Is pre ordering is a terrible idea?

[Sheo_Dagana]

I only pre-order if the product in question is a special edition that will have limited printing, like Mass Effect 3. Or if the pre-order bonus is worth having. I know people are quick to shout "scam!" at the mention of a pre-order bonus, because the bonus is never guaranteed, but if there's a chance I can get free shit for a game I was gonna buy anyway, why not pre-order?

In general, it's not worth it to pre-order a game you may only like when going into a retailer. Yes, you can get any money you put down on that pre-order back, but those retailers will fight tooth-and-nail to get you to roll it over on to something else. Don't blame them for this - it's part of their job and they are graded on it. But putting down that money, while you can get it back, means that you will be badgered like hell if you try to cancel if the game isn't looking up to snuff.

If you want to pre-order a game, I strongly recommend researching a game first. With all the sites out there and YouTube, it's pretty easy to remain up to date and well-informed. If you go off an ad or some retail-associate's word, you'll find yourself sorely disappointed.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

Haha....AHAHAHAHA.....ha. You're funny bro.

Yes its putting an investment down, but 9 times out of 10 I can watch gameplay videos before a game comes out. Also demos. I'm not a retard that buys games because I saw a cool ad. Any simple minded idiot can look up information on a game.

That's like saying buying any game before playing it is a scam.

Even gameplay videos can be misleading. Perhaps I'm just an idiot but the Duke Nukem Forever gameplay videos(of the version we actually got) looked pretty good. Until I got to play it and it just didnt feel good...

 

[bullet_sandw1ch]

I consider it about taking it on faith. For all I know, Max Payne 3's previews thus far are all just amped up when the game in reality is utter crap. However, I liked what Remedy did with the first two games and I have faith in Rockstar that they will put out a good product.

so..... youre saying that the game looks like crap, but that you have faith in rockstar to put out a good game?

 

[Epona]

So my son sees AssCreed 3 on the cover of Game Informer and says he wants it. So I go on Gamestops site to see how much it is and the damn game doesn't even come out until Oct 30. That shit is getting old, why are they making a cover for a game that isn't even available for 6 months? It is getting harder and harder to shop for games online when half the shit you find isn't even out yet!

I know, I am the only one who seems to have a problem with this.

 

[bullet_sandw1ch]

I don't mind the notion of pre-ordering; the idea is great, but I've had bad experiences lately. The last three pre-ordered games ended up with me shelving the game for a while, 'cause the game wasn't working right. I know they can't fix every bug before release, but Shirley, is asking game companies to address bugs that are game-breaking or game-crippling with the utmost priority too much to ask?

Help me out here, Shirley.

So, now my thing is, "Why pre-order when I can't even play the game?" Might as well wait until they fix things first.

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what games were they? fallout new vegas? and to answer your question, certain games can be pre-ordered with knowledge that it will work [i.e, halo, mass effect] others with a history of bad problems [fallout, elder scrolls] are a gamble.

 

[burningdragoon]

1. Youre getting something based entirely off PR and advertising - two things known to [exaggerate] and distort the true quality of an item.

Except there is (usually) more things available than these two things. Gameplay videos, previews, screen shots, developer confidence (don't complain about this yet).

2. You might as well be purchasing a "mystery box" from a stranger on the basis that his last mystery box contained something good.

It's not a "mystery box" except in very loose ways. And assuming this second game is not entirely made from scratch, the new game is not a complete mystery. Again, developer confidence (STOP! Not done yet) goes a long way.

3. If you then complain that the mystery box contains something terrible, as they tend to do at times, youre entire point is undermined by the fact your PURCHASED the mystery box despite having very limited [knowledge] of what was inside it.

You don't lose the right to complain just because you weren't as informed as possible before buying. Especially for entertainment products. Now if you get repeatedly burned than yeah, maybe you shouldn't be so dumb, but you still can complain about it.

4. It seems like an obvious company scheme to say "Let them buy item X before its true quality can be appraised and they realise they might not want it!"

I don't doubt that sometimes that's the case, but generally that'd be a pretty terrible business practice. Those few times where I mentioned developer confidence as a positive? Well this is where that confidence expires. If a developer wants to make a next game, why would they risk losing that confidence by purposely deceiving your customers. That's not to say they won't make a bad game, but they won't purposely half-ass it just because they can rely on getting pre-orders.

 

[ResonanceSD]

"Yes it is", he said, after dropping $200 on the GW2 Collector's Edition -_-'

 

[Goofguy]

I consider it about taking it on faith. For all I know, Max Payne 3's previews thus far are all just amped up when the game in reality is utter crap. However, I liked what Remedy did with the first two games and I have faith in Rockstar that they will put out a good product.

so..... youre saying that the game looks like crap, but that you have faith in rockstar to put out a good game?

In no part of that post did I say that the game looks like crap. What I was intimating was that pre-ordering is done based on the previews available at the time. Max Payne 3, for example, has some pretty cool previews out right now discussing its new direction, multiplayer, setting etc. Those were enough to convince me to pre-order the game. HOWEVER, of course Rockstar is going to amp up their game leading up to its release. For all I know, it could be a crappy game once I get my hands on it but, I am willing to go on a little faith here.

 

[Frybird]

I tend to pre order most games nowadays.

But i pre-order from online retailers, so i don't put money upfront and can often cancel an order when early reviews make me doubtful.
Also, as a german, i pre-order from the UK, so i still save money compared to going to the store and buy the game new.

For example, i just pre-ordered Spec-Ops: The Line (Demo was okay, and the story bits were compelling and i just hope it will deliver on it's promises). Would i buy the game new in a store or at (most) german retailers, i'd pay about $80 US-Dollars (60? + eventually shipping). Ordering the game at zavvi, i get the Game PLUS Apocalypse Now Redux on Blu Ray (as a special Bundle Offer) for about $60 US-Dollars. And since i basically get Apocalypse Now for free (although without it the game would be slightly cheaper), i basically save almost $40 US-Dollars as opposed to buying the game and the blu ray at current prices in Germany.

The only catch is that i won't get the game on release day due to long shipping times (about a week).

I actually still COULD save even more if i wait for a few months, but between saving money and getting a game on release day, i find this middle way pretty ideal for me (since "risky" video-game-purchases won't make me poor anytime soon anyways)

 

[Padwolf]

I don't usually pre-order games, but for me it can be a good thing. The games I do pre-order are Harvest Moon and Rune Factory games. Here in the UK those games sell really quickly, and they only tend to be on shelves for a couple of weeks. After that they go way up in price. For example, my puppy chewed my copy of Rune Factory 2 on DS, now that game costs £50 and there is only one on Amazon, and only one in CEX. It's going to take me ages to get that game again. So pre-ordering depends on the game for me and how badly you know you want it.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I'll pre-order if its an online game I plan on playing with friends (Like Old Republic)
or it actually saves me money than going out and buying the day of (like Portal 2).

 

[RedLister]

Haven't had many good ventures lately with preorders.

Latest being Mass effect 3 (was ok except obvious reasons ,nowhere near worth the 70quid i payed!)

and Duke forever last year.....urrghh definately not worth what i payed.

Gonna be wary about preorders from now on.

Doen't mean i think preorders are a bad thing, i have had some awesome preorder experiences in the past. Just got to ignore the hype and go by what YOU think.

 

[Something Amyss]

I agree on that. But I am displeased that such behavior somehow made pre-ordering and things attached to it "mainstream" and that someone who pre-orders is considered superior to someone who doesn't.

As said before, one of the contributing factors for not being to keen on pre-ordering is lack of brand loyalty whatsoever, most likely, and maybe the other is that it makes you look rathe rfanboy-ish, but those are not the only ones.

I'm not sure that's actually the case. It was interesting to explore, but I don't think it particlarly is true. I think people got used to it when scarcity was an issue, and continue in part because of pre-order bonuses. For some, it may be the hunt, though.

 

[OrpheusTelos]

Depends on why you're preordering. If you're sure you'll like a game, have at it. If you're preordering for a retailer=specific bonus, that's probably not a good idea.
In my case, playing largely Japanese RPGs, it's usually best to preorder in order to show support and to make sure I land a copy before it dissapears and becomes ludicrously expensive (particularly for Atlus games). I'll be preordering Last Story, certainly.

 

[OrpheusTelos]

So my son sees AssCreed 3 on the cover of Game Informer and says he wants it. So I go on Gamestops site to see how much it is and the damn game doesn't even come out until Oct 30. That shit is getting old, why are they making a cover for a game that isn't even available for 6 months? It is getting harder and harder to shop for games online when half the shit you find isn't even out yet!

I know, I am the only one who seems to have a problem with this.

To drum up anticipation for the game and to provide early information to perspective customers? :-/ Seems like a pretty normal thing to me. That's like complaining about movie trailers because you want to see the movie but it isn't out for a month or two.

 

[OrpheusTelos]

I'm honestly just gonna wait for games now, turns out so much cheaper and better value in the long term.

Good for you. I've been saying this for years, but most people seem to think that's some sort of gamer blasphemy or something.

This isn't sarcasm, I do really wish more people would realize stuff like this.

The thing is, not every game ends up being cheaper. I would use Radiant Historia as an example. Fantastic game, but because of Atlus' insistence on limited print runs, it became ludicrously expensive until they reprinted it A YEAR later. I got lucky and found a complete copy used for $40 in time for Christmas, but that game was more than $100 at one point. I love Radiant Historia, but I wouldn't pay more than $60 for ANY game.

Not saying you're wrong, because for most games you'd be absolutely correct. I'm just saying that in come cases, preordering can be a good thing.

 

[Epona]

So my son sees AssCreed 3 on the cover of Game Informer and says he wants it. So I go on Gamestops site to see how much it is and the damn game doesn't even come out until Oct 30. That shit is getting old, why are they making a cover for a game that isn't even available for 6 months? It is getting harder and harder to shop for games online when half the shit you find isn't even out yet!

I know, I am the only one who seems to have a problem with this.

To drum up anticipation for the game and to provide early information to perspective customers? :-/ Seems like a pretty normal thing to me. That's like complaining about movie trailers because you want to see the movie but it isn't out for a month or two.

Sure a month in advance but 6 months in advance is too far out to drum up anticipation. I also believe that a game on the cover of a gaming magazine should already be available. Movie trailers don't get their own magazine cover 6 months in advance.

 

[loa]

Ah there's also the thing with "goty", "gold", "complete" or whatever they're called nowadays editions that come out later and contain all the dlc.
If you pre-order or get the game early, you don't get that. All you get is some gimmick and a much more costly purchase.

I wonder what the reasoning behind conditioning the playerbase into waiting by "punishing" early purchases is.
Must be some brilliant marketing strategy, I'm sure of it.

 

[OrpheusTelos]

So my son sees AssCreed 3 on the cover of Game Informer and says he wants it. So I go on Gamestops site to see how much it is and the damn game doesn't even come out until Oct 30. That shit is getting old, why are they making a cover for a game that isn't even available for 6 months? It is getting harder and harder to shop for games online when half the shit you find isn't even out yet!

I know, I am the only one who seems to have a problem with this.

To drum up anticipation for the game and to provide early information to perspective customers? :-/ Seems like a pretty normal thing to me. That's like complaining about movie trailers because you want to see the movie but it isn't out for a month or two.

Sure a month in advance but 6 months in advance is too far out to drum up anticipation. I also believe that a game on the cover of a gaming magazine should already be available. Movie trailers don't get their own magazine cover 6 months in advance.

Sometimes they do. There was a trailer for the Hobbit last December, and that movie isn't out until this December.
IDK, it seems like a pretty standard marketing thing. Games take a lot of time to make, so getting the word out early can let people know that the game exists and tell them more about it, allow them to keep an eye on the game's development, etc.
I get that it might confuse some people, but for the most part its a pretty ordinary thing.
Although, i do have one I will complain about. Hey, Square? Versus XIII looks cool. Why'd you announce that in 2006?

 

[Epona]

So my son sees AssCreed 3 on the cover of Game Informer and says he wants it. So I go on Gamestops site to see how much it is and the damn game doesn't even come out until Oct 30. That shit is getting old, why are they making a cover for a game that isn't even available for 6 months? It is getting harder and harder to shop for games online when half the shit you find isn't even out yet!

I know, I am the only one who seems to have a problem with this.

To drum up anticipation for the game and to provide early information to perspective customers? :-/ Seems like a pretty normal thing to me. That's like complaining about movie trailers because you want to see the movie but it isn't out for a month or two.

Sure a month in advance but 6 months in advance is too far out to drum up anticipation. I also believe that a game on the cover of a gaming magazine should already be available. Movie trailers don't get their own magazine cover 6 months in advance.

Sometimes they do. There was a trailer for the Hobbit last December, and that movie isn't out until this December.
IDK, it seems like a pretty standard marketing thing. Games take a lot of time to make, so getting the word out early can let people know that the game exists and tell them more about it, allow them to keep an eye on the game's development, etc.
I get that it might confuse some people, but for the most part its a pretty ordinary thing.
Although, i do have one I will complain about. Hey, Square? Versus XIII looks cool. Why'd you announce that in 2006?

Sometimes they do what? Get their own magazine cover 6 months in advance? Simply having an ad 6 months in advance is fine but making a game, not available for 6 months, the cover of your magazine is not fine.