Initial orders in simple terms.
Initial orders in simple terms.
Hardware varies depending on the context. For games, a good case is nice to have.
The issue with pre-ordering is that you're trusting the company to deliver what they promise. It can work sometimes, but you're giving the company control over the product before it's even available. This applies not just to games, but also to hardware, though the pre-order trend is strongest in gaming.
I have certain exceptions I can accept and explain when others decide to act, but I won’t automatically order them. For instance, Witcher 3 preorders make sense to me, and I’m only really excited about the game itself rather than rushing in. Deus Ex is another case—I’d notice how much attention they give to the director’s cut if anyone watches it all—but I still avoid preordering for personal reasons. This perspective is backed by a solid analysis from Jim Sterling here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm4JCFONptk
I’m placing a preorder for Witcher 3 to secure a 20% discount.
Pre-ordering no longer appeals to me. Many disappointing releases and regrets from players have become common now. The most recent game I had in mind was Battlefield 4, which has already caused a lot of discussion. It's entertaining, but the backlash was significant. (And perhaps Star Citizen, though I don't think that counts as pre-ordering).
Usually I skip preordering, but it feels quite odd that video game reviewers and critics seem to avoid letting people buy a title until after they’ve reviewed it.