Gaming Pre-loading Games?

[drfsupercenter]

I know Nintendo announced this feature... but during yesterday's Nintendo Direct, all they mentioned was the website where you can preorder download codes.

It says they'll "begin processing" them at midnight when the game is released. That doesn't sound very convincing to me!

Looking on my Wii U's eShop, I still see no option to pre-purchase Super Smash Bros. which is what I was hoping to do, so that it would be installed and ready for the 21st.

Any ideas of if/when this is actually going to happen?

 

[shinkodachi]

"Downloading is as easy as 1, 2, 3

1. Pre-order your download code below
2. On the game's release day, we'll email you the code
3. Download and play!"

That's what it says on the nintendo.com/buydigital website when pre-ordering Smash or another game digitally... So looks like the "preloading" isn't yet put into effect. I'm sure there's more details on that later.

 

[drfsupercenter]

That's exactly what I already said in my original post...

Yeah, I was just hoping someone would know if there was a date when the preloading thing is starting. 21st isn't too far off at this point.

 

[WiiCube_2013]

"Downloading is as easy as 1, 2, 3

1. Pre-order your download code below
2. On the game's release day, we'll email you the code
3. Download and play!"

That's what it says on the nintendo.com/buydigital website when pre-ordering Smash or another game digitally... So looks like the "preloading" isn't yet put into effect. I'm sure there's more details on that later.

Step number two is somewhat worrying because if they for some reason share the same exact code with another customer they'll be having issues so they should come up with a better solution.

 

[drfsupercenter]

Why would they send the same code to two people? That's not where the problem is, it's the fact that you literally gain nothing from preordering it, you mayaswell just open the eShop at midnight and buy it then and there.

And we all know how overloaded it's going to be when games like Super Smash Bros. come out.

 

[WiiCube_2013]

Why would they send the same code to two people? That's not where the problem is, it's the fact that you literally gain nothing from preordering it, you mayaswell just open the eShop at midnight and buy it then and there.

And we all know how overloaded it's going to be when games like Super Smash Bros. come out.

No, that is one of the problems which this could have.

Do you remember the issues about EA's digital codes not working for certain customers? It's because they sent the same code for twice or more customers. I also had a Club Nintendo Point code which was already used before so I had to contact Nintendo to get it as I was eligible.

Digital codes are bound to have problems.

 

[shinkodachi]

No, that is one of the problems which this could have.

Do you remember the issues about EA's digital codes not working for certain customers? It's because they sent the same code for twice or more customers. I also had a Club Nintendo Point code which was already used before so I had to contact Nintendo to get it as I was eligible.

Digital codes are bound to have problems.

I see another problem: what if for whatever reason the code isn't delivered or delayed? (e.g. email server issues)

The only reason I understand why people would want to preorder a game digitally is to have it downloaded and ready to play on launch day with zero interaction from the user. Just like the only reason to preorder a game at retail is to have it on launch day without worrying if all copies are sold out. It's the guarantee of having the game among the first people. But emailing codes? I can see it going wrong in more ways than one and it would suck if the code is delayed or never reaches your email. I don't see a guarantee in emailing codes.

 

[drfsupercenter]

I see another problem: what if for whatever reason the code isn't delivered or delayed? (e.g. email server issues)

The only reason I understand why people would want to preorder a game digitally is to have it downloaded and ready to play on launch day with zero interaction from the user. Just like the only reason to preorder a game at retail is to have it on launch day without worrying if all copies are sold out. It's the guarantee of having the game among the first people. But emailing codes? I can see it going wrong in more ways than one and it would suck if the code is delayed or never reaches your email. I don't see a guarantee in emailing codes.

Exactly. I'm not going to preorder a code from the website, as it's just as easy for me to turn on my console at midnight and download it.

What I am hoping for is what Nintendo actually said they were going to do (according to an article I read on here, at least) where you can buy the game on the eShop prior to release and download it, and it would be available to play on release date. That saves from potential server issues that the eShop is bound to have with a huge title like this.

No, that is one of the problems which this could have.

Do you remember the issues about EA's digital codes not working for certain customers? It's because they sent the same code for twice or more customers. I also had a Club Nintendo Point code which was already used before so I had to contact Nintendo to get it as I was eligible.

Digital codes are bound to have problems.

That's odd, I had never heard of such a thing. Club Nintendo codes are a bit different, since people at the store can easily redeem the codes (I'm looking at GameStop, where they "gut" the games prior to selling them, even brand new ones), but if the codes are issued directly from the server, they have algorithms that generate the codes to ensure there aren't duplicates.

EA isn't exactly the most reliable company, after all. Never heard it happening with download codes (look at the Super Smash Bros. and OR/AS demo codes that people got in emails, did anyone wind up with a dupe?)

 

[shinkodachi]

if the codes are issued directly from the server, they have algorithms that generate the codes to ensure there aren't duplicates.

That's not necessarily how it works. Codes are provided by algorithms and that's the problem. If the algorithm isn't collision resistant, then it's possible for the algorithm to provide two identical codes by design. It is very difficult to create an algorithm that is truly collision resistant. Club Nintendo codes are much like hashes that need to be verified in order to register as valid. That by design places a risk that there can be two identical codes in the wild. Cryptographers have a full-time job just trying to figure out better algorithms (Wikipedia has a nice brief of what I'm talking about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collision_resistance).

 

[aiat_gamer]

Well, why would I want to pre-order if I cant pre-load the game?! I will just buy it when it comes out.

 

[WiiCube_2013]

Exactly. I'm not going to preorder a code from the website, as it's just as easy for me to turn on my console at midnight and download it.

What I am hoping for is what Nintendo actually said they were going to do (according to an article I read on here, at least) where you can buy the game on the eShop prior to release and download it, and it would be available to play on release date. That saves from potential server issues that the eShop is bound to have with a huge title like this.



That's odd, I had never heard of such a thing. Club Nintendo codes are a bit different, since people at the store can easily redeem the codes (I'm looking at GameStop, where they "gut" the games prior to selling them, even brand new ones), but if the codes are issued directly from the server, they have algorithms that generate the codes to ensure there aren't duplicates.

EA isn't exactly the most reliable company, after all. Never heard it happening with download codes (look at the Super Smash Bros. and OR/AS demo codes that people got in emails, did anyone wind up with a dupe?)

Yeah, I sent 1-2 codes (of the ORAS demo) to a guy which I thought weren't used and turns out they were but at least the third time it worked. I also read Smash Demo codes didn't work so it's not that secure.

It's better to redeem it asap than wait.