Why does Pre-ordering Exist??

[Grimsdottir]

I hate to say it but.. this practice of pre ordering games made sense 17+ years ago. You wanted to reserve a physical copy so you could get one on launch day, fine and dandy.

Now everyone has a internet connection that ranges from tolerable to decent depending on where you live.

Scarcity is no long a factor in games.. We download all our games now. So why do companies often sell us still on the idea of pre ordering a game with "EARLY UNLOCKS AND XP BOOSTS". I can't see a benefit or reason as to pre orders should exist anymore for the gaming landscape and think they should just be done away with. That and micro transactions.

[Brian9824]

Because people buy it.

[nullable]

There's still physical copies of games...

"everyone" may not include everyone.

What day should the entire industry and all retail shops agree to end the practice of pre-ordering? Oh and all customers too. Unless you can define that, and support the claim, I think that answers your question. It exists because it hasn't been played out yet, and it's not so redundant that it doesn't benefit business and isn't demanded by consumers.

You not being in the target demographic for pre-ordering is fine, but it's not what the universe revolves around.

[Yasahi]

Originally posted by brian9824:

Because people buy it.

This. It allows people to start playing right away assuming the game can be downloaded before launch. In some games that can be seen as a competitive advantage.

For the publisher, it's a way to gauge the coming sales, get some of it upfront and use it for marketing. The trinkets they hand out also lure in completionists and collectors, who might not buy it at start otherwise, which means the average sale price will be higher.

It's a working marketing strategy so why would they stop using it?

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

I can't see a benefit or reason as to pre orders should exist anymore for the gaming landscape and think they should just be done away with. That and micro transactions.

Excellent. You have more sense than a lot of people. Unfortunately, pre-orders and micro transactions, as abhorrent as they are, are driving much of the industry's business right now. Most gamers don't care. A lot of them grew up with those being the "norm" instead of the exception. Until those two business practices stop being profitable, they aren't going to go away unless someone can convince the world's governments to make them illegal.

[Aachen]

You list a few gimmicks that companies use to entice preorders yet still wonder why they exist?

Get rid of microtransactions (and people clearly value those, too) and the shareholders are going to want that lost value somehow.

How fully ought we ban psychology from game studios?

[Grimsdottir]

Originally posted by Aachen:

You list a few gimmicks that companies use to entice preorders yet still wonder why they exist?

Get rid of microtransactions (and people clearly value those, too) and the shareholders are going to want that lost value somehow.

:chghost: How fully ought we ban psychology from game studios?

Well just because I listed reasons, doesn't mean they're reason enough to warrant their continued practice.

This is one of the few industries where companies ask you to blindly buy into a product they've promised you but you have yet to see. Their last one was banger, so this one has to be a banger as well! Or will it?

A CGI trailer! Woo! or "Unscripted Gameplay" buzz words here.

And as we've seen, even reputable companies drop the ball or just continue to stop giving a damn. From downgrades, to terrible ports, to broken upon launch, or even straight up shells of a game.

I can't in good faith, say that pre orders should be continued given how shady these companies can be. They're not your friend and blind loyalty to them will not benefit anyone but them.

But those are just my cents on it.
Maybe I'm wrong on some of my points. Thats why I posted here. Maybe see what I am missing.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

Originally posted by Aachen:

You list a few gimmicks that companies use to entice preorders yet still wonder why they exist?

Get rid of microtransactions (and people clearly value those, too) and the shareholders are going to want that lost value somehow.

:chghost: How fully ought we ban psychology from game studios?

Well just because I listed reasons, doesn't mean they're reason enough to warrant their continued practice.

This is one of the few industries where companies ask you to blindly buy into a product they've promised you but you have yet to see. Their last one was banger, so this one has to be a banger as well! Or will it?

A CGI trailer! Woo! or "Unscripted Gameplay" buzz words here.

And as we've seen, even reputable companies drop the ball or just continue to stop giving a damn. From downgrades, to terrible ports, to broken upon launch, or even straight up shells of a game.

I can't in good faith, say that pre orders should be continued given how shady these companies can be. They're not your friend and blind loyalty to them will not benefit anyone but them.

But those are just my cents on it.
Maybe I'm wrong on some of my points. Thats why I posted here. Maybe see what I am missing.

Why do you care? I mean if you don't want to pre-order then... don't.

Why would companies stop something that has been working well for them? I mean its not like anyone HAS to pre-order.

[Aachen]

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

.... And as we've seen, even reputable companies drop the ball or just continue to stop giving a damn. From downgrades, to terrible ports, to broken upon launch, or even straight up shells of a game ....

I think the crux of your issue is contained in reputability — you don’t trust any company enough to accept their product with little information. That’s fine.

I do think “straight-up shell of a game” is a bit hyperbolic; are there games you had in mind?

.... I can't in good faith, say that pre orders should be continued given how shady these companies can be. They're not your friend and blind loyalty to them will not benefit anyone but them ....

Blind trust is unwise but also likely rather rare. We’re all sort-of rational, after all.

If you want to reduce rubbish releases, will eliminating preorders actually accomplish much?

[Grimsdottir]

Originally posted by brian9824:

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

Well just because I listed reasons, doesn't mean they're reason enough to warrant their continued practice.

This is one of the few industries where companies ask you to blindly buy into a product they've promised you but you have yet to see. Their last one was banger, so this one has to be a banger as well! Or will it?

A CGI trailer! Woo! or "Unscripted Gameplay" buzz words here.

And as we've seen, even reputable companies drop the ball or just continue to stop giving a damn. From downgrades, to terrible ports, to broken upon launch, or even straight up shells of a game.

I can't in good faith, say that pre orders should be continued given how shady these companies can be. They're not your friend and blind loyalty to them will not benefit anyone but them.

But those are just my cents on it.
Maybe I'm wrong on some of my points. Thats why I posted here. Maybe see what I am missing.

Why do you care? I mean if you don't want to pre-order then... don't.

Why would companies stop something that has been working well for them? I mean its not like anyone HAS to pre-order.

You seem annoyed that I'm complaining about this. Maybe I'm reading your comment wrong.

Oh I don't pre-order. I haven't in a long time. I did when I was a early teen and didn't know any better. Their 'bonuses' honestly arn't worth it. They're about as useful as NFTs.

Just because it works for the company doesn't mean its healthy for the customer, just saying.

[Grimsdottir]

Originally posted by Aachen:

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

.... And as we've seen, even reputable companies drop the ball or just continue to stop giving a damn. From downgrades, to terrible ports, to broken upon launch, or even straight up shells of a game ....

I think the crux of your issue is contained in reputability — you don’t trust any company enough to accept their product with little information. That’s fine.

I do think “straight-up shell of a game” is a bit hyperbolic; are there games you had in mind?

.... I can't in good faith, say that pre orders should be continued given how shady these companies can be. They're not your friend and blind loyalty to them will not benefit anyone but them ....

:sheepchomp: Blind trust is unwise but also likely rather rare. We’re all sort-of rational, after all.

If you want to reduce rubbish releases, will eliminating preorders actually accomplish much?

Anthem, Madden series, Cyberpunk, the Burnout Franchise are the first ones that come to my mind. I'm certain I'll think of more.

I think a good portion of rubbish releases would definitely cut down. They'd actually have to deliver a sellable product and wouldn't be able to rely on blind pre-orders.

Looking back on my post. I'd say my argument should have included poor releases as well. Again they did serve a purpose but now.. they arn't needed and have just.. I think become this strange "free pass" when it comes to releasing crap.

You could give me your card, ask me to get you a $40 Batman figure, and I could order it off of Wish, Amazon, Walmart, Hell I might run down to the dollar store and get you Corn Man instead and say "Sorry, I misheard you, but you should like this either way." Its a very weird practice that is more easily accepted in our industry than any other and thats kinda scary given what companies have ♥♥♥♥ out to us.

[MaxxGold]

Originally posted by brian9824:

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

Well just because I listed reasons, doesn't mean they're reason enough to warrant their continued practice.

This is one of the few industries where companies ask you to blindly buy into a product they've promised you but you have yet to see. Their last one was banger, so this one has to be a banger as well! Or will it?

A CGI trailer! Woo! or "Unscripted Gameplay" buzz words here.

And as we've seen, even reputable companies drop the ball or just continue to stop giving a damn. From downgrades, to terrible ports, to broken upon launch, or even straight up shells of a game.

I can't in good faith, say that pre orders should be continued given how shady these companies can be. They're not your friend and blind loyalty to them will not benefit anyone but them.

But those are just my cents on it.
Maybe I'm wrong on some of my points. Thats why I posted here. Maybe see what I am missing.

Why do you care? I mean if you don't want to pre-order then... don't.

Why would companies stop something that has been working well for them? I mean its not like anyone HAS to pre-order.

This…I could care less if the less intelligent people want to get scammed and pay for pixels, beyond what is included in the game. I’m all for developers ripping off people.

The good news is that most of us don’t fall for these tactics, and we don’t buy games that are blatantly trying to abuse us.

[JVC]

If a customer exists someone will supply the product. It's economics 101.

OP doesn't have that preference. Fine. Others disagree that's why the option exists on the market.

One reason is that some people want to support products that would otherwise not be made. Pretty simple really.

[nullable]

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

You seem annoyed that I'm complaining about this. Maybe I'm reading your comment wrong.

You seem annoyed that there's not automatic agreement with your complaints. Maybe I'm reading your comment wrong.

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

Originally posted by Aachen:

I think the crux of your issue is contained in reputability — you don’t trust any company enough to accept their product with little information. That’s fine.

I do think “straight-up shell of a game” is a bit hyperbolic; are there games you had in mind?



:sheepchomp: Blind trust is unwise but also likely rather rare. We’re all sort-of rational, after all.

If you want to reduce rubbish releases, will eliminating preorders actually accomplish much?

Anthem, Madden series, Cyberpunk, the Burnout Franchise are the first ones that come to my mind. I'm certain I'll think of more.

I think a good portion of rubbish releases would definitely cut down. They'd actually have to deliver a sellable product and wouldn't be able to rely on blind pre-orders.

So the mountain of bad games released throughout history that didn't have hyped pre-orders... they don't count? Are you aware of the concept that correlation doesn't necessarily mean causation?

There's always going to be bad games. Some of those games are going to be hyped and highly anticipated from developers who've done great work before. Imagining it's the result of pre-orders is a bit naive.

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

Looking back on my post. I'd say my argument should have included poor releases as well. Again they did serve a purpose but now.. they arn't needed and have just.. I think become this strange "free pass" when it comes to releasing crap.

You could give me your card, ask me to get you a $40 Batman figure, and I could order it off of Wish, Amazon, Walmart, Hell I might run down to the dollar store and get you Corn Man instead and say "Sorry, I misheard you, but you should like this either way." Its a very weird practice that is more easily accepted in our industry than any other and thats kinda scary given what companies have ♥♥♥♥ out to us.

Pre-orders are not a video game exclusive practice. You're just most familiar with them there.

No one is being forced to do a pre-order. And the risks of pre-orders are not a secret.

You can't fix or control game development through eliminating pre-orders. It's fantasy to believe that they're a significant culprit for troubled projects.

[Grimsdottir]

Originally posted by Snakub Plissken:

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

You seem annoyed that I'm complaining about this. Maybe I'm reading your comment wrong.

You seem annoyed that there's not automatic agreement with your complaints. Maybe I'm reading your comment wrong.

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

Anthem, Madden series, Cyberpunk, the Burnout Franchise are the first ones that come to my mind. I'm certain I'll think of more.

I think a good portion of rubbish releases would definitely cut down. They'd actually have to deliver a sellable product and wouldn't be able to rely on blind pre-orders.

So the mountain of bad games released throughout history that didn't have hyped pre-orders... they don't count? Are you aware of the concept that correlation doesn't necessarily mean causation?

There's always going to be bad games. Some of those games are going to be hyped and highly anticipated from developers who've done great work before. Imagining it's the result of pre-orders is a bit naive.

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

Looking back on my post. I'd say my argument should have included poor releases as well. Again they did serve a purpose but now.. they arn't needed and have just.. I think become this strange "free pass" when it comes to releasing crap.

You could give me your card, ask me to get you a $40 Batman figure, and I could order it off of Wish, Amazon, Walmart, Hell I might run down to the dollar store and get you Corn Man instead and say "Sorry, I misheard you, but you should like this either way." Its a very weird practice that is more easily accepted in our industry than any other and thats kinda scary given what companies have ♥♥♥♥ out to us.

Pre-orders are not a video game exclusive practice. You're just most familiar with them there.

No one is being forced to do a pre-order. And the risks of pre-orders are not a secret.

You can't fix or control game development through eliminating pre-orders. It's fantasy to believe that they're a significant culprit for troubled projects.

Snake! Its been a while.

You do raise plenty of good points. Thought I can't think on the top of my head where.. pre orders lie in other industries. I am certain there are some I'm missing.


Would it Really hurt anyone if Pre-orders were done away with entirely. Across the board. For argument's sake. Does that change anything? Does it hurt the industry?

[BJWyler]

No. If pre-orders were eliminated, it wouldn't negatively affect the industry or community in the long run. But it also wouldn't mean that releases would get any better in quality. Pre-ordering really doesn't have a bearing on that. By the time pre-orders open for a game, it's 95% in a release ready state.

As you mentioned, the original concept of pre-ordering was to guarantee yourself a copy of the product you bought. In the days of digital ownership, it's not really necessary. Nowadays, it's a way for the company to generate hype for their product and get some money up front to boost initial sales figures. And this is why you'll see a lot of companies offering exclusive goodies for pre-ordering.

I've pre-ordered a handful of times, mostly for those digital goodies, or to get into Betas or a Headstart for the game. It's usually for games that I know I'm going to play and want to get into at the earliest possible moment.