It’s Time To Rethink Pre-ordering Games | Spot On
20 years ago, there was something undeniably exciting about scrounging up a few dollars, heading down to your local game store, and placing a preorder for the next entry in your favorite series. These days, however, we can’t help but feel a bit more hesitant. With each passing year, the hype and marketing around games grows more intense, and while it might be easy to get caught up in it all, it’s not so easy to realize you spent $70 on a game that doesn’t meet your expectations.
Following the rise of digital media and live-service games, with the uncertainty towards when a game will actually release (and what shape it will be in when it does), and more and more preorder bonuses that just aren’t worth your hard-earned cash, we’re beginning to rethink the way we approach buying games–and we think you should, too. On this week’s episode of Spot On, Lucy and Tamoor discuss why preordering games is not as consumer-friendly as you’ve been led to believe, as well as ways to show developers your support that require less cash and uncertainty.
Spot On is a weekly news show airing Fridays in which GameSpot’s managing editor Tamoor Hussain and senior producer Lucy James talk about the latest news in games. Given the highly dynamic and never-ending news cycle of the massive video game industry, there’s always something to talk about but, unlike most other news shows, Spot On will dive deep into a single topic as opposed to recapping all the news. Spot On airs each Friday.
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In recent years, the video game industry has grown exponentially, and more and more people are pre-ordering games. Pre-ordering games is when you purchase a game before it is released, in order to secure yourself a copy. However, it is now time to rethink pre-ordering games.
The main issue with pre-ordering games is that you are not able to properly assess the game before you purchase it. Often the reviews for a game will not be released until a few days before the game comes out, or even after the game has already launched. This leaves gamers in the dark as to whether or not the game is good. It also means that if the game is not good, you are stuck with an expensive purchase.
There are also a number of other issues with pre-ordering games. For example, pre-orders can sometimes come with exclusive content that is only available to those who pre-order. This exclusive content can range from bonus levels to exclusive skins, but it also gives those who pre-order an advantage over those who do not. This can be a great way to reward loyal fans, but it can also be seen as unfair to those who are late to the party.
Finally, pre-ordering games can lead to a lack of content. Developers often try to create the best game possible, but if they know that a certain amount of people have already pre-ordered the game, they may be more likely to cut corners to make a more profitable product. This can mean that the game could be lacking in content, or that the game could be rushed in order to meet a deadline.
Overall, it is time to rethink pre-ordering games. While it can be a great way to secure a copy of a game, there are a number of issues that can arise from pre-ordering games. It is best to do your research and wait until the reviews for the game are released before making your purchase. This way, you can get a better idea of what the game is like and make an informed decision.
