Pre-ordering Games

[Frank Gunn]

What's everybody's experience with pre-ordering games? I was never one to pre-order, but there are a good six or seven games this season that I'll want immediately upon release, and I don't want some zit-faced punk at GameStop telling me that the order is a day late after I've already plunked down cash for a pre-order. What's everybody's experience with this?

[lostwire]

I've had no problems with any pre-orders, in fact, they often entice you to do with cool swag like posters & t-shirts. God knows I look pretty handsome when I'm out & about in my Megaman T.

[lymang]

Originally Posted by lostwire

I've had no problems with any pre-orders, in fact, they often entice you to do with cool swag like posters & t-shirts. God knows I look pretty handsome when I'm out & about in my Megaman T.

I have to go with Lostwire. I pre-ordered NeverWinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark, and got a cool poster. Oh, wait, maybe that was Temple of Elemental Evil. Anyhoo, I've never had any problems with pre-orders at EBGames. Gamestop I've never tried yet.

I have Fable and Jade Empire on pre-order at the local EBGames.

I've been thinking about pre-ordering KotOR2 and Demon Stone (Xbox, of course) at Gamestop for a change of pace.

Lyman

[Engineer_J]

If you have a Gamerush near you, trade in 2 games, get credit, and pre-order any game 49.99 for 29.99

[Frank Gunn]

Originally Posted by Engineer_J

If you have a Gamerush near you, trade in 2 games, get credit, and pre-order any game 49.99 for 29.99

It's been my experience that you're far better off selling *any* game on eBay. I got ten dollars recently for a three year old 'Rogue Squadron 2'.

[MooglePorn]

I used to preorder a little when games were a little harder to come by... in the SNES days there were some RPGS you would only get release MONTH if you preordered. Then came the N64... anyone will tell you the only way to get an N64 that Christmas was to preorder or pay out the ass... it's a fact. I think I preordered the N64 Zelda titles as well...

Fable will be the first thing I preorder this console cycle. I don't buy systems as soon as they come out anymore, so I don't care about that... and no matter what they say, it's very rare not to get any game you want release day now. I've seen a few sold out at EBgames or Gamestop, but most likely Best Buy or someone else will have a few... you might have to wait a week or so, but I don't really care about that anymore. I did preorder Fable though, just to respect it for being the first game to excite me in a good long time.

As for some "pimply-faced" clerk who obviously is a lower class human being than you because he makes less money telling you you're game isn't in yet, it happens. EBgames might get Fable in a day before Gamestop, and thus by preordering I made myself actually wait an extra day... it happens for sure. But is a day or two gonna kill you? Shit, if you're that eager, show up at Wal-Mart at midnight when they unload stock... you'd be amazed the number of people who do that.

[Frank Gunn]

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

As for some "pimply-faced" clerk who obviously is a lower class human being than you because he makes less money

...what?

[MooglePorn]

Originally Posted by Frank Gunn

...what?

Oh come on Frank, now you're getting confused by playful jabs?

[Frank Gunn]

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

Oh come on Frank, now you're getting confused by playful jabs?

Heh. For a second, I thought the "zit-faced clerk" thing hit a little too close to home.

Anyway, yeah, it's a big deal to me if I get it a day or two late. What's the point of preordering if I gotta wait?

[MooglePorn]

Originally Posted by Frank Gunn

Anyway, yeah, it's a big deal to me if I get it a day or two late. What's the point of preordering if I gotta wait?

I'd go with EBgames then... they seem to get most things first.

[Reaver]

I preordered Fable so that I could get the preview DVD. I ordered it at Gamestop, and I knew when I did it that I shouldn't have, but I couldn't resist that DVD, so I went against my instincts and did it anyway. So, today, I get up at 2:30 PM (I work nights), immediately get dressed, and I head to Gamestop to pick it up. As soon as I get there I see a sign on the door that says it won't be in until 5PM to 6PM. I walk in and say, "You have got to be shitting me." They start with some bullshit, "Oh, well, um, yeah," crap, but I turn around and leave immediately. On the way home I call Best Buy, and of course they have it in and available.

Ugh. I'm so mad right now...

[goatsaddle]

I've preordered a handful of games in the past. I've never had a real problem with getting the games on time. Most of my friends also preorder and I've never heard any of them having too many problems. I'd say it's about a 95% safe bet you'll be satisfied. Of course, there is that 5% and that sucks if you are really looking forward to a game. I preordered Fable and Demon Stone most recently. So I'll let you know when they hit my doorstep...

[SilentBob]

I have preordered game sin the past for the limited editions of the games and the free shit that goes along with it that i barely ever play. I pre-ordered Zelda: OoT to get my Gold Cart and a free t-shirt and tattoos form EB (actually i do all my pre-prderes from them) I did it for Perfect Dark and got a tote bag (uses for my mom's craft sales all the time) and most recently i have pre-ordered my copy of the Limited Edition Halo 2 tin. I like the sound of it being in a tin with a dvd full of extras. I'm a ucker for extras and chances are i will probably never really watch them. But if the game seems to be a popular one then i'm all game to plup some money down for a guarentee purchase.

[Engineer_J]

Originally Posted by Frank Gunn

It's been my experience that you're far better off selling *any* game on eBay. I got ten dollars recently for a three year old 'Rogue Squadron 2'.

well right now Gamerush has another deal where if you trade in 3 or more games you get an extra $5 per game, no exclusions. So that game that EB or Gamestop will give you 50 cent for will net you at least $6 at Gamerush, plus the $20 off a pre-order how is that not better then the $10 you got for Rogue Squadron?

[Frank Gunn]

Originally Posted by Engineer_J

well right now Gamerush has another deal where if you trade in 3 or more games you get an extra $5 per game, no exclusions. So that game that EB or Gamestop will give you 50 cent for will net you at least $6 at Gamerush, plus the $20 off a pre-order how is that not better then the $10 you got for Rogue Squadron?

I've never been to Gamerush, but Gamestop and EB Games have always seemed like complete rip-offs compared to eBay. If people really think handing games over to these joints for an extra $5.00 is a better deal than selling them on eBay (not to mention paying $44.99 for used games), it's no wonder one day all of a sudden Gamestops popped up like dandelions in every strip mall across America.

But, like I said, I've never been to Gamerush. Maybe I'll check it out.

[goatsaddle]

Originally Posted by Frank Gunn

I've never been to Gamerush, but Gamestop and EB Games have always seemed like complete rip-offs compared to eBay. If people really think handing games over to these joints for an extra $5.00 is a better deal than selling them on eBay (not to mention paying $44.99 for used games), it's no wonder one day all of a sudden Gamestops popped up like dandelions in every strip mall across America.

But, like I said, I've never been to Gamerush. Maybe I'll check it out.

I'll have to check out gamerush too. sounds like the best deal around. I paid about $50 for my last few preorders. I've sold some games on ebay, but when i got demon stone, I went ahead and traded in at gamespot. I'll probably go back to ebay the next time I'm selling...

[SeanL]

I've only preordered one game, and that was the Limited Edition of Halo2...so I'm hoping this will be a good experience.

[Frank Gunn]

Originally Posted by SeanL

I've only preordered one game, and that was the Limited Edition of Halo2...so I'm hoping this will be a good experience.

Oh, really? You mean they didn't have it already at K-Mart?

[IKEA_boy]

Pre-ordering is for suckers. If EB Games doesn't have it when they should, go somewhere else. If they lecture you about not pre-ordering when you come in on release day, tell them to fuck off and then go somewhere else.

Pre-ordering is wholly unnecessary unless something greater than a demo disc of the game you're pre-ordering is offered.

[Sycowulf]

Originally Posted by IKEA_boy

Pre-ordering is for suckers. If EB Games doesn't have it when they should, go somewhere else. If they lecture you about not pre-ordering when you come in on release day, tell them to fuck off and then go somewhere else.

Pre-ordering is wholly unnecessary unless something greater than a demo disc of the game you're pre-ordering is offered.

Preordering is sometimes the only way to get a game, even if it isnt an overly popular one. Take for example Madden 2005 for the pc. Came out yesterday, by the time that I got to work (1pm) every eb in the area was sold out, except for one copy we had set aside for preorders. Same goes for Shellshock and GGX2, we are completely cleaned out on them too... we got a whole whopping 5 copies per system (+ preorders) on rls day, all gone now.

Bottom line is, if you dont mind getting to the store at opening, or waiting for a game to be back in stock, or just hunting around for a store that has it in stock, then preordering is pointless. If you like getting free swag, any kind of LE packaging, or being garanteed one on rls day its a good thing. Hell, its not like its costing you any extra, or you cant just cancel the preorder.

[lostwire]

Originally Posted by IKEA_boy

Pre-ordering is wholly unnecessary unless something greater than a demo disc of the game you're pre-ordering is offered.

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by Frank Gunn

It's been my experience that you're far better off selling *any* game on eBay. I got ten dollars recently for a three year old 'Rogue Squadron 2'.

or if you have a local game store, independently own, they usually give you a lot for games, i sold back 4 games, got like 45 bucks, and one of them was obi-wan and two were GBA games, dont remember what the fourth was but it wasnt worth that much i know that