Benefits of Pre-Ordering?

[SCouSeCHriS]

Hi, There have been several games promoted this week as pre-orders (Farcry4 and AC Unity most notably) I was wondering what the benefit of this would be on a digital delivery platform such as steam?

I understand the need to go to market for the developer and publisher and there may be some sort of DLC bonus for the end user, but what tangible benefit is an incentive for Steam customers to part with their money prior to release?

Thanks
Chris.

[eram]

If you didnt already see this check it out but please be warned of the swear words.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/9539-The-Poison-of-Pre-Order-Culture

If you are offended by a few swear words please do not watch. I feel he makes a good point and is worth posting.

My view is the pre ordering thing is all about the pre order rewards, if they offer enough stuff (that should already be in the game) then people will pre order it in fear of losing out on the extras.

[SCouSeCHriS]

A fair point well made. I can sort of agree with people paying a fiver, to secure a physical copy, but Full price for an item that will not be available for another 3 months seems crazy.

Especially when you consider that the volume of pre-orders multipled by the retail price multiplied by three months is a considerable amount of interest in a bank account.

Would Steam consider a lower priced pre-order incentive such as £5 - $5 pre order cost which is then discounted from the cost of the game on release. This way the marketing information is available for the developer/publisher. The end user gets their DLC and the community doesn't suffer as much as it is going to do, considering the backlash this practice is gaining online.

We are a loyal fanbase and customer group, but this type of system is not for us.

[HLCinSC]

Pre ordering can give you additional benefits such as custom content (items/dlc) and many offer discounts for pre-ordering as well. Look at The Witcher 3 for example. If you pre purchase it you get a discount. And if you already own the withcher 1 and/or 2 then you get an even larger discount for pre-ordering.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by SCouSeCHriS:

A fair point well made. I can sort of agree with people paying a fiver, to secure a physical copy, but Full price for an item that will not be available for another 3 months seems crazy.

Especially when you consider that the volume of pre-orders multipled by the retail price multiplied by three months is a considerable amount of interest in a bank account.

Would Steam consider a lower priced pre-order incentive such as £5 - $5 pre order cost which is then discounted from the cost of the game on release. This way the marketing information is available for the developer/publisher. The end user gets their DLC and the community doesn't suffer as much as it is going to do, considering the backlash this practice is gaining online.

We are a loyal fanbase and customer group, but this type of Peasantry is not for us.

The problem there is, Steam is a digital store. They won't run out of copies, so they don't need a sample of the market like physical stores do (that is why they offer the $5 pre-order).

Truthfully, I always paid my pre-order in advance anyways, that way I don't have to worry about having the money around the time I went to get it.

Pre-ordering is also optional. No one is forcing you to do it. You can get it the day, or even minute, before it goes on sale, and still get it as a pre-order, with all the benefits. Some want to pay 3 months in advance, because they have the money now and want to pre-pay for the game. Why stop them, if that is what they want to do?

There is no "Peasantry" with something entirely voluntary. Only a calculation and desire of the one doing it.

As for the interest in the bank, what does it matter? They would have gotten the same interest if left in the bank anyways. That is between them and the bank. Besides, they have bills to pay too, and that is most likely where it is going. It isn't just going to sit there.

[SCouSeCHriS]

You are correct, it is entirely your choice and Peasantry was the wrong choice in word, in which case I amended. It was merely in the spirt and reference to the Jimquisition video posted earlier.

[Random Reference #98]

Originally posted by eram:

If you didnt already see this check it out but please be warned of the swear words.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/9539-The-Poison-of-Pre-Order-Culture

If you are offended by a few swear words please do not watch. I feel he makes a good point and is worth posting.

My view is the pre ordering thing is all about the pre order rewards, if they offer enough stuff (that should already be in the game) then people will pre order it in fear of losing out on the extras.

Thanks for sharing that, I started watching Jimquisition awhile back on Youtube but most of the vids were older so I assumed he wasn't still making them, glad he's still going as I have yet to find one of his videos that I didn't at least somewhat agree with.