Perhaps someone in the know can respond with a definitive answer.
From the time a piece of game software goes gold, what is the
minimum time for a major CD-ROM release?
I believe all the following have to apply:
(1) Software goes gold.
(2) CD-ROM is mastered (this is probably easy nowdays).
(3) CD-ROM goes into production.
(4) A sufficient number of units have to be packaged and shrinkwrapped
to handle expected initial demand. (In the case of F1GP2, SHB/MP would
not be wise to have customers waiting months after release for
units to finally make it to their part of the world).
(5) Units need to be shipped to stores.
(6) Stores need to process the shipment, enter into their inventory,
price, and put it on the shelves.
In the case of chains, another layer of warehousing and processing may
occur.
Will SHB/MP let F1GP2 trickle out, or will they have a big mass
shipment?
IBM has in the past pre-shipped OS/2. That means they ship them to
dealers who are not allowed to put them on the shelves until the specified
release date.
In the case of OS/2, I believe the time between gold and being able to
purchase a unit was around three months.
As a minimum I'd guess one month is needed between gold and the product
being available on store shelves.
Has F1GP2 gone gold yet? If not, forget July.
I've worked on CD-ROM games. If everything is ready (like box art and the
manuals) and there is factory capacity available, you can go from gold to store
shelves in three weeks.
If it is gold now, mid July is doable. On the other hand...
It Isn't Really Out Until It Is Out.
Bill Niemeyer aka BillyJoe on Hawaii
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