Best Buy fumbles Battlefield 3 digital release
Gamers who pre-ordered Battlefield 3 using Best Buy's PC App digital download service are having to wait longer than initially advertised for the key in order to be able to play the game.
Gamers had initially been told that the required keycode would be made available at midnight today, but then a few hours ago customers found that Best Buy had changed the time that the code would be available:
"The keycode will be available on 10/25/2011 12:00:00 PM"
This is a bit rough given that gamers who pre-ordered the game using EA's Origin service got access to the game yesterday!
As one gamer told me:
I've just talked to lost confidence in their [Best Buy's] new download service just from my experience!
This is why I hate the whole idea of digital pre-orders. Digital pre-orders should be unnecessary since unlike discs, a digital product can't run out. But stores love digital pre-order because they get the money in up front before gamers get to read release reviews of the game (I'm already hearing from gamers that the PC version of Battlefield 3 is plagued with performance issues ... not a good thing). By which time it's usually too late for those who have pre-ordered to back out. Also, if the distributor messes around with you at the last minute, you're stuck with them and can't get the game elsewhere.
Pre-orders for digital products are there to serve the distributors, not gamers. Consider this before pre-ordering!