Exclusive Preorder Game Content

[Robby Foxfur]

With the recent slew of commericals advertising video games that are soon coming out I have noticed are usally followed by the phrase "preorder now and get exclusive content, only at (insert gaming store here)"

If you don't mind me asking is ther really any value doing this? I find it hard to believe that a game distributing company would be able to ask a developer to make something that only can be unlocked through pre ordering the game at their store. Maybe i'm wrong i've never really preordered a game and gotten an unlock key nor have i totally beaten a game to have unlocked all the achievments to see if i could unlock anything from the comericals.

So does anyone really preorder a game with the thought of getting exclusive content from a store? And if you do then why? and was it worth it? Do you think this is a fad or is this here to stay? (a few examples, ODST and Johnson, L4D2 and the baseball bat (friend told me not sure if he is right), Assassin's Creed II exclusive map (see banner on the escapist))

 

[Plinglebob]

In terms of financing and accounting, its easier for companies to plan their finances if they know ahead of time how much they are likely to have (same reason you get discounts on subscriptions). Logistically as well, its easier because by encoraging people to pre-order they don't end up sending too many or too few of a particular game to a shop.

 

[bcponpcp27]

You know, I finally pre order a game (MW2) and you know what? That is the only big name game WITHOUT pre order content! MFFFRAGH!

I wish I had preordered left 4 dead 2 instead and gotten the baseball bat.

 

[Dr Namgge]

Seeing as companies make no profit on second hand sales, and stores are now pushing second hand more (because there's a bigger mark-up to be had), anything to encourage sales of new copies, where the manufacturer and developer profits, is usually seen as a good thing. Hence pre-order bonus Dlc. One new game sale and an incentive to buy it new rather than wait for pre-owned. After all, you can't pre-order a second hand game.

 

[Gigaguy64]

when i can i do.
I do collect a lot of the stuff that comes with it.
If its Artwork, Figures, or Clothing then its a HUGE +.
Also you wouldent believe how much you could sell some of the things you get with a pre-order game for.

 

[Robby Foxfur]

You know, I finally pre order a game (MW2) and you know what? That is the only big name game WITHOUT pre order content! MFFFRAGH!

I wish I had preordered left 4 dead 2 instead and gotten the baseball bat.

but MW 2 did have exclusive content but they called it prestige and sold it for 150 bucks.

I guess my hang up is rather on how does a company pick which store is going to get the exclusive, and Does it really help sell games?

 

[Acidwell]

Hey if you were going to get the game on release like me with l4d then why not pre-order and get:
Early demo access
A baseball bat
Bills hat to use in tf2
10% off

 

[Chipperz]

Hey if you were going to get the game on release like me with l4d then why not pre-order and get:
Early demo access
A baseball bat
Bills hat to use in tf2
10% off

I'm just quoting this as an example of almost perfect pre-release material.

Pretty much. The value is to people who are thinking they'll probably get it at some point, and the manufacturers.

The people who think they will probably get it at some point see the preorder stuff and it helps them with their decision. If the stuff's really good, they bite the bullet and preorder it, get it on release day/over the weekend. If it's rubbish, no harm at least.

The manufacturers sell more copies on release day, which means less people buying preowned, which means more money to make more games later. Also, good initial sales can lead to good press which leads to more consistant sales for a longer period.

I find that I'm more drawn to preorder/get collector's editions of online games. There's something about running around with a preorder item that's really fun slightly later down the line, when people can't get it any more. My Warhammer Online Goblin had a Cossack Hat that turned him into a polar bear. THAT turned heads

 

[Robby Foxfur]

Ok well, do you think that other games are now going to find content to make exclusive? and would you say its a good thing?

 

[cleverlymadeup]

i always look at what the preorder item is for a game and decide if i will pre-order it, tho i'm happy i did that with Dragon Age Origins cause i wouldn't have gotten the collector's edition if i didn't