Many are wondering just where they can obtain Final Fantasy VIII, and ensure they get their hands on this remarkable game. Before the release date, September 8, (pushed back a week to the day before Dreamcast launches), you can pre-purchase or reserve a copy of the game from some retailers like Babbages, Electronics Boutique, FuncoLand, or Toys R' Us, and save yourself the complete disappointment of being told "Sorry we're all sold out of that one!" More than likely, any and all retailers that get this game will have it fly off their shelves the day it appears. Often times, with pre-purchasers taking precedence over normal over-the-counter sales, you will not even see the game available until second or third shipments arrive later during the month. Do yourself a favor, while you still can, go out and reserve Final Fantasy VIII. Believe me you will be very happy when you can walk up to the counter that Wednesday morning, pay your $49.95 + tax, be handed a game, and walk out without having to wander aimlessly from store to store trying to scare up a copy by arguing with sales clerks and department managers. I've learned that discretion is the better part of valor in this regard, and strongly recommend that you pre-purchase and reserve the game.

If for some insane reason you like doing things the hard way (sadist) and don't pre-purchase the game, then more than likely you will not get it on the first day it comes out (unless of course you work at a retailer). I'm sure that just about any of the major retail chains like Wal-Mart, K-mart, Toys R' Us, Target, Good Guys, Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, etc. will get the game some time that week, but more than likely it will be in "limited quantities only" and basically the first come, first serve rule will apply. Trust me, back in the day, when I didn't have a job, it was harder to get games when they first came out, and trying to find a very popular game the first two weeks it released was like pulling teeth, then again, I don't think they had the option to pre-purchase the game back then so really it was kind of like a free for all on first run games during the first month. (Case in point, Super Mario Bros. 3) If you're one of those people who doesn't mind waiting, or don't have the money to cough up right away, then more than likely you will be able to comfortably acquire the game after a period of about a month when the shark frenzy for copies of Final Fantasy VIII simmers down.