Embargoes making holiday shopping difficult

I'm a savvy shopper. I can't afford to buy every game that comes out; and I certainly don't receive early review copies like others on this blog.

Personally, I trust a handful of critics, friends and reviewers to help me narrow my buying choices. But lately, as we delve into to the flood of holiday game releases, it seems that embargoes levied by publishers are keeping some reviews from getting out in a timely manner.

I've certainly been part of the embargo game in the few titles I have received from game companies, so I understand how the game works. It's usually: "please don't post full reviews until XX/XX/XXXX."

In the last few weeks, I assume, this has made reviews of some high profile releases very scarce. The lack of reviews could also be aided by the fact that some companies are holding review copies back. I'm just guessing here.

Whatever the circumstance, timely reviews of 'Shaun White Snowboarding,' 'Mirrors Edge' and other big-time titles were very scarce, especially from reliable sources, prior to their release. I still haven't found a decent 'Shaun White' review and it was in stores last Wednesday (and the Target-version last Sunday).

I've cancelled a few pre-orders and refrained from making others just from the lack of information out there. I wonder what gives?

I also thought that, by now, we'd have some early reviews of 'Need for Speed: Undercover', 'Animal Crossing: City Folk', 'Left 4 Dead', and 'Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams.'

'Gears of War 2' and 'Resistance 2' had "official" reviews out weeks prior to the games' releases.

Maybe it's last-minute production hassles, maybe it's an attempt to keep plot secrets from leaking out, maybe it's a promised exclusive, maybe it's a publisher's lack of faith in their titles... I can't be certain what's keeping reviews from reaching the public in a timely manner.

I'm probably making too much of a conspiracy out of this. It just seems, to me, that there are some companies that would love to get in a few hundred-thousand quick title sales before a review hits the internet, magazines or television shows.

I was totally psyched about picking up 'Shaun White' this weekend, as long as it got anything over a 7 / 70% / 3-star rating. But, without a review, I'm not buying and I've moved on. Sale lost.

Let's see what happens with 'Need for Speed' and 'Left 4 Dead.'

I know I'm not alone here, the boards are full of "what gives" postings concerning late or non-existent reviews. On the bright side, I'm saving loads of moolah.

What do you think?