Microsoft won't punish Argos

By GamesIndustry International Published 20 September, 2007

Was a "genuine mistake".

Microsoft will not penalise Argos for selling a small number of Halo 3 games a week before release, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

Neil Thompson, senior regional director for the UK and Ireland at Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, told GamesIndustry.biz he was satisfied it was a genuine mistake - one the retailer has gone to great lengths to prevent from ever happening again.

"From what I understand of it, it was an honest and genuine mistake. I'm disappointed that it happened because of the turmoil it creates, but I totally understand that in every organisation sometimes it's tough to manage every particular aspect of your supply chain and everything, to the nth degree, so that something won't go wrong at some point,"

"I don't think there was any malice on the part of Argos at all, it was just an honest mistake. Argos reacted incredibly quickly to the mistake, they issued us with a detailed summation of why the mistake happened - mistakes like that, we have to be somewhat flexible."

He added that he was pleased other retailers hadn't used the slip as an opportunity to break the street date themselves, and warned that any company doing so intentionally could expect Microsoft to withdraw its support.

"I'm happy at the moment that nobody has used that as an excuse to go and do silly things. We've been very clear with retailers that if they do choose to go down that path, then a lot of the support that we've given them, in marketing and things like that - that has an impact on it."

"We're pretty forceful in our approach to these things, because we want it to be a fair market for all."

Halo 3 is set to launch next Wednesday in the UK in a blaze of publicity, with hype levels rivalling the biggest of box office premieres, but Thompson isn't concerned that too much hype could be an issue.

"Everyone will talk about the money, and stuff like that, because that's a headline-grabbing idea - that gaming is potentially going to be the biggest entertainment event that hits this country this year."

"If you over-hype something that doesn't deliver on the promise, then you run the risk of a backlash and that can work against you. I honestly don't believe that's the case with Halo 3."

Thompson spoke to GamesIndustry.biz at a press event in which Microsoft was rounding up its Christmas line-up, and the full interview will be published next week.

Dive into GamesIndustry.biz for more.

Picture of GamesIndustry.

About GamesIndustry International

GamesIndustry International is the world's leading games industry website, incorporating GamesIndustry.biz and IndustryGamers.com.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Carlo #1 5 years ago

    MS PAID Chavgos to let a few out early to get media interest.

    It's all a big marketing con!

    /adjusts tinfoil hat

  • lambtron #2 5 years ago

    They've already had those responsible and their families liquidated so they won't pursue it any further ;).

  • The-Bodybuilder #3 5 years ago

    look people, a halo 3 news report.

    Let's take our chance telling everyone how why halo 3 is over-hyped, as we just don't "get it".

    These people need to know this. THEY'VE NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE.

  • zam786 #4 5 years ago

    Halo 3? what is it never heard of it

  • Killerbee #5 5 years ago

    A fair response from Microsoft really. Much as Argos shouldn't really have let it happen, they're not a focussed games retailer so it's not surprising the staff in some shops weren't aware of the release date - after all, in most cases if you've got stock in, it's there to sell!

    I wonder if MS also didn't want to burn bridges with Argos; after all, they must shift a fair few units of hardware for them... it probably isn't good business sense to "punish" the companies you're relying on to get your product into the hands of consumers.
    Edited by Killerbee at 20/09/07 @ 16:15

  • Lutz #6 5 years ago

    I wish people would stop talking about Star Wars. It's a fucking film.
    I wish people would stop talking about Lord of the Rings. It's a fucking book.
    I wish people would stop talking about Mozart. It's just fucking music.
    I wish people would stop talking about lasagne. It's only fucking food.

    And water and oxygen eh? They can fuck right off.

    Edit: @ NickyD that was.

    :roll eyes:
    Edited by Lutz at 20/09/07 @ 16:15

  • Danoxth #7 5 years ago

    Be great if Argos shifted enough copies to get it into the charts next week a day before release *smirk*

  • mcmonkeyplc #8 5 years ago

    "We're pretty forceful in our approach to these things, because we want it to be a fair market for all."

    Ah the irony of an MS employee talking about a fair market for all.

  • Lov3 #9 5 years ago

    I wish everyone would shut up about Halo 3, I'm buying it on day one but ffs, talk about over kill. You would think it could cure cancer or something, it's a fucking game

    This is a video games website. What do you want to talk about, flower arranging?

  • bioreit #10 5 years ago

    @Killerbee

    I think it's because if Microsoft had turned around and said

    "Right, that's it! We are NEVER selling our products through you EVER again!"

    Argos would have just turned round and said

    "Fair enough. Release the rest of the copies of Halo 3 that we have stacked up in warehouses across the country. What are you gonna do - stop selling stuff to us even more?!"

  • Flub #11 5 years ago

    It's not the first time Argos have done this with an XBox 360 game either.

  • polymorph #12 5 years ago

    So i assume my pre-order which i can apperantly pick up from argos between mon 24-thu 27 will not be fullfilled before the 26th??
    False advertising??

  • sugapunk #13 5 years ago

    No, I got Crackdown a few days early at Argos too. And Halo 3 yesterday!

  • chudders #14 5 years ago

    'Tis true.

    I remember Argos once accidentally released a nice teak table and 4 chairs a week before its official release date.

    I saw it online as available a week early, got my reservation ticket, popped down and BAM! Picked it up.

    Ha ha, yeah... There's me and my family eating KFC at the table whilst the rest of you fuckers had to eat off the floor for another week.


    Edited by chudders at 20/09/07 @ 16:38

  • Lutz #15 5 years ago

    LOL! Corkin'.

  • Brogan #16 5 years ago

    MS need argos more than argos need MS

  • adcworks #17 5 years ago

    @chudders. that's funny.

    but seriously, the cynic in me says this was a mutual benefit stitch up. mention halo 3 mention argos. bam.

  • Darren #18 5 years ago

    I can never understand these stupid release dates for games, CDs and DVDs anyway. Why not sell something as soon as in it's in stock? I mean if it was a TV or a washing machine the shop would sell it straight away, not wait a week before they're given the OK to!!! ;?

  • moggsy #19 5 years ago

    So the guy in Argos could have given me my copy then after I'd paid for the bloody thing rather than just giving me a refund.

    Cox!

  • lennon #20 5 years ago

    " one the retailer has gone to great lengths to prevent from ever happening again."

    Yeah right! I got my DS Lite early from Argos because they made exactly the same mistake.

  • TheRealBadabing #21 5 years ago

    @Darren: They have release dates so their fuck-witted, coke-addicted marketing wankers can justify their budgets by showing strong first weekend sales.

    If a chain breaks street date then the numbers can be spread over two weeks. That makes the figures too confusing for them.

  • Decap #22 5 years ago

    "Yeah right! I got my DS Lite early from Argos because they made exactly the same mistake. "

    Eh.. "prevent from ever happening again" happens in the future u know?
    How the hell would they jump back into 2006 and prevent selling u your poor little Lite.? And for lite it really wasnt worth "going great lengths to prevent it ever happening again"
    Genious.. absolutely genious.

  • jonsaan #23 5 years ago

    Meh.

  • MBar #24 5 years ago

    And water and oxygen eh? They can fuck right off.

    Scrawled on a poster protesting against water charges:

    Water? You can stick it up your hole.

    An off-topic and tenuous link, but I liked it.

  • mkreku #25 5 years ago

    I wonder if Neil Thompson is related to Jack Thompson..?

  • lennon #26 5 years ago

    @Decap - Calm down calm down.

    The point is its a flaw in one or more of their system or processes. Its been there for years and I would wager it will be there in the future. I was told at the time of getting my DS by the manager of the store that he was allowed to sell it to me as I had highlighted the issue but that he had been told by his manager that it would be fixed. Clearly it hasnt been.

    "Genious.. absolutely genious."

    Lol. Pillock.

  • Xerx3s #27 5 years ago

    lol @ pre-emptive halo hater strikes because it's true.

    Bioreit: Do you really think that ms doesn't have contracts with big stores such as argos? There is most likely a 'fine per sold copy' deal in place.

  • JohnnyFireBlade #28 5 years ago

    The thing that gets my goat is this: if Argos had stocks of the game, WHY THE HELL ISN'T IT AVAILABLE YET? Surely if shops have stock, then they should be selling it! Man, I really HATE game companies with a vengeance because of their stupid marketing ideas. If a product is ready, FFS sell it! :rolls eyes:
    Edited by JohnnyFireBlade at 21/09/07 @ 12:37

  • kangarootoo #29 5 years ago

    @JohnnyFireBlade

    If you can't wait 5 days for a game, to the degree that "HATE" becomes part of your monologue... you really need to get out a bit more.

    No company owes you anything when it comes to release dates. Its entirely their right to sell their product at whatever time suits them best, if at all.

  • silver-jon #30 5 years ago

    What really annoys me is when they sell a game that ISN'T ready.

    Driv3r, anyone ?

    So, back to Halo 3. Has erm, anyone . . like, err, actually PLAYED it yet ? Not that I'm asking for spoilers. Just set our levels of anticipation, like.
    Is it astounding ? Is it very good ? Is it acceptable ? Annoying ? remember - no spoilers !

  • TexMurphy01 #31 5 years ago

    They won't punish them? Wow, my entire view of MS changed in an instant. No, really.