According to Australian site Vooks.net, EB Games (or, at least the Australian division) have pulled Capcom’s Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D from store shelves.
Technically, the game’s not meant to be out yet, so there’s potential here for a simple mistake on their behalf, sticking the game up early. However, Vooks.net don’t think so, suggesting that the retailer has pulled the game because it can’t be reset – something we’ve been going on about here at TSA.
Technically, EB Games have a seven day return policy, providing that the customer returns the game as new. This, as you’ll now know, isn’t possible with this particular game.
“Our source says that this is due to the game not having the ability to be started fresh, meaning that any resell of the game is basically useless,” say Vooks. “It also means that any game bought would instantly be ’preowned’. A recall we believe means EB are removing the game from sale from their stores, if you bought one already – you’re safe.”
You can read our review of the game here. It’s out in the UK on Friday.
matthangzhou
An interesting twist to this thoroughly bizarre decision by Capcom.
Erroneus
I hope this game flops violently because of this. Capcom got to stop screwing over their customers.
3shirts
I agree. This is only going to harm them and Nintendo as rival consoles like PSP/Vita store saves on the system.
It really feels like they are taking advantage of this ‘weakness’ to force a little anti-resale tactic into place
hazelam
didn’t sony say saves would be stored on the vita cartridges?
or whatever they’re gonna call the game media.
mrfodder
Actually Vita will be saving to the game card as well. Hopefully we don’t get any of this nonsense.
billsmugs
I think only some games will save to the cards, depending on available space, hopefully it should allow overwriting though (and multiple saves which I’m more concerned about). I may be remembering wrongly though.
Snakefingers13
I heartily concur.
Erroneus
I didn’t know this actually, but according to a friend of mine, this is actually not that rare on DS games. Some games let you reset if, if you do a special key combination, but some it exactly the same as Mercenaries 3D, like one of the Final Fantasy DS games.
Forrest_01
It could still be returned as new, as long as it is still wrapped in the plastic covering.
However, unless it has been bought as a present, why on earth would you not unwrap it?
I can see the possibility of a few other companies following suit if it was in fact to do with the returns policy
hazelam
but plenty of stores don’t even keep the games wrapped in their plastic covering, quite a few games have the discs or whatever stored in a drawer and they’re put in the case when you buy them.
TSBonyman
I hate to say it but i hope this backfires for Capcom and anyone else pursuing this course of action.
bunimomike
Couldn’t agree more. It’s a particularly nasty and shameless broadside at the second-hand market.
gernboes
Thats something i havent even thought about…
i dont know if its only the case here in austria or if its everywhere, but here, gamestop also has a certain time (i think its alos 7 days, but im not sure…) during which you can return a game… you dont get cash back, but 100% trade in value which is just as good if they have another game you want…
Foxhound
Best wait and see real reason….
BrainDiver
Sweet :) being Australian really wins sometimes.
DJ-Katy
GameStop in Norway allows you to take a game back unwrapped within 10 days and exchange it for something else (no cash refund) – same as what gernboes said about Austria. I’ve completed numerous games and taken them back and swapped them for others.
All Norwegian retailers will surely have to consider carefully how to handle returns of this title. The Norwegian sale of goods act allows any product to be returned within 14 days without reason if the buyer changes their mind, including after it has been used. That makes this game essentially unsellable here.