My friend is the manager at circuit city and the date they have for putting the game on shelves is in May, big difference. Also the gamestop here has the date they will receive it as July 16th, not the 15th as the site says.
I think gamestop throws dates out there and hopes they are right but I wouldn't trust it for a couple months.
As for those who are tryig to get hands on the game as soon as possible, as I do, I suggest you download it when it leaks onto the internet. This is usually anywhere up to a month before game is for sale. Play it for a while then go out and buy real game at store. Age of Empires series is my favorite series fo games ever and thye are the only ones I have actually bought. (I own them all)
Besides with a game that involves internet leveling up and an RPG element its always best to buy it and im sure game will deserve the money.