Is pre-ordering really worth it?

[Radelaide]

As I mentioned in my blog post here, I pre-ordered Arkham City Steelbook edition. This is my first ever pre-order and I'm pretty impressed with the look I got for my $100, but I'm wondering if all the time and effort is worth it?

Is having the game right on release date so super important? This question would be especially interesting since Skyrim comes out soon and while I have less-than-no interest in it, there are some people going into fanboy convulsions over it.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Depends on how much you value what you get.

I found the Catherine pre order to be great cause it meant it was there for me as a promise. its too bad I didnt pre order the love is over edition.

 

[hagar2]

yes, not only are you garenteed to have a copy of the game, you usually get extra goodies and you dont pay anymore than you have to

 

[ruben6f]

I don't mind pre-ordering a game if I know that it will be good ( skyrim is an example) or if the pre order bonuses are cool.

But after I getting Halo reach I decided that any game that focuses on Multiplayer is worth the pre-order, multiplayer games are usually broken, very unbalanced and have very bad communities.

 

[babinro]

Yes, but only for a small handful of games.

Dragon Age 1&2 had plenty of great freebies that added to the game for pre-ordering. Be it in the form of Free DLC, or in game items.

I personally find that Collector Editions are a waste of money to pre-order simply due to the fact that the non-game content tends to just collect dust on a shelf after having been appreciated for a couple of minutes. By CE I mean the ones that tend to cost $20+ more than the game as is in order to get things like a pictures/figurines/maps/etc.

The only extra non-game content related addition that I personally like is when they give out the game's soundtrack. Instrumental music is among my favorite types and so I'd get a ton of use out of it...not to mention playing the better tracks during D&D sessions.

 

[Bigsmith]

I will only really pre-order a game if I really want it or if I have the money to get the special edition.

 

[StriderShinryu]

It takes extra time and effort? Not sure I agree with that.

If you know for sure you're going to be buying the game anyway, you might as well pre-order it. Besides, you'll often get free stuff.

Another point to consider is that pre-ordering should guarantee you a copy of the game. Sure the store isn't going to run out of Modern Warfare 3, but if what you're talking about is a smaller niche title or even a special edition of a more mainstream title pre-ordering just might make the difference between getting it and not getting it at all. It's not uncommon for a store to only order enough copies of lesser known titles to cover their pre-orders plus maybe a couple extras.

 

[Traun]

I found no reason to, but then again I am on a tight budget.

Games today have a lot of DLC, so pre-ordering it means that you'll also need to buy the DLC as well, which may turn out to be ~100$ even if you didn't get the Collectors edition.

The bonuses aren't really worth it either. Rage has a new buggy skin and 3 weapons, my game wouldn't suffer because of the lack of them. Skyrim get's a bonus map, which while nice, I'll probably toss somewhere in a week.

So now, I prefer to buy games a month or two after release when their price drops, or an year later for the complete edition.

 

[Total LOLige]

I think so because the game you want might get sold out, better safe than sorry. I've pre-order every game since I had to wait 2 weeks for red dead redemption. I don't care about the bonuses at all unless it's awesome.

 

[raankh]

I have been disappointed every time I've done a pre-order. Not worth it in my book. Between bugs, content cuts and DLC there just isn't any added value to pre-ordering, despite the sometimes higher price.

I guess if you're an achievment sniper and need to get your "First!" fix that way, it's a good thing.

 

[AlexiVolkov]

I pre-order lots of games... if only because I have the money to pay for it now, when I may not later... or to thin out the herd that is holiday release spam. I don't care about the bonuses or exclusives, sometimes a Collectors Edition will get me, but mainly its just budgeting.

 

[Monkey_Warfare]

I find its rarely worth it. While I preorder blizzard and valve games its because you are certain of a good quality game (just preordered diablo III), most games however are hit or miss in quality and overpriced, see the recent space marine game. The only other games i preorder are the likes of Bastion which i played a bit of on another system and really enjoyed.
Normally I wait till steam sales, see if the game got good reviews/still popular if multiplayer and then buy it, saves a lot of time and money.

 

[xvbones]

I worked as a manager at a Gamestop for several years. I have personally sold over one thousand preorders of video games.

There is exactly one question you should ask yourself when deciding whether or not you should preorder:

"Will I be buying this game anyway?"
Mass Effect, CoD, Skyrim, Diablo 3, Legend of Zelda, God of War, a title you have already convinced yourself that you must have, (and thus will be purchasing on launch day, anyway) by all means, preorder it.

Otherwise, no, save your money and wait for someone to have a physical copy of the game, so that they can tell you that
a) It actually functions
b) It is worth your money.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

9 out of 10 times I wouldn't think so. That one time it does matter is if there's a bit of exclusive DLC you want. Other than that you can always find the game you're looking for, if not in a shop, than online for the same or a (marginally) better price than you would find in any given retailer.

 

[MercurySteam]

I'm wondering if all the time and effort is worth it?

What time and effort? You walk in and pay a deposit a few weeks or months earlier and then walk in on release day and pick it up. How much simpler could it be?

 

[Fusioncode9]

As I mentioned in my blog post here, I pre-ordered Arkham City Steelbook edition. This is my first ever pre-order and I'm pretty impressed with the look I got for my $100, but I'm wondering if all the time and effort is worth it?

Is having the game right on release date so super important? This question would be especially interesting since Skyrim comes out soon and while I have less-than-no interest in it, there are some people going into fanboy convulsions over it.

All the time and effort? You must be extremely lazy if you consider paying for a game so you can have a copy on release date hard work. Why do people make such a a big deal over preorders? Don't like it, don't do it. Some of us would like a copy guaranteed on release day and not have to wait in line.

 

[the.gill123]

I tend to pre order from Amazon, it's nice getting home from work, and there in the porch is a brand new game, waiting to be played. I see no point in going to game shops anymore, also there have been numerous occasions where cds and games have turned up a day or two before release, which is nice.

 

[StormShaun]

Well, firstly I like to pre-order because its mine and nobody can take it, such as the rare Catherine that is coming to Australia in October and there barely ant copies over here. And also its good fro per-ordering collectors Editions, you see, I love collecting collectors editions...I have a habit. X_X

Also I cant wait for GOW3 to be released over her in Aus because I'm getting the Retro Lancer Replica with it. Always wanted one of them.

So basicly pre-order is good for these reasons.

1. Getting a collectors Edition.
2. Making sure you gets the game (If it's so popular like Skyrim is it will be sold out of day one)
3. Lowing the price (Paying overtime)