Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes released early in the Philippines

Just like the previous Metal Gear Solid games, we go bonkers when it's close to release day. The prequel to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is planned for a March 18 release but folks over in the Philippines was able to get the game as early as March 14. Why? Heck, if only I had the answer to that one. 

On March 14, Datablitz, considered as the go-to place to get your original video games, announced on their Facebook that Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes was now available for purchase.

While everybody was ecstatic that the latest Metal Gear Solid game is now out, we wondered how it was released almost a week before release.

Games One Gadget, or also known as iTech, also announced the game is now on sale in their branches on the same day.

WHATS THE BIG DEAL??

I'm sure you're wondering at this point what's the big deal? Yes, it's a good thing we get the game a week earlier than the rest of the world, but did they  really break the street date(Release date)? That's not good for the game industry taking the Philippines seriously.

Products always have marketing strategies and they have a reason a specific product will be released on a given date. Let's say Konami isn't happy with official retails breaking release dates, they wouldn't be that excited to do any future business here. This isn't the first time, and it probably won't be that big of a deal, but this would provide a bad image for the community here. If they do have permission to release a game that early from the publishers and developers, awesome, but what if they didn't? These kinds of moves from retailers can ruin the possibility of having video game developers or publishers ever considering the Philippines a possible location to market their games locally. Simply giving them problems like breaking street dates won't make us good friends with them in the long run. Wouldn't it be awesome to have launch parties from the developers/publishers or proper pre-order incentives, yes?

Maybe it was done to maximize sales -  Releasing the product before any official review of the game was released would provide a higher payout since everybody's purchase decision is based on the publisher's marketing and their love of the franchise, not from first-hand experience from other players/reviewers.

Another point is -- It's very erratic on how video games are released in the Philippines. We sometimes get games earlier than others, sometimes a week late, or we get it on the said date with the rest of the world. So where can we get definite information? Release date was the best reference point, but it looks like that can't be the definite source now thanks to this.

When the game was available(March 14) in official stores, no review of the game was released, the game is not even released in Japan and the rest of the world, and the digital copy of the game is not yet available on Xbox Live and PSN. You can't even use the online features or redeem your DLC code because it's not even out. Kotaku just reported that the game was even delayed in Austrailia and New Zealand.

Datablitz's Facebook post on their pre-orders even promotes the known release date.

There's no definite answer to how Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes was released. We asked Datablitz through Facebook but it was a longshot since I doubt their community manager would bother giving an answer. Worth a try.

That, and I asked  when the Xbox 360 version will be available because it is currently only available on PS3 and PS4.

Nothing to worry about? This is a game that's only around 2 hours long anyways.  Or do you have a theory to why we we're special enough to get the game before the rest of the world?  Sound off on the comments below.

Quash finally gets an Xbox 360

Yes, finally! been planning this for months but there's always that game to buy or a bill to pay that prolonged me from buying my Xbox 360. I had the money for the unit, so I made sure I'd get it by the end of the week to prevent me from spending the money. It's beside my PS3 and their both staring at each other wondering which will be used the most.

Of course, most of the attention is going to be on the Xbox 360, I have to test the unit out for any problems. I got the Xbox 360 Slim with 250GB Hard Drive , and it's Kinect ready. I didn't bother getting the Kinect because getting it would bring me over budget, plus I didn't get the 360 to become the controller, I wanted it for its exclusive games and Xbox Live. Kinect is an amazing product, but i can't afford to get it right away, maybe in the future I'll grab the Kinect to dance like a fool.

First game for my Xbox 360? well this was a no brainer for me. Halo: Reach was my instant pick when they asked me if i was getting a game. I also wanted to buy Alan Wake together with Reach but the store was out of stock, bummer i know,  but when i brought the unit home though, my cousin offered his Alan Wake digital copy, he told me to just download it and play the game on his account. Thank you Martin for Alan Wake. Sadly, I can't play the game on my account, so all the achievements i earned goes to his account, which is cool since all i want is to play the game, saves me some money, or I might get some other exclusive game.

For all the Filipinos out there, I bought the Xbox 360 in iTech in their Glorietta 3 branch. iTech is pretty much the next best thing if Datablitz doesn't cut it for you. I hardly make purchases in iTech, but each time, they provide great service. The clerk that assisted me when I was testing the unit at the store was very well-informed and kept giving me what to do and what not to do. Their simply not those sellers that has no idea what their selling.

The total damage in pesos was P19,500 in total. The 250GB Slim will cost P15,290, but since I paid in cash, i get a discount which brough the price down to P14,500. I also bought an extra wireless controller with a play and charge kit that cost P2,700, then Halo: Reach which cost about P2,000, and a HDMI cable for P300. The pice was perfect, it fit perfectly in my 20k budget. Grabbing the Kinect would have brought the price somewhere between 22k to 25k. So far, I'm happy with the buy. Perfect time to get the 360 since not that many interesting games are out right now besides Catherine, and Gears of War 3 is coming out soon.

Going to end this post now, need to start episode 4 of Alan Wake.....