Queues of avid gamers are expected outside GAME stores across the region, including at the Bullring in Birmingham (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Hotly anticipated video game Fallout 4 is launching at midnight and fans have already begun queueing up outside stores across the region.
Billed as “their most ambitious game ever”, Bethesda Game Studios – the award-winning creators of Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – are releasing the next installment in the apocalyptic game series tomorrow, with pre-orders being dispatched to gamers from midnight.
The FallOut series is set in the wasteland remains of a nuclear post-apocalypse (Image: Bethesda)
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Where is Fallout 4 being launched?
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Expected to be available on multiple platforms including PC, Xbox One and PS4, the new game is being exclusively launched in GAME stores across the country; including in the West Midlands.
GAME is opening a number of stores at midnight in order to let you get your hands on a physical copy of Fallout 4. In Birmingham, a launch event will be taking place in the city’s Bullring store and at the chain’s Perry Barr store. The stores’ ‘vaults’ are open for business from 23:30hrs.
#PleaseStandBy #FalloutSpotlight midnight launch @GAME_Bullring vault door opens 11pm 2nite #cosplay prizes up4grabs pic.twitter.com/NzvG9QHT4j
— GAME Vault BullRing (@GAME_Bullring) November 9, 2015
As a bonus, customers who scan a designated Fallout 4 image using the GAME app in store at midnight tonight could get a chance to win one of two branded Fallout 4 Xbox One consoles, one of 10 Pip Boy editions, or a full-size Vault Boy statue that will be delivered and assembled for you. Other places to buy Fallout 4 at midnight include the PlayStation Store and Xbox Store. Pre-order now and the game will automatically begin downloading, ready to play as soon as it is activated at midnight.
Although set during the 22nd and 23rd centuries, Fallout is influenced by the post-war culture of 1950s America (Image: Bethesda)
Fallout 4 is the fourth in a popular role-playing series from Bethesda Game Studios (Image: Bethesda)
How much is Fallout 4?
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The cost of the game varies from outlet to outlet and there’s stiff competition on all sides. Sainsbury’s are reportedly currently going the lowest at £39.99, with Tesco also charging a similar £40. Here’s how the rest of the high street heavyweights shape up:
* ARGOS – £44.99
* ASDA – £44
* GAME – £49.99
* HMV – £47.99
* SAINSBURY’S – £39.99
* TESCO – £40
1 more sleep! Fallout 4 lands in-store tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/vUnN7t5P61 — hmv (@hmvtweets) November 9, 2015
And if you’d rather evade all the queues and store chaos, you can always grab your copy online. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, the game is currently priced at £39.99 on both PS4 and Xbox One, with the physical PC version available for £35.99.
Players take the role of a survivor from Vault 111, who finds himself transported 200 years into the future (Image: Bethesda)
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What about the Fallout 4 pre-order controversy?
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Another pre-order disaster broke out over Fallout 4 last week, with customers being unfortunately and erroneously charged twic,e and unable to use the help line.
The Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition, said to be one of the best special editions for years, comes with a recreation of the actual wrist computer from the game. The gizmo works in exactly the same way if you plug a smartphone into it and download a special app. At £99 and exclusive to GAME UK, it’s neither cheap or easily available. However, many who that have pre-ordered were recently told that they may no longer end up getting it.
The new £99 wrist computer works in the same way as in the game, using a smartphone and special downloadable app. (Image: Bethesda)
This created quite an outcry amongst fans across the country, many claiming to have received an official email stating: ‘We have tried to process your order and have hit a few issues’, before suggesting that ‘your bank has come back to us and they have not allowed the payment to go through. For your security and privacy they do not share the reasons with us.’
A GAME spokesperson has since issued the following statement:
“Thank you to all of our customers that have pre-ordered the Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition, available exclusively at GAME.
While processing these orders, a small number of customers have experienced problems that have been caused by their bank or PayPal accounts not allowing payment to go through. For security and privacy, they do not share with us why payment has failed.
We would like to reassure all customers that have pre-ordered that their order is still reserved and being held for them. Stock will be secured in our distribution centre until we are able to ensure payment and delivery. This stock will not be released for general sale.
We will contact all customers via email within the next 48 hours with an order status.
Rest assured, your Fallout 4 Pip-Boy edition is safe.”
Fallout 4 is available on PS4, XBox and PC (Image: Bethesda)
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Where is my local GAME store?
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Here’s a list of local stores, but do call ahead first to check whether your local branch has a midnight launch event, has the game in stock and that you have the correct store for pre-order collections.
BULLRING
Unit SU312 Bullring
BIRMINGHAM
West Midlands
B5 4BU
PERRY BARR
Unit 48/49 One Stop Shopping Centre
2 Walsall Road, Perry Bar
BIRMINGHAM
West Midlands
B42 1AA
ERDINGTON
90/92 High Street Erdington
BIRMINGHAM, West Midlands
B23 6RS
WEST BROMWICH
61 Sandwell Centre
WEST BROMWICH
West Midlands
B70 7NJ
NORTHFIELD
9 Church Road Northfield
BIRMINGHAM
West Midlands
B31 2JX
SUTTON COLDFIELD
212 Gracechurch Shopping Centre
The Parade
SUTTON COLDFIELD
West Midlands
B72 1PA
SOLIHULL
17 Mill Lane
SOLIHULL
West Midlands
B91 3AR
WALSALL
Unit 7 11 Park Street
WALSALL
West Midlands
WS1 1LY
DUDLEY (MERRY HILL)
Unit L98 Phase 4 Merry Hill
BRIERLEY HILL
West Midlands
DY5 1SJ
MERRY HILL
Unit 52 Merry Hill Centre
BRIERLEY HILL
West Midlands
DY5 1SR
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Fallout 4 is due to be released on Tuesday, November 10 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. For the console editions of Fallout 4 you’ll pay £49.99 from the PlayStation Store and Xbox Store, and you can pre-order now.
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