Where/when to buy a game?

from Elemental Forums

I  bought the limited edition directly from Stardock, pre-order.  I understand the confusion and problem with retailers not honoring the release date.  I appreciate all the work Stardock personnel are doing to make the game available for those that helped in Beta and us pre-order folk.

I am very disappointed to hear that had I gotten a limited version from Best Buy or Walmart, I'd have gotten some additional quests for the game that I am not getting.  Marketing bait and switch tactics like this really cause me to rethink my position on a company.

I was going to pick up a couple copies and gift them to some friends I game with, figuring it be a fun game we could all play.

"Was" is the key verb here.

I will not recommend products from companies that play such marketing games were product is dependant on where its purchased.  Someone in a different thread mentioned a drill.  If I buy a particular Milwaukee power drill I expect it to function the same and have the same features regardless of where I purchase it.

My Guildmates from MMOs and my friends will have to find out about Elemental from some other source than me.

Stardock has indicated some time in some future they plan to make the exclusive Retailer specific content available to everyone. Should I ever decide to try one of their products again it would be at some future time well after the products release so I do not feel that I have been played the fool for where I choose to buy their product.

elemental
7,137 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I just don't understand this. Is getting a small quest earlier than other places really worth whining over? Not supporting a potentially great game because of it is just ridiculous.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

There's a lot of retailers pulling this stuff now. In one thread, he mentioned that Best Buy actually *paid* for said content. I mean, really? Good lord.

It's a trend we're seeing from more and more games, and a lousy one. I really don't want to have to go through how ridiculous the Dragon Age one was again. Someone made a chart for that. A game called Hunted that I'm looking at has four different sets, depending on where you buy it from.

Just encourages me to wait for the "ultimate" edition in a year after the price reduction that has everything bundled in.

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Uh Brad did say that the "exclusive" content would become available to "everyone" eventually. People who ordered form best buy just get earlier. Pay attention people.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

With this attitude there must not be many things you like

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

I like these kinds of marketing promotions. They encourage wider distribution, better in-store promotion, and larger sales of games which in turn means better success for the companies developing the kinds of games I want to play.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Please direct discussion to the existing thread on the subject here.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Jam, reply 4
With this attitude there must not be many things you like
End of Jam's quote

 

Indeed. The OP must never have bought a car, since every dealer offers different promotions and incentives. Cologne? Nope. Macy's gives you the Free Tote Bag but Bloomingdale's has the free aftershave. And a bank account? Hell no. Who wants to choose between a toaster and a desk calendar? That's insane!

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Astrobia, reply 3
Uh Brad did say that the "exclusive" content would become available to "everyone" eventually. People who ordered form best buy just get earlier. Pay attention people.
End of Astrobia's quote

It seems to me that the tact of people on the internet has become worse and worse over the years, when it comes to forums, reposting, and researching... I mean.. There has been at least 3-5 threads about this within the last hour alone.