/EA’s “screw off everyone who’s not living in NA or Europe” policy, it still doesn’t really make sense. I saw a fair few yanks posting that even though they chose release day shipping and the like, they wouldn’t be getting it until the 22nd. Obviously this is a very small number of people relative to the whole, but I don’t see how letting those people (and inadvertantly those located in the Red Zone) play until their boxed copies arrive would be a bad thing for the game or Bioware/EA.
Plus, even though they have the whole Green Zone policy, I don’t imagine those in the US military stationed overseas who were keen for the game and planned on importing it will be too happy about this move.
Then again, you do have some people buying a second copy (mostly digital from comments I’ve seen) to ensure uninterupted play-time, so knowing how completely and utterly morally and ethically EA is bankrupt, I imagine this is all just an appalling ploy to squeeze a few extra bucks out of their to-be playerbase.
In any case, the EA North American Sales and Marketing department is either filled with the scum of the earth or alternatively with incredibly incompetent people who haven’t the faintest clue as to what they’re doing. It sure is great when it’s a lose-lose situation, and you, the consumer, are the only one playing the game.
sounds like someone isn’t getting their game in time and is just QQing, as you said the minority, no one ever cares about the minority unless they are in it.
Spoken like a true Aryan.
gtfo… why are you even here anyway?
This is why I ordered and opted for store pick up. Not easier but at least I know when I will have a copy of the game in my hands.
Almost ready to just not bother with the whole thing.
Almot every single person who is QQing is in a red zone, everyone in the green will be getting the game on time.
I am not in a Redzone. I am in a major US City. When I called my retailer to ask when I would get the game, I was told sometime after christmas and prolly early january. And I added next day shipping…. So no not everyone QQing is in a redzone. In fact if you go to the site and actually the posts you will find most of them are people living in the US and Canada
shoulda went to gamestop m8 🙂
I want to know why US retailers cannot or will not ship on the 15th like European retailers.
thanks for that Sherlock Holmes. Pretty sure everyone understands that redzoners are complaining about not getting the game, and that greenzoners are getting the game on time..
This is what the whole discussion is about.
Are you some clown sent from the Northern Hemisphere to flamebait redzoners and summarise the situation for everybody with your flagrant disregard for spelling and grammar?
To put some of it in perspective, we see this EVERYDAY in our lives. EA (manufacturer) own Origin (distributor), so they decide to funnel as much as they can through Origin, via Digital Downloads. They don’t want their product available too early, otherwise no one would download it.
As far as everyday life, in Australia we have Coles & Woolworths owning cattle farms, dairies, and fruit plantations. They do the same, funnel their produce into their stores for distribution. This affects supply and pricing.
Yeah it sucks, but it today’s society, its life. I’ll be hitting a few beers and watching the cricket waiting for my CE to arrive.
Surely if you pre-order a virtual copy then you get the game to play on the 20th just via e-mail and forgetting the shipping?
Aussies are blocked from digital purchase from Origin. Physical copy is our only option.
no…g2play is a site many of my guildies have switched too….as will i if the amazon situation isnt resolved soon
BUT on the g2play site is says:
“The key provided by G2PLAY is an official EA Retail Key. It is activated through the Origin, enables you to play on official EA servers and your game will be kept updated with the latest patches via the Origin platform. To activate our key via Origin simply download for free the official Origin Manager, create a new Origin account or login into your existing account, click Activation and enter your product key.”… SO how do we activate it if we are locked out of the game through Origin? Do you really think they will let us Activate it from Australia? I highly doubt it.
yer ill be switching to digital copy and cancel my pre-order CE i think
I’m going to be patient. I’m guessing that contrary to what Amazon show’s in the order information, my CE will arrive on time.
There was a bunch of people on the SWTOR forums last week who contacted Amazon regarding this and were told they would receive their registration codes via email as soon as the product ships. If this is true, then it shouldn’t really be a problem that there isn’t a grace period.
Yep I’m REALLY hoping that’s how it works but I can’t see it happening as it’d require either manually opening each box or loose sheets of codes floating around. Neither seems too feasible to me – unless the code is on the outside of the box and even then it’s going to be a huge task emailing individuals a specific code and making sure they get that box…
This is not going to happen – opening a box is against Amazon policy.
Now knowing how Bioware is 100% just EA, and given this most recent fiasco with the grace period, Im 100% convinced that IP locks will be the last suprise on the plate for Oceanic folks.
EA is the BoA of gaming. Period.
I doubt it. By placing a red zone they are saving themselves from having to support you over there. But they are not going to IP lock you most likely because you are still more income for them.
Your a complete fool if you think that, the no grace period is completely fair in my opinion, its the retailers that are crap and cant deliver on time that is the problem. Absolutely no one deserves a “grace period” as this is in a way playing the game after release – without the game. those who have preordered and cancelled would be getting half a month free due to early access and a grace period if there was one
Red Zoners cop it again. Utterly pathetic way to treat what is supposed to be a loyal “valued” consumer base.
In an additional but now less important note, Amazon is stating that it will not ship the newly advertised Game Time cards to Australia. (Just tried to order 2 of em for myself and got the error message)
Severely disappointed at the way all of this has been handled, I would have thought a company who boasts about their “quality of service” would be eager to build good-will in the non-launch countries, not annoy us even further. This rates pretty low on the Customer Service scale.
cd keys will be emailed from amazon on launch day
has been confirmed several times on the official forums
no….people showed what the amazon CS have said…and for every one of them theres someone showing the CS saying something else…your forgetting that amazon CS is in durkadurkastan and knows nothing
Stephen Reid on the Amazon emailing codes rumour:
“I can’t comment on anything Amazon says. If you’re talking about game codes, that seems very unlikely.”
Honestly I don’t think the Amazon CS reps have any idea what they’re talking about. They’re not going to be opening your box and it certainly doesn’t sound like it’s printed on the outside.
People claiming it on the forums isn’t confirmation.
Unfortunatley due to retarded (at best) CS at Amazon who don’t even know what a CD key is, we will not get our keys until after the 25th cause they can’t open our boxes, and that is the only way, Amazon think we are talking about the pre order codes
^ someone who has spoken with every CS at Amazon (well basically)
Lol sorry guys but Stephen Reid the spokesperson for Bioware has announced that it is impossible for Amazon to send you your cd key’s without opening the box,
We are in for a long wait
This was always unlikely regardless of how many people were convinced it would happen after speaking to Amazon CS.
Our best bet is to hope that Amazon, either with permission or on their own, start to ship the pre-orders when they get them. It really makes no sense to wait since the people will already be playing early access anyway.
I’m getting a mate to buy in Belfast from shop since available on 15th in EU; he can email me the code and toss the DVD. I’ll cancel my Amazon pre-order hopefully before it ships, and hope they don’t deactivate my pre-order access. If I can’t cancel it in time, I’ll eBay it when it eventually turns up.
So, can I have a friend in the UK buy me a copy and email the CD key? Will be cheaper/faster than Amazon.com now if so. Does cancelling an order affect your early start access or is that set???
and now SWTOR.com has shut down its community forums rather then look at the 1000 plus page worth of postings from unsatisfied customers with the explanation of getting the forums ready for the Dec 13 pre launch
Blizzard just moved DiabloIII into a Jan 2012 release…
Guess somebody is hearing the cries…
I emailed Amazon and they assured me that we will be emailed our keys once the order has been processed. I do know that some people on the offical forums are stating that Amazon has told them otherwise, but I’m hopeful!
I had an amazon copy that i canceled. I then got a copy of the DE version from origin by using a proxy server and a us Forwarding address as the billing address. Instead of using the credit card option on the page i used click and buy and set up an account with my valid cc details and billing address and used that. This has worked perfectly and i got my wife a copy using this method as well
Also, one thing to note, Your pre-order code remains valid. 🙂
nice once thanks!
Oh Did i mention origin emails you the Game code on the 16th of december? sure you don’t get the box, but hey, can’t have it all right?
I live in Aus, so bought the game off Amazon, was worried bout the no grace peroid. as i have already installed the pre-load, ready to go, i looked at the origin launcher as i had it from another game, it had a prduct code under TOR, will that be the final code or wont that update once it has been released?
well ima cancel and play wow patch 4.3 is good so meh loved the beta test this is very dissapointing
A glass half full aussie writes;
t might be a blessing in disguise. Who really wants to wait in endless queues waiting to get on release day, the bugs, the server time outs and advice after waiting 3 hours to get on that they are running a quick patch.
To be honest – release days are just too frustrating these days. Happy to wait and may get a better experience then most.
I spoke to Amazon via chat over the week end. They had this to say on delivery:
Rep:Thanks for waiting.
The Release-Date delivery is offered only for U.S Addresses.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer Release-Date delivery outside the US.
Me:Understandable, I am just wondering if those detined for US delivery will be sent pre- 20th Dec, and those destined for non-US delivery will wait in the warehouse till after 20th Dec
Rep:You order will be shipped before the Release-Date delivery and you’ll receive it later.
Me:Kewl, thank very much. That answered my question.
So you can probably knock a day or two off any Amazon delivery date.
I spoke to Amazon via chat over the week end. They had this to say on delivery:
Rep:Thanks for waiting.
The Release-Date delivery is offered only for U.S Addresses.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer Release-Date delivery outside the US.
Me:Understandable, I am just wondering if those detined for US delivery will be sent pre- 20th Dec, and those destined for non-US delivery will wait in the warehouse till after 20th Dec
Rep:You order will be shipped before the Release-Date delivery and you’ll receive it later.
Me:Kewl, thank very much. That answered my question.
So you can probably knock a day or two off any Amazon delivery date.