Briefing: Stores

One of the more important and basic fundamentals of hunting for the game is knowing your stores. They each have different characteristics and chances for obtaining the game. Below, you'll find a list of all the stores you should check if possible sorted by a grade for the likelihood of success and some useful information for each one. Note that an A ranking doesn't mean you're going to get it, but that it's the most ripe for you to try.

Grade A Stores - Best chances; These stores have a history of selling early

Independent Stores - Also known as "Mom & Pop Stores", these diamonds in the rough are your best opportunity for getting the game early, but they are few and far between in most parts of the country. If you're fortunate enough to have one in driving distance, check with them at the earliest possible opportunity and find out when they'll have the game and if you can get it that day.

CompUSA - Not long ago, CompUSA was a nationwide chain and for it's final couple of years it served as a hot spot for a lot of NCAA gamers (including myself for NCAA Football 07) to obtain early copies of the game. They're now limited to 15 stores in Florida and then a few scattered stores in Illinois, Texas, North Carolina and Puerto Rico. If one of these is near you, it's a must-check. They've had more reports of early copies sold than any other single outlet.

FYE / Sam Goody - There are other stores like these that go by different names but FYE and Sam Goody are the more prominent of them. They're almost always located in malls and their main focus is music, followed by movies and then video games. They have a "Video Game Specialist" on staff, but this doesn't mean that he knows any more about games than the desk that you're resting your arms on does. My personal story is that I got NCAA Football 06 at FYE a full 8 days before release and while I haven't managed to get it from them early since, all of my other interactions with them lead me to believe that the opportunity is still there.

Grade B Stores - The opportunity is there; Ripe, just not yet harvested.

Sears - Typically located in malls, their focus is so far away from video games that they have someone covering the games that is preoccupied with concerns of people looking at HDTV's and DVD players. The only downfall to this store is that they sometimes get games late. Check with them and if they are getting their delivery early, your odds of them selling it to you are good.

Target - Basically the same boat as Sears, minus the mall and the fact that they have something more of a focus on the video games department. All of my trips to Target during hunting season have resulted in discovering that they had the game (In one case it was actually on the shelf) but they were either told or saw the street date. Over the last couple of years, scattered rumors have popped up about them having it and nearly selling it or perhaps even doing the deed. Worth a try, for sure.

Grade C Stores - Shot in the dark; They either have it and won't sell it, or they'd sell it but don't have it.

Wal*Mart - Basically, if Wal Mart employees were to break off and form their own independent electronics store, we could get the game before it went gold because of how clueless they are. I have personally stood in front of two employees that were trying to figure out if they had it and/or if they'd sell it while signs bearing the release date with the subtext of "STREET DATED PRODUCT" surrounded them. The big problem with Wally World is that their employees are, for the most part, horrified of doing work. If they think they can make you go away by saying "All we have is what's on the shelf." then they'll try it until they're blue in the face. Obviously it's a lie, but these people have to be pressed hard to try and use their brains.

Toys R Us - Don't let the fact that most of them now have dedicated video game departments fool you - few of this section's employees know anything about street dates. I've been told by employees that they frequently get games early, and alot of them told me that when they get the game in they will put it on the shelf. Whether that's true or not, this store's biggest downfall is the frequency with which they get new releases.

Grade D Stores - Chances are slim to none. These stores have little interest in games.

K-Mart - The set up is nice - they have clueless employees and a decent (Albeit cluttered) selection of video games. But they're slow on the uptake for new games and couldn't give much more of a damn than they already do. Honestly, it's worth a shot if you want to pray for a miracle, but don't cancel dinner for it.

Best Buy - They have the selection and they get the games early, but their computer systems keep them nice and informed on the release date. Even if they didn't care what the release date was and they had the game in the back, most Best Buy employees just want you to leave them alone so they're sure as hell not going to get it for you.

Circuit City - Same exact reasons as Best Buy, just slightly worse. They are a little slower on new releases and have a somewhat smaller interest in games.

Grade F Stores - No chance in hell; Unless you work there or you have an awesome hookup, forget it.

GameStop/EBGames - Because it's their specialty, they know all about street dates and you're not going to find anyone that will break it for you. Obviously if you work for them or your friend works there, you're probably good to go. Otherwise, these stores are only good for finding out when they have the game in store.

KB Toys - Apparently out of the new video game business, they were never a more than a Grade D even when they were still in it.