Current Events > Who the FUCK actually pre-orders games anymore?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I would think there are very few games worth pre-ordering nowadays, and even then, it's questionable.

Why do folks still do this? Are the incentives really worth it?

Yo mama

I'll take my free steelbook which saves me $10 yes.

SrRd_RacinG posted...

Are the incentives really worth it?

Not really, but that's what drives pre-orders anyway. Some people have FOMO for the bonuses that are offered.

I preorder digitally so I can preload days before and play right away when it launches instead of waiting a couple hours to download it

Sometimes there are pre-order bonuses that I'm interested in.

Collector's editions and playing at midnight.

I don't preorder games anymore simply because I could die tomorrow and don't want these companies to have my money for something I might not even get. If I want a game bad enough at launch, I'll purchase it maybe an hour or two before it comes out just so I can preload it and have it ready at midnight release.

Lots of people.
Possibly even loads of people.

The hype train is the real event, the game itself is secondary.

If I know it's a game I want anyway and it has a few bonuses, I will.

People that like preloading

ViewtifulJoe posted...

The hype train is the real event, the game itself is secondary.

Who cares if the game actually works at launch, we were part of the hype train!

008Zulu posted...

Who cares if the game actually works at launch, we were part of the hype train!

If it doesn't, we get to flip our lids online! And then the devs will start drip-feeding patches to make it functional! And we get to sing their praises and rehabilitate their image for them!
It's gonna be like the game's coming out all over again! It's gonna be aces!

Bump

I only pre-order high profile games, like I pre-order Ragnarok and I'll bepre-ordering Zelda because a physical copy will be impossible to find on launch day or even weeks after. And I've heard way too many stories about online orders being delayed, so I'd rather just go to Gamestop which is right on my path home from work and grab the game. In and out in 2 minutes with no worries on if I'll get it that day.

Is it a pre-order in the terms gamers usually use the phrase when I buy games online days before release so they ship in time for me to play them on release day?

Last game I pre-ordered was Elden Ring and imma pre-order the DLC as well

No particular reason for me. I know I'm going to buy the game, so might as well do it at the earliest opportunity.

Only if it's a special edition or limited you can't buy those on release date

My internet is super slow, I need to pre-download to be able to play the day of launch

But I only pre-order if it's From Software, Gust, or Fire Emblem

Were_Wyrm posted...

Yo mama

oooooooooooooo

If it is a game I'm going to buy anyway, I order and forget about it. Then when I find out an actual release date, I know it'll be coming in the mail in a day or two.

Bump

What always makes me laugh are the pre-order bonuses that are like, slightly better-than-baseline items/weapons you get at the start of the game.

Then they get replaced by the third or fourth hour and they were ultimately useless.

the money launderers backed by the GME holders

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


KStatKing17

-You're 100% certain you were gonna play it anyway regardless of how it turns out, and you want it as soon as possible
-Preorder bonuses
-It's a game that you don't expect to remain in stock, for one reason or another (obviously less applicable if it's a digital copy)

I do it to help support niche JRPGs

If I'm sure I'm going to play it on day 1 anyway, then I might as well pre-order it. Gets me any bonuses plus I can pre install it and play it 9pm my time the night before release.

i would more often cuz im old school but there arent that many games i'm interested in coming out that much

i thought about preordering zelda tears of the kingdom

last game i preordered was doom eternal (i think the preorder came w free doom 64 so that was nice)
before that it was like... a link between worlds

Depends entirely on the company and game.

People who blindly pre-order games from companies with questionable track records are a problem for most consumers though. So I do understand many peoples frustration on this topic.

Philip027 posted...

-You're 100% certain you were gonna play it anyway regardless of how it turns out, and you want it as soon as possible
-Preorder bonuses
-It's a game that you don't expect to remain in stock, for one reason or another (obviously less applicable if it's a digital copy)

All of these. Metroid Prime Remastered is a good example of #3 since it's very scarce and tends to sell out immediately.

Another point: pre-ordering through most outlets also ensures you get that game for the price it was at that time. When it was leaked that Zelda would be $69.99 for instance, a lot of people started pre-ordering while it was still listed as $59.99. Many places honor price errors too, like listing a limited edition version with the standard edition's price.

If its something I am absolutely sure I want to play then I want to play that sob NOW. At midnight eastern time for most digital games.

If its physical deluxe or collector's edition for the more niche games (think stuff like trials of mana or like, evil west), then I want my copy to be like, actually there at the store. A lot of retailers are only getting day 1 shipments for pre-orders only all too often these days. My brother wanted a physical copy of one piece pirate warriors 4 on the switch and not a single retailer had non-pre orders available (and those who ordered on Amazon didn't get their shit day 1. It was like a week or more of waiting).

Also, my local gamestop still does 9 pm eastern game pick ups and since the spot i go to is 5 minutes away I pre-order for these too. I might do this for resident evil 4 remake.

I do. On Amazon.ca sometimes they will put up a brand new release for pre-order at a cheaper price. If you pre-order it at that price, Amazon.ca will honor it.

I got Wo Long for $80 after taxes instead of $103 after taxes for pre-ordering the day they listed it on the site.

Not a game, but I also pre-ordered the Predator graphic novel Omnibus at $56, when it released it was $150 retail. That's a pretty big savings.

I do... I sometimes preorder smaller titles that don't get many copies out here ( Most recently I was the one to preorder Theatrhythm, Like a Dragon: Ishin, and Labyrinth of Galleria and nowhere else around me had copies)...

Also preorder quite a few Special or Collector's Editions too...

Even if the preorder bonus is just a Steelbook I'm happy honestly...