levyjl1988
Banned
Games back in the mid-2000's to 2015 often shipped games with a plastic case, an instruction manual, a warning insert and the disc. These were considered CIB (Complete in Box).
There would also be preorder bonuses to incentivize and gauge early interest and reward those who put money down on these games, they were often rewarded in the forms of extra content such as bonus discs for example.
Pokemon Colosseum Bonus Discs.
Mario Kart Double Dash Bonus Disc
Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Master Quest
These were the pinnacle of preorder bonuses. It had substantial weight and value. Over time preorder bonuses relegated themselves to DLC and the infamous store exclusive preorder bonus DLC, meaning if you bought the game you owned a fraction of it and couldn't experience the other parts like:
Lollipop Chainsaw Preorder exclusive bonuses.
Gamestop/ EBGames:
if you are a Powerup Member:
Amazon:
Best Buy:
Hunted Demon's Forge Store Exclusive Preorder Bonuses:
Gamestop/ EBGames:
Best Buy:
Amazon:
Walmart:
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Store exclusive preorder bonuses:
Gamestop/ EB Games had Ninja Monkey skin (right), Best Buy had Robot Trip skin (middle), and Walmart had Classic Monkey skin (left).
Mind you that these store exclusive preorder bonuses never made their way to the Playstation Store or Xbox Marketplace digital storefronts for purchases. Such a scummy business practice for the completionist.
It was a clusterfuck when the store managing preorders failed to send codes out or day one buyers who never preordered couldn't gain the content unless it was on a physical card with the code, later on these codes were printed on the receipts and retailers were extremely stingy about it especially publishers when contacted usually requiring proof of purshase.
Games also had physical preorder bonus rewards which were awesome and PRACTICAL.
999 watch for preordering 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons. Nine Doors.
Mirror's Edge bag for preordering Mirror's Edge.
Scribblenauts headpiece for preordering Scribblenauts DS.
Sonic headpiece for preordering Sonic Colors.
Lost in Blue 2 Stylus for preordering Lost in Blue 2.
Palkia and Dialga Stylus for Preordering Pokemon Diamon and Pearl.
Ho-Oh and Lugia figurines for preordering Pokemon SoulSilver and HeartGold.
Giratina figurine for preordering Pokemon Platinum.
Those were the good days and bad, depending on if you got them or missed out, but those days are behind us. Some of those marketing rewarded those who knew ahead of the time and to put money down, at least $5 bucks back then.
Games now are digital. There are no incentives really to speak to as people expect a complete and unbroken mess these days.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on preorder bonuses?
Did you miss out?
Did you resent publishers for doing this?
Are you a completionist and failed to get all the DLC intended for the game?
There would also be preorder bonuses to incentivize and gauge early interest and reward those who put money down on these games, they were often rewarded in the forms of extra content such as bonus discs for example.
Pokemon Colosseum Bonus Discs.
Mario Kart Double Dash Bonus Disc
Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Master Quest
These were the pinnacle of preorder bonuses. It had substantial weight and value. Over time preorder bonuses relegated themselves to DLC and the infamous store exclusive preorder bonus DLC, meaning if you bought the game you owned a fraction of it and couldn't experience the other parts like:
Lollipop Chainsaw Preorder exclusive bonuses.
Gamestop/ EBGames:
Amazon:
Best Buy:
Hunted Demon's Forge Store Exclusive Preorder Bonuses:
Gamestop/ EBGames:
Best Buy:
Amazon:
Walmart:
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Store exclusive preorder bonuses:
Gamestop/ EB Games had Ninja Monkey skin (right), Best Buy had Robot Trip skin (middle), and Walmart had Classic Monkey skin (left).
Mind you that these store exclusive preorder bonuses never made their way to the Playstation Store or Xbox Marketplace digital storefronts for purchases. Such a scummy business practice for the completionist.
It was a clusterfuck when the store managing preorders failed to send codes out or day one buyers who never preordered couldn't gain the content unless it was on a physical card with the code, later on these codes were printed on the receipts and retailers were extremely stingy about it especially publishers when contacted usually requiring proof of purshase.
Games also had physical preorder bonus rewards which were awesome and PRACTICAL.
999 watch for preordering 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons. Nine Doors.
Mirror's Edge bag for preordering Mirror's Edge.
Scribblenauts headpiece for preordering Scribblenauts DS.
Sonic headpiece for preordering Sonic Colors.
Lost in Blue 2 Stylus for preordering Lost in Blue 2.
Palkia and Dialga Stylus for Preordering Pokemon Diamon and Pearl.
Ho-Oh and Lugia figurines for preordering Pokemon SoulSilver and HeartGold.
Giratina figurine for preordering Pokemon Platinum.
Those were the good days and bad, depending on if you got them or missed out, but those days are behind us. Some of those marketing rewarded those who knew ahead of the time and to put money down, at least $5 bucks back then.
Games now are digital. There are no incentives really to speak to as people expect a complete and unbroken mess these days.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on preorder bonuses?
Did you miss out?
Did you resent publishers for doing this?
Are you a completionist and failed to get all the DLC intended for the game?