Bribing the Gamer?

Is anyone else worrying more and more over these new TV ads about rewarding players with special in game features if they pre-order said game through GameStop? I (Scott from GameTopius.com) am just a little. The 'prize' for pre-ordering Guitar Hero: World Tour was unlocking all the in-game songs instantly. If you're too lazy to go through and unlock them all yourself then you're making off like a bandit. The prize for pre-ordering Gears of War 2 was a code to receive a special gold colored weapon. Not bad. The prize for pre-ordering Call of Duty is accessing a special gun way early in the game. This is where I start to get nervous.

[Why o why]

just smart business.

(duffel bags are bribes;)

[Megaton]

Yeah, duffel bags with $800 worth of stuff given to reviewers are bribes.

Gun skins and early unlocks for games aren't bribes, just incentive to pre-order. I would prefer GameStop lose their stranglehold on this concept though, since I'm not a fan of theirs, to put it lightly.

[thisguywithhair]

GS isn't the only one. FutureShop gave you a Nariko costume for LBP if you pre-ordered through them.

[Nitrowolf2]

Not bribing like comment 1 said.
Basicly you get 2 things you get the extra and you get to ensure that you have a copy for that day so they dont run out. I didnt get LBP until 4 days after it released. Was planning on pre-ordering just didnt.

[PureGamer]

the gears gold weps look really bad anyway so its not really a bribe :p

[player911]

You only get the gold warhammer, which an ok weapon, and it's online only.

It is kinda neat to play online and see guys with a gold gun, and know they've been around for a while.

If they were REALLY smart... they woulda made it a Golden Lancer. You KNOW everyone woulda preordered that hands down. Everyone uses the lancer anyway.

[moja]

I thought the money put down for a preorder was applied to the purchase price? Could be wrong. Anyway, even though it annoys me it's just smart business - as long as it doesn't give edge over those who buy the same game on release day. Maybe a character skin wearing nothing but Gamestop underwear and lucha libre mask.

[CrippleH]

It's not a bribe to me. Bribe is giving something in order to get it your way.

Since the customers are purchasing it anyways that's not a bribe.

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

My only problem with it is that usually this is something minimal (which is OK), so minimal that is already in the disc (which isn't so OK).

If I'm paying for it, I want to have access. If it is downloadable content, I can't care less.

As a matter of fact, I even like the idea if being properly made, but I can't get pre-order bribes.... oops! I mean, pre-order advantages because I'm in Brazil and only have a PS3 (MS is here and some places looks like having some pre-order deals), but recently PSN have been updated to accept Brazilian adress (which MS, selling the 360 here for almost 2 years now, didn't have done, brazilians still can't access Live legally, even if they can buy the console legally - and overpricedly), so I feel like good winds to come, at least on the PC market it's almost the same rules as in the US.

[player911]

I think pre-orders (and new games) should include freebies like Avatar Icons, Wallpapers, 1 credit toward a future map pack, themes, etc.

I hate how you buy a game... then have to PAY for themes and crap. If you buy Halo3, you should also get the Halo3 theme.

But I like the additional content like golden guns or special outfits. It gives the hardcore dedicated players a way to stand out. As long as the additional content doesn't give them an unfair advantage.

But even in games like Lost Odyssey you got a stat boost item from Preordering.