Xbox 360 Fanboy

As stated in the article. This begins next week.

The pre-order bonus is a reason to buy the game at their store. This is a win-win situation for the consumer, so I don't know what you are complaining about.

First Banjo Kazooie free, then free CE upgrade for Prince of Persia, now this Gears 2 awesomeness. If you don't want it, just get it from a different store.

I think the thing is, if you preorder here, you get a tank. If you preorder there, you get a free shirt, if you preorder there, you get in game content... It goes on. The decision to preorder is just getting more and more rediculous. No longer do I have to decide whether or not to get a game, you have to decide where. Plus, if you neglect to preorder at all, you might miss out on something totally. Not all of us can afford to buy every game right when they come out. I plan on getting some for Christmas, but now if I wait till I actually can afford them or have them gifted, I will miss out on something free. It is kinda frustrating.

Chances are Bestbuy, Circuit City or Target will run a promo ($10 Gift card) for these big titles.
I'd rather wait for those than pre-order.

Wow, I didn't think I'd ever see someone complaining about getting free stuff and better deals on things because retailers are competing for our business.

Yes, now you have to decide where to buy too if you want the cool swag that comes with the preorder or the free $10 off or whatever. But if you yearn for the days of yore where every game cost full retail with no bonus, then just buy the game wherever and don't worry about it. It's like rather than being happy with whatever cool shit or money saved you get, you want everything that everyone gets, and you'd rather have nothing than have something but not everything.

Yes, not everyone can afford to preorder every game and many buy them later down the line. Big deal. It's not like they're jacking up the cost to $70 down the line to subsidize the stuff they gave away at the beginning. You yearn for them to give away nothing, which is the same you'd be getting if you buy down the line anyway. It's like the only point you're making in your whole argument is "screw everyone else, if I can't have every cool thing on the planet then no one else should get any of it either."

And while your point about software not selling out anymore is true generally, that is not always the case for limited/collector's editions, which often DO sell out.

These retail stores are trying to lock in your business. IF they can get you to come in and pre-order your also in their store. You might also purchase something else and then you have to go pick up the game; there that's another visit to their store.

These guys want your business so it only make sense to try to lock in your business with pre orders and free goods. That tank probably has a cost of $5.00. Retail store's probably are already making $20 - 30.00 off a standard 59.00 game. The cost of the tank is coming out of Microsofts pockets or any 'gift card' a retailer might give you. These are all run thru programs of co-ops and rebates the retailers get for purchasing so much vs their last years purchases..

Well I could go on but in essance they want to lock in your business now. Plus this can give them a better idea of how much inventory they should bring in. MANY retailers right now are playing inventory tight to the belt with the economy doing what its doing....

it is so they (retailers and game developers) make money off of the game, and not used game stores

I do agree with jorgo, though. I don't buy used from them, GS. Have they said if the gears 1 maps to dl in gears 2 is an indefinite offer? Meaning, if I do not preorder and just get it later will I still get the maps for free, being that it will be a new copy?

I don't think anyone that didn't plan on buying this already will just for the tank. And if the point of pre-ordering is to get it and not have to wait a month for it to come back in stock than isn't it nice to also get something for free with it? Geez....some people will complain about anything.

Me too. It'll be a nice day around the office when the lancer shows up. :)

Co-sign. Amazon Lancer bundle is way more crucial.

Yeah, I think the Lancer is the best offer right now but that RC tank is still really cool.

Same here. But I want that tank, and the gold hammerburst.

Ad says "Remote Control"...