Boycott pre-orders, pre-purchases and half-finished games

[CHIEF MOSHOESHOE]

Saw this (http://bgr.com/2015/01/12/stop-preordering-video-games/) on reddit today, and I hope this will have impact on the future so heres my voice shouting it.

We need to STOP pre-ordering games. Before 2010, pre-ordering was used to get your copy before they sold out. Now, it's for companies to rip you off by quickly rushing out an unfinished product. There are numerous examples, for example: Assassin's Creed Unity, The Crew, Destiny, Watch_Dogs, Aliens: Colonial Marines, etc. If we let major production companies like Activison and Ubisoft constantly push unfinished content at $60 release prices, they will only further continue doing so.

Early-Access is on a similiar, but not the same boat. For the record, I actually enjoy many early-access and Greenlight games, Greenlight is an amazing concept. Yet, some small indie companies are not so noble and hold the truth of wanting to make a game soley to entertain rather than profit. They begin to think they are major production companies and then sell Early-Access and DLC at unreasonable prices.

The point is, Early Access and DLC, two large complaints by the community which no one tries to do a thing about, are both gimicks for companies to save a little more time and work and gain a little more money. They are the result of Pre-order/Pre-Purchases. We would still have a majority of invitation only beta (Seriously, why do people even play or buy Alpha?) and less games being butchered and sold off as DLC.

Stop pre-purchasing games. Stop pre-ordering. We are the customer, we do not owe developers anything by giving them money for early-access or pre-ordering if they will just cut corners and pieces off.

It is cliche but, actions speak louder than words. Boycott.

[Doomerang]

So, no to supporting great games like crypt of the necrodancer and the long dark because some random publisher rubbed you off the wrong way with their business practices so you blame the entire industry on those undeserving.

Your reddit group will fail and will only shoot off hot air because the majority like us enjoy supporting good games. Do yourself a favor and stop wasting time with it.

[CJHRRIHRH]

Preordering isn't all bad. Sure, you won't run out of digital copies like in the old days. But you can pre-load when you preorder which reduces strain on servers on day one. Also someone has to buy games at launch. We can't all wait until it's reduced or games wouldn't make enough money to survive. Day one sales are crucial to a game's success. They only get a decent profit in those first few weeks, then sales only really go up when there's a sale, which means less profit anyway.

There are some devs you can trust to deliver. Most people won't preorder the next assassin's creed on PC but they might preorder half-life 3 if it was announced. It's also good to buy something you really want to while you still have the money rather than waiting for weeks when you might spend the money on something else.

I think people buy/play alpha games because they are impatient. As much as people say they want games delayed until they're done most people would take the option of early access even on AAA games. Also while EA isn't great it allows for players to give devs feedback while the game is in production so you're more likely to get a game you like at the end of it.

I don't like content being gated off for preorders cos it feels like you're punishing people who want to actually make an informed purchase. If you give people a small discount, like, say the witcher 3, then that's fine by me.

[supertrooper225]

I dont' think people should ignore the option to preorder. It is only an option. I never really preorder. I can't remember the last time I did. But if there is a game I want I will preorder it. In terms of early access stuff....that is self explanatory. They say not to buy the game unless you are willing to deal with an unfinished game. Wait until the game is complete if you want better quality. I did get Grim Dawn, mostly because I know that the people making it will do a great job. But preordering is just like early access.... you have no idea what the game will be like until you play the finished product. People loved the first DMC but the second one was crap in comparison. It happens. Just use your head and only preorder if you are positive that you want the game or if you want to support the dev. There is no reason to boycott anything.

[Uncouth Ruffian]

im going to preorder xenoblade x and get the art book

[Zauberblümele]

preordering is not different in compare to buy the final copy.
you get some benefits if you preorder, most of them get released afterwards as dlc packs.
so if you take the preorder offer you save money if you really like the game.
But there is a big problem, the release of demos is quite gone.
If i should preorder a game i want to know at least 1 level or a 30 min part to test the controls, graphic engine performance and quality, the gameplay itself.
before 2010 demos were quite usual.
So i support the idea of not pre-purchasing big software companies products, but i want to say, projects like space engineers or other indi projects, deserve a option to release it also in alpha stage, the developers really hear to the community and implent aswell content and performance updates very often.
But not all independent projects have this quality.
The best thing to do is watch lets plays (the few rare without a guy speaking too his game, so you can hear the true gamesound ambience), read some user reviews, and decide from game to game.
But supporting big companies who offer prepurchases because the game is so great, without even a demo version for testing, is against my idea how i chose products to buy generally in life.
If i buy a car i take a test drive, or if you buy fresh fruits and vegetables on the market, you try them first, so if the game is so great, why you cant proof it with a demo version even more?
Because the new games are copies of their owns, game mechanics are quite equal, cutscenes are different.
You can say Oblivion - Skyrim incl. Fallout 3 & NV is quite the same game, other dialogues and some different acting , but overall - the same game you play with another video sequence.
GTA 3 till yet is everytime the same game.
...
But people buy it everytime again, like this new iphones, i will never understand that lol.
cheers