RE: GR Pre-purchase


Aett_Thorn

 

Posted

I have already pre-purchased GR directly from the GR website and have my access to DP and DS. Today I visited my local game store and was asked if I wanted to pre-purchase GR, they gave me an incentive of enhancements and costume pieces PLUS the early access to the fore-mentioned ATs??!?!?! This sounds like a ripoff to me, why would my favorite game be so mean to someone that has been playing since perma-hasten, drek farms and atlas park 2. I am in hopes there will be some sort of add-on that I can purchase


 

Posted

Are you sure they didn't offer you a Pre-ORDER rather than a Pre-PURCHASE?
As far as I am aware, you can only Pre-PURCHASE through the NCSOFT store and yes, the Pre-ORDERS for the Complete Collection come with special bonus items.

They will be selling a pack with the goodies that come with the Complete Collection, but this will not include the enhancements they told you about. Those are only included in the pre-ORDER deal from Gamestop.

Does that make sense or have I confused you further? lol

edit: Here is the link for what you get with the Pre-Purchase
https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/St...em&item_id=127

And here is the link to the Pre-Order details
http://goingrogue.na.cityofheroes.com/en/gamestop/


 

Posted

Luckily for me i'm taking a Business Tax class at my local college so it actually makes sense to me.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by DuceyKins View Post
I have already pre-purchased GR directly from the GR website and have my access to DP and DS. Today I visited my local game store and was asked if I wanted to pre-purchase GR, they gave me an incentive of enhancements and costume pieces PLUS the early access to the fore-mentioned ATs??!?!?! This sounds like a ripoff to me, why would my favorite game be so mean to someone that has been playing since perma-hasten, drek farms and atlas park 2. I am in hopes there will be some sort of add-on that I can purchase
Sounds like either you or your local game store (or both) was confused. As far as I'm aware;

Pre-Purchace
  • only available online from NC-soft
  • Early access to Demon Summoning and Dual pistols
  • Might get you into closed beta
Pre-Order
  • Only available through retailers
  • Gives each character 5 special enhancements. Essentially lvl 20 Dam/Rech IOs with a proc that you can slot al lvl 1. And the proc stops working at (after?) lvl 20. (gamestop pre-order exclusive?)
  • Box includes a fancy "destop skin", which is just a fancy way of saying "mousepad". As well as a 5$ gift certificate to the company that produced the mousepads, but all their stuff is horribly overpriced anyway and 5$ won't get you far
  • New disk(s?) updated to GR.

Now I could be wrong, but if those enhancements are a pre-order bonus, and we aren't paying a premium for them.... *shrug* you might be seeing them as veteran rewards someday.


"My inner mind has become a reality-cracking overgod. He torments me! Help!"

 

Posted

Quote:
Gives each character 5 special enhancements. Essentially lvl 20 Dam/Rech IOs with a proc that you can slot al lvl 1. And the proc stops working at (after?) lvl 20.
This is only for the GameStop pre-order, IIRC.


Quote:
Originally Posted by ShadowNate
;_; ?!?! What the heck is wrong with you, my god, I have never been so confused in my life!

 

Posted

There really is no good reason why long-time subscribers who Pre-Order the "Going Rogue" set should not receive anything and everything included in the Pre-Sale package sold through GameStop or any other outside retailer.

For the last six years I have tried to explain why various Bad Ideas should not have been implemented, and it never does any good. The people who are reasonable enough to understand, do understand, and rarely post any comment; which is too bad, because silent agreement is dignified, but ineffective in a "squeaky wheel" environment like MMO forums.

Alas, there are always those posters who live to flame, and so cannot help but jump in and screech like monkeys because, well, that's what monkeys do.

Despite this, and against my better judgment, I will take to take the time to try to explain why giving rewards to new subscribers while withholding them from loyal customers is a Bad Idea.

The indisputable fact is that giving benefits to new customers which are not also extended to existing, even long-time customers, fosters resentment in those long-time customers. It sends the very clear signal that their money has been very much appreciated... their desires, not so much.

"We love our fans" rings hollow when those fans see so much effort cynically focused on appeasing retail outlets and new subscribers with nothing offered to them for their support.

Oh, well.

DASHER


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Posted

So go buy it at GameStop? *confused*


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Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dasher View Post

The indisputable fact is that giving benefits to new customers which are not also extended to existing, even long-time customers, fosters resentment in those long-time customers. It sends the very clear signal that their money has been very much appreciated... their desires, not so much.
I would dispute this. It is a good business decision to entice new customers with shiney things. Only people with a very strong sense of entitlement will have resentment foster in them. Almost every business does this, and it seems to be working well for them. Cable companies often offer new deals that existing customers can't access. Cell phone companies will offer new deals on both the phones and the service, or lower the prices of current phones when new ones come out. If you resent that business decision, that's fine, but it doesn't make it a "Bad Idea".

Quote:
"We love our fans" rings hollow when those fans see so much effort cynically focused on appeasing retail outlets and new subscribers with nothing offered to them for their support.
Existing players have the Vet Rewards program, which will constantly keep them ahead of newer players in terms of 'shiney stuff.' They will also have badges that the new players might not be able to get. They will also have more experience with the game than the new players. But yes, the Devs have given existing players no shiney stuff, and only focus on getting new players *rolls eyes*.

The Devs run a business. That business is making games. It is also to make money. In order to make the most money they can, they need to both keep existing players and attract new ones. Sometimes, decisions will not make both camps happy, but those decisions need to be made. As such, they try to make a fair amount of choices for both sides of it.

Considering that only the new enhancements will be for the new players only, and given the fact that existing players will see that they are of limited value to them, while offering the new player some assistance in the lower levels, I fail to see how this decision will foster resentment in the existing players.

edit - fixed quoting structure


Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I was just the one with the most unsolicited sombrero." - Traegus

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aett_Thorn View Post
Considering that only the new enhancements will be for the new players only...
Where did you get this information? I had the impression that anyone who upgraded their account with the code Gamestop gives you will have access to these enhancements whether they just bought the game for the first time, or they are a 75 month vet.


(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by mousedroid View Post
Where did you get this information? I had the impression that anyone who upgraded their account with the code Gamestop gives you will have access to these enhancements whether they just bought the game for the first time, or they are a 75 month vet.
Sorry, poor wording choice on my part. Yes, existing players can get it, but they will have to pre-purchase through Gamestop, which is likely far from ideal for most existing players, considering they can get everything ELSE for less money eventually.


Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I was just the one with the most unsolicited sombrero." - Traegus

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dasher View Post
There really is no good reason why long-time subscribers who Pre-Order the "Going Rogue" set should not receive anything and everything included in the Pre-Sale package sold through GameStop or any other outside retailer.
I'm a long term subscriber. I pre-ordered GR, so I am going to get the goodies that come with getting the expansion via GameStop.

What about this argument: There really is no good reason why long-time subscribers who pre-order the "Going Rogue" set should not receive early access to the Dual Pistols and Demon Summoning powersets included in the Pre-PURCHASE package sold through the NCSoft store.

Special offers aren't bad ideas. They are choices. If you pre-purchase you got one thing. If you pre-order you got another. If you want to you can do both to get everything, but the only people being denied anything are the people who don't play the game yet since they have no account to attach the pre-purchase to.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aett_Thorn View Post
It is a good business decision to entice new customers with shiney things. Only people with a very strong sense of entitlement will have resentment foster in them.
While I completely agree with you, I must point out that you've just described a large percentage of today's public.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aett_Thorn View Post
Cable companies often offer new deals that existing customers can't access. Cell phone companies will offer new deals on both the phones and the service, or lower the prices of current phones when new ones come out.
FYI, existing cable/satellite customers can sometimes get new customer rates. The amount of whining, kvetching, and asking for the manager will vary widely. I recently did this with my cable company and lowered my bill considerably.

Of course it may have helped that I'd just been laid off. They were very understanding and helpful.

Cell phone companies are another matter, since most folks probably bought into a long-term contract when they started their service, so there is much less incentive for their carrier to 'deal'.
[/threadjack]


 

Posted

Quote:
DuceyKins was approached:

I have already pre-purchased GR directly from the GR website and have my access to DP and DS. Today I visited my local game store and was asked if I wanted to pre-purchase GR...
I'm just happy about this part. YAY, someone's actually mentioning the game. I've heard of too many people that have gone into gameshops and asked about it only to get a "Wut?" response.


Dec out.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Decorum View Post
I'm just happy about this part. YAY, someone's actually mentioning the game. I've heard of too many people that have gone into gameshops and asked about it only to get a "Wut?" response.
Employees at my local gamestop were convinced CoH died years ago... I practically had to shove money under their noses before they went to their computers to confirm that, yes, they are offering pre-orders for Going Rogue.


"My inner mind has become a reality-cracking overgod. He torments me! Help!"

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Grim Heaper View Post
Sounds like either you or your local game store (or both) was confused. As far as I'm aware;

Pre-Purchace
  • only available online from NC-soft
  • Early access to Demon Summoning and Dual pistols
  • Might get you into closed beta
Pre-Order
  • Only available through retailers
  • Gives each character 5 special enhancements. Essentially lvl 20 Dam/Rech IOs with a proc that you can slot al lvl 1. And the proc stops working at (after?) lvl 20. (gamestop pre-order exclusive?)
  • Box includes a fancy "destop skin", which is just a fancy way of saying "mousepad". As well as a 5$ gift certificate to the company that produced the mousepads, but all their stuff is horribly overpriced anyway and 5$ won't get you far
  • New disk(s?) updated to GR.

Now I could be wrong, but if those enhancements are a pre-order bonus, and we aren't paying a premium for them.... *shrug* you might be seeing them as veteran rewards someday.
Also, the "Complete Edition" has the Alpha/Omega goodies AND a month of playtime. The "CE Goodie Pack" will not have the month of playtime.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dasher View Post
[...]
Yes, we know you hate anything that reeks of a company trying to make money via repackaging >.>


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Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Grim Heaper View Post
Employees at my local gamestop were convinced CoH died years ago... I practically had to shove money under their noses before they went to their computers to confirm that, yes, they are offering pre-orders for Going Rogue.
I had to wait half an hour while the guy at my local store got out his netbook and looked GR up on the Gamestop website. Fun times.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dasher View Post
Despite this, and against my better judgment, I will take to take the time to try to explain why giving rewards to new subscribers while withholding them from loyal customers is a Bad Idea.

The indisputable fact is that giving benefits to new customers which are not also extended to existing, even long-time customers, fosters resentment in those long-time customers. It sends the very clear signal that their money has been very much appreciated... their desires, not so much.
Not following you at all. I've been playing over 5 years and, by going through Gamestop, I can get the full GR package, the free month, the special enhancements, and the dopey mousepad. In what way is this long-term vet losing out???

Now, if you're talking about getting early access to pistols and demons.... well, you (or whoever) CHOSE to get early access instead of the free month and stuff. I decided that the free month was more important to me.


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Posted

Sheesh guys, he said his facts were indisputable! How can you all be here disputing them?


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dasher View Post
The indisputable fact is that giving benefits to new customers which are not also extended to existing, even long-time customers, fosters resentment in those long-time customers. It sends the very clear signal that their money has been very much appreciated... their desires, not so much.

"We love our fans" rings hollow when those fans see so much effort cynically focused on appeasing retail outlets and new subscribers with nothing offered to them for their support.

Oh, well.

DASHER
I reject your reality and substitute my own.

I bought the digital Pre-Purchase from NCsoft AND got the GameStop Pre-Order.

Yep, they love me so much that they gave me a way to play Dual Pistols and Demon Summoning early, AND get extra goodies.

It's like.... magic!


-.-


 

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Valkyrja View Post
I reject your reality and substitute my own.

I bought the digital Pre-Purchase from NCsoft AND got the GameStop Pre-Order.

Yep, they love me so much that they gave me a way to play Dual Pistols and Demon Summoning early, AND get extra goodies.

It's like.... magic!


-.-

Same here.


 

Posted

My only issue with the way the NCSoft did Pre-purchase was the inability to pre-purchase the complete collection.

I don't care about the free time, but the inconvenience of having to get the pre-purchase and the costume pack on release day is annoying. Had they have allowed pre-purchase of the complete collection (ex game time), I'd have purchased it for both of my accounts. I cannot be the only one whose response on release of a booster is "oh no, the store is going to crumble".

As regards the Gamestop deal, it makes no difference to me being in the UK. I'd be happy if I could get hold of a CoX box without having to have it shipped from the US.





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Posted

I was torn between the two. On the one hand I'd like to pre-purchase and get early access to Dual Pistols and Demon summoning, even though I won't play either for quite some time. It'd still like to be able and load up on launch day.

On the other hand I'd really like to have the updated game disc. As my original COH disc is the launch one and likewise for COV, that and my mousepad recently started to rip...

Looks like I'll be stopping by Gamestop this afternoon just to see if they've heard about it.


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Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dasher View Post
The indisputable fact is that giving benefits to new customers which are not also extended to existing, even long-time customers, fosters resentment in those long-time customers. It sends the very clear signal that their money has been very much appreciated... their desires, not so much.
There's this little concept called "the realities of running a business". Businesses of all kinds give special offers to entice new customers. They know that it will engender some resentment in existing customers but they have to attract new customers.

One of the rednames (Black Pebble?) posted when they first announced the GameStop deal that basically GameStop insisted on a special promotion. This too is common. I've been in the position of dealing with retailers. They have limited inventory space. Unless you're a top-tier blockbuster, if you want to do a special retail promotion you pay for it. One way you can lower the cash outlay is to offer spiffs that are exclusive.


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Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironblade View Post
Not following you at all. I've been playing over 5 years and, by going through Gamestop, I can get the full GR package, the free month, the special enhancements, and the dopey mousepad. In what way is this long-term vet losing out???

Now, if you're talking about getting early access to pistols and demons.... well, you (or whoever) CHOSE to get early access instead of the free month and stuff. I decided that the free month was more important to me.
Is it a choice if there aren't any options? When GR was first available for pre-purchase, was it known that there would be a different special offer from GameStop? If so, then yes it's a choice between early access to powers vs extra goodies later. If not, then it's a matter of offering shinies to the new people that the current players have to pay extra for (if you're even allowed to have both the pre-purchase and the pre-order on the same account).


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