BioShock Infinite PC and its many pre-order bonuses

It's common practice for AAA games to offer a variety of retailer-exclusive pre-order bonuses. The PC version of BioShock Infinite has quite a number of offers to choose from.

Ozzie Mejia

February 22, 2013 3:30 PM

It's common practice for AAA games to offer a variety of retailer-exclusive pre-order bonuses. The upcoming BioShock Infinite is no different. What makes Irrational Games' upcoming title so unique is how different each retailer's offering is.

Steam takes the most novel approach, with a tiered system that promises more bonuses based on the quantity of pre-orders. Already, players have unlocked the first tier of reward: the original BioShock, which can be gifted if you already own it. Later tiers include exclusive Team Fortress 2 items and, ultimately, a free copy of XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

Steam's approach encourages pre-purchasers to hook others in at an attempt at getting potentially better rewards. (Kotaku argues that it could even be "manipulative.") However, for those wary of tiered bonuses, GameFly offers more immediate gratification. Early purchasers will be rewarded with BioShock and BioShock 2. This offer will help bring latecomers to the series up to speed, or allow series fans to re-visit Rapture one more time before heading off for Columbia. Early adopters will also receive a $5 credit that can be applied to any digital purchase on a 2K Games title.

Green Man Gaming does away with the credit, but offers a bit more flexibility, by including a free copy of BioShock, and a choice of either BioShock 2, Civilization 5, The Darkness 2, Mafia 2, or Spec Ops: The Line.

That's a lot to mull over, so make sure you spend your gaming dollar wisely. BioShock Infinite will be available on March 26th. And don't forget to make sure your PC is up to snuff.

Ozzie Mejia

Senior Editor

Ozzie has been playing video games since picking up his first NES controller at age 5. He has been into games ever since, only briefly stepping away during his college years. But he was pulled back in after spending years in QA circles for both THQ and Activision, mostly spending time helping to push forward the Guitar Hero series at its peak. Ozzie has become a big fan of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, and RPGs, just to name a few genres, but he’s also a huge sucker for anything with a good, compelling narrative behind it. Because what are video games if you can't enjoy a good story with a fresh Cherry Coke?

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Shacknews

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February 22, 2013 3:30 PM

Ozzie Mejia posted a new article, BioShock Infinite PC and its many pre-order bonuses.

It's common practice for AAA games to offer a variety of retailer-exclusive pre-order bonuses. The PC version of BioShock Infinite has quite a number of offers to choose from.
- boarder2
  
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  February 22, 2013 3:36 PM
  
  Bummer that I already own everything I'd care about getting out of these.
  - deject
    
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    February 22, 2013 8:35 PM
    
    Yeah, considering I haven't fired up TF2 in months, and even that was just for an hour at the very most, those Steam bonuses aren't enticing me at all. I'm not pre-ordering a $60 game (that I really don't have time to play) just to get copies of games to give away. Maybe if I was compensated for those copies but...
    - Saldrin
      
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      February 24, 2013 4:44 AM
      
      Same. I don't even know anyone I could possibly gift them too. Would be nice if they are trade able.
- BornAcorn
  
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  February 22, 2013 3:51 PM
  
  I saw this, passed out, and when I woke I had the familiar "Thank you for your Purchase" email from Steam. :(
  - Pneum0
    
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    February 23, 2013 5:15 AM
    
    Wait... is this what you tell your wife? Good call!
- frenziedbadger
  
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  February 22, 2013 4:24 PM
  
  I went for it. I don't have a copy of the original on Steam, and somewhere along the line I never finished my original play through. After I purchased it, I realized that I also own Bioshock 2. No idea when that happened. I guess it was on sale at some point.
- TotalRecall
  
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  February 22, 2013 7:34 PM
  
  I just want the freaking game..... :P Is that too much to ask for? If it's good I'll get the DLC.... I'm getting sick of all the preorder crap when I havn't even gotten a chance to play it.
  - EvilDolemite
    
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    February 22, 2013 8:43 PM
    
    i just buy the game, either on release or whenever. ignore the preorder bonuses. they usually don't contribute anything to the real experience.
- GreatGooglyMoogly
  
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  February 23, 2013 2:49 AM
  
  Everyone should boycott pre-orders.
- maulla
  
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  February 23, 2013 5:51 AM
  
  I sort of like what steam is doing with these new preorders. At least its not total junk
- rjdriver
  
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  February 24, 2013 11:27 AM
  
  Ahh....for the good ole days of pre-orders, when they used to give you a discount on the price or a t-shirt or something of real value. I still have my Deus Ex t-shirt. Came inside the empty pre-order box at Best Buy.
  - TheEmissary
    
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    February 24, 2013 7:21 PM
    
    I can see preordering for the rare game that is so in demand that it will sell out and stay sold out for a while. Even then you could buy most games digitally now so really whats the point. We have seen plenty of recent games with review embargoes to hide the fact that the game bombed to prevent the consumer from making a informed decision.
- 99bestgame
  
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  April 11, 2013 5:21 AM
  
  If you want to try out thi game before buying go to Mygame9.com and download it from there. There you can get it for free. Then if you like it you can buy it or keep playing for free.