Well I wanted to know too so I came up with this after two pages of search results.
Sold pre-orders before NDA was wiped
GW2 SWTOR Secret World Warhammer WarZ Defiance
Sold pre-orders after NDA wiped Darkfall
That's enough to let me know it isn't abby-normal. Those are fairly recent games. I'm not searching throughout history. That's enough for me.
And what those games have in common?
If we include only elements common to all the games on the list, they have almost nothing in common.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me.
Trying to sell a product at a premium to a uninformed customer, is the epitome of a company who knows their product is sub par and is trying to recoup costs before a backlash.
No one says you have to preorder. It's a choice. If you feel you don't know enough about the game, you don't preorder. Simple as that. IF in the next few days they'll decide to lift the NDA and IF the information avaiable will satisfy you, you'll decide to preorder.
Trying to sell a product at a premium to a uninformed customer, is the epitome of a company who knows their product is sub par and is trying to recoup costs before a backlash.
No one says you have to preorder. It's a choice. If you feel you don't know enough about the game, you don't preorder. Simple as that. IF in the next few days they'll decide to lift the NDA and IF the information avaiable will satisfy you, you'll decide to preorder.
Trying to sell is not equal to force to buy.
Kind of is when if you don't preorder you will not be able to play any race in any faction. Whilst I couldn't care less, the people who actually want to do that are forced to preorder for the convenience of being able to play an Argonian in Aldmeri Dominion.
It doesn't force everyone, but it does force some. It would have been better if they had just kept to their original vision. It also forces those whose favourite race is Imperial to purchase the Imperial Edition if they ever want to play it.
Trying to sell a product at a premium to a uninformed customer, is the epitome of a company who knows their product is sub par and is trying to recoup costs before a backlash.
No one says you have to preorder. It's a choice. If you feel you don't know enough about the game, you don't preorder. Simple as that. IF in the next few days they'll decide to lift the NDA and IF the information avaiable will satisfy you, you'll decide to preorder.
Trying to sell is not equal to force to buy.
Kind of is when if you don't preorder you will not be able to play any race in any faction. Whilst I couldn't care less, the people who actually want to do that are forced to preorder for the convenience of being able to play an Argonian in Aldmeri Dominion.
It doesn't force everyone, but it does force some. It would have been better if they had just kept to their original vision. It also forces those whose favourite race is Imperial to purchase the Imperial Edition if they ever want to play it.
The fact you "need" playing an imperial or having the possibility to play any race any alliance, does not mean they force you to buy. It's YOU that define your needs. I don't NEED to play an Imperial character, I can't care less of any race any alliance.
Just because you want something and they offfering what you want for a price, does not mean they forcing you to buy it. They're just fullfilling your needs.... for a profit. :-D
I think they should at least announce when NDA will drop, and make it soon. The pre-order bonuses of ESO are so good, that if I have to choose between having to buy the game while NDA's still in effect or not getting pre-order bonuses, I'll take the third choice and buy Wildstar instead.
But they still have time to release the NDA before the early access starts. Let's be patient for a while longer.
Trying to sell a product at a premium to a uninformed customer, is the epitome of a company who knows their product is sub par and is trying to recoup costs before a backlash.
No one says you have to preorder. It's a choice. If you feel you don't know enough about the game, you don't preorder. Simple as that. IF in the next few days they'll decide to lift the NDA and IF the information avaiable will satisfy you, you'll decide to preorder.
Trying to sell is not equal to force to buy.
Kind of is when if you don't preorder you will not be able to play any race in any faction. Whilst I couldn't care less, the people who actually want to do that are forced to preorder for the convenience of being able to play an Argonian in Aldmeri Dominion.
It doesn't force everyone, but it does force some. It would have been better if they had just kept to their original vision. It also forces those whose favourite race is Imperial to purchase the Imperial Edition if they ever want to play it.
The fact you "need" playing an imperial or having the possibility to play any race any alliance, does not mean they force you to buy. It's YOU that define your needs. I don't NEED to play an Imperial character, I can't care less of any race any alliance.
Just because you want something and they offfering what you want for a price, does not mean they forcing you to buy it. They're just fullfilling your needs.... for a profit. :-D
If you were a mum you'd be the kind who'd say "I'm not forcing you to eat it, but if you want dessert you need to eat it."
The people calling ESO shady for pre-orders with NDA, here is a prime example of a MMO who has done this
Final Fantasy XIV ARR
Yes, the NDA was lifted in Beta phase 3 but the pre-orders went 20 days before it (i.e. NDA still in effect but game available for purchase) and yet the game was conceived by the MMO Community like the second coming of old school MMOs. Where was all the criticism then? And this example is just from the top of my head. I am sure there will be others who have done this as well.
Almost all MMO's as of late have done this, it is nothing new..... It's just propaganda. A bunch of haters banned together and there objective is to get as much negative attention drawn to ESO because it scares them and its competitors for actually being a decent game.
"The King and the Pawn return to the same box at the end of the game"
I love how people hink its their right to tell these companies what to do with their products. Its simple Its their game... they can do with it as they wish.
Not quite. Companies can sell their products how they like providing - and it varies slightly by country - they accurately describe their product and when delivered the product is as advertised. A minor detail for sure but a crucial one; and one that applies equally to online games. Won't be an issue for ZSO I am sure but possibility - and thus the threat - exists and mustn't be given up. It helps keeps the game promoters cough honest cough.
As far as the NDA itself goes it could stay to the end or will come down around launch time to help promote the game, especially going forward to the console launch date.
The easy solution though is simply to hold off ordering it. I would be surprised if every edition wasn't available to buy post-launch! And given the number of game day launch disasters I am surprised that anyone bothers. TESO may be flawless but that would be the exception rather than the rule.
Comments
... and 6-12 months after launch new whiny threads will arise, same actors, but slightly different gameplay:
"OMFG, Zenimax! Worst scammer ever - they forced us to pre-order game, now every bunch of freeloaders will get everything for few bucks from F2P"!!!
they all accept US dollars for payment?
If we include only elements common to all the games on the list, they have almost nothing in common.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.
No one says you have to preorder. It's a choice. If you feel you don't know enough about the game, you don't preorder. Simple as that. IF in the next few days they'll decide to lift the NDA and IF the information avaiable will satisfy you, you'll decide to preorder.
Trying to sell is not equal to force to buy.
Kind of is when if you don't preorder you will not be able to play any race in any faction. Whilst I couldn't care less, the people who actually want to do that are forced to preorder for the convenience of being able to play an Argonian in Aldmeri Dominion.
It doesn't force everyone, but it does force some. It would have been better if they had just kept to their original vision. It also forces those whose favourite race is Imperial to purchase the Imperial Edition if they ever want to play it.
The fact you "need" playing an imperial or having the possibility to play any race any alliance, does not mean they force you to buy. It's YOU that define your needs. I don't NEED to play an Imperial character, I can't care less of any race any alliance.
Just because you want something and they offfering what you want for a price, does not mean they forcing you to buy it. They're just fullfilling your needs.... for a profit. :-D
Sorry I just dont think it's fair to start the pre-order with a full NDA in place. It just feels wrong to me.
At least all preordering should alternatively allowed im beta, to see the game, and if they don't like it cancel the preorder.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
I think they should at least announce when NDA will drop, and make it soon. The pre-order bonuses of ESO are so good, that if I have to choose between having to buy the game while NDA's still in effect or not getting pre-order bonuses, I'll take the third choice and buy Wildstar instead.
But they still have time to release the NDA before the early access starts. Let's be patient for a while longer.
If you were a mum you'd be the kind who'd say "I'm not forcing you to eat it, but if you want dessert you need to eat it."
Almost all MMO's as of late have done this, it is nothing new..... It's just propaganda. A bunch of haters banned together and there objective is to get as much negative attention drawn to ESO because it scares them and its competitors for actually being a decent game.
WoW did it...just sayin' And they've done it with every expansion...
Edit: Actually every game that has a pre-order has actually done it, since all their employees are under a NDA contract when they're hired :P
Not quite. Companies can sell their products how they like providing - and it varies slightly by country - they accurately describe their product and when delivered the product is as advertised. A minor detail for sure but a crucial one; and one that applies equally to online games. Won't be an issue for ZSO I am sure but possibility - and thus the threat - exists and mustn't be given up. It helps keeps the game promoters cough honest cough.
As far as the NDA itself goes it could stay to the end or will come down around launch time to help promote the game, especially going forward to the console launch date.
The easy solution though is simply to hold off ordering it. I would be surprised if every edition wasn't available to buy post-launch! And given the number of game day launch disasters I am surprised that anyone bothers. TESO may be flawless but that would be the exception rather than the rule.