pre-order, why?

[Siyano_v1legacy]

After seeing the ad of Red Dead Redemption, I saw, "PREORDER NOW, Coming Fall 2017"
Can I say, what is the point to preorder now? the game is frinking in one year!
With the technology and the more and more use of virtual service to distribute, are you still scared of not getting your copy?
Hype building just so to be sure you get it at launch

 

[DarthCoercis]

Back in the days before digital distribution it made some sense, but I don't think there's any reason at all to pre-order these days, unless you're after a physical collector's ed.

 

[gorfias]

I pre-ordered Battlefield 1 and it launched last night! And it is about 6 AM, 10 hours after I started downloading and it hasn't finished!!!!! Argh!

But I knew I wanted it and was going to pay full price and the preorder from gamestop was a special edition so, why not.

 

[Elijin]

Back in the days before digital distribution it made some sense, but I don't think there's any reason at all to pre-order these days, unless you're after a physical collector's ed.

Or live in one of the many, many places where internet speeds aren't great and as much strain that can be lifted from that by on disc data is a welcome boon.

 

[darkcalling]

For one thing i HATE digital Downloads and will always prefer a physical disc. But for another I pre-order when I KNOW i want the game despite any bad news or if it comes with a cool bonus. Granted I don't tend to get as bent out of shape as some people when a game doesn't quite live up to expectations.

For example I pre-ordered Splatterhouse and Duke Nukem Forever and enjoyed both games. I felt I got my money's worth. I feel like the hype train gets people so caught up in anticipating a game that their imagination tuns wild and can't separate what they WANT a game to be from what it IS.

 

[Siyano_v1legacy]

I can understand if you want physical copy that you buy it physical, its still doesn't matter, why would you preorder it one year in advance? what the point? At worst you can preorder it a few week before it goes out to be sure you get your copy, but more than that, I just don't get why, at this point you are not even sure there not going to be delay and you spending money "now" for something in a year, isn't that kinda a waste

 

[Elijin]

I can understand if you want physical copy that you buy it physical, its still doesn't matter, why would you preorder it one year in advance? what the point? At worst you can preorder it a few week before it goes out to be sure you get your copy, but more than that, I just don't get why, at this point you are not even sure there not going to be delay and you spending money "now" for something in a year, isn't that kinda a waste

Budgeting? The 'Big' games come out in a flood during certain parts of the year. Some people might not be able to drop money on as many titles they'd like at once. But pre-ordering during the drought months when there isn't a lot of competition? Fits within budgets just fine.

Like, in AU a game typically cost between 80-100 bucks at launch. Lets say Joe wants 3 games that all launch in November (as is want to happen in the Christmas lead up), That's around $300. in a month/week/fortnight. That's a sum, spent on games. But Jim, Jim pre-ordered one game in July and one in August, then picked up on on the day of release. They both have the same games they wanted, but one of them has a much happier wallet.

And no 'Just get 1 game at a time' is not a rebuttal. You don't get to decide how someone else spends their leisure time and fun money.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

There isn't a reason to pre-order. Esp since it's been demonstrated several times that the game that's promoted prior to release and the game we eventually get are often 2 entirely different things.

 

[TheMysteriousGX]

If you've already made the decision to buy something and it's got some neat do-dad or whatever, might as well pre-order at that point.

Like, after watching the TFS stream of Dragonball Xenoverse 2, I'm at the point where I'm going to pick up the game anyway, so I might as well preorder to get the keychain thingamabob.

Note: this only applies to things you know you're going to pick up come hell or high water. If you've got any doubt at all, wait for release and reviews.

 

[ultrabiome]

I only pre-order for games I know I will enjoy immediately and am getting a physical copy of, probably picking it up on release day at a physical store.

But I wait, usually until within a month of release. The pre-order gifts are rarely worth it to me, but I'll gladly take them.

Can't even remember the last time I did it. Will do it for Zelda Wii U, unless I change my mind about day 1ing a NS, but not likely.

 

[tippy2k2]

I pre-order when there is a game that I KNOW I am going to buy and I am getting a real benefit from it (not any of that "a free skin for your gun!" crap).

For example, Best Buy routinely gives you $10 in Best Buy Reward Zone money for pre-ordering certain games. If I'm going to get the game anyway, why would I not pre-order it and get $10 for free? If the reviews say the game is a pile of dog poop, I will just return it before I open it.

No risk with high reward.

 

[Siyano_v1legacy]

Budgeting? The 'Big' games come out in a flood during certain parts of the year. Some people might not be able to drop money on as many titles they'd like at once. But pre-ordering during the drought months when there isn't a lot of competition? Fits within budgets just fine.

Like, in AU a game typically cost between 80-100 bucks at launch. Lets say Joe wants 3 games that all launch in November (as is want to happen in the Christmas lead up), That's around $300. in a month/week/fortnight. That's a sum, spent on games. But Jim, Jim pre-ordered one game in July and one in August, then picked up on on the day of release. They both have the same games they wanted, but one of them has a much happier wallet.

And no 'Just get 1 game at a time' is not a rebuttal. You don't get to decide how someone else spends their leisure time and fun money.

why not just keep that money aside? that how budget work? I still don't see why. You can always budget and still be able to spend that supposed 300$ without pre ordering. Oh well, you can pre order if you want I just don't get why, more even if it like this early

 

[Elijin]

In the theoretical situation, being able to afford to spend 100 dollars on entertainment every month or week or whatever, does not translate to being able to spend 300 dollars on entertainment one month/week/whatever(especially since people are likely to spend money earmarked for entertainment as its available). Do you even budget?

 

[NPC009]

In the theoretical situation, being able to afford to spend 100 dollars on entertainment every month or week or whatever, does not translate to being able to spend 300 dollars on entertainment one month/week/whatever(especially since people are likely to spend money earmarked for entertainment as its available). Do you even budget?

Isn't that a dumb way of doing things? If a pre-order happened to be a really good deal, sure, I guess ordering in advance makes sense. I've pre-ordered because stores gave me something like 20% off on the pre-order and I was very certain the game would be something I'd like. (Usually a new Atelier or Tales game.)

However, here's what happens if you pre-order:
a) You only pay a portion of the price, usually about 10%, up front as a guarantee the game will be set aside for you. You'll still have to pay the rest when the games comes out, meaning you will have to set the money aside if you want the game.
b) Pay for the whole game up front, which is not the smart thing to do, as your money will be stuck to an uncertainty. You won't be able to use it if something more important comes up (unexpectedly costly car repairs, a death in the family). And if you're not unlucky enough for that, you might still be unlucky enough to be stuck with a disappointing game. Best worst case scenario, the game turns out to be cheaper in another store.

In most cases the smartest thing is to just save up for the more expensive months (and start comparing prices before the game comes out). If you know it's very likely you'll want to buy more games than normal in October and November, start setting aside money in March or April or whatever. Just because you budget $100 for entertainment every month does not mean you have to spend $100 on entertainment every month. Budgetting means setting part of your entertainment fund aside if you know you'll need a buffer later. Being bad with money is flaw you can overcome.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I used to be a sucker for pre order bonuses like a getting a figure or some steelcase bookcase etc.

These days all of that isn't worth it if the game itself is medicore or crapy. Why you want figure of a character from a crappy game (Alone in the Dark).

 

[RaikuFA]

I mainly pre-order cause the games I get are uncommon/rare. Last one I pre-ordered was SMT4 Apocalypse. Not exactly a game that is launched in troves at Walmart.

That and amiibos. Cause I live in the US.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Anyone can spend their money on whatever they want, but I won't be caught dead pre-ordering a damn thing. This is because a) I don't want to spend money on air and b) I don't even know whether the store where I would pre-order will be the earliest sellers. Maybe a another store will sell it 3 days earlier, and then I'm stuck having to wait for my copy that I paid for while another one is readily available (I'm a day-one buyer).

I never understood pre-ordering for the sake of securing a copy either. I've had plenty of times where I simply asked a store to hold a copy for me and they did, for free.

 

[Fox12]

Because they often come with steel boxes or the soundtrack for the same price. I also like getting collector editions of games.

 

[WeepingAngels]

If you have Amazon Prime you can save 20% so that's $12 on a $60 game. Other than saving money, I see no other incentive. I suppose if you want a game with a limited run it may make sense.

 

[Elijin]

snip

For a start, obviously in this example you'd both A - be paying the full price as a pre-order and B - Only be purchasing games you know you're going to get day 1, regardless.

But largely there seems to be a lot of confusion between budgeting and saving being expressed here. And likely a perspective where no other people are in the loop for decisions about money. In this example, I can assure you that Jim's wife has no problem with him spending that much on games staggered over 6 months. But it absolutely it isn't going to fly to spend that same amount in 1 month. And if you have any experience in the field, its not about whether it can be afforded, its whether it fits in the budget and the joint decisions they make on spending on luxuries.