Preorders/Reserves

I'll usually only preorder if A) there's a nice bonus involved, like the Zelda: Ocarina disc, or first-printing extras with imports, or B) it's an import that looks like it'll be a limited printing. I like preordering online-only goods for the peace of mind, and for the convenience. For games I can find in brick & mortar stores, I'll get them when I get them. Game distribution in my area is usually good enough (unlike with anime, books, and CDs). I need a good reason to preorder, and simply getting my hands on an easy-to-acquire game isn't enough.

I've only ever reserved a game ONCE in my entire life : Steel Battalion. And that was only because there was no other way to get it otherwise.

And that's it. I'm probably never going to do it again. I think I have enough common sense to understand that for starters, without preordering, I get to keep my money until I decide to buy the game. It's still $50 either way... and if I preorder, I lose the financial flexibility to use it for something else until then.

At the very best case, I'm losing a dime in bank interest :D

Especially these days, you can never be sure what kind of offers you'll get on release week at the major retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City.

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I, along with the other employees, were instructed to tell people that if they didn't reserve it, we MIGHT have one or two copies left, and that they had lucked out this time, so they'd better reserve games in the future.

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This actually happened to me when I called a Gamestop around here about F-Zero GX. The clerk told me they didn't have many left, hence I should have preordered to make sure I got a copy.

After that conversation, I ignored Gamestop and went to Target, who were more than happy to accept my $50 in exchange for a copy of the game. Gamestop's probably lost most of my business because of this.

I pre-order if there's something that I really want, but only at video-game specialized stores like EB or Babbages.. In short, I don't pcare of the manager doesn't care. Just get me my game so I can get out.

I don't reserve at those other stores, so I've never had a hassle, lucky me.

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Originally Posted by negitoro

And that's it. I'm probably never going to do it again. I think I have enough common sense to understand that for starters, without preordering, I get to keep my money until I decide to buy the game. It's still $50 either way... and if I preorder, I lose the financial flexibility to use it for something else until then.

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Definitely. I hate having to cancel a preorder when my financial situation is suddenly tight around the item's release date.

If I know a title is going to be rare, or hard to find once it's out, I'll go ahead and pre-order it. This was a great option when I wanted Burning Rangers, Shining Force III and Panzer Dragoon Saga.


Rarely does a free T-shirt or lithograph entice me enough to pre-order a game, but when it comes with a free game like Zelda did, I'm all for it. I plan on Pre-ordering Rogue Sqaudron 3, because of the free game offer.

I used to preorder until I found that Gamestop ended up with extra copies for every game I reserved. The manager at my local GS will save me a copy but I usually try to only reserve titles I feel will be limited.

Other than that, I only reserve games that will net me some goodies. The SC2 artbook is a good example.

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Originally Posted by NoFace

Cost of materials is one thing, cost of actually producing the goods is another. Development costs are significantly higher for producing just about any game than an author sitting at home hammering away their next novel. I'm sure you know that but it's worth mentioning at least.

$50 is probably a stretch in a lot of cases, but that's another issue.

Also, when comparing buying books versus buying games, I think the demand for new game titles is usually a lot greater than most of the books that are released. Also, far more books are published weekly than games, which probably helps to lessen the demand for all but the biggest books (like your Harry Potters). I think the markets are similar in some regards but too different to compare when talking about whether pre-order systems are effective or not.

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to add

many many books get multiple print runs
most games dont

you will find books from 20 - 30 years ago that still get small print runs here and there

you wont see that with games

id like it if theyd start that but they havent like shit id kill for a second print run of Dracula X for the Duo or of Radiant Silvergun


you really only reserve a book if your dead set on getting a 1st edition
not because its going to be sold out and you wont be able to get it new any more

Too often have I prereserved games that became hard to find afterward. I also like being able to mosey into Gamestop after work at my leisure to pick my stuff up.

Its also nice to have them call ME when the shipment comes in. I don't have time to call the store all the time...

i typically pre-order when sweet swag is involved or i know a game will be limited...
i can only think of one bad pre-order experience i've had. i live about 20-25 minutes from a GS which they told me VF4:evo was going to be in the day after release (which i know is common, since i used to manage at a GS)...i drove into town only to find out that GS two day shipped the game that i pre-ordered, while they overnighted 3 other title that had no pre-orders!...so i went over to EB and bought it...if i pre-order a title i expect to be able to purchase it the before or on the same day that other store have it one their shelf...