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[GDJustin]

It seems the concept of preorders has gotten more and more important over the past couple console cycles, but why? Do retailers push them so you'll buy the game at their shop instead of elsewhere? What about publishers? A preorder is 1 game in the bag, but is that the only reason they care?

While we're on the topic, what are some of the best publisher or retailer preorder bonuses from the past few years?

 

[LukeSmith]

Nintendo's Ocarina of Time/Masterquest preorder with LOZ:WW was excellent. And at some places you picked itup well before you got the game.

 

[Son of Godzilla]

A pre-order is a game that won't be bought used.

 

[demi]

You damn right I want a pre-order bonus!

Chances are I'll beat the game in less than a week, only to sit there in wonder why I didn't wait for a god damn price drop.

As long as I have some sort of trinket / article of clothing, I can use it for times to come! Or sell it on ebay for some cash.

 

[GDJustin]

I just don't understand the huge push to preorder preorder preorder. What is the major benefit, on the retail/publisher side?

 

[demi]

Spoiler

YPE!! THE HYPE!! THE HYPE!! THE HYPE!! THE H

 

[lexi]

It makes for good PR, as the Halo 2 marketing blitz showed.

 

[xsarien]

The only thing that ever gets me to pre-order any item is if I'm getting a break on the price. It's very rare that this happens, though.

 

[Hellraizah]

I just don't understand the huge push to preorder preorder preorder. What is the major benefit, on the retail/publisher side?

Huh, get a good idea of where and how much you gotta dispatch the games within your company ?!?

 

[Bristow]

You know, I've pre ordered many times at EB in-store, and never once have I recieved a bonus item. Is it generally only for online orders?

 

[GDJustin]

Huh, get a good idea of where and how much you gotta dispatch the games within your company ?!?

That was something I thought of. Maybe publishers can use that as a kind of market research for their title's, and edit their distribution as necessary.

Can anyone on that side of things confirm that?

Also, what were some other good preorder bonuses besides the Master Quest disk?

 

[demi]

I did pre-order Mario Kart DD hoping to get that "bonus disc", since it's only for pre-orders.

When I found that the disc was included inside the game, along with the copies lined along the shelves...there were no words.

 

[snaildog]

I just don't understand the huge push to preorder preorder preorder. What is the major benefit, on the retail/publisher side?

I think it's because if there's a game you're on the fence about, the preorder bonus will make you rush out and put money on it, rather than forget about it or wait for the bargain bin. It works on me, anyway.

 

[explodet]

One of my favorite pre-order gifts.

 

[Son of Godzilla]

IIRC, the WoW pre-order came with a book or mini-book or something that either explained some lore or contained a chapter or two of a Warcraft book. Not that that's a good bonus, but it's the only thing I can think of.

 

[Link316]

Do retailers push them so you'll buy the game at their shop instead of elsewhere?

that's what it does for me

What about publishers? A preorder is 1 game in the bag, but is that the only reason they care?

dunno if this is their intent, but bonuses make me pay full price for some games when I would normally wait for it to drop to $20 or less

While we're on the topic, what are some of the best publisher or retailer preorder bonuses from the past few years?

Arc The Lad watch

 

[Deku Tree]

While we're on the topic, what are some of the best publisher or retailer preorder bonuses from the past few years?

I thought the Tales of Symphonia Art book was pretty sweet. Companies need to give away more pre-order art books with their RPGs.

 

[Matlock]

Viewtiful Joe watch.

 

[GDJustin]

Didn't EBGames give away a metroid t-shirt with every preorder? Or was that Nintendo's doing?

From a retail standpoint I suppose the bonuses are just driven by competition. The public needs to have some reason to buy from you and not the other guy.

 

[Hellraizah]

.

 

[GDJustin]

Thanks for the info Hellraizah. I actually need it for a story I'm putting together.

I made this thread because the retailers I've contacted have been slow to get back to me -_-

 

[FortNinety]

In the past when I preordered stuff, the items are usually in poor condition due to the clerk monkeys at the store, like posters with tears and folds, or books with greasy finger prints on them. When you kindly ask for another, they look at you like you just asked for some crack.