Why do people pre-order games?

[WickedSkin]

I'm pretty sure most pre-order... -ers are the kind of people who are slowly and completely destroying gaming and games.

"HEY! We will pay you anything for any piece of crap without any question! Why would we need to ask you for anything in return? We don't need any quality-control or content what so ever!"

This is the message those kind of people like to send. Content and great stuff like devkits is actually being frowned upon. Every game released needs at least 5 patches before they even get somewhat playable.

Spoiler: Or short version

 

[Aris Khandr]

For me, it is largely habit. It used to be that getting a copy of a game on release day was far from guaranteed. Especially true if you have commitments that make it impossible to be at the store in the morning. By the time you're off of work and driving home, the store had been sold out for hours. That's just how gaming used to be. So we pre-ordered. I know it isn't the same now, but there is still that voice in the back of my head that tells me that if I really want something, pre-ordering is the only way to be sure I get it. That said, I've never been burned on one.

 

[Inconspicuous Trenchcoat]

I've usually only pre-ordered because:

1) I let my emotions get the better of me.
2) Green Man Gaming had a good deal on something I was interested in.
3) That one time I wanted to "vote with my wallet," and support DRM-free AAA games by pre-ordering Witcher 2 from GoG.
4) I have prime interest in playing the game right when it comes out.
5) It's a game I enjoyed on console, but want the superior PC version (Sonic Racing Transformed).
6) I feel good about pre-ordering indie and indie-ish games (The Cave) because it makes me feel like I'm helping out the "little guys."

I'm probably gonna stop pre-ordering now. It is a bad idea after all. I'll survive without a few TF2 items, alternate skins and 10% off. Also, my backlog could do battle with ogres if I could instill the pile of them with life (also rage).

Even pre-order bonuses that look neat turn out to be stupid or never used: E.g. The deck of Tarot cards from my Dishonored pre-order remain unopened; the Saint's Row 3 DLC looked cool, but those special weapons got boring pretty quickly (mainly because you ran out of ammo way too quickly, and nobody drops more for it--have to go back to a store :/)

 

[Thedutchjelle]

I pre-ordered Starcraft Wing of Liberty Collectors Edition.
Because the long-awaited sequel of Starcraft's special edition would probably be sold out rapidly without me getting a copy if I didn't.

I did the same this year for SC2: HotS CE and I was already to late at my favourite retailer (they sold out).

 

[Sylveria]

You answered your own question. Pre-order bonuses and a guaranteed copy of the game the day it comes out. Sometimes it's even discounted if you pre-order early enough.

What's so hard to understand about that? I get a game I want and I know I'm going to like as soon as possible, usually with some extra goodies.

I agree with that except on the "I know I'm going to like" portion. You pre-order games you >think< you are going to like. I'm pretty sure everyone can cite at least one example of pre-ordering a game that turned in to a huge disappointment for one reason or another.

I pre-order more often than not because a lot of what I purchase is out of small publishing houses where release will be limited. Usually if it's something from the 4-ish studios I really pay attention to and I'm even mildly interested, I will drop a pre-order on it. In many cases there's a collector's edition that if I don't pre-order it, I wont be able to get without paying another 20-30% from re-sellers on Amazon and Ebay.

Even when I get something from a larger company, like Namco, I pre-order it because I know it's a genre that isn't widely popular and I wan't to show support for the product early.

However, I don't pay anything up-front for my pre-orders because I do all my pre-ordering through online retailers which makes changing my pre-order, say if a CE is announced closer to launch or I start hearing unsavory things, far easier than trying to go to a store.

 

[Lucane]

Where do you people live that you have to pay the entire price of the game if you preorder? Where I live preorders are free, and you only pay if you actually want the game by release. Well, I had to pay 5 bucks for the ACIII Collectors Edition preorder, but that was because of the limited stock. Other than that I've never ever paid for a preorder, and I pre order a lot of games.

As for why, because I get extra goodies, physical and digital (mostly digital) and a game that I am most probably interested enough in to shell out full price. So, why wouldn't I?

I think they meant "full price" on a pre-order as in when you pay a bit up front and pay the rest later you're still paying the normal price as if you did it after release and you don't get a discount for pre-ordering it. The No money down where you live sounds nice but in the U.S. it's standard to have to pay a $5.00 minimum for pre-orders while some places let you pay more in advance so day of you don't have to deal with money transactions holding up the line as much.

In short we are not paying extra to pre-order new games.

Other reasons? Already mention I'm sure: guarantees a copy at said location.(A Gamestop wouldn't of gotten any in stock if no one pre-orders I wouldn't of gotten an Armored Core game once if I didn't.) Some bonus packs are not rip-offs (Tranformers: Wf/Fo Cybertron I'm looking at you splitting up a future DLC pack so you'd still have to pay as much as anyone else to get everything added in later.) and sometimes pre-ordering is the only chance to get certain novelty items. In-game or otherwise. Especially before higher priced collector's editions came out.

 

[New Troll]

I really don't mind pre-ordering if the deal feels right. I came very close to pre-ordering ACM, running the pros and cons through my head for over a week before the game finally came out.

The Pros: really appreciate Gearbox for BL2, get to pre-install the game so it's ready to play ASAP, unique gun, love the Alien mythology
The Cons: paying a lot of money for a game I might never get around to playing even if I do like, probably get more later for less

When the time finally came I found I hadn't felt swayed enough by the Pros to pre-order, and after reading and watching reviews and gameplay footage, I'm happy with that decision.

This morning I did pre-order Brutal Legend for my fiancé though because not only do I think she will appreciate the game, but I know she will appreciate the pre-order incentives that goes along with it. Pre-ordering definitely felt right.

 

[superline51]

I pretty much pre-order games that I am definitely going to buy anyway. I'm going to pay for the game anyway, and with pre-orders, I usually get a little something extra with it. Plus, when I buy my pre-orders through Best Buy, I get a $20 gift certificate per game, so that's a pretty huge incentive.

Edit: Also, Dishonored USB Whale Oil Lamp, enough said.

 

[emeraldrafael]

as far as I know you cant steam purchase a pokemon game and thats what my next pre order will be if they actually start taking pre orders.

Other than that, I pre order to make sure i have the chance to get one and for the occasional gift. the catherine pre order back was incredible.

 

[Loonyyy]

Because you intend to buy the game at release, and wish to reserve a copy /thread.

Oh, you're still here?
Consumers do it because they want a copy.
Publishers like it because it indicates their revenue.
So Publishing houses encourage preorders by adding incentives onto the game, preorder bonuses, unlocks, goodies etc. These further incentivise the player. Now you're not only getting your game, but some other stuff.

Come on OP, I can understand not getting the first part if you live in a metropolitan centre, but the second? It's plastered all over most game stores, and game sites. And you even iterate those. So you know why, and you still ask?

That my friend, is the definition of insanity.

 

[Loonyyy]

I'm pretty sure most pre-order... -ers are the kind of people who are slowly and completely destroying gaming and games.

"HEY! We will pay you anything for any piece of crap without any question! Why would we need to ask you for anything in return? We don't need any quality-control or content what so ever!"

This is the message those kind of people like to send. Content and great stuff like devkits is actually being frowned upon. Every game released needs at least 5 patches before they even get somewhat playable.

Spoiler: Or short version

Have you, buy any chance, gone to a comic book store or the like? Often, if you want something specific there, you'll have to preorder. Because they need to know to ship it, and they have only limited stock. If you don't preorder, you don't get. Simples. But hey, I'm sure you're an old timer with a valid opinion, right, and not someone making do with asspulls right?

Additionally, to preorder a game, requires knowledge of a game. The people preordering are not just casually walking into the story and doing it on a whim. The people who do it are usually well aware of the product, and what they're ordering. So, buying without question is wrong too. Additionally, you can redeem your preorder after the release date, and reviews usually hit before release. So, in every possible way, you're mistaken.

 

[Quaidis]

I pre-order games I know are going to be good, or limited release, or are going to end up being rare in the long run. The pre-order bonus is just that, a bonus. I also don't put down the full cost of the game in the pre-order, I put down a fraction of it. Like Xenoblade. I pre-ordered Xenoblade. Now it's impossible to find at anything below 2X retail value, and it's still hefty on the price tag.


That's not to say I pre-order every game I buy. Just the ones I know are coming out, and will be awesome ahead of time. In that there is no gamble. There is only win.

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

Not sure why most people do it, but I do it because it will be a guarantee purchase on my part and I would want to have it available for me to play upon it's release. The bonuses are just icing on the cake and it really doesn't persuade me to do pre-order a game.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

Reasons why I've done it:
- I knew I was going to get the game and play it the second it game out, so why not?
- It was cheaper to preorder (sale on Steam, coupon codes on D2D, etc.)
- I wanted a collectors edition (Borderlands 2, BioShock Infinite)

Only games I really buy anymore are ones I know I'll play the second they are released (because I barely have time as it is to buy games and have a huge backlog), so might as well just preorder them.

 

[Yopaz]

If you pre-order online from a retailer like Amazon then no money is put down. So I can add a game to pre-order, and I will always get it at the cheapest price it's at before release date. I am only charged once it has been shipped, and can cancel it at any time before that moment without losing any money.

As for why you'd do it when you don't know how good the game will be, well personally I only do it for games that I know I am going to get anyway. They are almost always sequels to series I already really like, and so unless the game looks to be appalling, I know I am getting it anyway.

Plus I don't have any game shops near me. The closest I have is Asda, and they always charge at full RRP, unlike online retailers.

Amazon also have one of the easiest most understanding cancellation menus giving you the choice to give a reason why.

OT: I pre-order games that I think I will enjoy or that I think will be hard to get on release day. I also like the goodies and Steam's 10% off if you pre-order deal. The game might not live up to your expectations, but the fact that the game is out doesn't mean it will. Have you ever played a game that has been getting nothing but praise from fans and reviewers and didn't like it?

I know I have on numerous occasions. There's never a guarantee you'll like a game unless you have played it before.

 

[mohit9206]

i hope all of you guys must have already watched this video. if not please do. its for people who pre-order games and think they are getting some benefits but are just suckered in by the game developer and publishers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf5Uj4XIT1Y

 

[mohit9206]

Reasons why I've done it:
- I knew I was going to get the game and play it the second it game out, so why not?
- It was cheaper to preorder (sale on Steam, coupon codes on D2D, etc.)
- I wanted a collectors edition (Borderlands 2, BioShock Infinite)

Only games I really buy anymore are ones I know I'll play the second they are released (because I barely have time as it is to buy games and have a huge backlog), so might as well just preorder them.

there in lies the problem. if you were planning to play the game on launch anyways whether the game was actually shit then you are harming the industry indirectly. you may not realise it. watch this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf5Uj4XIT1Y

 

[CharrHearted]

because reviewers suck


i loved Eve of extinction even with a 2.5

I enjoyed operation raccoon city with a <5 score.

I enjoyed mario party 8 with it's mediocre rating.

I have a nack for liking "bad" games. So i don't trust reviewers.