Why pre-purchase?

[Vexxx_]

I've been curious about this for a long time. I did pre-purchase Civ 5 way back when but it was a terrible experience. The game downloaded and then wouldn't play. It wasn't just me. It was almost universal. It took a month or so to get patched enough to work, but prior to that it was then put on sale so I got to pay more than others while I waited for it to be fixed. Other highly touted games have had many issues at launch as well, with much disappointment from people who have pre-purchased. This is not a secret. So, with so many games being offered for pre-purchase and the risk of initial problems I wonder, why do people take the risk? I decided after Civ 5 never to do it again and I've been rewarded many times for that decision because of seeing many games that I had interest in come out a mess of bugs and broken promises. So, if you would share, why do you pre-purchase?

[shiel]

Occasionally I'll pre-purchase knowing that I can refund within the 2weeks/2hrs played limit if the game ends out being a mess.

That being said, I'll only do it with games I have confidence in... I think the last one was DOOM Eternal.

[ModWorld]

Individuals with common sense would never pre-purchase. But, the problem with common sense, it not so common.

[Wolverine]

Well, considering the bugged up state most recent games were being released in, or how Devs promise on thing but then deliver something different, what would be the point of pre-purchasing any new game?

I rather wait for patches to roll in, the first or second sale and then get a better version of the game much cheaper. Not to mention that there'll probably be more mods available in case i'd like to have something changed in game.

I mean i can understand content creators pre-purchasing a game with Early Access, if they didn't get a free copy, but otherwise...

[J4MESOX4D]

There's really no reason to pre-purchase a game until the day before release if you want to secure pre-order bonuses. I don't understand why people buy a game months earlier and then sit out of pocket the whole time. It may be a fetish of seeing the game in their library or something. It's also ridiculously risky buying games these days - Konami have just borked a 10 year old package of games that are established for 20+ years with a torrid PC port and this is just one of many this year alone.

Companies like Steam, MS and Sony should disallow patches for the first 30 days to deter games releasing in a horrendous state.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

People that pre order.
- Hype, and couldn't wait for sale.
- Wanted to play instead of wait for sale.
- Wanted to play with friends instead of wait for sale.
- Wanted pre order bonuses.
- Wanted to support the game.

Reasons can vary, but if none of the above apply to you, then you could've just waited for reviews, and wait for sale.

[J4MESOX4D]

Originally posted by dazza0511:

Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:

There's really no reason to pre-purchase a game until the day before release if you want to secure pre-order bonuses. I don't understand why people buy a game months earlier and then sit out of pocket the whole time. It may be a fetish of seeing the game in their library or something. It's also ridiculously risky buying games these days - Konami have just borked a 10 year old package of games that are established for 20+ years with a torrid PC port and this is just one of many this year alone.

Companies like Steam, MS and Sony should disallow patches for the first 30 days to deter games releasing in a horrendous state.

The question was why DO you pre-purchase not why DON'T you pre-purchase.

Yep and I answered that in the first sentence thanks.

[sNk]

nice

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by dazza0511:

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

People that pre order.
- Hype, and couldn't wait for sale.
- Wanted to play instead of wait for sale.
- Wanted to play with friends instead of wait for sale.
- Wanted pre order bonuses.
- Wanted to support the game.

Reasons can vary, but if none of the above apply to you, then you could've just waited for reviews, and wait for sale.

Another person struggling to understand LOL I pre-purchased 20 games this year only I can answer this.

Imagine thinking you're the only person on this planet.

Whatever reason you pre order is your reason, if you complain about doing pre order, you did it to yourself really because like I said could've waited for reviews, and sale. If not complaining about your pre orders, then there shouldn't be a problem. OP complain about pre order, and mad because game didn't meet his/her expectations.

[ModWorld]

another mechanic of this psychological. As a pre-purchase, you may get some extra perks that tempt you into buying. Then turns out the product is a pile of excrement. However, you already invested money and are stuck with it. Forced to play since otherwise it would feel like a waist of money. In turn, you just waist more of your time instead of just cutting losses. Conclusion, wait until game is out. Watch some vidoes of gameplay and decide if itys really worth your money and time. Just caveat to the latter, be warned of biased reviewers that tick the boxes for certain stuff. MetaCritic, IGN and gamespot are a few examples. Take care.

[BJWyler]

I'll pre-purchase a game if it's one I know I will play and likely enjoy enough to get a lot of time out of it - if there are other things on offer that come with the pre-purchase like digital goodies.

Rarely, if ever, do I actually play the game on launch day, week, or month, however. There's no need to deal with the typical launch woes that come with a new release. For the most part, it's 6 months to a year before I get around to actually playing the game.

[Kargor]

Originally posted by Vexxx_:

why do you pre-purchase?

Well, I don't -- but people pre-purchase games because it gives them a number of advantages:

• bragging-rights, as they played the game starting on day 1
  
• bragging-rights, as they paid the most for the game, before sales began to de-value it
  
• bragging-rights, as there's usually some exclusive item that other people don't have

[Anxiety]

Originally posted by BJWyler:

Rarely, if ever, do I actually play the game on launch day, week, or month, however. There's no need to deal with the typical launch woes that come with a new release. For the most part, it's 6 months to a year before I get around to actually playing the game.

A year is a nice time gap for that. Usually the game either gets most of the initial patches, early bugs ironed out, maybe even some DLCs and definitive editions, it may even go on sale by that time... or it completely fails and gets abandoned, in which case you shouldn't have had to purchase it in the first place.

That is, if you have a desperate desire to get that New Game Smell, or just want to support the game no matter what, then more power to you, I suppose.

[Spawn of Totoro]

There is little difference between a pre-purchase and a day one purchase. The only benefit is the pre-order bonus. Those who pre-ordered are the ones most likely to buy on release if there is no pre-order, so may as well get a bonus for buying.

Both are under the same refund policy. The two weeks do not start for a pre-order until the game's release. So both can be refunded if there are issues on day one.

[Pscht]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

pre-order bonus

Realistically it's more of a "we rip it out of the game if you contemplate too long instead of giving in to your primal urges". FOMO.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

There is little difference between a pre-purchase and a day one purchase. The only benefit is the pre-order bonus. Those who pre-ordered are the ones most likely to buy on release if there is no pre-order, so may as well get a bonus for buying.

Both are under the same refund policy. The two weeks do not start for a pre-order until the game's release. So both can be refunded if there are issues on day one.

There is also the pre-load options which if your buying a big game and want to play it immediately on launch pre-ordering lets you do so