• Gestrid@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      9 days ago

      If I can, I try to get my pre-orders through Best Buy’s in-store pickup, which means I can simply walk in the store and pickup my order. It’s essentially the same as going in and buying the game on launch day, except I’m guaranteed a copy that I’ve already paid for. If I don’t pre-order, there’s a chance the store either won’t get any copies by release day or they may sell out of them by the time I get there after work.

      Also, try as I might, there’s been several times where I haven’t been able to get a copy from Best Buy for one reason or another. That leaves Amazon as my only choice. So, in that case, pre-ordering means I’ll get my package on launch day, typically in the early afternoon.

      So, for me, it’s less about the pre-order bonuses and more about the logistics. I want to play a game on the day it comes out. I’ve usually planned to have free time specifically to play the game on release. So pre-ordering means I spend less time looking for a copy of a game I already know 100% that I’ll enjoy and more time actually playing the game.

      • SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        9 days ago

        This makes sense, you get physical copies! I haven’t purchased a physical copy in so long it didn’t even occur to me. Thanks for the explanation.

        • Gestrid@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          9 days ago

          Honestly, if I can, I always get physical. If I buy a digital copy, there’s no guarantee that the store I bought it from won’t take it back or something like that.

          • TachyonTele@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            9 days ago

            Where the heck are you buying physical PC games? I haven’t seen that on over ten years at least.

            • Gestrid@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              9 days ago

              I said I hardly ever buy PC games.

              If I’m interested in a PC-only game, I check GOG first, then I check Steam. I will rarely ever pre-order a PC game.

              Edit: Also, I appreciate the (probably unintentional) Attack on Titan reference.

              ten years at least.

              If you haven’t seen the show, don’t look it up. It’s a spoiler.

                • Gestrid@lemmy.ca
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  9 days ago

                  OP didn’t mention games that have Denuvo in them. They simply mentioned pre-ordering games.

                  And before anyone says this is a post about Denuvo, OP’s comment was phrased in such a way that it could sound like, “Why would anyone pre-order games in the first place in 2024, regardless of whether or not it has Denuvo?”

        • Gestrid@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          edit-2
          9 days ago

          Yeah, it’s still pretty common for big publishers to sell their games physically. Games from smaller devs that self-publish are usually only sold digitally, though they can sometimes end up getting published physically later on if they get popular enough.

          Edit: Or were you talking about Best Buy and Amazon selling physical games?

    • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      9 days ago

      Not them, but pre-loading a game so I can play it when I get off work is great

      Buy it a day or so in advance if early reviews look good on top of the other signs (known good developer for example), install, be ready to game when I get home without waiting

      Or, sometimes, if I know I’m gonna get it even if it’s bad (3arch cod games, I’m a zombies addict even when it’s not great) I’ll pre-order on a paycheck earlier in the year so the one the game comes out in has more money for enjoying the game when that time comes (snacks, weed… That’s most of it tbh)

      I do it fully aware that if/when a game is shite it’s entirely my own fault, I don’t pretend otherwise at least