Die-hard Diablo fans form mega long queues outside Funan Digital mall

allow me to offer another perspective of this event as i was there in the whole afternoon today. 

Excitedly, i headed to funan centre on launch day itself at 12 noon armed with my receipt and pre-order diablo3 card. Upon arrival, was told by the staffs (of Asiasoft presumbly) you have to q outside to get a "registration number".

Upon getting a registration number, you need to queue again (or wait elsewhere including sitting on sidewalks of 2nd, 3rd, 4th floor of funan centre) for your number to be called.

When your number is called, you, check this out, according to the staff's words, "have to produce your NRIC for verification purposes".

I asked: "But Blizzard the company dont need my NRIC number".

He answered: "THis is for verification purposes"

I replied: "But i already got my receipt, my pre-order card and a registration number. Verify what??"

He replied: "We are told to say this lor"

I asked again: "I am collecting one more for my friend and I have his pre-order card and receipt with me".

He replied: "Oh then he needs to give his NRIC number. You can ask him to sms you his NRIC number"

I dont know about you but i find this ridiculous. Asiasoft is definitely skimming and collecting customers information including NRIC numbers most likely for marketing purposes?? As far as i know, Blizzard does not need our personal IDs, if thats the case in USA they gotta provide their social security number tio bo???

Unless this is rated "Mature above 18", then i understand need to verify NRIC. However, this is NOT rated "M".

Whats next? Next time pre-order mee goreng 3 packets also gotta provide NRIC? Wait, its 3 NRIC le.

Come to think of it, it serves several attractive purposes:

1) The personal info including NRIC number collected for marketing purposes is lucrative for Asiasoft and its "joint strategic partners" and there is no opt out clause for customers like us for the company NOT to use this info. ALso, there is no clause stating that Asiasoft will not use this info for other purpose. I dont remember agreeing to this clause when i pay S$75 for my pre-order

2) This double queue and keying in of details and giving NRIC number etc is causing so much delay and jam and while i was there heard so many people complaining "its so stupid". For any other launch events, its produce receipt, preorder card and collect n thats it. Because of this, so much delay has been caused.

jsut like a chinese wedding dinner, the hosts like to stretch the event. Its always good to have pics of queues and how crowded it is to show off "see we the organizers make this event so big and successful" hence useful for other future companies to engage us again as we have such a good track history.

3) Estimated about 15,000 pre orders for SG. Hence today smelly smelly can collect abt at least say 12,000 and above personal infos??

All this smells bad. Launch event by Asiasoft next time of any product? No thank you.