FNR4 Demo Comes Early For Gamestop Preorders

by pastapadre
Posted March 21st, 2009 at 4:56 pm

fnr40321

I glossed over this when it was initially mentioned in the cover press release however I think it presents an interesting topic to address. Gamestop preorders will have exclusive access to the Fight Night Round 4 demo two weeks before it is released to the general public.

Online Customers: A unique code and instructions to unlock the demo will be emailed one day prior to the demo’s release date.
In-Store Pickup / Store Customers: A Pre-order card with code and instructions to unlock the demo will be available at stores shortly before the demo’s release date.

I’m not a fan of this type of move. Who benefits here? Gamestop does especially and so does EA in securing some additional preorders. The consumers though get absolutely nothing out of this other than the feeling of being forced into an unnecessary preorder restricted to a single retailer. It doesn’t exactly vibe with the recent actions from the company that has garnered goodwill with the community.

Getting down to specifics the Gamestop site states that two week early access will be given for the demo which will be released in early summer. This year summer begins on June 21st. Considering the likely June 30th release date of the game it doesn’t appear they are accurate with that statement. The demo will need to come at the latest by June 11th in this scenario. That would provide the two week buffer and still give everyone else the few days before the game’s release to play it.

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tu papi

gamestop sucks.
tu papi

gamestop sucks.
Effin Panda

second damn :[
Effin Panda

second damn :[
Kev5890

Well….How about you put 5 dollars down on Fight Night. Get the demo early, and place the 5 dollars down on a game you want..Like madden.

not very hard…
Kev5890

Well….How about you put 5 dollars down on Fight Night. Get the demo early, and place the 5 dollars down on a game you want..Like madden.

not very hard…
James

exactly… these type of advertising is pointless, last time i wanted to play a demo early i put $5 down on it, got the code then transfered my $5 to the show 09. I'm basically going to be doing the same thing with FNR4. They might as well just release it 2 weeks early, its not going to sell better because of a 2 week in advance demo… the people who are going to buy it are going to buy it regaurdless, the only people it benefits is Gamestop because it ensures that most of the people who are already going to buy it goes through their store.
James

exactly… these type of advertising is pointless, last time i wanted to play a demo early i put $5 down on it, got the code then transfered my $5 to the show 09. I'm basically going to be doing the same thing with FNR4. They might as well just release it 2 weeks early, its not going to sell better because of a 2 week in advance demo… the people who are going to buy it are going to buy it regaurdless, the only people it benefits is Gamestop because it ensures that most of the people who are already going to buy it goes through their store.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Sidewinder Sidewinder

You gotta hand it to Gamestop. It's amazing how much they've grown as a business in just the last five or so years. I think this is BS personally, but it's only a sign of things to come. Gamestop has absolutely no competition in a market that's growing so fast every year so this doesn't really surprise me.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Sidewinder Sidewinder

You gotta hand it to Gamestop. It's amazing how much they've grown as a business in just the last five or so years. I think this is BS personally, but it's only a sign of things to come. Gamestop has absolutely no competition in a market that's growing so fast every year so this doesn't really surprise me.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Sidewinder Sidewinder

You gotta hand it to Gamestop. It's amazing how much they've grown as a business in just the last five or so years. I think this is BS personally, but it's only a sign of things to come. Gamestop has absolutely no competition in a market that's growing so fast every year so this doesn't really surprise me.

That said, it's not that hard to wait two more weeks…we're still just talking about a demo here.

leejohn

true, true, just a demo.

http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Sidewinder Sidewinder

You gotta hand it to Gamestop. It's amazing how much they've grown as a business in just the last five or so years. I think this is BS personally, but it's only a sign of things to come. Gamestop has absolutely no competition in a market that's growing so fast every year so this doesn't really surprise me.

That said, it's not that hard to wait two more weeks…we're still just talking about a demo here.

leejohn

true, true, just a demo.

Alex Rodriguez

This is the same company that opens sealed games and sells em as new as the employees took said disc and played it all night. and return it next day. to sell.

t. daley

Aroid, you are exactly right. I have a couple of friends that work at Gamestop and I can confirm that they take home games all the time. They have a resealer machine in the back so they just reseal them. Not only that but they have a 10 day return policy as well. You can return a game within 10days for full store credit. They reseal those games as well and sell them new.

Alex Rodriguez

This is the same company that opens sealed games and sells em as new as the employees took said disc and played it all night. and return it next day. to sell.

t. daley

Aroid, you are exactly right. I have a couple of friends that work at Gamestop and I can confirm that they take home games all the time. They have a resealer machine in the back so they just reseal them. Not only that but they have a 10 day return policy as well. You can return a game within 10days for full store credit. They reseal those games as well and sell them new.

t. daley

I totally disagree with your Pasta. It is not meant to benefit you or I. It is a business decision that benefits both Gamestop and EA. There is absoultely nothing wrong with it. Wait the two weeks if you don't want to put down 5$ on the game. Demos are just that, demos. We are lucky we get to play these things anyway. Remember when you had to wait and hope that they were on the disc in OPS magazine.

If you know you will be getting the game then it is a benefit that you will get access to the demo but in now way should you ever feel a sense of "entitlement" to such a demo. I think you are thinking too much from your blogging business standpoint. I personally can wait the two weeks. Boxing isn't that important of a sport anymore and FNR 4 isn't going to be that much different from FNR3.

http://intensedebate.com/people/rezluk Rezluk

lol yeah i can remember when i was little i would always get the playstation magazine for the demo discs i might be mistaken but you dont see those anymore

t. daley

I totally disagree with your Pasta. It is not meant to benefit you or I. It is a business decision that benefits both Gamestop and EA. There is absoultely nothing wrong with it. Wait the two weeks if you don't want to put down 5$ on the game. Demos are just that, demos. We are lucky we get to play these things anyway. Remember when you had to wait and hope that they were on the disc in OPS magazine.

If you know you will be getting the game then it is a benefit that you will get access to the demo but in now way should you ever feel a sense of "entitlement" to such a demo. I think you are thinking too much from your blogging business standpoint. I personally can wait the two weeks. Boxing isn't that important of a sport anymore and FNR 4 isn't going to be that much different from FNR3.

http://intensedebate.com/people/rezluk Rezluk

lol yeah i can remember when i was little i would always get the playstation magazine for the demo discs i might be mistaken but you dont see those anymore

Jese

Winky Wright: Yet another build we got wrong that we already had correct in previous years.
Jese

Winky Wright: Yet another build we got wrong that we already had correct in previous years.
MC Nickels

You guys are killing me LOL. Complaining about 5 bucks! Okay hands up how many people in here have a job? When I was a young un (12) I mowed lawns for 10 bucks for the front and 15 bucks front and back. If you need a couple of dollars it's time to get your hustle on. Besides I know how to get demos as soon as they are finished but I won't teeeeelll.

AmenRA

Man I agree with you Nickels. People complainging about $5 for a fricking demo. Man if you don't like it wait two weeks for the fricking demo to come out regularly…DAMN!!! Plus can't you pre-order online and get the demo that way without having to go to the store? I'm not big on demo's anyway, 9/10 I know hat game I"m going to buy based on my own interest and a few safe critics…Gamespot and Game Informer

MC Nickels

You guys are killing me LOL. Complaining about 5 bucks! Okay hands up how many people in here have a job? When I was a young un (12) I mowed lawns for 10 bucks for the front and 15 bucks front and back. If you need a couple of dollars it's time to get your hustle on. Besides I know how to get demos as soon as they are finished but I won't teeeeelll.

AmenRA

Man I agree with you Nickels. People complainging about $5 for a fricking demo. Man if you don't like it wait two weeks for the fricking demo to come out regularly…DAMN!!! Plus can't you pre-order online and get the demo that way without having to go to the store? I'm not big on demo's anyway, 9/10 I know hat game I"m going to buy based on my own interest and a few safe critics…Gamespot and Game Informer

MC Nickels

Pasta! I see that you are making big moves on this site. The advertising has dramatically increased that means a lot of ching ching in your pocket. Not hating just congratulating keep it up

MC Nickels
Comedian Extraordinare
MC Nickels

I bet you are one of those guys who thinks minor scratches affects game play huh? The only minor scratches that affect game play are the ones on your brain. Just say no A-Roid it's your best move

MC Nickels
Comedian Extraordinaire
MC Nickels

I bet you are one of those guys who thinks minor scratches affects game play huh? The only minor scratches that affect game play are the ones on your brain. Just say no A-Roid it's your best move

MC Nickels
Comedian Extraordinaire
MC Nickels

Pasta! I see that you are making big moves on this site. The advertising has dramatically increased that means a lot of ching ching in your pocket. Not hating just congratulating keep it up

MC Nickels
Comedian Extraordinare
MC Nickels

What's wrong with Winky Wright's build huh? Something tells me that you don't watch boxing for the boxing LOL!

MC Nickels
Comedian Extraordinaire
MC Nickels

What's wrong with Winky Wright's build huh? Something tells me that you don't watch boxing for the boxing LOL!

MC Nickels
Comedian Extraordinaire
chris

just go to gamestop n pay the five bucks and come back the next day and cancel the preorder n get your money back or transfer it to something else. i always do that when gamestop give something away. so we do benfit from it if you do the way i always do it.
chris

just go to gamestop n pay the five bucks and come back the next day and cancel the preorder n get your money back or transfer it to something else. i always do that when gamestop give something away. so we do benfit from it if you do the way i always do it.
super-fan

only thing i care about is who is in this damn game!!!!!
super-fan

only thing i care about is who is in this damn game!!!!!
http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

I don't see the demo advanced via pre-order being that big of a deal. I honestly don't know how it benefits GS or EA because the $5 is refundable. Put $5 on the game, you get the demo code. Hate the demo, go get your $5 back.

I agree that most fans of the series are going to buy it anyway so putting down a pre-order is natural.

EA not releasing the demo for free is really not a good business decision. If I am a casual gamer, I am not going to drive to my local GS just to get a demo. However, EA is missing a majority of the casual gamer crowd by not offering this as a free download. I just don't know how EA or GS thinks this is going to equate to more sales.

The best way to allow gamers to try a new game prior to release in this fashion is with beta testing, ala COD: WaW.

James

I dont think GS is looking to boost sales… theyre just geared towards ensuring that the hardcore gamers who are buying this game regaurdless go through their store to get a demo 2 weeks in advance. Gamestop does this alot with big name games and demos to pull in the customers who are deffinetely buying a game and would otherwise just drive to a mom and pop store because its closer.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

I don't see the demo advanced via pre-order being that big of a deal. I honestly don't know how it benefits GS or EA because the $5 is refundable. Put $5 on the game, you get the demo code. Hate the demo, go get your $5 back.

I agree that most fans of the series are going to buy it anyway so putting down a pre-order is natural.

EA not releasing the demo for free is really not a good business decision. If I am a casual gamer, I am not going to drive to my local GS just to get a demo. However, EA is missing a majority of the casual gamer crowd by not offering this as a free download. I just don't know how EA or GS thinks this is going to equate to more sales.

The best way to allow gamers to try a new game prior to release in this fashion is with beta testing, ala COD: WaW.

James

I dont think GS is looking to boost sales… theyre just geared towards ensuring that the hardcore gamers who are buying this game regaurdless go through their store to get a demo 2 weeks in advance. Gamestop does this alot with big name games and demos to pull in the customers who are deffinetely buying a game and would otherwise just drive to a mom and pop store because its closer.

that guy

you must be one of those cheap-ass bastards that never buy new game.
that guy

you must be one of those cheap-ass bastards that never buy new game.
that guy

we know why u watch boxing you jock watcher.
that guy

we know why u watch boxing you jock watcher.
cool james

um ok, i see you need attention jock watcher.
cool james

um ok, i see you need attention jock watcher.
http://intensedebate.com/people/DaveDQ DaveDQ

Fight Night Round 4 is a big enough title to merit $5 for a demo. I'll be on my way to reserve, and I'm sure many others will too.
http://intensedebate.com/people/DaveDQ DaveDQ

Fight Night Round 4 is a big enough title to merit $5 for a demo. I'll be on my way to reserve, and I'm sure many others will too.
aaron

why should you have to go through all that to get a damn demo?
aaron

why should you have to go through all that to get a damn demo?
Alex Rodriguez

LOL Fags

AmenRa

Now this is a funny ass thread lolol

Alex Rodriguez

LOL Fags

AmenRa

Now this is a funny ass thread lolol

adam

Gamestop is A POS
adam

Gamestop is A POS
UNDISPUTED

are you jreally oking on someone for wanting visual realism in a boxing game hailed for its visuals?
UNDISPUTED

are you jreally oking on someone for wanting visual realism in a boxing game hailed for its visuals?
http://intensedebate.com/people/cabrillo24 cabrillo24

Pasta,

You may not be a fan, but this is a good move on EA's part and does benefit Gamestop as well. I know I'm getting this game for sure. Now, lets say someone is on the fence, they put $5 down to reserve, they get the demo early, and if they don't like it they can switch it. I really don't see how you don't like this move.
http://intensedebate.com/people/cabrillo24 cabrillo24

Pasta,

You may not be a fan, but this is a good move on EA's part and does benefit Gamestop as well. I know I'm getting this game for sure. Now, lets say someone is on the fence, they put $5 down to reserve, they get the demo early, and if they don't like it they can switch it. I really don't see how you don't like this move.