Why Would Anyone Preorder A Console?

[Ishigami]

Odds are you'll be getting the buggiest version of the console, at the highest price (assuming it will drop in price)

Or in case of the PS3 you get the only version of the console that is 100% backwards compatible because it still featured a full set of PS2 hardware inside that got cut one by one in consecutive releases to drop the price.

But you are not asking why I imported a gen 1 PS3 from the USA are you? ? You are asking why I pre-ordered a PS4.
Because I shit money and need a region code B BR player anyway.

There you go.

Besides you greedy bastards need early adopters otherwise everything would go down the drain.

 

[Evonisia]

Because people (like me) want to play the games on the consoles at launch. They're willing to gamble on the console bugging out (blue light/red ring of death) if it means they can play the games they want. Waiting a year doesn't cause the price to drop so much, probably nothing beyond £50. If that makes me stupid then I'm proudly stupid, at least I'll be having dumb fun on Dead Rising 3 when I wanted to.

Of course, pre-ordering a console was more valid in the previous generations and I fully acknowledge that. The Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 all had backwards compatibility on launch, and the 360/Wii kept supporting the imports of old games for a few years after release.

 

[Branindain]

For me, it is a matter of brand loyalty. I'm not one of those mouth-breathing monosyllabic morons who makes a console war into a sports event and hurls invective at the other side. I don't wish failure on anybody and I wouldn't laugh at someone who had a RROD. But Sony brought me into my adult gaming life 15 years ago and they've provided fun times for me ever since. They've never done me wrong, and I want their consoles to succeed, so I cast my vote early. I'm gonna get one anyway, so why not?

Of course, no amount of loyalty will make me get a Vita. Fuck that noise.

 

[GoaThief]

This is the most annoying Escapist phase in a while, I think.

You know it is possible to choose not to buy a console on launch without heaping on a ton of condescension right? Even ignoring the people who have already pointed out that early adopters are what keep the console alive, you have to realize that when you refer to other people as peasants (and yes, that is a quote from another thread), you make yourself look like an ass.

By the way, to everyone who is waiting on buying a PS4, you're welcome. People like me who bought it now are making sure those good games you're waiting for actually happen.

Yea, this prevalent attitude has really been pissing me off on the Escapist for a while. What the hell is with the high and mighty people constantly thinking others are "Sheeple" for buying a console on day one? It also happens on a myriad of other topics regarding new systems or new games.

I'm glad it's not just me, I have been avoiding comment for the most part as I am sure it would be an exercise in futility.

As for the OP and the question posed, because I and millions of others want to. I can't help but think of this guy sat hunched over a keyboard at times

Spoiler

 

[Raikas]

I'm baffled by how condescending and snarky people are about these things. I mean, I don't buy consoles at launch myself because I'd rather wait for the bugs to be ironed out and the price to drop, but that doesn't make me any more clever than the people who preorder - it just means that they have other priorities.

If a person wants something and they can afford it, why wouldn't they buy it? And why would you want to sneer at them for doing so?

Because there aren't many games at launch? I know more people who play fewer than 6 big games a year than I do people who play the new releases every week, so I don't see why that's a deterrent in and of itself.

Because of bugs? Sure (and that's the main reason I'm not an early adopter), but for some people that's not such a big deal.

Because the price will drop? For a decent segment of the market it's not that big of an expense, so why bother waiting?

Why buy a console at all when you can buy a PC? Why not? I play on PC and a variety of consoles, and so do plenty of other people. It's not an all or nothing thing, so as long as there are system exclusives, why wouldn't you?