OK so what's the incentive to buy a game at launch anymore?

[camarotuner]

This is the pattern I have been seeing the last 2 years or so. Game releases (I'm going with game X to not turn this into a flame war or some idiotic argument). Then 99% of the time one of the 2 things happens...

1: It tanks, hard. The manufacturer panics and immediately slashes the price by 20/30 bucks and puts it on immediate sale to spark something. Even sweet games like Deux ex, Alice, and lots of other "mid tier" or "lower upper tier" titles have had this happen.

2: It's the sickest most badass thing on the planet. Which leads to it selling a bajillion copies and getting released as a "game of the year" edition a short wait later with more content, usually all the DLC included, and like half the price.

So assuming one has patience, what's the motivation to get anything at launch? The only exceptions I've found are the major sports franchises (if you're into those).

[SpaceHarrier]

Other than making retailers and publishers very happy, and getting to play it before alot of people.. .. . I'm drawing a blank.

[Junkyrdsalesman]

Some companies have materialistic preorder bonuses, but nowadays that's rare. Usually companies do some in game DLC as a bonus which in my opinion is utter BS. Honestly who cares if you get some special in game golden chain mail or a gun that shoots purple laser beams? The only real draws i see are if you want to support the developers or if you want to keep a copy clean and or sealed.

[treismac]

I am MORE than with you on this, my friend. I have been applying this strategy for years. The only way that I buy a game at launch is if I am on the verge of dying to get my grubby mitts on it. The last time this happened was Okami for the PS2. Since the game was postponed from its original release date (I think- it might have been We Love Katamari that I am thinking of), I rationalized this decision fairly easily. About four years later, I picked Okami up again for like $10 new for the Wii, so I feel like in a strange non-logical mathematical way I made up for that launch purchase.

[retroman]

it matters if you are a online stat junkie that wants to stay in the top 10 playing online.

[kupomogli]

it matters if you are a online stat junkie that wants to stay in the top 10 playing online.

Similar to this, but if you start playing a game like the next Call of Duty, Battlefield, Killzone 3, etc, you're at a major disadvantage because by the time you start, most of the noobs will have quit playing leaving mostly better players. Players that have studied the maps, have high rankings so have all the best weapons, etc. You may or may not be better than some of the people playing, but you come in at a disadvantage.

Another reason to purchase games early is if it's a first party title. Whether it's Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo, the price is more than likely going to remain at $60 for a long time. It might get a daily deal or a great deal during November/December holidays, but usually won't drop for awhile. In the case of Nintendo exclusively, the deals are few and far between, and they almost never drop price but it's mostly the same for all three.

A few final reasons. You really want to support the developer. You want the next in the series to come out. Can't wait to play the game. Or the one that rarely happens anymore but there's always that possibility, you won't be able to acquire the game new condition or at a reasonable price. Atlus tries to catch people with that last one and sometimes you really want to take the plunge. Crimson Gem Saga and Hexyz Force for example.

[camarotuner]

You know I'd forgotten Nintendo in this equation (sorry Nintendo fans). They never do seem to drop the price on the mario stuff and then half the time it gets discontinued and out of print for no reason! Mario Baseball on wii was out of print for a long while before they finally re-released it. That's a really good point.

I'm not much for online play. I play NHL12 online but that's about it. I play COD when I'm bored and just want to shoot stuff. I guess since I prefer single player games the "online component" never really figures into my thinking unless I get more game out of it like the GOTY edition of oblivion.

[Aussie2B]

I would assume that the main reason is just because someone wants to play a game right away.

[Richter Belmount]

some games could become rare later on still like nisa , or xseed titles , plus some come with launch or preorder bonuses.

[G-Boobie]

For some genres, such as fighting games and competitive first person shooters, if you wait three or four months for a price drop then you're already pretty far behind if you play them competitively. For Call of Duty and Street Fighter, that's a bigger thing than you probably realize.

Other than that, though, I buy games on or near launch because I want to support the developers. I winced at the sixty dollar price tag Rayman: Origins came with, but I want more games like that. So I bought it. Same with Dead Space 2 and Dark Souls.

[heybtbm]

Sometimes I just really want to play the game I've been waiting years for. (Skyrim, GTA, Mass Effect, Zelda, etc.). Price is irrelevant in those cases.

Similar to this, but if you start playing a game like the next Call of Duty, Battlefield, Killzone 3, etc, you're at a major disadvantage because by the time you start...players that have studied the maps, have high rankings so have all the best weapons, etc. You may or may not be better than some of the people playing, but you come in at a disadvantage.

This is true. Main reason to buy Battlefield/COD right away IMO.

Another reason to purchase games early is if it's a first party title. Whether it's Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo, the price is more than likely going to remain at $60 for a long time. It might get a daily deal or a great deal during November/December holidays, but usually won't drop for awhile. In the case of Nintendo exclusively, the deals are few and far between, and they almost never drop price but it's mostly the same for all three.

This is the reason I buy right away when it comes to 1st part Nintendo titles. More often than not, they're not lowering the price anytime soon.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

For some genres, such as fighting games and competitive first person shooters, if you wait three or four months for a price drop then you're already pretty far behind if you play them competitively. For Call of Duty and Street Fighter, that's a bigger thing than you probably realize.

Other than that, though, I buy games on or near launch because I want to support the developers. I winced at the sixty dollar price tag Rayman: Origins came with, but I want more games like that. So I bought it. Same with Dead Space 2 and Dark Souls.

This, a hundred times this!

[Oobgarm]

Only games I buy at launch anymore are either part of series I enjoy or are niche titles in genres I like.

Everything else is now a wait-and-see game. I have tons of stuff to play now and if I wait, I can save tons of money on titles I'm semi-interested in if I just wait for sales.

Some sales, like GameFly's end-of-year, make it worth my while to subdue the need to buy and own right away. It's tough to get away from after having done it for so long, but I'm working myself into it. After I saved $175 off 4 games I wanted from this year by waiting till the end of the year sale, I can see myself continuing on this path.

I understand wanting to support the devs and all, but if means I'll have more money in my pocket and I don't have to worry about scraping funds together or trading off stuff at pennies on the dollar, well, I'd rather support myself instead.

[fahlim003]

Buying games at launch, locally? That's essentially the only time I would buy a game on day one of it coming out. The reason is simple - X game has a small print or X store(s) will only be carrying one or two copies. This occurred strictly last generation and I don't I've saved much money but I was able to get them new and that's all that matters.

[Emperor Megas]

Another reason to purchase games early is if it's a first party title. Whether it's Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo, the price is more than likely going to remain at $60 for a long time.

Honestly, there are SO many games that come out today, I really don't even understand purchasing even first party titles that take longer to drop in price. There's just no reason to purchase a game when it's released, IMO unless the focus is multiplayer.

I haven't purchased a launch game for more than $29.99 (that wasn't multiplayer that my wife wouldn't play with me) in WELL over a decade. Even then I've only done it a handful of times, and NEVER more than $45.00. There's just too many games for me to pay launch title prices.

[Sunnyvale]

I haven't bought a game at launch for close to ten years, and I don't feel I've missed out on jack. I am perfectly content being 2+ years behind on the 'in' thing. Matter of fact, I do this with all technology but the essentials (can't be 3 years behind on virus protection ). I save a small fortune, and still have plenty enough to keep me happy.

[Chadt74]

Support the developers, that is it, and I think I've only done that twice in the last 5 years.

[LaughingMAN.S9]

it matters if you are a online stat junkie that wants to stay in the top 10 playing online.

or if you dont want to be at a severe disadvantage 3 or so months down the line when you eventually do pick it up and get raped nonstop for the next 3 weeks because you dont know the maps or have any unlocked equipment that can help equalize the gap in skill



edit: also the whole support developers thingie

[Kitsune Sniper]

I only buy indie games at launch, or close to it. For everything else, I'll wait for the eventual Steam sale or Game of the Year release. (Especially since I'm a PC player for the most part.)

Then we have asshole companies like EA who only include certain items on preorder, and never sell them again. Like Alice 2? New console copies include the original game, or I think you can buy it if you get it used. We PC players got shafted and we didn't get the game unless we preordered directly from EA's Origin client.

YES I'M STILL BITTER SHUT UP.

[JSoup]

There was a time in my life where I'd buy games via pre-order only, but those days have long since passed. If I buy a game at launch, then the game was:

1. A deal because I had a crap load of saved up Amazon credit (this happens more often than you'd think).
2. The game was hyper niche and showed every sign of eventually getting more expensive/hard to find.
3. Pre-order came with something I wanted. This mostly happens with niche titles where I like the artist and want the art book, like with Atelier Rorona.