Topic: If you pre-order something on a digital distributor...
Anonymous A started this discussion 11 years ago #39,951
What does this mean necessarily?
Does this mean you pay for the game in advanced or does it mean you still have to pay later like in-retail purchases?
Does this mean you pay for the game in advanced or does it mean you still have to pay later like in-retail purchases?
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later[^] [v] #531,924
You pay for the game in advanced and they promise they'll deliver you the game at some point in the future.
Lothario Cassanova !LOVERh1VM2 joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #531,925
Anonymous B replied with this 11 years ago, 27 seconds later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #531,926
dw joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 21 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,927
I think steam only charges when the game comes out.Pre-ordering is for morae though
Anonymous B replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,928
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,934
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 5 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,935
Why such hostility to the OP? It's a fair question.
Also, I seem to recall at least one game where buying before release let you pre-load it onto your computer? Cannot recall what, though.
Also, I seem to recall at least one game where buying before release let you pre-load it onto your computer? Cannot recall what, though.
FuckAlms !vX8K53rFBI joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 40 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,941
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 8 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,943
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later, 6 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,950
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 10 minutes later, 6 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,951
@previous (dw)
Cool.
Well then, that is a good reason to preorder. So it's ready to play as soon as it is officially released.
Cool.
Well then, that is a good reason to preorder. So it's ready to play as soon as it is officially released.
Anonymous G joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 20 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,966
@previous (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
but you just change the date on your computer clock and then you can play right away
but you just change the date on your computer clock and then you can play right away
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 3 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,969
Anonymous G replied with this 11 years ago, 5 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,970
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 5 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,971
squeegee joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 5 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,974
@previous (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
always online drm stuff, but if a game can be played offline then you can fool it with your date and time settings.
pretty sure that they wouldn't pre-release a game like that though and try to keep people from playing it, they'd just hold back something from the download so it wouldn't install until it patches on drop day or whatever.
i can't think of any games that do that though, they either delay the full download until release, or they let you download playable pre-release versions ala minecraft
always online drm stuff, but if a game can be played offline then you can fool it with your date and time settings.
pretty sure that they wouldn't pre-release a game like that though and try to keep people from playing it, they'd just hold back something from the download so it wouldn't install until it patches on drop day or whatever.
i can't think of any games that do that though, they either delay the full download until release, or they let you download playable pre-release versions ala minecraft
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 35 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,980
@531,971 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
@previous (squeegee)
usually you aren't allowed to download 100% of the game and it is encrypted on the disk.
and saving 2 hours doesn't really outweigh the cons to me
@previous (squeegee)
usually you aren't allowed to download 100% of the game and it is encrypted on the disk.
and saving 2 hours doesn't really outweigh the cons to me
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,981
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 48 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,986
@previous (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
Pre-ordering is basically spending €50 on a game you don't know will be good or if it will even work to gain access a few hours before everyone else does. It had some purpose when games were physical but now there isn't a chance the shop runs out of copies before you get one. Now there is just so little added benefit from doing it.
Pre-ordering is basically spending €50 on a game you don't know will be good or if it will even work to gain access a few hours before everyone else does. It had some purpose when games were physical but now there isn't a chance the shop runs out of copies before you get one. Now there is just so little added benefit from doing it.
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,987
Syntax joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 3 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,988
Paying for something before you receive it.
Brilliant Marketing/Business 101
Managed carefully, a business could sell a product at a loss and still make money, on only the cash in hand.
Brilliant Marketing/Business 101
Managed carefully, a business could sell a product at a loss and still make money, on only the cash in hand.
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 31 seconds later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,989
@531,987 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
Like the people who pre-ordered BF4 because they were fans of the genre to find out it is horribly broken? Or AC Unity, or CoD Advanced Warfare, or the Master Chief Collection or Watchdogs?
Edit: watchdogs doesn't apply here, it was the first in the franchise
Like the people who pre-ordered BF4 because they were fans of the genre to find out it is horribly broken? Or AC Unity, or CoD Advanced Warfare, or the Master Chief Collection or Watchdogs?
Edit: watchdogs doesn't apply here, it was the first in the franchise
(Edited 40 seconds later.)
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 4 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,991
@previous (dw)
Then they would the same as if they'd purchased it first day. But these things get patched.
Then they would the same as if they'd purchased it first day. But these things get patched.
(Edited 43 seconds later.)
squeegee replied with this 11 years ago, 15 seconds later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,992
i've been burned on pre-orders, and these days i generally like to watch people stream a game i'm interested in so i can see the actual gameplay and not some pre-rendered trailer or biased demo.
@531,987 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
sometimes you know that you'll surely purchase a game, so it's fine.
i have been known to go ahead and preorder a game i know that i will, no question, be buying anyway regardless of the "reviews"
i have also been known to not enjoy the game as well as i thought i might
but, i've also been very happy with the choice. I preordered Stick of Truth - i wasn't going to, and then i said fuck it i'm getting it anyway and just got it a few days early and then i enjoyed it just fine! more than i thought i was going to, i played it twice!
but, i KNOW i'm going to get Evolve, but for some reason i'm not pressured at all to preorder. in fact i think it might be out already.
@531,987 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
sometimes you know that you'll surely purchase a game, so it's fine.
i have been known to go ahead and preorder a game i know that i will, no question, be buying anyway regardless of the "reviews"
i have also been known to not enjoy the game as well as i thought i might
but, i've also been very happy with the choice. I preordered Stick of Truth - i wasn't going to, and then i said fuck it i'm getting it anyway and just got it a few days early and then i enjoyed it just fine! more than i thought i was going to, i played it twice!
but, i KNOW i'm going to get Evolve, but for some reason i'm not pressured at all to preorder. in fact i think it might be out already.
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 3 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,993
@531,991 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
Obviously if you didn't preorder, but waited until the first day you would know about the issues and then not purchase the game until it is patched. If you purchase regardless of these issues and are willing to accept them then go ahead and preorder but you will potentially have a broken game with no guarantee of it ever not being broken.
> these things get patched.
Yeah, this may take months or not happen at all though. Master Chief Collection is still broken, so is Unity and Advanced Warfare.
Obviously if you didn't preorder, but waited until the first day you would know about the issues and then not purchase the game until it is patched. If you purchase regardless of these issues and are willing to accept them then go ahead and preorder but you will potentially have a broken game with no guarantee of it ever not being broken.
> these things get patched.
Yeah, this may take months or not happen at all though. Master Chief Collection is still broken, so is Unity and Advanced Warfare.
(Edited 3 minutes later.)
squeegee replied with this 11 years ago, 8 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,995
@previous (dw)
hate to break it to you, but these days pretty much every big title like that is fundamentally fucked
there are some indie titles that can be great and some of the AAA titles are okay,
but everything is just a broken port of some bullshit cross-platform featureless money-cow. with multiplayer deathmatch.
and crafting
hate to break it to you, but these days pretty much every big title like that is fundamentally fucked
there are some indie titles that can be great and some of the AAA titles are okay,
but everything is just a broken port of some bullshit cross-platform featureless money-cow. with multiplayer deathmatch.
and crafting
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #531,996
FuckAlms !vX8K53rFBI replied with this 11 years ago, 8 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,000
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 35 seconds later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,001
@531,993 (dw)
Aren't those issues being worked upon now? The MCC's certainly are. And from what I understand, they don't render the game unplayable. As I said, these things usually get ironed out.
I simply think that if you really love a franchise/concept and will want to play it no matter what, it's fine to pre-order it.
Aren't those issues being worked upon now? The MCC's certainly are. And from what I understand, they don't render the game unplayable. As I said, these things usually get ironed out.
I simply think that if you really love a franchise/concept and will want to play it no matter what, it's fine to pre-order it.
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 5 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,002
@previous (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
MCC also came out months ago. I think they basically stopped patching Unity and it's still broken. I don't know the specifics of all the games i mentioned.
I don't understand why you feel that major issues being fixed months after launch is acceptable. These issues should not have existed or the games should have been delayed.
This is a good video on it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf5Uj4XIT1Y
MCC also came out months ago. I think they basically stopped patching Unity and it's still broken. I don't know the specifics of all the games i mentioned.
I don't understand why you feel that major issues being fixed months after launch is acceptable. These issues should not have existed or the games should have been delayed.
This is a good video on it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf5Uj4XIT1Y
squeegee replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,004
@532,000 (FuckAlms !vX8K53rFBI)
i really enjoyed Evolve, the disparity between the two teams is something i've not really ever seen before especially with that style of FPS gameplay. 1 player (a boss) fighting a team of 4 FPS players with vastly different roles. it's objective based gameplay that encourages teamwork at it's finest. And you feel pretty damn OP as the boss ass monsters.
very unique gameplay, imo
before that, probably minecraft
i really enjoyed Evolve, the disparity between the two teams is something i've not really ever seen before especially with that style of FPS gameplay. 1 player (a boss) fighting a team of 4 FPS players with vastly different roles. it's objective based gameplay that encourages teamwork at it's finest. And you feel pretty damn OP as the boss ass monsters.
very unique gameplay, imo
before that, probably minecraft
(Edited 1 minute later.)
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,005
@532,002 (dw)
My last point summed it up. If you're really keen, I think it's acceptable to pre-order something. I said nothing about the acceptability of bugs, just that they're usually worked out sooner or later, so you're not totally fucked by it.
My last point summed it up. If you're really keen, I think it's acceptable to pre-order something. I said nothing about the acceptability of bugs, just that they're usually worked out sooner or later, so you're not totally fucked by it.
(Edited 6 minutes later.)
squeegee replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,006
@532,002 (dw)
i agree with you, i do believe that publishers push products out the door with only profit maximization in mind, not end user experience. if delaying a product won't directly increase revenue (or if cutting a feature won't decrease it) then they choose the option that costs them the least and earns them the most. And if they've spent 100 million bucks advertizing a release date for 6 months, then they won't overshoot that by a day even if the game is unplayable for months after that.
and they keep being rewarded for it
i agree with you, i do believe that publishers push products out the door with only profit maximization in mind, not end user experience. if delaying a product won't directly increase revenue (or if cutting a feature won't decrease it) then they choose the option that costs them the least and earns them the most. And if they've spent 100 million bucks advertizing a release date for 6 months, then they won't overshoot that by a day even if the game is unplayable for months after that.
and they keep being rewarded for it
(Edited 1 minute later.)
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 6 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,010
@previous (squeegee)
Squeegee, please. There are more important issues in gaming.
They changed the colour of Sonic's arms, you know. Shit like that is what gamers need to go after publishers for.
Squeegee, please. There are more important issues in gaming.
They changed the colour of Sonic's arms, you know. Shit like that is what gamers need to go after publishers for.
Syntax replied with this 11 years ago, 11 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,013
@previous (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
> They changed the colour of Sonic's arms, you know. Shit like that is what gamers need to go after publishers for.
LOL memories of CWC arrested as a result.
> They changed the colour of Sonic's arms, you know. Shit like that is what gamers need to go after publishers for.
LOL memories of CWC arrested as a result.
FuckAlms !vX8K53rFBI replied with this 11 years ago, 11 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,019
@532,010 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)I, for one, will NOT sit idly by while Sonic is turned into some Weirdo with HAIR on his ARMS.
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 16 minutes later, 10 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,028
@532,005 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
> I think it's acceptable to pre-order something. I said nothing about the acceptability of bugs
Accepting preorders inherently means you accept the risk of bugs.
@532,006 (squeegee)
> and they keep being rewarded for it
Yes! This is the worst thing about it to me.
> I think it's acceptable to pre-order something. I said nothing about the acceptability of bugs
Accepting preorders inherently means you accept the risk of bugs.
@532,006 (squeegee)
> and they keep being rewarded for it
Yes! This is the worst thing about it to me.
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 27 minutes later, 10 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,036
@previous (dw)
Yes, but usually you're not risking a game-breaking experience. And if it is, it should be patched fairly soon.
Some people are very passionate about certain games, dw. And if they're that passionate about them, then it's likely they'll enjoy said game even if there's bugs. So I see that as an acceptable reason to pre-order.
I should also point out that I personally don't pre-order, in case you got that impression. But I can understand why some might.
Yes, but usually you're not risking a game-breaking experience. And if it is, it should be patched fairly soon.
Some people are very passionate about certain games, dw. And if they're that passionate about them, then it's likely they'll enjoy said game even if there's bugs. So I see that as an acceptable reason to pre-order.
I should also point out that I personally don't pre-order, in case you got that impression. But I can understand why some might.
Anonymous J joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later, 12 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,053
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 13 minutes later, 12 hours after the original post[^] [v] #532,057
How does the computer clock thing even work for expansion packs?
The game still has to be developed.
The game still has to be developed.
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 22 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #532,303
@532,036 (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
this car probably won't have a broken front axle but if it does some guy might come around to fix it
this car probably won't have a broken front axle but if it does some guy might come around to fix it
dw double-posted this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #532,304
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 18 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #532,316
@532,303 (dw)
That metaphor doesn't fit. If you were sold a broken car, you can return it or have the dealer repair it.
That metaphor doesn't fit. If you were sold a broken car, you can return it or have the dealer repair it.
dw replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #532,318
Anonymous G replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #532,319
Anonymous B replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #532,320
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx replied with this 11 years ago, 2 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #532,348
@532,318 (dw)
Of the many games released in 2014, how many do you suppose were broken to the point of unplayability? I am going to go out on a limb and assume that the majority of them were not. Now, it seems a reasonable assumption to assume that a game won't be unplayable upon release. In the small chance of it being so, it should be fixed in due course (with such fixes being more likely for bigger devs).
I just don't see the slight risk of game-breaking bugs being significant enough to invalidate the enthusiasm that a pre-orderer might have. If they're enthusiastic enough to want to pay up (or grab some pre-order bonus), then that's fine.
Of the many games released in 2014, how many do you suppose were broken to the point of unplayability? I am going to go out on a limb and assume that the majority of them were not. Now, it seems a reasonable assumption to assume that a game won't be unplayable upon release. In the small chance of it being so, it should be fixed in due course (with such fixes being more likely for bigger devs).
I just don't see the slight risk of game-breaking bugs being significant enough to invalidate the enthusiasm that a pre-orderer might have. If they're enthusiastic enough to want to pay up (or grab some pre-order bonus), then that's fine.