Coronavirus and preorders

[Mokuren]

We are under lockdown so grab it from a store wouldn't be possible! The lockdown was announced like 3 days in advance. So yeah I got it digital because there is no way I could get it from a store right now!

 

[jiojiop]

More can go wrong with digital than you think.

1. You lose access to your games if your account is compromised. You're also not technically purchasing the game, just the license to USE the game. Purchasing physical means you OWN the product.
2. if eShop servers close or die, you lose access to your game. Physical, you only lose out on updates.
3. Higher cost of purchase due to needing external storage (mSD cards). This one isn't much of a point, but you don't need as much external storage with physical.

1. You're far more likely to lose your physical carts or have them stolen in a break-in than have someone target you and bypass your account protection. But thankfully, Nintendo support can be really good! For example, this person got their hacked account back by calling Customer Support. Not so easy getting the police to chase down your stolen games lol

Also, all game purchases, physical or digital, are legally treated as if you're purchasing the license, not a product. A link to this legal agreement is printed on the back of my PS4 game cases, which tells me that Sony is only licensing the software to me not selling it. It says they can withdraw my ability to play this game if they deem my use of it is "unauthorized". Switch game cases even say that Nintendo is not liable if I do something unauthorized and then the game or console become permanently unplayable! It's weird, but technically, you don't own a product even when you're holding the cart in your hands. I think it's the same with discs for installing Windows OS.

2. If you've downloaded and are playing game, eShop servers closing does not remove the game from your console. If you deleted the game, sure, but then the physical equivalent would be having given the game away, in which case you also don't have it anymore. And while you're right that this can be the case, keep in mind that you can still download your digital Wii purchases even though the Wii Shop closed (you just can't buy new games).

3. Fair enough. But this only applies if you're going all-digital. The Switch comes with 32 GB of internal storage – more than enough for Animal Crossing (6.2 GB).

The biggest difference is that you can't resell the game. That's a major difference in rights. So I do understand preferring physical and will sometimes opt for it. But if people are worried they can't get their preferred physical copy, they don't need to worry too much about having to go digital for this one game.

 

[visibleghost]

i thought about it but i'm not too worried. worst case scenario i will just download the game since i haven't paid for my preorder yet

 

[Kurashiki]

Not really. I would rather have a physical copy but if the stores close i'll just buy digital, no big deal.

 

[moon_child]

I panicked today because of this. I already paid partially for a pre-ordered physical copy so I’m hoping the store will be open next Friday so I can pick it up. Otherwise, I’ll let that money go to waste and go digital just to be able to play on Day 1.

 

[sleepydreepy]

i’m getting mine mailed to me but i have a weird fear of the coronavirus somehow affecting mail delivery or even best buy (the place i ordered from) shutting down,, idk if that’d be possible but i hope not

yeah, I ordered mine from amazon and im having similar thoughts. so far it says it should come in on the 20th but in the back of my mind im worried it might be delayed

 

[DJStarstryker]

Not if laws state they have to keep certain departments closed, but its unlikely. Walmart would likely be open entirely.

Yeah, but I don't know if that'll happen.

The upside for me at least is there's only been 1 case so far in my entire state and it's not in my town. Other than schools closing, big events getting canceled, and people paranoia buying, there hasn't been any sort of lockdown or store closures. I know things can change before Friday but nothing I can do about that.

There's definitely many people who are in way worse of situations who actually might have to worry. I'm still not worried.

 

[Wisteria Rytsar]

My local GameStop is doing a midnight release so all I have to do is hope that things dont go on lock down before Friday. I honestly dont really know whats going on case wide in my state, its better for my sanity if I keep it that way. So it really just comes down to the store being open and then being one of the first in line. There are 80 preorders at my Gamestop and its a rather small store. So I wanna be in and out as fast as possible

 

[Lyraa]

I am a little worried, I am picking it up from the store since I'm at university on friday's, so it made sense to pick it up from the store. My university is expecting a call for us to shut down, we have been preparing all week for shut down and have been directed to where we will have our online lessons. Since I've purchased the Switch bundle and the download code comes with it, I wish they would release the console earlier and let us pre-install the game, just in case the store does shut down. It won't happen, but I'm holding out hope that the store doesn't shut down.

 

[PeeBraiin]

If they do close then I’ll cancel my preorder and ask for my money back. Just use that amount of pay for animal crossing digital

 

[LillyKay]

I had pre-ordered at Game however I bought a digital copy this morning just in case I have to self-isolate or quarantined before Friday .

I work at a hospital where tests for Covid19 have been on-going since February. A drive through has now been added and an increased number of people are being tested as observed through my office window. I am also on the wards daily and soon to include the ward that has been sealed off for those that have tested positive and need admission.

I will use the physical copy for the switch light - my daughter seems to have her beady eye on it anyway so she can have it instead.

 

[Neechan]

I live in Florida and I’m really getting concerned about this covid19 delaying my order to the 23rd, I have already determined that if it doesn’t switch from estimated to delivering a few days before release (17-18th of March), I’m switching...I’ve been waiting a while to play an AC game on release date since I missed it in 2013 with NL, I’m not about to let this pandemic ruin it :/

 

[moonford]

I'm somewhat concerned about postal services since I ordered mine from Amazon with prime; I'm really not panicking much and I'm being optimistic about the entire situation.

 

[isabll]

My country is in total lockdown right now, but Amazon's still delivering stuff and I pre-ordered a physical copy a long time ago, so I think I should be safe. If they're not able to deliver it (which is totally understandable, considering the situation), I'll just ask for a refund and buy a digital copy. No way I'm waiting until the end of quarantine to play with NH lol.

 

[Zirken Achiroda]

Hearing all of this makes me happy I already had much distrust in my local delievery services thanks to prior negative experiences. Alongside that the only store that would have AC:NH available at the 20th reliable is too far to reach in the evening against the evening traffic after work...
Though yes, if I could, I would've wanted the physical copy for my shelf.

As it is now, I wish for everyone that has physical pre-orders that all will go well. We all should get the chance for the game on the 20th.

 

[FuwaKiwi]

I'm a little bit concerned, I preordered the Special Edition with Download code and I don't know if the store closes next week.

Also I preordered it from eshop, the download code was meant for my boyfriend.
If the store closes next week, he will download it as well and we're selling the code afterwards.
In that case, I can wait for my Switch, at least I can play NH on the 20th.

 

[Antonio]

so happy I got digital copy

 

[Envy]

This is a good game to buy digitally, anyway, as you kind of want it in your system at all times to play whenever anyway.

I pretty much buy every new game digitally. That's not my favorite thing, but after a while I had issues with my local store not getting things in stock in time and got impatient. When I rebought Mario Kart 8 and BOTW for my Switch, I got them physically. My Wii U copies are digital.

 

[Saralie]

I didn’t preorder a copy. I think I want this digital so I don’t have to worry about switching out games. Honestly, I’d prefer all my titles be digital. I bought 3 games last night and didn’t go digital for any of them and I’m regretting it.

 

[Hazeltuft]

i was going to get the physical copy, but i am thinking about getting the digital version tbh.