I've never pre-ordered before, but that's because I usually don't pay full price for games either. No sense pre-ordering anything (especially when it's usually a minimum of a $59.99 purchase) when I have enough of a backlog. I can entertain myself with other games while I wait 6 months for the price to drop by 50% like is usually the case, or it ends up bundled ~
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Yep, many people do that same thing here. It's hard, having so many games to play. π
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I don't think I've ever pre-ordered a game. I don't see the need to do so. It doesn't help that I'm a cheap bastard who doesn't like spending that much money, I like waiting for a good deal.
Yeah pre-ordering makes sense for a physical release, so maybe pre-order if you are getting a collector's edition with a cool statue of the game or something along those lines.
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I might have said it before in this thread, but yeah, in case of physical copies and especially when it comes to getting physical rewards I can understand pre-ordering a game, depending on what you get that sort of stuff is worth even if it costs a bit more. I'd love to have some merchandise with my favorite games on it. π
Otherwise, as many have stated here, it's risky and kinda sketchy, you never know if the digital content you get (in case you get bonuses) wasn't actually planned to be part of the game in the first place.
Except in Assassin's Creed Origins' case, then you know for certain it was planned to be a part of the game. (see the picture in the main post π)
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I guess you shouldn't pre-order if you are ok with the fact that you may be making a bad investment. You never know when you will get a mediocre product.
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Over 500 points to enter all your GAs. That will take days! (literally)
Good thing I don't want to enter all of them. Thanks for the great giveaways.
I do not pre-order games anymore. Release day prices are absurdly high, especially since the price will drop to about half that only a few months later. I maintain a good size backlog to keep me entertained until the price of games drops to a suitably low amount that I can buy into it.
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Many of the people commenting said a similar thing. I guess it's natural when you have a big backlog, adding up to it isn't something you would desperately want. π
You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoy some of them. :)
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yeah. I really wanted to play Rise of the Tomb Raider, but I waited until it showed up in Humble Monthly to get it. I don't feel like I missed out at all waiting nearly 2 years. Most games take less time than that to get a decent sale price, though, so the wait is rarely that long.
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Yep, as I've said before, I very much agree with this particular way of handling the problem. :)
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I preordered Resident Evil HD remake and Fable HD and The Witcher 3, iconic games in my life. But upon reflection I realized that was a silly thing to do and never did something similar since then.
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I don't know about the first two since I haven't played them, but The Witcher is a game I'd travel back in time and pre-order myself if I knew it helped the devs in any way. π
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I was a teenager when the computer gaming industry first began. Games used to be sold on tape cassettes with the instructions typed on a folded piece of paper, both of which were wrapped in a clear plastic bag and hung on a hanger in the computer store. Copies were limited, and there was no such things as pre-ordering, patches, or DLC.
Fast forward some years later and things were a bit more complicated. Games came on floppies (Ultima IV used five!), and the boxed games included various extras such as cloth maps, game-themed trinkets, and demo's to other games. Still no pre-orders, patches, or DLC, but you could now buy your copy in advance so that you actually received one.
Years later, digital distribution changed everything. Games could now be patched and filled out a bit after having been released. This was good from the standpoint of having a more complete game, but the extra wiggle room meant that publishers could push a product out before it was actually finished. Even if you bought the physical version, you ended up needing to patch it. The result is that PC gamers were pushed toward using an all digital format. That, in turn, opened the door to the pre-ordering culture. Why not push pre-orders if 85% of your market will get their copy in digital format and is willing to pay for it?
Enter the sad state of affairs we have today, stage left. I used to pre-order as a matter of habit, but I've been burned too many times. Non-functional games at launch, pieces of games cut-out to sell as DLC, MMO's that are closed down in the first six months, multiplayer games without servers for the players, entire games abandoned after taking our money, ... It's like Pandora's Box was opened and afflicted the entire gaming industry. Abuse of the customer has become so wide-spread that it has become the new norm.
Once upon a time, developers ran the gaming industry. They created the games, marketed the games, and played the games. Gaming was an art form, and developers took pride in their work. Today, business executives run the gaming industry. They crack the whip over the developers, they spend millions on advertising (TV, movies, fast-food, etc.), and they have no interest in gaming itself. To them, Gaming is a system of charts and graphs, another exercise in maximizing profit. Sure, there are a few exceptions to the rule (e.g. CDP Red, Larian Studios), but they are rare. For the most part, the same thing has happened to Gaming that happened to the movie industry, and it's run by the same people.
What can I do about it? I can vote with my wallet.
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+1 meow.
And the first game I ever bought was a cassette in a plastic ziplock bag, produced by Llamasoft, the one person software company that Jeff Minter.
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Your post was contained a lot of insight about the gaming industry ;-; Thank you.
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You are right, and thank you for the valuable input on the subject, I'm sure a lot of people found your post interesting, myself included. :)
I'm really curious what's going to happen to the industry in a few years, and how today's sketchy business models, the sketchiest that ever existed, will change or maybe cease to exist (not likely, but I can dream), ooor maybe the continuous taking advantage of the majority of consumers will have a great negative impact on the industry and trigger another industry crash.
There are mostly negative possible outcomes, and that's because many people are not aware of the problems we are facing, but there are dim lights of hope as well, as you have mentioned, and maybe they'll have a say in the matter. :)
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Bump and meow. I have never pre-ordered a game, but I can imagine a scenario where I possibly might. It just hasn't happened yet.
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If you aren't given game-themed cake as a bonus, better wait for release and get it (almost) risk-free. π
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I have pre-ordered many games that gave bonuses that were supposed to be "exclusive" because I didn't want to miss out on any content. But more often than not the bonuses were later released as paid dlc. I have become more cautious in pre-ordering games these days.
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That's a really sketchy move from a business point of view. Someone mentioned it before, and I really wonder why that's happening.
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Since most people here seem to not preorder, I'll offer my 2 cents because I occasionally preorder games. I preorder games that I know I'm going to buy as soon as it's out as long as I can find some kind of discount on the game or if it's a game from a developer I really like and trust. Some recent examples of games that met one or both of these criteria where: Cuphead, Hellblade, and Pyre.
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I hear those games turned out to be great, so it's good for you. I also agree with pre-ordering perks as long as they're stuff that don't seem like cut out content from the game, which is hard to judge usually (except in the case of physical things). Thanks for your input. :)
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the last game i pre-ordered (and the first in like forever i'm pretty sure) was aven colony. pre-order like ordered literally 2 hours before release on steam. i had just played the shit out of tropico 5 and i still had the need to build a city. so why not do it in space and start this evening? plus i got 10% off for pre-order and a sandbox map for 'free'.
...
the game wasn't bad but nothing special either. obviously it could'nt hold a candle to even the older tropico games.
they had quite some updates rolling in and we got some extra free stuff by now but basically i was finished with the game withing a few days / 40 hours. i'm used to getting a whole lot more playtime for 27β¬. at least during sales. and the free sandbox map is shit imho.
do i regret it? no. i guess.
would i do it again? no. definitely not.
i've quite a backlog to fight (like all of us) so there's just no point in grabbing games when they are fresh and most expensive.
by the time you actually get to play them you can already buy the complete goty for 50% - 75% off during sale.
like i just did on monday with the witcher 3 goty for 20β¬.
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Right, you'll probably play them late anyway, so the most reasonable thing is to just buy them when you want to play them. π
Getting a discount for pre-ordering is nice, though waiting for release and reviews is a more sure way to know if you're enjoy the game.
I hear Tropico 6 is in work and to be released in 2018, maybe that will meet your expectations. :)
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Personally, I only pre-order from devs and publishers I trust to make good games and who tend to not be scum. Obsidian, InXile, Larian and Firaxis are the only ones I've ever pre-ordered from. Oh, and Paradox. I think pre-order culture is getting way out of control, especially WB, EA, and SE. I won't ever pre-order one of their games. Hell, I don't think I've bought any of them that weren't on sale. Just not good enough to justify supporting the scummy company with a full price purchase.
I would really like a chance to play Guild of Dungeoneering, but it seems I removed it from my wishlist during my summer purge, so I understand if that disqualifies me from consideration. Thanks for the giveaways!
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No, it's fine, you're in. Good luck! :)
The developers and publishers you support seem to be focusing on more niche games. In my opinion, those are people who would generally make games more out of passion for immersing people in another world and creating amazing experiences overall, instead of aiming to get the best money out of the current market, so I understand your support for them. There were many more companies like that, but sadly they died out throughout the years...
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As a rule, no, but there have been exceptions. I pre-ordered Unreal Tournament and Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty.
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When there are games you just can't resist, it's understandable, we all have a few. π
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i preordered some games years ago when i had more money for myself.
dragon age origins, deus ex human revolution, dead island, and borderlands 2 + season pass. not disappointed at all and worth the full retail price.
on the other hand i also got space marine and another game i don't remember, they were disappointing. -.-
preorders aren't always bad, and they are less of a gamble compared to early access or kickstarter.
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I agree with early access and Kickstarter as well, they have gotten a bad reputation for a while because of so many scammers, so yeah, people are naturally being more cautious right now, which is a great thing for them. It's sad because both concepts could work out well, in theory at least...
And as far as I'm concerned, again, pre-orders are only bad in the way that they could potentially incentivize publishers to take advantage of the blind trust they have from consumers. Otherwise, I get your point. :)
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I pre-ordered Shadow the Hedgehog and ToZ: Twilight Princess, both for the Gamecube.
But in the time of digital distribution, there's not a single legit reason to pre-order games. Hell, it's even less of a reason noawadays that publishers push for insufficient deadlines because bugs can be patched later.
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Agreed, we should always be careful nowadays.
Were you satisfied by your purchases back then? :)
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It's a fair point of view and I think it's a great thing you support crowdfunded projects from time to time, although that's risky business as well, in some cases it's really worth it. :)
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Congrats on the milestone, Quex!
I very rarely preorder. Has to be a must-have from a franchise I love. Last time it happended was with Diablo 3 and it was worth it.
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I understand, do you remember getting anything exclusive for preordering?
And by the way, thank you!
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I remember with the addon Reaper of Souls they gave you some nice looking wings for your character. That was a purely aesthetical bonus though, no gameplay advantage.
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The only time I've preordered a AAA release was Mass Effect: Andromeda, fully aware it's a stupid move. But after such an enjoyable trilogy I was willing to take that risk. I really enjoyed the game even in the rough state it was released so not many regrets about it thankfully.
I'm also seeing lots of people completely ignoring another form of "pre ordering" in their comments which is crowdfunding. Pledging in a Kickstarter a high enough amount to get you a product key upon release is another form of preordering which I've practiced more often, usually with pleasant results. Plus it doesn't have the major publisher mindset of locking content, the backer rewards are just novelty items 95% of the time.
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I'm all for favoring crowdfunding over pre-purchasing from the triple A industry publishers most of the time. Although that comes with high risks too, there are lots of developers who seek crowdfunding looking to create good games.
I also agree with those type of rewards, as I've told other people here as well, pre-purchasing rewards are the best if they don't seem like potential cut content from the game.
Thanks for sharing your view. :)
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I have pre-ordered Fable Anniversary, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Witcher 3, XCom 2, Mass Effect Andromeda, Yooka-Laylee, and Jackbox Party Pack 4. I do not regret any of the pre-orders that I have gone for, however, I tend to wait until after release or after a deep discount unless I truly enjoy a franchise.
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That's a good consumer strategy, in most of cases it is best to wait and see if the product you're getting is worth your money. π
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I've kickstarted a few games (like All Walls Must Fall) and preordered one (Nite Team 4). For both of which I had/have access to the alpha and beta stages and extra goodies, but other than that I avoid paying full price.
I'd be interested in the temp WL for Guild of Dungeoneering. Been trying to win it since the bundle .^^
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Sure thing, added. Good luck and thanks for giving your two cents on the topic. :)
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The only thing I have "preordered" was Rayman Legends from russian trader for 7 TF2 keys while it was still a thing. It came with a copy of Rayman Origins so it was really good deal. I am not really interested in most AAA titles. To be honest even if I did, I wouldn't have the money to buy them right away. If something changes financially in the future, I will just buy awesome indie game at release instead of waiting for huge discounts. Ori and the Blind Forest, Hollow Knight, Shovel Knight, Cuphead, The End is Nigh, Axiom Verge... Those represent "AAA" games for me. :)
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Thanks for giving your input!
Those are some awesome games nonetheless, better than a great lot of triple A titles, in my opinion, because they are carefully crafted. :)
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I used to pre-order games, but that was way back when they had physical boxes with lots of goodies with it. For example, I got the Pool of Radiance 2: Ruins of Myth Drannor CE and it had a lot of goodies! In addition to the game (which I enjoyed, even though it didn't fare too well with most people), it came with a novel, a D&D module of the same name, a dice bag, a set of dice (which weren't as nice as they were originally going to be), an artbook, a soundtrack CD, and a tiny pewter figurine.
I've also gotten the Bioshock CE (with the Big Daddy figurine, and I was lucky enough to get one that had the drill arm not be broken off upon arrival!). In addition to the figurine, it came with a music CD.
Since most CE's don't really have goodies like that anymore, I tend to just wait for the game to go on sale.
Also, those CE's cost well over $100 now (at least $120!!), and that just isn't worth it to me.
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That's so nice. :) I wish I had the money to afford buying CE's for games I love and support some developers that way. But you're right, it's getting more expensive, and it looks like the quality of the physical goods is starting to fall. At least I'm not seeing so many similar things anymore as I kept seeing in the past years, nowadays there's more of a focus on digital goods that could potentially be released anyway to everyone later, which kinda sucks for whoever invests early.
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I've never pre-ordered games. Not even LiS:BtS, although I was very, very tempted to do so for this particular game. I don't pre-order because honestly I'm frugal and can usually wait for things I want, so I wait for discounts or bundles to buy games. Plus, I already have a lot of games I need to play first, so I think I can wait on buying new ones. Although even if I don't pre-order stuff at all, I can understand why some people do. Some people want to be able to play a game as soon as they can. Some people want the pre-order bonuses. It's just a matter of preference, really.
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While I don't agree with the shady businesses behind pre-ordering perks, I can also see why people pre-purchase games, or purchase them at launch. While I'm also struggling with a big backlog and very rarely buy things on launch, I know that we absolutely must have people who do that, otherwise the industry wouldn't function.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. π
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No, pre-ordering is a trap. A very tempting trap sometimes but still a huge trap.
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It kinda is. As stated before, I only agree with it as long as the perks of pre-ordering are something that do not resemble cut content. If perks exist, of course, otherwise buying at launch seems much better in case of games you really want to get. :)
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So far the only game I preordered is Call of Duty WW2 and for 2 main reasons:
the preorder bonuses
Im confident enough in my purchase, after having played the beta that even if it doesnt end up being stellar that I will get my moneys worth out of it. , especially because I would have picked that game up either way so I thought why not just buy the whole package in once
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Since you knew you were going to get it anyway and even got to play the beta, it makes sense. π
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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I never pre-ordered.
I don't even buy game that is freshly made. I did it 3 times and I regret buying them so early. Well - witcher 3 was worth all the money but they made It much better in one month (they patched some stuff, added stash and so on).
I'm afraid that I will spend a lot of money on something half made, with a lot of game breaking bugs and/or terrible gameplay/plot.
Aaand congrats for your milestone :)
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Thank you!
The first people buying a game will most likely be the ones who get the worst experience that game has to offer, because most games get patches and extra content later, but those people are nonetheless essential to the normal functioning of the gaming industry right now.
Anyway, what you've said is very valid and a good reason to wait and purchase later, I do that too most of the time. Hopefully not everyone will. π
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Good day, Steamgifts!
I want to chat with you over a cup of tea, coffee or another beverage of your choice, about a topic which I don't see directly addressed here. π
Do you pre-order video games?
If you do, why do you choose to do this? Do you see any advantages in it? Is it to support some particular developer or publisher?
Talk about your experiences. And regardless of doing it or not, what's your opinion on the popular culture of pre-ordering?
I'm curious what you have to say.
I, for one, never do it because I don't see any advantage to pre-purchasing games, especially when it comes to purchasing on Steam or other digital platforms, where the acquisition of games isn't limited by number of copies available.
I'm also a bit skeptic of games until they came out and mostly like to wait for reviews of the game before purchasing.
Relevant picture below...
Update on the talk:
Many of you have answered my question and given your varied opinions on the topic. Thanks for joining.
My main curiosity was how much of our community supports the practice, but I found out much more.
Besides talking about pre-purchasing specifically, I have heard a lot of views on purchasing games in general and the particularities of certain games you guys enjoy supporting through pre-purchasing (in many of its forms, like crowdfunding or the usual pre-order through Steam).
The following thing is an opinion. Honestly in this debate no one can actually be wrong, just not as right. π
Many of you have pointed out an idea with which I agree:
Yes, it is much better from an individual buyer's standpoint to wait until a game reaches a big discount in order to purchase that game, even more so if that person already has a backlog filled with games waiting to be played in the meantime. You can't force someone not to do this, and if you want to save money it's the best choice.
But, I'm pretty sure the industry needs people to purchase games immediately after launch, otherwise it wouldn't function as it does.
With that in mind, I suggest to all of you (and I should do this myself from time to time) to invest a little more in games you pretty much know you will like, buying them early. That sort of thing keeps developers moving forward. π
About pre-ordering them, I'm not so sure I'd suggest it even in that case. It's, again, beneficial from a personal point of view, but as some of you have said as well, I believe it affects the gaming industry at large in a negative way, showing publishers that pre-ordering is endorsed by us.
It's not an intrinsically bad thing, but it leaves a lot of space for abuse, and a bit of consumer skepticism is always good.
That's it, thanks.
Also, I've reached 1000 sent games, so cheers to that! β
Here are some more giveaways, since you guys seem to be loving these things.
I haven't prepared ahead, so there's no big special giveaway this time, just bundled things I had stacked over time, most of them from Humble.
I've made a table for your convenience.
Hope you enjoy the giveaways and that the level requirements are fair.
You can bump the thread even if you don't want to talk about it, but it's not necessary to do it just because you entered a giveaway. Feel free not to bump, keep the giveaways a secret in case you want more winning chances. π
*Let me know if you want to temporarily (or not, who knows) join my whitelist, in case you are really interested in playing Guild of Dungeoneering and want a shot at it. Just leave a comment if it's the case. Some other guys from my whitelist also had the game wishlisted, and it just happened to be lying around here.
Damn, I should've made a poll.
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