It seems as though we’re moving into Midnight Launch season, and first up is Battlefield 3. Both GAME and EB have announced which stores are staying up late for the release of Battlefield 3. Steel yourself folks – there are a lot of them.
EB
EB is set to feature some ‘official’ Battlefield 3 launches, which means they intend to do more than simply open the store and sell the game. According to EB’s Facebook page, this means “pizza, nerf gun comps, awesome prizes and freebies, and wayyy more…”
These will be held in the following select stores.
NSW
MacarthurVIC
WerribeeQLD
IndooroopillyWA
Galleria (8am morning launch with donuts instead of pizza)The following stores will be opening at midnight to sell the game. Brace yourselves, this is a beastly list.
ACT
Belconnen
Canberra Centre
Gungahlin
Tuggeranong
Woden PlazaNSW
Albury
Armidale
Ashfield
Balgowlah
Ballina Central
Bankstown
Bateau Bay
Bathurst
Blacktown
Bondi
Broken Hill
Burwood
Castle Towers
Cessnock
Charlestown Sq
Chatswood
Chatswood Chase
Chullora
Coffs Harbour
Dubbo
Eastgardens
Erina Fair
Galeries
George Street
Glendale
Gosford-VS
Grafton
Greenhills
Hornsby
Hurstville
Jesmond
Katoomba
Kotara
Lake Haven
Lake Macquarie-VS
Lavington
Lismore
Lismore#2
Lithgow
Liverpool
MacArthur Square
MacQuarie Centre
Maitland
Marrickville
Miranda
Mittagong
Mt Druitt
Mudgee
Muswellbrook
Nowra
Orange
Parkes
Parramatta #2
Penrith Plaza
Port Macquarie
Raymond Terrace
Richmond Markets
Riverside
Rouse Hill
Salamander Bay
Settlement City
Shellharbour
Stanhope
Tamworth
Taree
Top Ryde
Tuggerah
Tweed City
Wagga
Warriewood
Warringah Mall
Wetherill Park
Wollongong
Woy WoyNT
Alice Springs
Casuarina
Millner Homemaker
PalmerstonQLD
Arana Hills-VS
Aspley-VS
Australia Fair
Ayr
Beenleigh
Booval
Brisbane City
Brookside
Browns Plains
Browns Plains Village Square
Bundaberg
Bundaberg Hinkler
Burleigh Heads
Cairns
Cairns Central
Caloundra
Canelands
Cannon Hill-VS
Capalaba
Capalaba Central
Carindale
Castletown
Chermside
Chermside#2
Cleveland-VS
Clifford Gardens
Deception Bay
Emerald
Forest Lake
Garden City
GC Harbourtown
Gladstone
Gympie
Helensvale
Hervey Bay
Inala
Indooroopilly
Ipswich
Kawana
Logan
Logan Central-VS
Lutwyche-VS
Morayfield
Mt Gravatt
Mt Isa
Mt Ommaney
Mt Pleasant
Nambour
Nerang – VS
Noosaville
Northlakes
Pacific Fair
Peninsula Fair
Queens Plaza
Redbank Plaza
Robina
Rockhampton Fair
Rose City
Runaway Bay
Smithfield Cairns
Southport-VS
Springfield
Springwood-VS
Stafford City
Strathpine
Sunnybank
Sunnybank Hills-VS
Sunshine Plaza
Surfers Paradise
Taigum
The Pines
Toombul
Toowong
Toowoomba
Townsville
Underwood-VS
Victoria Point
Willows Townsville-VS
Wynnum Plaza-VS
YeppoonSA
Arndale
Castle Plaza
City Cross-VS
Colonnades
Elizabeth
Firle-VS
Gawler
Glenelg
Golden Grove
Hallet Cove
Hollywood Plaza
Ingle Farm-VS
Marion
Mt Barker
Mt Gambier
Murray Bridge
Parabanks
Port Lincoln
Port Pirie
Rundle Mall
Seaford
Sefton
Southgate-VS
Tea Tree Plaza
Victor Harbour
West Lakes
WhyallaTAS
Burnie
Devonport
Eastlands
Hobart
Kingston
Launceston
Meadow Mews
North Gate
Shoreline-VSVIC
Airport West
Altona-VS
Bairnsdale
Barkley Square-VS
Bay City
Bendigo Marketplace
Blackburn Square
Box Hill
Brandon Park
Brimbank
Broadmeadows
Camberwell
Caroline Springs
Chadstone
Chapel St
Chirnside Park
Colac
Corio
Cranbourne
Dandenong
Doncaster
Doncaster 2
East Doncaster
Echuca
Endeavour Hills-VS
Epping
Forest Hill
Fountain Gate
Frankston Town
Geelong
Greensborough
Hamilton
Hastings-VS
Highpoint
Horsham
Kangaroo Flat
Karingal
Keysborough
Knox City
Melbourne Central
Melton
Midvalley
Mildura
Moonee Ponds
Northlands
Plenty Valley
Point Cook
Richmond
Ringwood
Ringwood Square -VS
Rosebud
Sale
Shepparton
Somerville-VS
Southlands
Sunbury Square
Sunshine Marketplace
Swan Hill
Swanston Street
The Glen
Traralgon
Wangaratta
Warragul
Warrnambool
Watergardens
Waurn Ponds
Waverley Gardens
Wendouree Ballarat
Werribee Plaza
WodongaWA (Morning launches)
Karratha
Port Hedland
GAME
We’re unaware if any GAME stores are holding pizza extravaganzas along the lines of EB, but they still have a ponderous amount of shops opening for the midnight launch…
NSW
Albury
Armidale
Ballina
Bankstown
Bathurst
Blacktown
Broadway
Campbelltown
Casula
Nepean
Charlestown
Eastgardens
Grafton
Griffith
Hornsby
Hurstville
Kotara
Lake Haven
Lismore
Liverpool
Macarthur
Manning Mall
Miranda
Mt Druitt
Narellan
Orange
Parramatta
Plumpton
Port Central
Rouse Hill
St Mary’s
Tamworth
Tweed City
Warringah
Warrawong
Windsor
WollongongACT
Belconnen
Canberra Centre
Tuggeranong
Gungahlin
RiversideQLD
Cairns Central
Loganholme
Sunshine Plaza
Cairns Stockland
Strathpine
Townsville
Morayfield
Robina
Willows
Helensvale
Calamvale
Capalaba
Toowoomba
Kawana
Kingaroy
Cairns SmithfieldSA
Colonnades
Elizabeth
Marion
Munno Parra
Tea Tree
Arndale
RenmarkNT
CasuarinaVIC
Knox City
Watergardens
Frankston
Shepparton
Southland
Woodgrove
Bendigo
Camberwell
Greensborough
Broadmeadows
Ringwood
Werribee
Epping
Wendouree
As far as we’re aware, JB Hifi will also be opening some stores for midnight launches, but it will be a select few and it’s on a store by store basis. Your best bet is to call your local store and ask.
Ruffleberg
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:07 PMMy local EB isn’t on the list
:(
Might pop around to parra if anyone else is going.
Pakka
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:55 PMSerious? All I got from this article was, “Wow. There are a shit load of EB Games stores around Australia.” Somehow I don’t see EB going bankrupt anytime soon…
Oh and JB HI-FI breaking the street date FTW!!!!
LOGic1607
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 5:45 PMWHAT? When?
N0NEoftheAB0VE
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 12:00 AMI don’t think they have yet but you just know they will!
chris
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 5:36 PMIs this a common thing by JB aus wide.. i have had 4 games a day early now from my local JB in WA i thought bit was just my store stuffing up.. i just bragged to mates and did make much deal about it because then they might get into trouble and stop doing it haha.
Im hoping for a text tommz to come pick up my BF3 … Fingers crossed
Meteors
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:11 PMHoly shit! You can see right into that EB! Where are all the stupid sale banners that always try to poke me eyes out?
Powalen
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:20 PMSeriously. I’m not amazingly tall or anything but I have to duck to get into my local EB most of the time I go because of all the banners. :P
Anyway, looks like they’re going all out for midnight launches. Unlucky if the Street Date breaks…
PunkDrunk
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:21 PMYou can tell it’s a recent photo, Gran Turismo 4 is being advertised, haha.
Nate
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:59 PMyeah, and just look at those retro CRT TV’s
Ashly
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:13 PMThe origin store has already allowed a preload, 100% playable. However it’s time locked to the 27th at 9am? I’m assuming retail copies would do the same thing?
Neo-Kaiser
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:14 PMHey look, the GAME shop in Wendouree is doing a midnight launch. Whil the EB store there regularly does it I’ve never seen the GAME store do it too.
bestbelieve
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:14 PMAre the stores opening tonight or on the 27th?
Life
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:16 PMThe digital version unlocks at 10am on the 27th!!!
MrBS
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:16 PMPreloaded and will be using a VPN to play tomorrow. Enjoy midnight launches guys!
Halissa
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:22 PMAnd we’re still swearing at WA not allowing midnight launches…
James Mac
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:49 PMWell… in all fairness, that’s like 3am in the real world.
Pigslice
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 2:11 AMThey’re 3 hours ahead, not behind, so it’ll be 9 here.
shodannet
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:25 PMWhy Macarthur??? 0_o
Chris
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:26 PMWhat if it breaks street date?
That’s gonna be a lot of wasted money on staff wages.
Jay
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:28 PMOur local GAME store isnt doing pizza or anything but if you turn up on the night and buy your copy at the launch you have a chance to get all of your money back :)
Jay
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:29 PMMorayfield Store in QLD BTW
scott
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:31 PMwill this game have Australian Severs for console’s?
Neo-Kaiser
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:34 PMI already answered you!
scott
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:41 PMoops :p
Thanks for replyin…
McGarnical
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:45 PMBut it’s such sweet news we can’t help but want to hear it again.
Neo-Kaiser
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:59 PMHey McGarnical, guess what? Australia is getting servers for Battlefield 3!
McGarnical
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 6:55 PMReally??!
See, still in pleasant shock. :)
scott
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:39 PMbtw Dandenong EB FTW!
Chuloopa
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:34 PMAnother good place to get killed while waiting for a game featuring killing
scott
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:45 PMthats only if you can’t look after yourself…
Maniacal
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:36 PMI will be getting it Thursday as far as ‘official’ release dates go in Perth. No midnight launches happen in Perth, but I work full time so I wouldnt get it till late afternoon anyway. Still, this Friday here in Perth is a public holiday because of CHOGM so I will be hurting Battlefield 3 over a long weekend!!! GO GHOGM!!
Huntsman
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:08 PMTHIS!
One time Perth does it sort of right!
Shazboz
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:46 PMSunshine marketplace ebgames is having one aswell. Im assisntant manager there! Come say hey !
James Mac
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:50 PMHey.
oggob
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:46 PMHoly shit, can’t see a street date broken then, with all the stores opening up for midnight launches. Actually amazingly to see so many, not many games get them, so with so many stores opening, that’s a pretty good indication of the pre-orders the game got.
Be interesting to see if the same is planned for MW3 in Novmeber.
Angered Catfish
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:50 PMI’m quite surprised, I didn’t realise the game was this hyped it. It would be interesting to hear how busy these stores actually get though.
C.S
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:50 PMWOO! Townsville Game is on the list, anyone know if it’s at Castle Hill?
Glenn
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:40 PMWhy would it be castle hill? The domain store and the willows store are both having a midnight launch.
skyforger
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:53 PMHow are they going to deal with the rush in the morning when everyone wants to return that pos game
f4ction
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:38 PMSilly troll is silly.
Repneiras
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 5:43 PMThey’ll shoot anyone who wants to switch it for Modern Warfare 3. Problem solved :P
The Cracks
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:06 PMWA represent! I’m not getting this game, but it’s a shame to see only one store getting a ‘release party’, and it’s an 8am one, not even midnight. Spread the love!
poedgirl
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:12 PMDamn stupid laws in WA. The stores aren’t even allowed to open at midnight here. 8am is the earliest they can open.
shane
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 3:53 AMSounds a lot like vic b.c canada
matt
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:17 PMthe only reason i’m not buying BF3, at least right away, is origin, i cbf using another stupid login system that just wastes time that could be spent playing the game, also i cant stand EA and they don’t need my credit card details, so i am just going to probably have to download it.. maybe buy it on ps3… i remember trying to play burnout paradise city lol, takes 5 minutes of watching bullshit to get into the game, all while being forced to listen to axl rose whine like a bitch.
TH
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:32 PM$10 says street date will be broken anyway.
Chuloopa
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:33 PMWerribee???
Seriously???
Is that due to the likeliness of ACTUALLY getting shot while waiting??
Vltraflip
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:34 PMWA may not have midnight launches but we make up for it with uber babes and awesome beach weather.
mccawsome
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 4:07 PMYeah but you also seem to have uber sharks that eat tourists.
Vltraflip
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 5:09 PMtake the good with the bad
Squeaky4all
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 5:35 PMonly the slow tourists.
Cephalxn
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:42 PMI thought it was coming out on the 25th?
Got all excited thinking “yeah, i could stay up until 12am tonight”.
Oh well, wednesday night it is.