Pre-order only content.

[SHIT-TANK]

I hate Gamestop.

As a citizen of these United States I choose not to shop at Gamestop because I've had some very unpleasant experiences there. I buy my games elsewhere like Walmart of Bestbuy or Game Crazy or some other retail store. Gamestop however is largely unchallenged in specialized video game only stores ever since they bought out EB and they've employed a really dirty marketing tactic that forces game enthusiasts to shop there. I'm referring to this whole phenomenon of "Pre-order only content" and it's really starting to piss me off.

Initially it was harmless enough, ya know something like "Pre-order Mirror's Edge get a free tote bag" or something but anymore if I don't pre-order a game from Gamestop I'm blatantly refused game content indefinably or have to wait until it becomes DLC and fork over another 10-15$ (or sometimes more) to access it.

I understand games need to sell and I also understand that developers as well as retailers owe me nothing but this just feels like a slap in the face. Point in case is the new "Assassin's Creed" game. I loved the 1st game and am really looking forward to the sequel so you can imagine how upset I was when I walked into Gamestop and handed over my 5$ for a pre-order just so I can play the advertised "Pre-order only content". That's really what I'm upset about the fact that I can't do anything about it, if I want full access to my game I have to buy it at Gamestop; they've got me by the nads.

A question I have regarding this whole situation is how is this all worked out a la developer and retailer? What I mean to say is this. So a game development company spends 3+ years making a game and then Gamestop says "Make this level pre-order only so our company can get more money of the pre-order sales." and the developer just nods their head yes? Or does the development company go into the project knowing that they will be making pre-order only content? Does the developer get a cut of the pre-order sales? What the hell is going on here? It does not make much sense to me, because if the benefit is for Gamestop's bottom line only it's seems pretty mean that developers are just refusing content to their fan base.

Again this is a little bit of a rant but I would like to know how all of this works.

[puddinN64]

Honestly, I feel like Gamestop getting all of this pre-order content is a part of their last dying breath. Brick and mortar shops like Gamestop are finding a lot of their revenue being sapped away by digital distribution and DLC. I figure that in about ten years, stores like Gamestop will basically be dead.

So, just hold on mate. You can outlive Gamestop.

[sirbobsalot2]

Thankfully, I've never had such an experience in the UK.

[The777Demon]

At 10/31/09 11:02 PM, puddinN64 wrote:

So, just hold on mate. You can outlive Gamestop.

I dislike them as well glad i can outlive gamestop!

[stiller]

I don't have this problem....I love that you noted assassins creed two too because I pre-ordered it.

If i see a trailer for a game I know I want to have (considering the details on whether it will be worth a shit or not.) I get the money together I need to buy it and go pay the damn-thing off on pre-order. That way whether it gets pre-order grade content or not, im set.

On the other hand if i can't get it together until release I say fuck it and either buy it or rent it. Or borrow the copy with the pre-ordered shit on it from a friend. So the solution to that scenario is: Don't care, I've yet to hear of the pre-order content that outdoes the game.

[KeithHybrid]

At 10/31/09 10:36 PM, SHIT-TANK wrote: I hate Gamestop.

Yes, of course you do. NEXT!

[Gustavos]

At 10/31/09 11:54 PM, KeithHybrid wrote:

At 10/31/09 10:36 PM, SHIT-TANK wrote: I hate Gamestop.

Yes, of course you do. NEXT!

Thank you.

[KeithHybrid]

At 11/1/09 12:56 AM, Gustavos wrote:

At 10/31/09 11:54 PM, KeithHybrid wrote:

At 10/31/09 10:36 PM, SHIT-TANK wrote: I hate Gamestop.

Yes, of course you do. NEXT!

Thank you.

Not a prob. :3

But seriously, though: we need to come up with something a little more original than Gamestop haet, especially since the Gamestop I go to is a great Gamestop.

[GodsBitch]

At 10/31/09 11:21 PM, sirbobsalot2 wrote: Thankfully, I've never had such an experience in the UK.

Well, I've seen both Game and GameStation offer different pre-order only content in the past. Now, I'm not one for pre-ordering myself. I tend to wait for a few weeks until the price has fallen, unless it's an absolutely amazing game that I've been waiting for what seems like a lifetime to be released.

It does annoy me in some ways, knowing that not pre-ordering a game means that I have to miss out on some kind of feature. It always makes me feeling that my game isn't quite complete, just because I don't have this piece of content. I've never been one for buying DLC either, so it's highly unlikely that I ever end up with additional content for my games. I much prefer to own a hard copy than a downloadable version, so sometimes DLC does get released on disk, in which case I might end up buying it.

[sirbobsalot2]

At 11/1/09 09:31 AM, GodsBitch wrote:

At 10/31/09 11:21 PM, sirbobsalot2 wrote: Thankfully, I've never had such an experience in the UK.

Well, I've seen both Game and GameStation offer different pre-order only content in the past. Now, I'm not one for pre-ordering myself. I tend to wait for a few weeks until the price has fallen, unless it's an absolutely amazing game that I've been waiting for what seems like a lifetime to be released.

It does annoy me in some ways, knowing that not pre-ordering a game means that I have to miss out on some kind of feature. It always makes me feeling that my game isn't quite complete, just because I don't have this piece of content. I've never been one for buying DLC either, so it's highly unlikely that I ever end up with additional content for my games. I much prefer to own a hard copy than a downloadable version, so sometimes DLC does get released on disk, in which case I might end up buying it.

To be honest, being a PC gamer and never touching the rip-off that is the "high-street" or any form of Real shop has saved me lots of money and hassle with that sort of thing.

Have you considered buying games through online retailers (e.g. www.play.com)? They tend to be much cheaper and so you'd be able to pre-order them for the same price as if you had waited a few weeks.

[TheMaster]

The worst one is when different shops have different pre-order content.

For example, when Arkham Asylum was coming out, HMV had a free poster and cardboard sleeve, while Game had free challenge maps. Or Operation Flashpoint. Game, Play and HMV all offered DIFFERENT bonus levels with their preorders.

Or the new dick move HMV are pulling. Know how the rest of the word got Scribblenauts hats with their preorders? In the UK, they were released through HMV's "HMVpure" rewards scheme, costing £100 worth of reward points to claim.

[GodsBitch]

At 11/1/09 10:11 AM, sirbobsalot2 wrote: Have you considered buying games through online retailers (e.g. www.play.com)? They tend to be much cheaper and so you'd be able to pre-order them for the same price as if you had waited a few weeks.

I've never been one for online shopping, and I only tend to do it if I have to. I enjoy looking around game stores. It't just not the same as looking at an online shop. I can spend ages inside my local GameStation or not so local Game store just wandering around the isles and inspecting the boxes of many games.

When I pay for a game I want to have it in my procession there and then. I get so hyped up about certain games before I go ahead and buy them, so ordering online only means that I have to wait even longer before I get a chance to play.

[Punkboyben]

That's happened to me at Gamestation before. It pissed me off so much.

[TheMaster]

At 11/1/09 10:28 AM, GodsBitch wrote: When I pay for a game I want to have it in my procession there and then. I get so hyped up about certain games before I go ahead and buy them, so ordering online only means that I have to wait even longer before I get a chance to play.

If you preorder online, you'll get it on release day, it'll be factory sealed, untouched by anyone else who's been browsing and it'll cost less.

Game shops are obsolete.

[Robotchk12]

Demos are just beta versions of an upcoming game.
They weren't made just so GameStop can get more money, the developers make them so people can see what the game will be like.
Have you ever heard of E3?

[Jackho]

At 11/1/09 02:39 PM, Robotchk12 wrote: Demos are just beta versions of an upcoming game.
They weren't made just so GameStop can get more money, the developers make them so people can see what the game will be like.
Have you ever heard of E3?

What the hell are you talking about?
This is completely unrellevant

[Robotchk12]

At 11/1/09 02:50 PM, Jackho wrote: What the hell are you talking about?
This is completely unrellevant

Oh, sorry, pre-order content.
Pre-order content is usually a demo to create more hype for an upcoming game (not saying hype is bad), although sometimes it's a special level or item. No, GameStop doesn't ask developers for pre-order content, they make deals, and so everyone gets money. Developers will only make pre-order content if they want to or are pressured by their publisher.

[GodsBitch]

At 11/1/09 01:22 PM, TheMaster wrote: If you preorder online, you'll get it on release day, it'll be factory sealed, untouched by anyone else who's been browsing and it'll cost less.

Okay, I'd get the game on release day. That isn't something I necessarily want, unless it's a game that I KNOW is going to be awesome. As for the games being factory sealed, most of the ones I buy from the store are. You take a copy of the case from the shelf, they go through the back / open a drawer under the counter / remove the protective casing and give you a factory sealed copy of the game.

You might be wondering why I don't particularly want a game on release day. Well, there have been times in the passed when I have been hyped up for a game, bought it on release day and found it to be utter crap. Waiting a bit allows me to hear the opinions of friends or people online, then I can make a decision that will be better for me.

Everyone will have their own preference. I just prefer browsing through shops compared to looking at websites.

[TheMaster]

At 11/1/09 03:40 PM, GodsBitch wrote: Waiting a bit allows me to hear the opinions of friends or people online, then I can make a decision that will be better for me.

So you can wait for reviews, but you can't wait for 2-4 days delivery?

Okay.

[GodsBitch]

At 11/1/09 03:54 PM, TheMaster wrote: So you can wait for reviews, but you can't wait for 2-4 days delivery?

Okay.

You completely fail to understand what I said. I don't care about getting a new game on release day. The reason that I don't buy games online is because you spend the money one day, and get the game another. If I go into a store, I hand over my money and get the game there and then. The date of release isn't important. I just want to get my game as I buy it, and like I also mentioned, I enjoy browsing around game stores.

[Hellian00]

Play N' Trade is so much cooler. It's a franchise, so each store is privately owned. The people who worked there were all family, and thy put that feeling towards their customers, too.

[Yamor]

When I pre-ordered Burst Limit they included a Blu Ray of The Dead Zone. I was so excited I actually watched the movie before I played the game.

[Jojo55]

So, do the game companies make two diffrent versions of the game for game stores to give to costumers that pre-order stuff or what? I don't really understand how only pre-ordered games are diffrent.

[Sizzlebuzz]

At 11/1/09 11:37 PM, Yamor wrote: When I pre-ordered Burst Limit they included a Blu Ray of The Dead Zone. I was so excited I actually watched the movie before I played the game.

Some pre-ordered content is decent. Most of it is a pointless game add-on. I will probably never pre-order a game.

[The-Great-One]

At 10/31/09 10:36 PM, SHIT-TANK wrote: I hate Gamestop.

Here we go. I thought this was going to be a thread flaming pre-order content. But nope, it's another butt-hurt "I hate Gamestop" bullshit nonsense.

Initially it was harmless enough, ya know something like "Pre-order Mirror's Edge get a free tote bag" or something but anymore if I don't pre-order a game from Gamestop I'm blatantly refused game content indefinably or have to wait until it becomes DLC and fork over another 10-15$ (or sometimes more) to access it.

Okay, hold the phone. You can get the Downloadable Content later at around 10-15 Dollars (sometimes more), but by pre-ordering at Gamestop you can get it earlier and without having to pay the extra money... not to mention you are guaranteed a copy...

Tell me what are you bitching at again? Oh yeah Gamestop, not pre-order content, but Gamestop. Yeah, you see what Gamestop is doing is actually a good thing. Giving you the pre-order content for around $5 instead of paying out the ass for it like the Game Developers make you pay for... as you clearly stated.

[Aigis]

You have to pay money to pre-order games in America?

Here the game stores tend to give you a discount if you pre-order.

Like $10 off or something, on top of whatever pre-order bonus you get.

[Final2Legion]

this is why i use gamefly

[KeithHybrid]

At 11/2/09 05:51 AM, The-Great-One wrote: Here we go. I thought this was going to be a thread flaming pre-order content. But nope, it's another butt-hurt "I hate Gamestop" bullshit nonsense.

etc. etc.

The-Great-One wins the thread!

Flawless Victory