Tell Us Dammit: Thoughts On Pre-Ordering?

I don’t pre-order video games. I think it’s a bit of a racket. Mostly I feel as though it’s just pointless. Games are very. very rarely in short demand. Mostly you’re providing early market research for publishers and retailers. That’s it.

But more and more I seem to be seeing people defending the whole pre-order thing. What are you thoughts?

It’s something I’ve noticed while writing stories up about the trouble both EB Games and JB Hi-Fi have been having fulfilling their online pre-orders.

My feeling is pretty simple: pre-ordering is fine. People have their reasons. They like the security, they like getting on-board the hype train for a specific game. They like to have things paid for in advance. That’s totally fine.

I think my issues are with weird stuff like pre-order bonuses. Ridiculous exclusives designed to make specific retailers feel like they’re getting a special unique deal. The idea that I can’t get everything in a video game because one store has some stupid pre-order DLC code. That stuff irritates me. Because it’s not consumer focused.

Death to pre-order pants. I guess that’s what I’m trying to say.

Also situations where people pre-order games and can’t get them on day one? That’s not cool.

What are your thoughts?


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