Concern about a prerelease package

The Great Al

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

ALOA

E/Me

This thread isn't about a release date for the prerelease or anything...I would just like to say, if Anet is planning on dealing with a prerelease package in a similar way it did with the Factions and NF prereleases, please, PLEASE inform the stores of how to handle the Prerelease boxes. I've been to Best Buys, EB Games, Gamestops, and they really have no idea what to do or how to handle the situation. Both times have just turned out to be a complete mess for myself and many other people here. A lot of stores must not even bother putting them on the shelves, because most employees that work in the PC games section of stores have no idea what a "Guild Wars PreRelease package" is.

LifeInfusion

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

I agree. I ended up getting the prerelease for nightfall when I got the actual game...

Lord Feathers

Lord Feathers

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2007

ROAR - Rangers of Ascalon Return

R/P

A lot of truth in this. Even after buying the pre-release package I was still charged the FULL amount for the game afterwards !

scrinner

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

PRBP was i believe an extra five dollars.. It wasn't a pre order in it self.

pingu666

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

guildhall

[DETH]

erm, the pre realease gave u bonus items (ftw for heros) a extra chary slot, some preview material, trial etc. the nf one was really good value for money . they should add a /bonus weapon upgrade pack on the online store, dont think the pre release pack entitles you to a discount...

The Great Al

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

ALOA

E/Me

It's not a discount. Some stores made you pay 5 or 10 dollars for the prerelease pack, and that money was supposed to go towards the $50 for the game. I know the local EB Games store sold the prerelease packs for like 5 bucks, but I actually had to separately preorder the game, and those 5 dollars did not count towards my purchase. However, I couldn't find another store anywhere near me that had the preorder package, so I had no choice. 5 extra dollars isn't a huge deal but it's more the principle of the matter.

The Great Al

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

ALOA

E/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by scrinner
PRBP was i believe an extra five dollars.. It wasn't a pre order in it self.
Unless I am badly mistaken this is incorrect.

Enko

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

VA

Mo/

nightfall prerelease package was just an extra item to be bought for $5. i bought 3 of them to get the half price character slot for my accounts. the $5 did not go towards my purchase of nightfall when it came out

Stormcloud

Stormcloud

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2006

Oregon, USA

Pre Release Bonus Pack is not meant to give 5 bucks off. Its a separate purchase. I bought 3 of them and then put my 5 bucks down on my pre-order for a total of 20 bucks. 5 of which came off the game. Hope this clears it up a bit.

The only problem I had locally was availability.

Mr. G

Mr. G

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

S. Wales

Mo/Me

btw there WILL be a pre-realese aparently

NinjaKai

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

UK

Duality Of The Dragon

From HMV I got my pre-release free when I pre-ordered nightfall.

KamikazeChicken

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Mo/

Best Buy handled the pre-release exactly the same as a pre-order when I went. They weren't exactly sure how to handle it though, so they defaulted to how they did it for Factions release.

Thunder79

Thunder79

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Chaos Rising

It all depends on how in the know the person is...

There's three situations you can run into:
1. Pre-release pack is the down payment on the game itself and reserves your copy. You pay $5-10 and that amount is taken off the full price of the game. Essentially you get the pre-release free when you place your pre-order.

2. Pre-release pack is separate from the game itself, but it counts as a pre-order for the game. Pre-release is like $5-10, game is full price but your copy is reserved with purchase of the pre-release pack.

3. Pre-release pack is separate from the game itself...completely. The pre-release is not a down payment and does not reserve a copy for you.

and the silent #4:
They don't have a friggen clue what a pre-release pack is...let alone whether or not it comes with the pre-order...this is the stores inability to train their workers though and in no way Anet's fault.

I placed my pre-orders for my two copies of nightfall at different times...and different clerks.
The first one did a #2...he insisted that the pre-release pack is separate from the game and that it does not place a down payment on the game itself...but it does reserve a copy.
The second one did a #1 with no fuss whatsoever. Placed my pre-order and got the pre-release pack for free with my pre-order.

Both of these were at my local Gamestop.

The policy needs to be made more clear to the stores because they don't seem to know what the true policy is...some go with what has been done in the past with just about every preorder of an mmo (#1)....some apparently get told something different and go with a #2 or 3...


seems to me I also remember that Anet left it up to the stores to make the policy with the pre-release packs...which as far as I'm concerned is a bad policy...it causes inconsistency and only serves to frustrate your customers.

Etta

Etta

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mancland, British Empire

It's depend on where you get it. Here in the UK you can buy pre box for £2.99 from GAMES or Games Station but you still have to pay full price for the final release. In HMV, when you pre-order you'll have to put £5 up front but you'll get a pre-release box for free and that £5 will go toward the full £30 price. Sometime if you lucky you'll a big poster as well.

drago34

drago34

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2005

California

Looking for good PvE guild ...

A/

Out of all the times I have preordered a guild wars game I have only received the preorder box once...

jammerpa

jammerpa

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2006

Sunny FLA

Omega Knights

N/Me

For those of you in the U.S., keep an eye on Fry's (www.frys.com). I always get a great deal on pre order games from them. For example, NF was only $39.99 with free shipping, no sales tax to my state and the pre release bonus pack for free. The game arrived the day before live launch too.

Fry's FTW!!

Pickletron

Pickletron

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Australia

[Godz]

R/Mo

When I pre-ordered Nightfall at Electronics Boutique here in Australia they gave me the pre-order pack for free on that day.
They seems to know what they we're doing.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

What would a GWEN pre-release possibly offer?

There will be no new slots (no reason for an expansion).

There are no new professions, so what new weapons?

New weapons for the existing professions that somehow people don't have better versions of already?

Another mini-pet?

I can't see myself buying a pre-release for GWEN, unless it offers something pretty unique.

DragonLord|PL|

Academy Page

Join Date: Jan 2007

N/

Why no extra slot? The GW:P got 4 slots out of 6 possible characters. GW:F 4/8, GW:NF 4/8, all merged got 8/10, add the bonus pack NF you will get 9/10, you still can`t get 1 class, even 2 if you want to have slot for PvP.

Minipet is possible but due to number of these it will be worth about 5k.

New max weapons that can be created at any time (well, at least in any town/outpost) are great no matter what ups they have got. All my Mellonis use Soulbreaker (or what it is called), so I don`t have to look for max dmg scythe, adding inscription and buying not so cheap 20% enchant to Scythe. Any casting class Hero are doing ok with the Spiritbinder, a max10en 20% hrt staff with +5en mod and 10% all hct, I can`t see myself running and trying to buy so many staves for my heroes (8xnumber of PvE chars, thats how much I would must buy).

Personally I would be happy with some kind of special skin max Sword or Hammer. Or maybe a Wand + Offhand combo, shield?

And I`m pretty sure it will have a 10h/14day guest passed for frined/s, maybe even a special music code. Some artwork possible and few trailers to full the CD (yuck! I hate when someone puts all junk just to make CD "fuller"). Some kind of storage upgrade would be nice (an extra set of spaces to storage would be great). Maybe even a bonus hero?

LifeInfusion

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunder79
and the silent #4:
They don't have a friggen clue what a pre-release pack is...let alone whether or not it comes with the pre-order...this is the stores inability to train their workers though and in no way Anet's fault.
option #5:
They say that there is nothing in the computer (when you preorder) and when it comes time for you to get the game they say "oh by the way, there is a prerelease pack that came in today like you asked for 3 weeks ago".

It's supposed to be a pre-release/pre-order or pre whatever...which means it is supposed to come BEFORE the day of release. Apparently some places don't understand the concept of the prefix "pre-" ...

Pkest

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

Hooded Reavers of Eternal Life(Ankh)

R/

Since they crippled all the bonus items you get from prerelease bonus packs (after people had paid for them) and refuse to correct that, why would anyone bother buying one of these things anyway.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pkest
Since they crippled all the bonus items you get from prerelease bonus packs (after people had paid for them) and refuse to correct that, why would anyone bother buying one of these things anyway.
Really? I have to admit, I haven't used those items in quite awhile. What did they do?

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by DragonLord|PL|
Why no extra slot? The GW:P got 4 slots out of 6 possible characters. GW:F 4/8, GW:NF 4/8, all merged got 8/10, add the bonus pack NF you will get 9/10, you still can`t get 1 class, even 2 if you want to have slot for PvP.
1) Anet never promised slots = to playable classes. I don't think they ever intended that most people would have a character of every class (or Guild Wars would have shipped with 6 slots).

2) The extra slot in the Nightfall per-release was (IMO) to justify the $5 charge. I know some people got that for free, but I don't think it was ever supposed to be free.

3) There is no financial incentive to offer "free" extra slots with GWEN. All the content is for level 20 characters, so there's no incentive to roll up a new char. If people want to make a new character, they should pay $10 and do it now, before GWEN comes out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DragonLord|PL|
Personally I would be happy with some kind of special skin max Sword or Hammer. Or maybe a Wand + Offhand combo, shield?
Yeah, a special skin could be worth it. Make it inscribeable?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DragonLord|PL|
And I`m pretty sure it will have a 10h/14day guest passed for frined/s, maybe even a special music code. Some artwork possible and few trailers to full the CD (yuck! I hate when someone puts all junk just to make CD "fuller"). Some kind of storage upgrade would be nice (an extra set of spaces to storage would be great). Maybe even a bonus hero?
I'm not sure how those guest passes did. The ones I handed out were not well recieved. Still, it would be a good way to get new people to know about the game before GW2.

As for the art and stuff on the CD, most of that stuff you can find on the internet. Not worth it, IMO.

Also, I read somewhere there will NOT be a collector's edition?

If that's true, then why would they make a pre-release?

EDIT: Of course, if it was something like this, I would buy it:

http://www.gameseek.co.uk/pd/PCvkerk1e6zec/

=HT=Ingram

=HT=Ingram

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

Anchorage Alaska

Haz Team [HT]

R/W

the way best buy handles it is not that bad really, its just not traditional. basically they put it out like a regular game for $9.99 and you get it. when the game comes out bring your receipt in and you get a 9.99 credit on which ever version you wish to get Collectors or regular up at customer service counter. along with any bonus promotional item that they have exclusive to their store, like the teashirts with nightfall and factions.

Other places I have heard even worse disasters in that they send you the preorder pack for full price and never end up sending the final release product at all. Or in gamestops case billing expensive UPS air shipping for the preorder pack then shipping the retail game at release at 4th class mail book rate so it takes 3 to 6 weeks to get to you through US mail system.

the preorder packs have been worth it in every case thus far, but I will stick with the bestbuy system, cause at least in my case I can go inside the store and talk to someone to get the ball rolling... I did the Gamestop route for the first game and it was a disaster I will never use that option again.

Muspellsheimr

Muspellsheimr

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2007

How the pre-order package is supposed to be run, is as a bonus for pre-ordering the game. It is NOT something you purchase seperatly - it is part of the pre-ordering process.

I would recommend Gamestop for your pre-ordering, as they seem to know how things work (at least around my area), and I have never had any mixups with them before.

pamelf

pamelf

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

Australia

Lost Templars [LoTe]

Me/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pickletron
When I pre-ordered Nightfall at Electronics Boutique here in Australia they gave me the pre-order pack for free on that day.
They seems to know what they we're doing.
Yep, never had any problems with pre-release over here. I pre-ordered, put my $10 deposit down, got the pre-release pack and got the $10 off when I bought the game. That's how I figured it was supposed to work...

Neo Nugget

Neo Nugget

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

EB games gave it to me for free(2 different stores) cuz i bought CE and regular. They gave it to me a bit later(2 weeks after nf pve preview), but i also did not have to pay for it because they said i preordered it yay I believe i preordered for 5 dollars.

Darksun

Darksun

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

USA

Karr's Castle

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
Really? I have to admit, I haven't used those items in quite awhile. What did they do?
They didn't really do anything spectacular, but they allowed you mod & upgrade them. The fact that they took that out sucks.

Echuu Ishtar

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2007

Sacred Forge Knights (SFK)

When I pre-ordered NF they had no idea how to handle the PRBP at GameStop. I ended up pre-ordering the collector's edition, so they just gave me the pack. My friend who pre-ordered the normal edition was charged $5 extra for it.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darksun
They didn't really do anything spectacular, but they allowed you mod & upgrade them. The fact that they took that out sucks.
That does suck, but I don't think Anet lied to anyone. I didn't read anywhere on the bonus package that it included modable bonus items.

Not saying Anet wasn't wrong to nerf them, but certainly not as big a issue as Pkest made it out to be.

lennymon

lennymon

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Seattle

Odin's Hammer [OH] - Servant's of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

target always seems to have the bonus packs for $1.99 if anyone cares.

Neo Nugget

Neo Nugget

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

I saw the factions ones like 1 month after release on clearance for .99c....niiice:P

Matfei

Matfei

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2006

Australia

None. Being a loner X-Fire: matfei1

W/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Great Al
It's not a discount. Some stores made you pay 5 or 10 dollars for the prerelease pack, and that money was supposed to go towards the $50 for the game. I know the local EB Games store sold the prerelease packs for like 5 bucks, but I actually had to separately preorder the game, and those 5 dollars did not count towards my purchase. However, I couldn't find another store anywhere near me that had the preorder package, so I had no choice. 5 extra dollars isn't a huge deal but it's more the principle of the matter.
Same thing here.

The blokes at EBGames run around like headless chooks about this type of thing.

Thunder79

Thunder79

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Chaos Rising

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
That does suck, but I don't think Anet lied to anyone. I didn't read anywhere on the bonus package that it included modable bonus items.

Not saying Anet wasn't wrong to nerf them, but certainly not as big a issue as Pkest made it out to be.
Agreed....first I never realized you could mod them at all...just never occured to me to try. I always just used them for outfitting my heroes until I got a better weapon for them...or using them on my low level character until they got a better weapon.

Pkest

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

Hooded Reavers of Eternal Life(Ankh)

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
That does suck, but I don't think Anet lied to anyone. I didn't read anywhere on the bonus package that it included modable bonus items.

Not saying Anet wasn't wrong to nerf them, but certainly not as big a issue as Pkest made it out to be.
If you buy one prerelease and the items are modable you assume then next ones will be the same and they are. Then after everyone has bought them they change the rules and make them unmodable. Try reading the 6 or so other threads about this subject and see all the people who think this actually IS a big deal.

Seissor

Seissor

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

Squiggilyville. Population: Me.

[oRly] Hello Kitty Death Squad

R/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Great Al
Unless I am badly mistaken this is incorrect.
It's supposed to be, you pre-order and get he pre-order pack FREE! But some stores didnt understand or like the idea of giving something for free, and thus charged for it.

Mine didn't, some did.

Pkest

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

Hooded Reavers of Eternal Life(Ankh)

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Seissor
It's supposed to be, you pre-order and get he pre-order pack FREE! But some stores didnt understand or like the idea of giving something for free, and thus charged for it.

Mine didn't, some did.
Not really. It's not called a preorder pack it's called a prerelease bonus pack and in the past Anet had just given them to stores free of charge (as I understand it) and told them to do whatever they want with it. This is why every store deals with it differently.

None of the local retailers in my area even heard about them so I've always had to buy mine from Amazon where they were sold as a separate product.

I suspect that this time, since it will be sold in the online store with a price set by anet, that things may be different. Especially since Anet is adopting the 'credit toward purchase of Gw:en' model.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

The whole "Buy GW:EN Online" push makes this thread a little obsolete, no?

Don't want to hassle with stores not knowing WTF?

Buy online and get the Bonus Pack to boot.

Lonesamurai

Lonesamurai

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Cheltenham, Glos, UK

Wolf Pack Samurai [WPS]

R/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
The whole "Buy GW:EN Online" push makes this thread a little obsolete, no?

Don't want to hassle with stores not knowing WTF?

Buy online and get the Bonus Pack to boot.
oh and gaile confirmed the preorder will be on the ingame store too

Neo Nugget

Neo Nugget

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

well you get a discount of GW:EN if you get the prerelease and GW:EN from the online store i believe. Like normal stores***should***.