Pre order empire: The consumer strikes back! Gamers show tendency of curbing their pre order habits

[Linusinium]

Fewer UK consumers are pre-ordering video games, MCV can reveal.

20 per cent of UK gamers say they are either pre-ordering fewer titles, or have stopped pre-ordering altogether.

This comes from a survey conducted by Ipsos Media’s GameTrack project on behalf of MCV.

Nine per cent of those surveyed said they had cut back on the number of pre-orders over the last 12 months, while 11 per cent said they had not pre-ordered anything despite doing so in the past.

The data also revealed that the UK is the No.1 territory across Europe for pre-orders (23 per cent of gamers say they pre-ordered a title in the last year), but it is also seeing the sharpest decline.

 

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/pre-order-crisis-looms-as-3-4m-uk-gamers-hold-off/0148440

 

About time if you ask me. Continuing down the preorder path erodes the consumer goods value in the long run. Gamestop for example is trying to rally developers to carve up DLC's while the game are still in the drawing board stage.

[Dzzope]

Shun the pre-orders!!!

[ShadowCaptain]

about time! everyone needs to stop,... now

[That Norwegian Guy]

Haven't pre-ordered anything but Skyrim in the past 5 years, so I'm glad to hear it. Though I did pre-order two Skyrim copies (one to give as a birthday gift to my brother as it came out the day before his birthday)

[slightlyjaded]

I'm always a little leery when I see statistics quoted. My first question is always what is the person quoting them's agenda? My second is always "exactly what questions were asked?"

 

I have not preordered a game despite doing so in the past..... I preordered warlords, does that indicate a trend? Yet I'm part of that 11%.

 

A lecturer walked into my first class instatistics, and stated...."There's lies, damn lies, and statistics"

 

While I'm glad that people might be preordering less games, I'm also looking at a relatively small sample size, and would be far more interested in tracking steam's preorder sales, than a company that tracked 24,000 "gamers" in a 3 month period.

[slightlyjaded]

I'd like to add that the only major title released for preorder in the last 3 months that wasn't available previously (that I can think of) Is GTA V....maybe dying light, but I think that was available back late last year.

[mr moose]

I'd like to add that the only major title released for preorder in the last 3 months that wasn't available previously (that I can think of) Is GTA V....maybe dying light, but I think that was available back late last year.

 

I agree we need to be skeptical of such surveys, however they said the questions where about pre orders over the last 12 months.  So I agree, I'm not too sure how accurate they would be in the end.

 

From the article:

The reasons cited for this drop included consumers preferring to spend money on other non-gaming items and savvy gamers choosing to ‘wait for prices to come down’.

 

 

Interesting and upsetting that half arsed unfinished software wasn't the chief reason.  I am sick of seeing games come out that are sometimes unplayable until the third or fourth update after a month has passed.

[slightlyjaded]

I agree we need to be skeptical of such surveys, however they said the questions where about pre orders over the last 12 months.  So I agree, I'm not too sure how accurate they would be in the end.

 

This project has actually been running since the 3rd quarter of 2012 according to their releases. TL:DR...I didn't check to see if they have changed their questions over time.

 

http://www.isfe.eu/industry-facts/statistics

 

I figure it's where they got their baselines from.

[simson0606]

faith in pre orderers restored!

[mr moose]

This project has actually been running since the 3rd quarter of 2012 according to their releases. TL:DR...I didn't check to see if they have changed their questions over time.

 

http://www.isfe.eu/industry-facts/statistics

 

well if it's accurate then I am really pissed the chief reason people are not pre-ordering because of cost rather than due to dodgy game releases.

[slightlyjaded]

well if it's accurate then I am really pissed the chief reason people are not pre-ordering because of cost rather than due to dodgy game releases.

Might not have been a tickable option. That's what I mean by stats are only as good as the questions that are asked. If the person asking the questions didn't want that answer, they wouldn't have asked that question.

 

I can't find a list of the questions asked. the digests just give a breakdown  of potential gamers, as well as a lot of extrapolation with very shaky maths behind it. (people answering a tech questionaire are probably more likely to play games than those that refuse, can you extrapolate 24,000 people out to cover the population of 4 countries?)

[PortentousLad]

Never pre-ordered anything. I can't see a the point in doing that.

[felixbearpig]

Preordering digital games is stupid anyways.

This is only supposed to be to reserve your physical copy because it would be sold out for weeks upon release

[qwertywarrior]

PCMR guys pretty much stopped all together

[ItsAFeature]

For PC if you've got a fast internet connection or can wait to play the game for the few hours it takes to download on release day, there is no reason to pre-order a game. Which is also why most new games come with big pre-order incentives including access to content early, getting extra content, or free access to DLC content.

 

I have to admit that I sometimes do pre-order games in my favorite franchises when it gives me access to content that I know I would have bought anyways.

[Trik'Stari]

I agree we need to be skeptical of such surveys, however they said the questions where about pre orders over the last 12 months.  So I agree, I'm not too sure how accurate they would be in the end.

 

From the article:

 

Interesting and upsetting that half arsed unfinished software wasn't the chief reason.  I am sick of seeing games come out that are sometimes unplayable until the third or fourth update after a month has passed.

Well, why pay full price for unfinished software?

 

This is a good thing, now if only what we all know will happen, wouldn't happen.

 

Corporate scumbag #1: "THEY AREN'T PREORDERING AS MUCH, WHAT SHALL WE DO?"

Corporate scumbag #2: "MAKE MORE CONTENT ONLY AVAILABLE WITH PREORDER!"

Corporate scumbag #1:

[Victorious Secret]

PCMR guys pretty much stopped all together

 

No, no they didn't. If there is a group full of more hypocritical bullshit than PCMR, I have yet to find it. Let me show you what happens to all those "don't preorder" and "boycott this game" cries:

[Trik'Stari]

No, no they didn't. If there is a group full of more hypocritical bullshit than PCMR, I have yet to find it. Let me show you what happens to all those "don't preorder" and "boycott this game" cries:

-snip

At least I can say, I've never purchased a CoD game on PC, nor will I.

 

And there's been what...how many come out since mw3? (the last one I bought for 360, and hated)

[JAKEBAB]

I wonder why.... You don't get cool stuff anymore. GTA iv had a cool safety deposit box, what did GTA v have? Saints row 2 had a cool freckle bitches pizza box, what did SR3 have? Call Of Duty where's my life size exo suit?

[Trik'Stari]

I wonder why.... You don't get cool stuff anymore. GTA iv had a cool safety deposit box, what did GTA v have? Saints row 2 had a cool freckle bitches pizza box, what did SR3 have? Call Of Duty where's my life size exo suit?

I did preorder about 3 days before for GTA 5 for the preload, which is something I felt was worthwhile because of the sheer size of the game.

 

An earlier release date would have solved that problem though.

[Nup]

Excellent!

Also; great title, and thanks for sharing.

[Dabombinable]

Lol, and to think I've never pre ordered a game, and wait until all the talk of 'problems' with games goes away before even saving for a game (if I'm going to pay $60+ for a game, I'm going to fucking get what I paid for).

[Misanthrope]

No, no they didn't. If there is a group full of more hypocritical bullshit than PCMR, I have yet to find it. Let me show you what happens to all those "don't preorder" and "boycott this game" cries:

 

That was in 2009, can you come up with an example that is not 6 years old? Your point is fine but you keep using that stupid pic, yes it was bad it was also a long time ago

[Victorious Secret]

That was in 2009, can you come up with an example that is not 6 years old? Your point is fine but you keep using that stupid pic, yes it was bad it was also a long time ago

 

The idiocy of people who boycott hasn't changed in the past 6 years, the point is valid as is the example. 

[Doobeedoo]

Rarely something's worth pre ordering and ofc if it's a physical game copy it's different. But for digital, no reason really. Maybe for pre load if you really must play it day 1 or some bonus. But bonuses are nothing special. Also, there's that, that game won't work properly.