Preordering - Stop the madness....

Mr E

The bottom of the barrel is officially gone. With Assassins Creed Unity, they're now digging through dirt. I'll just leave this here.

This is from the official AssassinsCreed YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BATKaNOe9s0

Otacon

Can someone synopsize? For those of us at work?

Skerries

and those of who are too lazy to watch

Zero-Cool

Win A trip to ComicCon??? :eek:

Pre-ordered!!!!!

Mr E

Preorder Assassins Creed Unity to get access to a slot machine on their website (seriously).

Prizes! Prizes! Prizes! Every Friday! Friday! Friday!

The earlier you register, the more spins you get (I can hear you all reaching for your wallets and purses).

CiDeRmAn

So the special edition doesn't give you something extra awesome over other editions, just the chance to get something extra awesome.
Kinda a game shaped lottery ticket.
But the idiots will buy it, and hand over money with a smile

tok9

So if I pre order 5 copies I can spin 5 times!!!??

Someone get me my wallet now

ShadowHearth

I can't watch that video right now, but from what I understand, if you preordered a game, you will be in some lottery to win some real life stuff and not in game content.

Here goes unpopular opinion lads. I honestly think something like that is actually better, then having content cut off and made exclusive to preorderes or/and content butchered and spread through retailers.

At least the way ubisoft doing it with unity, content is not hidden behind preordered wall and that lottery is just an bonus extra?
Now like I said, I did not watched video itself, so I don't know how exactly it works.

Zero-Cool

That's basically it. Preordering the game gets you an exclusive DLC mission (like every other game these days) but also you get to win prizes ranging from in-game weapons to home entertainments systems to trips abroad and entered in to a mega trip to Paris. The earlier you preorder, the more chances you have at spinning the wheel. To be honest I've seen much worse pre-order offers.

Whatever about the preorder, the game is looking class. Ubi rebuilt the AC engine over the last few years to make CO-OP work so it's not just tacked on and also got rid of the competitive online modes to concentrate on CO-OP. The online competitive modes were actually very good. I will probably be getting the game anyway as Black Flag was so good (Please don't burn me like AC3 Ubi). Don't think I'll be preordering this early but good luck on winning prizes to whoever does.

SeantheMan

As usual...South Park hit the nail on the head for me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJpwUTMwiVY

When you preorder a game, your just committing to paying for something that some assholes in California haven't even finished working on yet.
You know what you're getting when you pre-order a game ? A big dick in your mouth

craigfoster

This game needs to just stop and maybe take a break. Too many games to soon

gizmo

In before the rabbling over whether the marketing budget could have been better spent putting female characters into the game.

As for the pre-order bonus, there will be people out there who are massive fans of the series and will be pre-ordering it regardless. I guess this is something nice for those people? Not for me in the slightest though.

Captain Chaos

I'm a fan of the series and will not be pre-ordering this but I will be picking it up at launch or close to it. The only game I didn't buy was 3 and got it free on PS+, what a mess, could not finish it and so glad I didn't buy it. Unity looks to be back on track and can't wait to ty out the co-op on it. I love co-op multiplayer games, such a good laugh at times.

I agree that they should release an AC game every 2 years at most, maybe alternate it with the Watchdogs IP or something.

RobertFoster

sheehy83 wrote: »

Win A trip to ComicCon??? :eek:

When listing the prizes, the voice over guy says: "...A trip to Comic Con. <pause> The Assassin's Creed studio in Montreal..." I wonder if the staff are part of the prize, or just the buildings*?

I don't remember the last time I preordered anything. Could've been PS2/GC era.


*Text may say "A trip to", but I wasn't paying attention the first time :pac:

CastorTroy

Can't watch the video either, but does it mean the Deluxe edition will come with all prizes included?

I tend to only preorder if I expect it to be in short supply like the MK8 Blue Shell bundle, since it was cheap enough. And I also preordered Skyward Sword since being a Nintendo game, they tend to not get much stock of those games in these days.

humanji

Am I honestly the only one who thinks this isn't really that bad? Normally you pre-order and get an in-game hat or a 10 minute mission. With this you could win some pretty cool prizes (though the odds are against you, as they are for all lotteries), as well as the game (and hat and 10 minute mission). I really don't see an issue.

Banjo

Also, if you win the wristmounted springloaded blade/crossbow weapon, you can use it to go around to the other winners' houses and get their prizes too, any pre-order junk they have from other games as well as any other valuables they own. This is the best pre-order ever.

Captain Chaos

CastorTroy wrote: »

I tend to only preorder if I expect it to be in short supply like the MK8 Blue Shell bundle, since it was cheap enough. And I also preordered Skyward Sword since being a Nintendo game, they tend to not get much stock of those games in these days.

Even the Mk8 standard version sold out where I was. The Gamestops beside me both sold out in hours and only got very limited numbers in a week later. Clearly they did not expect it to be the hit it was.

The last big game I remember selling out everywhere in Dublin city centre at launch was GTA: Vice City.

Varik

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Here goes unpopular opinion lads. I honestly think something like that is actually better, then having content cut off and made exclusive to preorderes or/and content butchered and spread through retailers.

Very few of these are not timed exclusives, most end up as paid DLC and without the preorder bonus it'll just show up sooner rather than later.

If the retailer isn't paying for it then we will. Early access may take over from this in the future, as a pre-ordering game is worth more to them than a day 1 purchase.

CiDeRmAn

craigfoster wrote: »

This game needs to just stop and maybe take a break. Too many games to soon

I haven't finished the 2nd one yet

deathrider

Realisticly, I wonder how good your chances are of actually coming out with a prize between now and the game's release date. I mean a prize worth talking about, not bottom of the barrel stuff like a packet of AC stickers or something. I'd imagine they're quite low indeed.

Gunmonkey

deathrider wrote: »

Realisticly, I wonder how good your chances are of actually coming out with a prize between now and the game's release date. I mean a prize worth talking about, not bottom of the barrel stuff like a packet of AC stickers or something. I'd imagine they're quite low indeed.

Probably fairly small. If you get 5 spins each Friday, between now and release is close to around 16-20 Fridays, so each person could have 100 spins on their little slots yoke.

Also like how the Paris trip is the "ZOMG MEGA PRIZE" when its just a short hop to France for us on Ryanair Obviously there is hotel accommodation and some form of historic tour included, but I think the Comic-Con would be worth more to the likes of us. Probably no flights included, or with the Ubisoft Montreal visit :rolleyes:

:EDIT: Ah, solved my own question, US residents only. Europe gets its own pre-order scheme, though. You can form a "team" with your friends and unlock in-game weapons.

deathrider

Gunmonkey wrote: »

Ah, solved my own question, US residents only.

I had a funny feeling that would be thr craic.

Stone Deaf 4evr

90% of stuff that comes with pre ordering is a load of auld crap anyway. give me early access to DLC or a discount off the season pass and I'd be much happier. otherwise, things like art books or figurines are just dust collectors.

Temptamperu

Pre-orders and season passes need to go.

krudler

Pre-ordering gigantic AAA titles is pointless for the most part anyway, the rare exception like GTAV where it did sell out in a bunch of places and if you werent in a big city or town with more options to buy it you could get stuck, but pre-ordering Asassins Creed? COD? you'll find those easily gotten anywhere on launch day if you want them.

deathrider

Temptamperu wrote: »

Pre-orders and season passes need to go.

I agree. I never really saw the point in them. I think I've only ever pre-odered two games. One of which was because they were only getting about three copies intot he shop due to it's low demand.

Steviemoyne

This is absolutely ridiculous... Ubisoft what in gods name are you doing.

On a side note the preorder incentives on GOG for The Witcher 3 are decent.

Penn

I think there needs to be more definition between pre-order bonuses, DLC and Season passes.

What's the point in buying a season pass if not all the DLC is included?
What's the point in pre-order bonuses if it's released as DLC a week or two later?

They'll never get rid of DLC/Season passes. Not at this stage. It's too integral to the business models of game releases. And if they did game prices would likely just increase to compensate.

nesf

I'm absolutely fine with pre-order if it is 10-25% off the retail price, so if it was already on your "must-have" list you can choose to save a bit. What I hate is these extra pre-order for DLC offers, which normally you can buy later. Instead of a discount on the main game you're being pre-sold DLC at a heavy discount at best.

Cravez

I remember back in the day when the concept of pre-ordering a game was to guarantee a copy of your game when it launched and to avoid disappointment since your local store had limited copies. Gradually it started changing, little by little...

"Pre-order and get a keyring"

"Pre-order and get alternative box art"

"Pre-order and get a free in-game item as well as alternative box art"

"Pre-order and get a free in-game item and huge game content unlock that non pre-order plebs won't receive! Plus alternative box art!"

It's now turned into a huge marketing area for companies to lure consumers and we have only ourselves to blame for voting for it with our cash.

aperture_nuig

Cravez wrote: »

I remember back in the day when the concept of pre-ordering a game was to guarantee a copy of your game when it launched and to avoid disappointment since your local store had limited copies. Gradually it started changing, little by little...

"Pre-order and get a keyring"

"Pre-order and get alternative box art"

"Pre-order and get a free in-game item as well as alternative box art"

"Pre-order and get a free in-game item and huge game content unlock that non pre-order plebs won't receive! Plus alternative box art!"

It's now turned into a huge marketing area for companies to lure consumers and we have only ourselves to blame for voting for it with our cash.

This. I can't blame Ubi in all of this, they wouldn't be doing it if there wasn't money to be made from it.

XVII

Pre-order and get a pre-order.

gizmo

nesf wrote: »

I'm absolutely fine with pre-order if it is 10-25% off the retail price, so if it was already on your "must-have" list you can choose to save a bit. What I hate is these extra pre-order for DLC offers, which normally you can buy later. Instead of a discount on the main game you're being pre-sold DLC at a heavy discount at best.

The idea is to get you to buy the game at launch for full price so offering a discount for pre-orders would kind of defeat the purpose.

Conversely, if they're going to offer a reward for people who buy the game during the launch period (or pre-order for that matter) then a bit of extra content is a nicer way of doing it imo.

What I absolutely ****ing hate, on the other hand, are retailer and platform exclusives. Batman Origins with its PS3-exclusive Knightfall pack and Arkham Knight with its PS4-Scarecrow pack immediately spring to mind. I do remember the Transformers games having similar nonsense with additional bots available depending on which store you bought it from.

nesf

gizmo wrote: »

The idea is to get you to buy the game at launch for full price so offering a discount for pre-orders would kind of defeat the purpose.

Getting a discount is very common with PC pre-releases and is often commented on when it does not happen (e.g. Blizzard pretty much never does this and you might get a pet for pre-ordering at most). This is mainly due to the ability of publishers to "seed" Steam key resellers with limited numbers of cheap copies which when redeemed on Steam push the game up the Top Sellers list without having necessarily to offer a discount through Steam to everyone (though, some do do this).

This is usually combined with a preload on Steam before the actual release date which allows people to play as soon as the game unlocks. In theory anyway.

gizmo

nesf wrote: »

Getting a discount is very common with PC pre-releases and is often commented on when it does not happen (e.g. Blizzard pretty much never does this and you might get a pet for pre-ordering at most). This is mainly due to the ability of publishers to "seed" Steam key resellers with limited numbers of cheap copies which when redeemed on Steam push the game up the Top Sellers list without having necessarily to offer a discount through Steam to everyone (though, some do do this).

This is usually combined with a preload on Steam before the actual release date which allows people to play as soon as the game unlocks. In theory anyway.

Oh I'm not saying it doesn't happen, more just commenting on the actual purpose of all of this pre-order stuff. Things have obviously changed with the importance of the Steam (and other DD systems) storefronts and the propensity of folk to jump on discounted prices with less thought given to the purchase when they see a discount of nearly any kind applied compared to it being the RRP.

On a similar note, another nice way of rewarding pre-order buyers in the case of franchises is offering discounts for later iterations if you own the earlier ones. I'm pretty sure The Witcher 3 does this on Steam if you own the first two games and it acts as a nice thank you to fans.

nesf

gizmo wrote: »

Oh I'm not saying it doesn't happen, more just commenting on the actual purpose of all of this pre-order stuff. Things have obviously changed with the importance of the Steam (and other DD systems) storefronts and the propensity of folk to jump on discounted prices with less thought given to the purchase when they see a discount of nearly any kind applied compared to it being the RRP.

On a similar note, another nice way of rewarding pre-order buyers in the case of franchises is offering discounts for later iterations if you own the earlier ones. I'm pretty sure The Witcher 3 does this on Steam if you own the first two games and it acts as a nice thank you to fans.

I disagree, 10 years ago yeah, pre-ordering was about just selling you that copy, nowadays it's a big part of the marketing campaign (i.e. word of mouth + numbers they can talk about).

gizmo

nesf wrote: »

I disagree, 10 years ago yeah, pre-ordering was about just selling you that copy, nowadays it's a big part of the marketing campaign (i.e. word of mouth + numbers they can talk about).

You disagree with the notion that the purpose of pushing pre-orders so heavily is to get people to buy early or, more specifically, while it's full price?

nesf

gizmo wrote: »

You disagree with the notion that the purpose of pushing pre-orders so heavily is to get people to buy early or, more specifically, while it's full price?

I'm saying it's not *just* getting people to buy early, otherwise, why offer a discount? The value of being on the Steam Best Sellers list for a PC title is definitely not to be undervalued. Ditto the game appearing on friend's activity and those friend's icons appearing beside the game as "owned by." There's a lot more at stake than just selling you, your copy.

(I'm also giving them the benefit of the doubt that they're not trying to get the game sold before the reviews are out.)

gizmo

nesf wrote: »

I'm saying it's not *just* getting people to buy early, otherwise, why offer a discount? The value of being on the Steam Best Sellers list for a PC title is definitely not to be undervalued. Ditto the game appearing on friend's activity and those friend's icons appearing beside the game as "owned by." There's a lot more at stake than just selling you, your copy.

(I'm also giving them the benefit of the doubt that they're not trying to get the game sold before the reviews are out.)

Oh neither am I, but I'd take the position that it's their primary goal, most certainly on console and, to be a lesser extent, on PC due to the other factors you've mentioned.

In the pre-order discount case, such an approach will vary per publisher but, where it applies, I'd imagine they consider a <25% discount to be a reasonable trade off compared to people holding off for deeper discounts later or for more seasonal sales which, as mentioned before, have grown massively in scale.

Varik

gizmo wrote: »

The idea is to get you to buy the game at launch for full price so offering a discount for pre-orders would kind of defeat the purpose.

Getting people to buy it at full price day 1 isn't the point, it's to get stores to order it. If a shop has 100 preorders they're going to order 100+ themselves to fill the pre-orders and then have probably more than they would have had on shelve copies.

Now for digital this isn't the case anymore, but it's still more about getting those orders in a having some return on a huge investment as early as possible before you can change your mind.

nesf

gizmo wrote: »

Oh neither am I, but I'd take the position that it's their primary goal, most certainly on console and, to be a lesser extent, on PC due to the other factors you've mentioned.

In the pre-order discount case, such an approach will vary per publisher but, where it applies, I'd imagine they consider a <25% discount to be a reasonable trade off compared to people holding off for deeper discounts later or for more seasonal sales which, as mentioned before, have grown massively in scale.

Yeah, what I'm saying is a large part of the goal with pre-selling you a game is to turn it into two more pre-sales after you through network effects etc. One approach used in doing this is to make it look like "a good deal" by knocking some of the price off or bundling in extras (the latter is being seen less due to the backlash against non-cosmetic "DLC" in pre-orders, amongst other things).

Temptamperu

nesf wrote: »

(I'm also giving them the benefit of the doubt that they're not trying to get the game sold before the reviews are out.)

fair play to you, but i bet the folks who pre-ordered colonial marines wont be offering the same trust in publishers as you. Watchdogs while its a good game runs like shít on all consoles and pc. Two cases of publishers lying just to get pre-orders and pre-orders on day one DLC and season passes. All bought before review "embargos"

Nody

I can recall the last three games I preordered.

They were from Blizzard... Anything else I'd only pre-order if I was in a beta for an extensive time and liked what I saw.

deathrider

Temptamperu wrote: »

fair play to you, but i bet the folks who pre-ordered colonial marines wont be offering the same trust in publishers as you. Watchdogs while its a good game runs like shít on all consoles and pc. Two cases of publishers lying just to get pre-orders and pre-orders on day one DLC and season passes. All bought before review "embargos"

Didn't Watchdogs also come with a hape of different pre-order packs too? All with different stuff available in them. I'm pretty sure I saw Jim Sterling talking about how they had a ridiculous number of different pre-order bonus packages, and how it was all very convoluted because of it.

Temptamperu

deathrider wrote: »

Didn't Watchdogs also come with a hape of different pre-order packs too? All with different stuff available in them. I'm pretty sure I saw Jim Sterling talking about how they had a ridiculous number of different pre-order bonus packages, and how it was all very convoluted because of it.

yeah there's tons of it. And with assassins creed unity ubisoft have more and more stuff, pre-orders bonuses with "iconic" weapons from the new game. Although i do like the ass creed games i always buy pre-owned and never buy DLC.
But people still pre-order as that is what the magic box told them to do.

Varik

Only games I've pre-ordered lately were digital and preloaded (PS3 ).

Generic Dreadhead

Can't believe its page 4 and no one has done this yet :pac:

Zero-Cool

I didn't mind preordering but I was a fool.......This REALLY does have to stop but I fear we're too late

http://kotaku.com/gamestops-preorder-plans-sound-like-bad-news-1601428457?utm_campaign=Socialflow_Kotaku_Facebook&utm_source=Kotaku_Facebook&utm_medium=Socialflow

According to a report on GamesBeat, the retail giant recently met with investment company R.W. Baird to talk about the company's future, and one of Baird's analysts has revealed some of the things that they spoke about.
"[GamesStop] indicated that software publishers are more enthusiastic about partnering with it," Baird's Colin Sebastian wrote. "For example, by offering exclusive content on each major game release, and longer term, future models may include GameStop offering exclusive gameplay."
GamesBeat asked him to clarify what exactly that "future model" meant, and Sebastian added the retailer is thinking about "getting involved at the time of game development where there could be some content exclusive to [the retailer] included in the game."
So if you thought it was stupid that peripheral content like skins and maps was split up between retailers, just wait until GameStop can offer actual parts of a game you can't get anywhere else. Then wait for Walmart and Best Buy and Amazon to catch on. It'll be great.
We've contacted GameStop for comment, and will update if we hear back.

Stone Deaf 4evr

sheehy83 wrote: »

I didn't mind preordering but I was a fool.......This REALLY does have to stop but I fear we're too late

http://kotaku.com/gamestops-preorder-plans-sound-like-bad-news-1601428457?utm_campaign=Socialflow_Kotaku_Facebook&utm_source=Kotaku_Facebook&utm_medium=Socialflow

We're too late already, didnt preordering call of duty ghosts at gamestop give you an unlock code to get camo in black ops 2 ? that was the only way of getting that camo as well AFAIK.

Zero-Cool

Ah Camo is harmless, a full level with input from Gamestop is awful. Although saying that, it's already done between devs and consoles. Ubi always gives Sony an exclusive level. Something very durty though about Gamestop being brought in at design level.