sometimes they offer the pre-order content later, such as inFamous adding the previously pre-order exclusive Gigawatt blades as a free download, as of today, i believe. take it on a case by case basis; if you want this game and HAVE to have an exclusive design for your parachute (actually, the guns and hovercraft sound pretty sweet), then i'd go ahead and go for it. then if the game gets bad reviews at release time... just cancel the preorder!

Varies on the game. Sometimes, they'll offer it later, but other times they choose not to. Like the Uncharted 2 Digital Treasure Map bonus, that was for pre-orders only. (not that anyone in their right mind would pay anything for a guide to six percent of the treasures...)

Depends on the game. Some of them do, some of them don't

With Eidios most likely... not.

I am lucky as a PC gamer to have able to just download this content elsewhere if I do not pre-order the game. I really wouldn't want to pre-order my PC copy of ME2 from Gamestop for instance, despite their bonuses.

I'd rather buy from a retailer that treats me well, like Microcenter or Fry's Electronics and "steal" the content Gamestop offers. Should I feel bad about that? I'm already going to buy the Collector's Edition anyways; if only the 1st game had the CE on the PC, only 360 version got it.

For instance, I bought the Sims 3 Collector's Edition which has an exclusive European sport's car download. I found the darn thing via a torrent within seconds on Google, LOL.

Shouldn't feel bad as long as you payed full price for the game. Pre-order bonuses are bullshit anyways.

Thanks. I don't want to pre-order the game, yet they play Jedi mind tricks on you that you are getting the "incomplete" game without these items, however minor they are. I think I would just buy the game normally and just "illegally" download these "bonuses" later.

Pre-order bonuses are obviously meant for two reasons: 1. interest free loan to the retailer you pre-order with 2. To make you more likely to buy the game. While reason 2 seems blatantly obvious it's a very old adage in any sector of sales that if someone puts money up on something ahead of time they are more likely to buy it when it's available. Typically thats because they have something to lose (like a non-refundable deposit) but thats not the case with gaming pre-orders ... even so it's still effective when it comes to sales.

I can't remember a single instance of a game I've purchased this year that the pre-order bonus didn't manifest itself as DLC eventually. It's just an incentive as in "hey if you put down a good faith deposit to buy our game we'll reward you with this specific item and make sure we have a copy of the game saved for you when it releases." I'd say that eventually it will be available to those who didn't pre-order even though you may have to pay additional monies.

I know exactly how you feel! I caved though, as much as I don't want to give Gamestop my money. But have you seen the armor though? Its beastly! http://na.llnet.bioware.cdn.ea.com/u/f/eagames/bioware/masseffect2/resources/assets/media/screenshots/screenshot-027-p.jpg I think you just gotta remember that overall, your purchase should be fun and worthwhile over anything else.

What I do most of time is pre-order something to get the bonus (for instance the MAG & Bad Co 2 beta) and then just transfer that to another game for a different bonus or use it to buy a game before the previous pre-orders release. It's the same money I'll spend at some point and it's transferable so it's not like you are out anything. When my buddy managed a Gamestop I just got all the bonuses I wanted for free (got a whole drawer at my desk full of random gaming swag) because those items go unaccounted at retail. Also, let's say I buy a game at Best Buy (usually do for the gamers club rewards points), if they have a pre-order bonus left in store I take it to the register and they'll just let me have it. There are ways to get these bonuses without throwing out a different $5 spot on all of them.

i think bonuses of "armor" are kind of lame.

i like upgrading my armor in RPGs, and if i had a best armor from the start it would get boring for me =/