We're not positive if the price of the game will go up after its Nov. 18 release, but we certainly like this pre-order discount idea if it sticks.
[Via Big Download]
We're not positive if the price of the game will go up after its Nov. 18 release, but we certainly like this pre-order discount idea if it sticks.
[Via Big Download]
Reader Comments (35)
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 3:35PM darkinchworm said
Good strategy, I say.
Shave $5 off the pre-order, or sell it only at $60 to begin with only for Lamestop to sell a used copy at $55, screwing Valve out of any money?
Valve knows the drill.
Shave $5 off the pre-order, or sell it only at $60 to begin with only for Lamestop to sell a used copy at $55, screwing Valve out of any money?
Valve knows the drill.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 8:03PM Morisato13 said
Preordering never made sense without some sort of incentive. It's not like it's that hard to find the game when it comes out. And if it is hard to find, those who preorder dont always get it on day 1 because the store over sold their preorders anyways.
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Posted: Oct 17th 2008 2:20AM acceptablerisk said
When it comes to digital delivery, they can't even hold the fear of limited quantities over your head. The only way to drive presales among sensible people is through some kind of additional incentive. That's why you see premiums and discounts.
Also, point of note: Valve also offered $5 off of Orange Box if you bought it before release. So this isn't exactly a new idea.
Reply
Also, point of note: Valve also offered $5 off of Orange Box if you bought it before release. So this isn't exactly a new idea.
Posted: Oct 17th 2008 2:23AM darkinchworm said
New idea? No. I know that. But as I implied above, it's a smart alternative to buying cheaper from Gamestop and ultimately fucking the developer.
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Posted: Oct 17th 2008 12:44PM acceptablerisk said
Apologies. My mention of the discount was more in reply to the article. The author says that he's never seen anything like this before. I thought it was worth mentioning that Valve, itself, had this same offer for its last big release.
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Posted: Oct 17th 2008 1:53PM darkinchworm said
No need to apologize, but thank you for the courtesy :)
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Posted: Oct 16th 2008 3:36PM hosaphat said
Isn't this happening with Far Cry 2 also?
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 3:37PM (Unverified) said
Valve has been discounting their first party (and some third) pre-ordered games on Steam for a long time now. Since HL2 launched, I think. The price goes back to normal after the games launch.
It's nice a good incentive to pre-order.
It's nice a good incentive to pre-order.
Posted: Oct 20th 2008 6:50AM (Unverified) said
Or I'm sure some people will find it easy to buy the game with the $5 off, return it. (My Gamestop lets you return within 7 days for a full refund), make your $5, then buy it back later or some other game.
You just made 5 bucks.
Reply
You just made 5 bucks.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 3:37PM Ghede said
Amazon at some point had it as low as $35, so after taxes, I'm paying $40.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 3:56PM GenGrievous said
As long as Valve doe snot articficially raises the dollar prices for people from Europe I still prefer Steam. Not getting L4D though, bit too expensive for my taste.
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Posted: Oct 16th 2008 4:00PM Haggard said
I love Steam as a service (and enjoy buying older games and their weekend bargains), but yeah, I wouldn't buy a new game from them. I enjoy having boxes on my shelf, in addition to the fact they overcharge.
Here in europe, CoD4 is still being sold for $70, which back then translated to £35 before tax (ripoff, PC games cost £25 off amazon and play.com), and back a month ago when the pound was at its weakest, translated to (inc. tax) £60. More than twice as much as a retail PC game, and £20 more than a retail console title.
Reply
Here in europe, CoD4 is still being sold for $70, which back then translated to £35 before tax (ripoff, PC games cost £25 off amazon and play.com), and back a month ago when the pound was at its weakest, translated to (inc. tax) £60. More than twice as much as a retail PC game, and £20 more than a retail console title.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 4:31PM (Unverified) said
"As long as Valve doe snot articficially..."
I've never really thought about deer and snot, do deer have mucus?
Reply
I've never really thought about deer and snot, do deer have mucus?
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 3:41PM cuteSAVAGE said
I've had mine pre-ordered from Amazon since August, they had it at $7 off (360 version)
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 6:09PM (Unverified) said
I believe he was talking about the PC version being $35.
I also have it reserved at Amazon for the 360. :)
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I also have it reserved at Amazon for the 360. :)
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 6:41PM einhanderkiller said
Yes, the PC version was available for pre-order at $35 at Amazon a few weeks back. It's now $45 at Amazon.
I was planning to pre-order it at $35, but oh well. One of the advantages of having a friend who works at EA is that you get EA published games really cheap. :D
Reply
I was planning to pre-order it at $35, but oh well. One of the advantages of having a friend who works at EA is that you get EA published games really cheap. :D
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 3:48PM CaramelZappa said
Like underhero said, Valve does this all the time. It seems like most games released on steam are 5% off for preorders. Also, almost every weekend they'll have a game or pack of games for half price.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 3:53PM Orangecoke said
Mass Effect PC did this too I believe.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 4:02PM (Unverified) said
Wait, so this can be applied to retail as well? What do I do, purchase online, and then get a coupon which I bring to retail stores? I've always opted for the physical box over steam purhcases...mainly because I like to have a copy I can put on the shelf for prosperity.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 7:16PM (Unverified) said
I believe the stores are required to do this by Vavle, not sure though.
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Posted: Oct 16th 2008 4:10PM TheGreatLoni said
This isn't EXACTLY a new thing. Years ago gamestop actually did this for some titles, pre-order and you get the cheaper price. They were doing this long before they started offering bonus items and such for pre-ordering.
Side note: Gamestop online is currently running a promotion offering free overnight shipping if you reserve the game. This is addition to the $5 off. Fuel the empire!
Side note: Gamestop online is currently running a promotion offering free overnight shipping if you reserve the game. This is addition to the $5 off. Fuel the empire!
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 4:25PM Berzerk said
I preordered it last night on Steam the second I saw that it was available.
You might think that finding it for $30-35 for the 360 is a good deal until you remember that you might MAYBE get the new maps/weapons/classes/characters/whatever that Valve releases on PC eventually.
You might think that finding it for $30-35 for the 360 is a good deal until you remember that you might MAYBE get the new maps/weapons/classes/characters/whatever that Valve releases on PC eventually.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 4:27PM (Unverified) said
I can just see this happening..
Gamestop: Your total comes to 45 dollars plus tax.
Me: But I already payed 5 dollars for the preorder..
Gamestop: Right, that's why your total is 45 dollars. What a sale :)
Gamestop: Your total comes to 45 dollars plus tax.
Me: But I already payed 5 dollars for the preorder..
Gamestop: Right, that's why your total is 45 dollars. What a sale :)
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 4:47PM Shagittarius said
5...5...5 dollar preorder...
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 5:28PM (Unverified) said
I went with the Steam pre-order right away. Because then I get the game the 18th of November instead of the slated european release date of 21 November.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 5:49PM QuePasa87 said
I have both pc and 360 versions pre-ordered so I can have my L4D fix whether in my room with the luxury of KB/M or on XBL with my buddies :)
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 5:54PM Jacksons said
I'm willing to pay the extra $5 for a case and disc. I'd say manual, but they'll probably continue with their moronic PDF format manuals. Cheap-asses!
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 6:01PM (Unverified) said
This has been done before. If you had pre-ordered 'Alone in the Dark'(I'm sorry if you did) at Gamestop they shaved off $5 dollars off the top. They would scan a UPC code into
the register to give you the discount.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 7:54PM Psychoplasm said
THIS is what i consider a tax break. :D
Posted: Oct 17th 2008 7:29AM SaberJ said
Something else for 360 did this recently as well, except it was like $10 off. I want to say Orange Box, but I guess that's not right.
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 7:39PM (Unverified) said
HAHAHAHA DUDE YOU PAY 5 DOLLARS TO PRE ORDER AND GET 5 DOLLARS OFF!!!! Dumbass post...
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