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Author Topic: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses  (Read 1532 times)

Uristsonsonson

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Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« on: January 18, 2014, 10:52:58 am »

Like ten years ago when you bought a game, it was after reading the reviews a couple weeks beforehand and deciding it was worth it. Right now, when you pre-order a game, you're buying it when it's still probably in alpha and downloading it around the same time the reviewers are. I think I see a two step way to further monetize this trend.

Step one is simple enough. Instead of having this weird dual system where you can pre-order like most people or wait and buy it later, we could scrap the second and have pre-order be the only way to buy it. This would only serve to streamline the process and get the last few "I'll pay for it up front" gamers on board.

Step two might be a little harder to see the wisdom of at first but just bear with me for a sec. Rather than have the traditional/current pre-order system, we change up how it works a little bit. You still buy it a year before release. You still choose which bonus pack you want. You just don't actually get a game. See, I know I already lost some of you, but hold up. It's really a win-win proposal here. You still get your fancy metal boxes and little polyurethane figurines. You don't have to download or grind through any cliché story with gameplay that's been done the exact same way at least a hundred titles before. The developers still get paid in advance, and all they have to develop are said boxes and figurines. EA would really only have to employ contractors and concept artists for the art book and would still make a guaranteed income on every title. You could even still meet your friends in real life and brag about how all your bonus stuff is better than theirs. Everyone's happy, everyone gets what they really want, and nobody loses.
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LordSlowpoke

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2014, 10:59:55 am »

yes

let us make the game industry even more fucking horrible by forcing people to buy titles blind

good thread bro.
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Uristsonsonson

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2014, 11:01:39 am »

People generally do anyway. And let's be honest. How many people actually care about the game itself? As far as I can tell, it's the promise of extra special super exclusive bling that people really want. I'm just trying to find the best win-win here, you know? :)
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Levi

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2014, 11:06:19 am »

I think I see a two step way to further monetize this trend.

No no no no no no no.   >:( 
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LordSlowpoke

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2014, 11:06:48 am »

i really don't want to insult you outright but that opinion is bollocks

maybe i'm old fashioned, but if i am to buy a game, i actually give a fuck about its contents, it's extremely rare for me to buy into the doritos and mountain dew fueled fantasies of the "best games of the generation" or whatever the fuck is even going on nowadays

i'm pretty sure you can go, find the nerds responsible for milking franchises for whatever they're worth and make sure the next call of duty is preorder only. what's the bloody point of discussing it here? i don't think the userbase of this forum is the right one to do so with. only reason i'd think of is provoking people to lament about the state of the industry but you look completely serious about the idea. :v
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Bauglir

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2014, 11:10:16 am »

Pretty sure it's satire and he's just staying in character.
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Remuthra

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2014, 11:11:35 am »

As a person who buys most games several years after they release...yeah...

kaijyuu

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2014, 11:13:43 am »

poe's law peeps
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Quote from: Chesterton
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Remuthra

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2014, 11:15:21 am »

poe's law peeps
Should be obvious this is ~SERIOUS BUSINESS~.

kaijyuu

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2014, 11:16:13 am »

it certainly is serious business that the game industry is fucked up like this

hence why we make satire of it
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Quote from: Chesterton
For, in order that men should resist injustice, something more is necessary than that they should think injustice unpleasant. They must think injustice absurd; above all, they must think it startling. They must retain the violence of a virgin astonishment. When the pessimist looks at any infamy, it is to him, after all, only a repetition of the infamy of existence. But the optimist sees injustice as something discordant and unexpected, and it stings him into action.

ChairmanPoo

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2014, 11:25:42 am »

People generally do anyway. And let's be honest. How many people actually care about the game itself? As far as I can tell, it's the promise of extra special super exclusive bling that people really want. I'm just trying to find the best win-win here, you know? :)
Holy shit. Please tell me that this is sarcasm and it's getting lost in translation.
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UltraValican

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #11 on: January 18, 2014, 11:57:35 am »

Well, I know you're being ironic here. I'm not sure what your trying to say exactly. Pre-Orders are bad? Collector Items that come with Pre-Orders are bad?  People only get these pre-orders for bragging rights? You talk about two entirely different forms distribution and pre-odering. There is a world of difference between them.

I'll agree that Pre-Odering digital goods is damn stupid, since it really is a promised purchase (else you lose money), and you don't really gain anything. At the very most you'll get alpha/beta access, worst it just gets automatically added to your library when it "unlocks". On op of that there's no real "scarcity" on digital platforms. So there's no reason to reserve a copy.


Also, Physical Pre-Orders are entirely different than Digital pre-Oorders

   You talk about Pre-order figurines, then mention DOWNLOADING the game. That makes zero sense. Usually figurines and such come with physical purchases of a special edition of a game, which are not necessarily pre-orders(they may as well be since they go fast, but if you were going to buy a collectors edition, you probably wouldn't have any qualms about just buying the game). These usually come with Soundtracks, Figures, Hard Back Books, and other things. These are usually made for die hard fans who know they're going to like the game. Just because its out there doesn't mean that you have to buy it. I'm not sure what "only let people who pre-order the game play it" is supposed to be an analogue to. Even if you don't pre-order the game your probably going to end up paying the same price or maybe a little bit more that people who did, and its the same game and you don't really miss out on the "tired gameplay" that you moan about by not getting whatever "bling" came with the pre-order.

 Pre-orders at brick and mortar stores (Gamestop basically not sure about other small stores) aren't a commitment, and if anything exist for the benefit of the retailer than the game publishers. Usually you deposit five dollars(which will go towards the purchase of your game) to reserve it, if you decide you don't want the game you can put it towards another purchase. As opposed to pre-ordering online where you're usually playing full price. So at the very worst your forcing yourself to buy from the retailer your pre-odering or lose five whole dollars. Oh the horror. Again, no ones forcing you to make a pre-order. You don't miss out on any gameplay if you don't pre-order. Most pre-order DLC is pretty much cosmetic, and games that do hold gameplay and weapons over your head in exchange for pre-orders are usually horse shit anyway.





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sneakey pete

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #12 on: January 19, 2014, 03:49:47 am »

The OP was satire wasn't it?
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Max White

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #13 on: January 19, 2014, 03:53:01 am »

The OP was satire wasn't it?
It was totally satire, Uristsonsonson is just really committed.

sjm9876

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Re: Game Industry Reform through Pre-Order Bonuses
« Reply #14 on: January 19, 2014, 04:06:25 am »

It's either satire, or he works for EA's marketing department.
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