I've been thinking about this topic for quite some time in lieu of the recent upheaval concerning Aliens: Colonial Marines. Right now, I am guessing that some of you have already read about the allegations against Gearbox in concerns of ACM, such as funds from that game being used to furnish work on Borderlands 1&2 (rumored at this point). http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/02/26/ripleying-yarns-more-on-colonial-marines-strange-history/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rockpapershotgun%2Fsteam+%28Rock%2C+Paper%2C+Shotgun%3A+Steam+RSS%29

A person named Totalbiscuit produced a http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf5Uj4XIT1Y in relation to people that pre-order games. Another nuance that seems to be a growing trend, on Steam, is pre-order level sales incentives. These incentives go beyond your typical free X item with BioShock Infinity and Resident Evil 6 for the PC being two prime examples.

• BioShock Infinite: Level 0 = Free items, Level 1 = Free copy of BioShock, Level 2 = "exclusive" Team Fortress 2 items, Level 3 = Free copy of XCom Enemy Unknown
  
• Resident Evil 6: Level 1 = Soundtrack, Level 2 = Free copy of Resident Evil 5, Level 3 = Resident Evil 6 season passs for all 4 Multiplayer DLCs.

What are your current thoughts about Pre-orders and games? Is this a "tip-of-theiceberg" scenario where game designers/developers use tricks to goad the public into buying games by promising something, yet the public receives a completely different thing? Are game developers becoming so insecure about what they produce right now that they have to offer up incentives to sell their product to guarantee money?

Also, in concerns with Aliens: Colonial Marines with demo vs final product, do you think Game Developers should be held accountable for their actions when there is a rather large discrepancy between what they demonstrate to us and then give us? Now, what i'm not saying/talking about in terms of discrepancy is a little pesky thing like a character having a different line or a minor change in a room where some objects are just rearranged. What i'm mostly talking about is an overhaul to the game in terms of of graphics like what you can see in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z2qVebxlUowhere it compares demo (work in progress footage) to final finished product gameplay.

I pre-order games often but it's as simple as cancelling them or transferring the money over to another game when I change my mind. Sometimes I just pre-order a games for it's bonus if I can get it before release then once I do, I cancel it.

As for the decryption thing. It's unfortunate some developers and publishers lie. I'm always very cautious when getting excited about games.

People have to learn at some point in time not to preorder games that usually seem to be crap.

Just a few notes on your English. This is not me being snarky, just helpful.







These phrases can be tricky, especially if you're not a native English speaker.

I pre-order physical games. I wouldn't pre-order a digital game. There's just no point. When pre-ordering a physical game at least you get some cool stuff.

FO:NV cards, poker chips, comic, platinum chip, DVD; you can even go a step further and add the coasters in too.
FO3 bobble head, DVD, artbook, lunch box.
Skyrim DVD, statue, artbook

I can't see pre-ordering a digital download though...ooh...I get TF2 hats....great....I don't even play TF2...it's just stupid to do it for a digital only game.