GAME Pays You to Pre-Order GTA IV

[Dr.Finger]

UK video game retailer GAME really wants you to preorder Grant Theft Auto IV in one of their stores. In fact they want your preorder so badly that they're offering you 500 Microsoft points (http://www.game.co.uk/lowdown.aspx?lid=7279&cm_sp=gta4-_-topnav-_-purchase), and 4 'exclusive' gamerpics, to do so (360 version only!).

According to Eurogamer (http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/352/f/4735/s/b075a0/story01.htm), you'll be e-mailed a code to redeem these gifts on or about the game's April 29th release date.

GAME's competitor, HMV, ran a similar promotion (http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/02/25/free-ms-points-with-lost-odyssey-pre-order/) in advance of the release of Lost Odyssey for the Xbox 360, so this may be the beginning of a trend over in the UK.

[Flatpicker]

Nice trend.

[Demo_Boy]

Kick ass promotion

[bKangy]

Sold, going to do it right now. It's £40, which isn't really too cheap but I was going to buy it anyway.

[Yeti2005]

I wonder if MS is finally getting their butt in gear in Europe and has incented retailers to sell more.

[GigaFuzz]

Thanks for the heads-up. Pre-ordered.

[Talanvor]

... Somehow I doubt this is going to happen in the US. Oh well.

[Xaerin]

I already preordered off amazon a while back so I think it's probably worth sticking with that one and my assumed early priority rather than having to start at the bottom, potentially getting the game after release due to rampant shortages all for 500 point. Can't even buy rez with that.

[monkey13]

Wow some trend! We repeatedly get shafted on prices in this country but now we're getting 500 points. Whoop de do.

GTA 4 Amazon Pre-order USA $59.99 ~£31

GTA 4 Amazon Pre-order UK £39.99 ~$79

Value of points ~£4 or if in dollars ~$6

Result = still shitty for us Brits.

Also the Amazon UK price is also with £10/$20 off. (Apparently I never see games at full price on release now.) More and more games released over here come straight out with this kind of discount everywhere. Probably to try and make it look like we're not being fleeced.

Imagine this was Amazon's full price. Any Americans willing to pay $99 for a game?

[BigJonno]

Are those Amazon US prices before any kind of sales tax? 17.5% VAT makes a big difference. £31 becomes £36.43, which isn't too much of a difference.

[monkey13]

All taxes in. Unless the US one adds something at checkout. Here's the links I used.

US GTA 4 (http://www.amazon.com/Rockstar-Games-Grand-Theft-Auto/dp/B000FRU1UM)

UK GTA 4 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grand-Theft-Auto-Xbox-360/dp/B000FNDYWI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1204680621&sr=1-1)

[HeyRatFans]

Obviously not enough love to go around because they seem to have forgotten about the lovely people that pre-ordered on the website.

And to think I work for them as well.

[tehhu1k]

Does anyone know if the 360 version will have multiple discs?
Or are they not saying so 360 sales wont suffer...

[GigaFuzz]

Obviously not enough love to go around because they seem to have forgotten about the lovely people that pre-ordered on the website.

And to think I work for them as well.

Customers who have already pre-ordered this game will also receive the bonus offer.

You should be fine.