Home Gaming Pre-ordering games will (probably) make you sad

Pre-ordering games will (probably) make you sad

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46

Eeyore

I don’t like pre-orders. I hate the idea of giving people money for a product months in advance, in the hope that it’s good. There are exceptions of course; when the collectible Macguffins that accompany pre-orders are rare, and enticing enough, then sure – throw your money at something that may or may not be rubbish.

Pre-orders, and pre-order culture, are rubbish. It’s even worse when it comes to season passes, which sell you on the premise of extra content that may also be good, or rubbish. I know that if I’d paid good money for the Arkham Knight Season Pass, I’d be one sad chum. Because it’s complete garbage and every bit of DLC for that game has been sub-par, paltry experience. It seems that’s a bit of recurring theme when it comes to pre-orders in general; not that they’re rubbish, mind, but rather that they’re linked to sadness.

According to Adobe’s gaming trends reports, the single strongest emotion linked to pre-orders is sadness. 33% of pre-orders result in sadness, they say, with just 18% netting the emotion you’d want from something you paid for sight unseen; joy.

preorders

Funnily enough, given how broken games have been, how unsatisfying the pre-order incentive guff is and the general rallying cries of “DO NOT PRE ORDER” it seems that pre-orders are on the rise, because that’s how consumerism works, I guess. Pre-orders of games are generating 33% more revenue year-over-year. The number of pre-orders has increased by 24%, so expect even more sad gamers.

Last Updated: October 15, 2015

46 Comments

  1. Ottokie

    October 15, 2015 at 14:35

  2. Grand Admiral Chief

    October 15, 2015 at 14:41

  3. Hammersteyn

    October 15, 2015 at 14:41

    Seeing preorders with season passes and DLC makes me sad.

    Reply

    • Grand Admiral Chief

      October 15, 2015 at 14:41

      Hearing you don’t like minions makes me sad

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        October 15, 2015 at 14:45

        Lego games makes me sad

        Reply

        • Grand Admiral Chief

          October 15, 2015 at 14:47

          Lego makes me sad, since I can’t afford it

          Reply

    • Brady miaau

      October 15, 2015 at 15:18

      That is the problem, in my mind, not the pre-orders.

      AND then they give away for free later on (Mass Effect 3) what they gave as a pre-order bonus. So why give it away if it is not special?

      Reply

  4. Grand Admiral Chief

    October 15, 2015 at 14:41

    STOP PRE-ORDERING! YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!!!

    Reply

    • Guild

      October 15, 2015 at 14:56

      But I like the CoD Fridge. Had to have it for my bar. I’ll put my Destiny Ghost on top of it. That’s why I pre-ordered it

      Reply

      • Grand Admiral Chief

        October 15, 2015 at 14:56

        You probably have them insured against breakage right?

        Reply

        • Guild

          October 15, 2015 at 14:57

          XD yup

          Reply

          • Grand Admiral Chief

            October 15, 2015 at 14:58

            😀

        • Hammersteyn

          October 15, 2015 at 14:59

          Not the six beers that fit in the fridge though
          *Runs

          Reply

    • Brady miaau

      October 15, 2015 at 15:17

      It is convenient. Order the product before release and get it on release day. As a concept, that is simple.

      I do not want to stand in a queue to buy my new widget on release day, see iPhone people.

      Reply

    • Sageville

      October 15, 2015 at 15:22

      If I’m gonna buy a game anyways, why not pre-order?

      Reply

    • Witcher Bob

      October 15, 2015 at 15:34

      Are you going to pre-order XCOM 2?

      Reply

      • Grand Admiral Chief

        October 15, 2015 at 15:39

        Most likely no, even though that game is the highest on my list to get

        Reply

        • Witcher Bob

          October 15, 2015 at 16:03

          That makes me a sad gamer. It’s looking awesome so far and I can’t wait to get into it.

          Reply

    • Kromas untamed

      October 15, 2015 at 22:57

      I am deeply sorry.

      Reply

  5. DragonSpirit009

    October 15, 2015 at 14:43

    I’ve never been into the whole pre-order thing. I wait patiently till everything becomes cheapish

    Reply

  6. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    October 15, 2015 at 14:43

    Yeah this is part of the reason I am not doing pre-orders anymore. Need to wait and let them feel the burn .

    Reply

  7. Nikola

    October 15, 2015 at 14:55

    I like to get the game on release if it’s something I REALLY want so it’s easier to just pre order, I don’t see a problem in it! However I will not buy stupid DLC and Season pass.

    Only DLC I will ever buy is like I did for Destiny, WItcher and DA:I because they actually add a whole new areas, maps and story for an reasonable price. I would avoid getting any DLC from Ubishit,EA and WB games those are always a complete rip off!

    Reply

    • Guild

      October 15, 2015 at 14:57

      Don’t forget to get your Season Pass for CoD 😛

      Reply

      • Nikola

        October 15, 2015 at 14:58

        Hahaha oh yes!! pre ordered the season pass already;)

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          October 15, 2015 at 15:01

          What about Fallout 4?

          Reply

          • Nikola

            October 15, 2015 at 15:03

            hahahaha Fallout FTW!!! I am actually quite excited for that! COD will have to wait a bit.

      • Sageville

        October 15, 2015 at 15:24

        Oh don’t forget all the Destiny DLCs / “Expansions” he hypocritically purchased….

        EDIT: Ok I didn’t read, but who does read Nikola’s comments, really?

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 15, 2015 at 14:58

      WB games I wait for the GOTY
      Ubisoft has DLC I can live with
      EA can GITFS
      Rockstar can have all my money be it for preorders, DLC, season passes or a case of whiskey for the staff on another job well done.

      Reply

      • Nikola

        October 15, 2015 at 15:02

        Yeah WB is full of crap with DLC and it’s usually rubbish, I don’t know about Ubisoft hey like I don’t really know of any good DLC they produced. Besides that Far Cry one. Rockstar and CDPR are the best:)

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          October 15, 2015 at 15:08

          Ubisoft made Blood Dragon and so they’ll nee to really screw up for me to be angry with them. Also Ubisoft is making Division and believe me there will be lots of DLC like new gear or guns or even maps.

          Reply

  8. Alien Emperor Trevor

    October 15, 2015 at 15:01

    But you have to get the new shiny shiny on the day of release or you’re missing out! And are you going to play an old game while all your friends play the cool new one? Credulous games enthusiasts pump out article after article praising a fucking screenshot and pretend it’s journalism when all it is is regurgitating marketing material. So totes amazeballs! Preorder DLC that strokes that vanity itch. Getting a game a day early somehow got turned into a status symbol.

    You don’t need much to convince people who’re already leaning towards purchasing a product to part with their money as soon as they can, and its a relentless assault. Games are fun and exciting for customers to play, but they’re still a product to be sold.

    Please note: I differentiate between games journalists and games enthusiasts – the former apply judgement, the latter just accept whatever’s shown – and they only show you the good stuff.

    Reply

    • Nikola

      October 15, 2015 at 15:11

      I don’t see anything wrong getting the game day one to be honest, if it’s something I am looking forward to playing for months why wouldn’t I get it? It has nothing with competing with my friends I like to finish a game and then move on so when the new one comes out why not buy it?

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        October 15, 2015 at 15:23

        Neither do I really. It’s your money & your choice. If it’s something you want to do, and you feel you’ve seen enough to make an informed decision, then do it. My issue is with how it’s all presented to potential customers.

        For every Witcher 3 (that I preordered) you get more like Alien: Colonial Marines (dishonest marketing), Evolve (winner of how many E3 awards again?) and Batman:AK on PC (knowingly released broken on PC to those who preordered).

        Reply

        • Nikola

          October 15, 2015 at 15:28

          I understand your point and agree, I got burned pre ordering a game without checking review because it looked “good” and I will never do it again. Yeah you right unfortunately people do jump in head first myself I only pre order if I seen the review or is an publisher I trust.

          Like Fallout 4 I want to get bad but I will wait for reviews before I get it.

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            October 15, 2015 at 15:37

            The only time I’ll even think of preordering now is for physical collectors editions. And even then it’ll have to be something I really, really want – the game AND the physical stuff.

            I used to preorder regular editions often, but it became too expensive to take the chance because on PC you can’t trade it in, you’re stuck with it. 2013/2014 ruined that with all its broken games.

          • Nikola

            October 16, 2015 at 08:11

            Unfortunately that’s what the industry has become:( Releasing a broken game is an absolute joke like AC Unity that Ubishit did! I mean don’t they test the products big time before they release it I understand there is a bug there and there you know it happens but it’s fixed with a patch but what happened with AC Unity and Batman is a JOKE. Both of those games are also from a big time developers who you don’t expect to screw up!

      • Blogvader

        October 15, 2015 at 15:34

        True, but lately it feels like preordering is encouraging major studios to release buggy and sub-par quality on their products.

        Reply

        • Grand Admiral Chief

          October 15, 2015 at 15:37

          ^This. Oh so much this

          Reply

          • Blogvader

            October 15, 2015 at 15:44

            It reminds me of a commercial that circulated in America a few years ago, where a corporate fast food president says (in reference to drive-through service): “We’ve already got their money. Who cares if we got their order right?”

        • Nikola

          October 16, 2015 at 08:13

          Yeah agreed, I still can’t believe they doing that as a normal function human being in charge of development how can you release a completely broken game…You have to be so careful of pre-ordering now days unfortunately.

          Reply

    • Weanerdog

      October 15, 2015 at 15:55

      I spot a flaw in your argument. None of us here have any friends.

      Reply

  9. James Anderton

    October 15, 2015 at 15:11

    sigh

    Reply

  10. The Sten

    October 15, 2015 at 15:15

    I have not bought a single piece of DLC in my life. Im actually proud of it.

    Though i should mention I spent 14 dollars to acquire the ability to make my Team Fortress 2 characters do the Cossack dance.

    I dont regret it at all.

    Reply

  11. Blogvader

    October 15, 2015 at 15:21

    After preordering Arkham Knight, I’m pretty much done.

    Though I’ll make an exception for indie studios that have put out good quality in the past, like Compulsion Games or From Software.

    Reply

  12. Raptor Rants

    October 15, 2015 at 16:29

    Pre-orders suck

    Reply

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