Poll: Should pre-ordering automatically make you eligible for a refund?

[Reaper195]

Why in Christ do people pre-order games in the first place? I stopped pre-ordering games when I was a teenager, and didn't like the idea of me paying for something, and then that game being delayed six or so months, and not getting anything for my money for about a year (I can't remember what game it was). Nowadays, unless people are really that desperate for their not-worth-it multiplayer DLC or season passes, there is every reason to NOT pre-order a game, and simply wait to see whether the game is worth you getting. Some people enjoy Colonial Marines (I don't know why, but then again, CoD is the best (Or one of, CBF looking it up) selling game series ever. I don't know why.), and good on them being able to enjoy something most people consider really terrible. But a lot of people wouldn't have gotten the game if they had waited a few days to see what reviews say, watch gameplay videos (Preferably the kind where you don't have some twat speaking over top of the game with some witty bollocks that sounds so incredibly forced...of which there are too few), and found out what the game was really like. If I had been smarter that one time, I wouldn't have bought Crysis 2 the day it came out. Because compared to 1, it was fucking abysmal.

 

[Tanis]

Only if you didn't get the game.

Pre-ordering is a way to say 'I believe this game isn't going to suck, so reward me for it'.

It's a gamble, and it's yours to make.

 

[Squilookle]

If you pre-order... anything, you're handing your money over in advance for something with no guarantees whatsoever, and as a result, you deserve whatever you get.

 

[The Lugz]

nope, you should learn from your mistakes and stop being a company's personal punching bag so you can live life happily ever after
buying blind is nearly as bad as gambling, it's a poor purchasing habit and it leaves you at the mercy of a company so just stop supporting the practice because you have to wait two years for a game to be developed but 1/2 days for reviews is too much? madness!

as far as aliens is concerned, that franchise was dragged through the mud so thoroughly by previous games i just had no hope left anyway
and yes, 1gotp1nk8cidbootson
been at this a while!

Spoiler

if you like i can sell you a giant bubble wrap ball to protect you from the harsh reality of life of-course i have to build it first and i don't think i can be bothered right now so just pre order it mkay!

 

[Starik20X6]

Absolutely. If I'd pre-ordered Aliens: CM based on the trailer/demo, and that was the game I got, I think I'd be well within my right to claim the game I was promised was not the game I got. From what I've seen, the final game is drastically different to what was shown before release. I mean, if I ordered this...

... and this is what I got...

... pretty sure I'm allowed to get my money back.

However, it should be Gearbox who are issuing the refund, not the retailer who is going to get swamped with refunded copies of the shitty game in question.

 

[Something Amyss]

You could also try being sensible and not pay for shit you don't know, then they would haveto abandon this bullshit all together.

Being sensible. Huh. It's crazy, but it JUST MIGHT WORK.

 

[Smeggs]

This is why the majority of games I actually fork money over for, I wait a few days to see how it is actually recieved, and watch some gameplay videos, etc.

And no, I don't think so, because honestly what is keeping that person from picking up the game, going home, playing through it, and then bringing it back for a full refund? You see the problem? I suppose on a release day basis, because honestly, you should only need maybe an hour or two with a game to know if you really want to keep playing or not.

 

[cjspyres]

You know, I want to say yes, but I can't. I can't say that anybody should get a refund for a game they pre-ordered, and be truthful. There are enough sites out there that review games, and post the truth about how great or how shitty they are. And not to mention the following praise/outcry from the buyers that have already played it. If you just do a little research, just a little bit, you could save yourself the trouble of wasting 60 or 50 dollars. I don't know if it just amounts to laziness or impatience, but it all comes back to the buyer who could have avoided this problem. Learn from other peoples mistakes, and your own.

 

[Yopaz]

It depends. Let's say you pre-order a game and you don't like it. Well, there's never a guarantee you'll like a game pre-order or not. I bring up Bioshock a lot here, but it's my perfect example. Bioshock disappointed me to no end despite that I liked the demo, despite that it got good reviews and despite my friend loving the shit out of it.

The game was fully functional and I can see the qualities even if I do not enjoy them. It's not a bad game, it just didn't click with me.

Now take games such as Diablo 3 and Assassin's Creed 2 (I think) where the game couldn't be played because of DRM issues. It was downright nonfunctional. Now here's a real issue with how you're not getting what you paid for.

As for Aliens: Colonial Marines the question isn't as easy to answer. They showed off a demo that didn't portray the actual game while claiming it was showing the gameplay. Then again demos usually come with the disclaimer that says the demo isn't representative for the quality of the full game.

My answer boils down to that in some cases a full refund should be required, but not over disappointment.

 

[CrystalShadow]

In other words, should games be held to the standards already established by consumer protection laws which they somehow get around on a technicality?

It makes me laugh every time someone says that demanding the basic consumer rights (which have many laws protecting them) which game companies have somehow weaseled their way out of makes them 'entitled'.

Don't you just love decades upon decades of industry brainwashing convincing people that their 'rights' are in fact something they shouldn't be entitled to?

The sad thing is, far too many people have been so indoctrinated with this idea, that rather than question why trampling all over consumer protection laws is allowable, they've come to view this as an obvious, and correct situation.

 

[Hollowpoint]

No.

If you're dumb enough to pre-order based only on marketing promos (and demo footage qualifies), before a single review is posted, you deserve to get screwed. A:CM had a pre-release review embargo- did you think they were afraid of letting people know how awesome it was before buying the game?

You pre-ordered why? To get some nearly useless in-game bonus? Because you were desperate to hand your money over? How many other products do you buy sight unseen with non-refundable money, without reading a single review, before anyone else has had a chance to try it?

If you want to gamble, fine. Just don't pretend you weren't after the house took all your chips.

 

[Kaymish]

you should be able to get a refund within 7 days no matter weather you pre-order or not if no demo is available im pretty sure if someone here got pissed enough to take it to small claims court or the commerce commission they could get their money back with relative ease given the wording of the consumer gurantees act of 1993

 

[Loonyyy]

You already do, at least where I shop. You can cancel a preorder at a physical store. Steam and other online services don't offer this though.

I don't usually pick up a preorder on the release day anyway, I do it for the extras. So I watch the reviews, pick it up if I think it's good, cancel it if I don't.

Once you start playing it, you're kind of screwed. But it's always been that way. Even if you didn't preorder, you can't return most games, although you can trade in console ones. The trick is to know what you're getting, in every case. This has always been a problem. People have been getting games and being let down preorders or no.

 

[likalaruku]

Well it depends.

Yes = Preordering a game that's already been funded, made, & will be shipping withing a year.

No = Crowdfunding a game. That counts as a preorder, since you get a free copy of the game when it's done. It's also a gamble. If it's good, then everyone wins. If shit happens, well....A fool & his money are soon parted.

 

[al4674]

Hey, it's your risk. You aren't entitled to anything - pre-ordering is essentially a gamble that the game is good and worth the money. Why should the publisher pay the consequences of your risks?

 

[Rumpsteak]

Well, considering that up until recently the retailer that I bought physical media from has offered a refund on played games for up to a week after purchase, I'm a little biased.

I think all games should be returnable for a full refund as it keeps the consumer from getting screwed by marketing departments and generally helps keep games to a decent standard.

 

[Shpongled]

This is why the majority of games I actually fork money over for, I wait a few days to see how it is actually recieved, and watch some gameplay videos, etc.

And no, I don't think so, because honestly what is keeping that person from picking up the game, going home, playing through it, and then bringing it back for a full refund? You see the problem? I suppose on a release day basis, because honestly, you should only need maybe an hour or two with a game to know if you really want to keep playing or not.

I don't really see the problem, no. Most industries are subject to laws forcing them to offer full refunds to some extent, why gamers must be "entitled" for expecting the same i don't know. It's actually perfectly legal for you to go out and buy a dress, wear it for 1 night out then return it with a full refund. Apparently the clothing industry hasn't collapsed yet, so it can't be that disastrous a concept.