I check Newegg's email promos daily, they don't even do that very often, and when it's $10 off on a $60 PC game, it's usually a worse deal than just finding a site that has a good release price.Seriously, your examples are not only bad, one has a HUGE fanbase, the others obviously looking for help from fans. There's just too many titles to list that are in jeopardy of being canceled or even the series canned due to poor preorder sales. Medal of Honor and Red Faction being just two of them recently, and those WERE pretty good series originally.Pffft, wtf?The question "What "motivates" a preorder" implies it's a thread for those whom do. If it were a debate thread on whether we think preordering is worthwhile, it should have been titled something like "Do you preorder, and why?"
You obviously want a different question asked. Fine. Ask it in a different thread.
You obviously believe that preorders are a necessity. Fine. You are welcome to your opinions. Somehow they weren't needed in the late eighties, nineties, and new millennium. Only in the last few years have game companies demanded we show our loyalty before they released a finished product. Perhaps next you'd like to preorder your clothing, food, and movies. Good luck with Star Wars episodes I, II, and III. While that may be a low blow, it does highlight the insanity, no?
Games do not get cancelled for not having enough preorders. Why? Let's assume a two year development cycle is about what you're looking at for the average game. In those two years, no game is announced (unless you're Square) until 6-8 months prior to release. So you're looking at over 70% of the time to make a game already invested before a game can be preordered. That kind of investment doesn't get thrown away if the preorders are paltry. The preorders help publishers determine what sales figures
might be, and how much extended support is provided (DLC, patches, etc...).
Medal of Honor and Red Faction are not getting canned due to preorders. They are getting canned due to poor sales figures. A brisk preorder may have happened, but actual final sales figures indicate that both of the most recent games did not recoup their costs. Crappy game=poor sales. You want proof, the business times managed to figure it out:
http://www.ibtimes.com/ea-admits-medal-honor-warfighter-was-flop-we-shouldve-done-better-1082496.
No level of preorders can save either MoH or Red Faction from being shelved. Preorders are not sales figures. I cited Rayman because Ubisoft said the sales figures for one of their other games would determine if Rayman Origins was released. They hadn't even begun development, so the "preorder" was to buy their other game. A slimy tactic, but the only time I'm even aware of a developer putting it so bluntly.
Now that I've wasted time explaining this, I'm done. You're welcome to the last words on this particular topic. I have a personal bias against preorders, which I was trying not to bring into the discussion. Unfortunately, I don't believe there's a way to convey my point without whipping out articles that I agree with. If you'd like some additional reading peruse Cnet and Kotaku (if Cnet gets it everyone else has been aware of it for 6 months). Peace out, and discussion back on topic.
