Veridian3

Morning all, quick question or three to start the day... (Feel free to answer as many or as few as you want)

Quite often GFX card manufacturers bundle "free" games with their hardware, is this something you guys appreciate or would you just like to get the card/cables and nothing much else?

Do you guys think its more or less important what is bundled depending on the market segment? For example, Nvidia are bundling Street Fighter 4 with their GT 240 at the moment in some regions. Good choice of game/bundle or not?

Finally, are there any games you would really like to see bundled with a particular level of card... or any types of game you think should never be bundled?

Thoughts and opinions appreciated pls.

craig5320

I wouldn't say it sways me or matters either way, what I don't like is when you just get the game in a paper sleeve.

What I've found in the past is that if it's a high profile game I probably already have it.

I think I've seen it done before but it maybe didn't catch on, but a redeemable gift token where you can visit a website and request say one of five titles would be more appealing for me.

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Dyre Straits

I can pretty much echo what Craig has said. It's been ages since I bought any hardware just because of what was...or what was NOT...bundled with it.

Getting what's needed to actually use the new hardware is more important to me.

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comp_ali

I'd prefer an open world game like GTA, Mafia II or FPS .

Cow_160483

Well to be honest i rarely buy a GFX card coz of the game bundled with it, just like craig said most of the time i already have that game. So to answer the first question yes i do appreciate the game but would rather that I get the card and all necessary cables/bundles and nothing much else.
As for the second question a very big YES it is more important depending on the market segment what the bundle consists of especially for the middle and high end cards. As for the final question i would appreciate a good game that takes advantage of the GFX card's potential like for example Dirt 2 that was bundled with ATi 5*** cards which take advantage of DX11.

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anonemus

^ Exactly my sentiments as Cow's. Just would like to add that I prefer games to be bundled as DVD rather than as coupon as internet connection in my area isn't as fast as the rest of the world

Kein

It's the cheapest way to add value without lowering the price or investing in something else, like cooling, etc. I usually don't care to be honest.

I think it's important what it's bundled if done right, but there are better options at the same MSRP as the GT 240, for example. It's probably attractive to the fanbase that wants to play SF4 on the cheap (or to use on a HTPC and get a freebie), so it makes sense depending on the region.

Personally i'd much prefer them to focus on warranty, build quality and cooling solution, but price is key and i can see why they don't want take that route.

paulnlso

I think I've seen it done before but it maybe didn't catch on, but a redeemable gift token where you can visit a website and request say one of five titles would be more appealing for me.

Tyrsonswood

A hardware decision should be based on the hardware alone, not "bundled software", game or other. Even two similar cards, with the same model number, from different manufacturers are not the same, different clocks, memory type, component quality, cooling solution, etc. Many "less than savvy" purchasers may buy the lower quality card/brand at a higher price (or the same price as higher quality one) just because it comes with a "free" game.....

These "less than savvy" purchasers I'm speaking of are probably in the majority away from this forum and marketing schemes like this work..... It's just like an "grown-up" version of getting that brand of cereal they hate just because of the cool toy inside. Happens all to frequently........

This type of marketing is not as prevalent with higher end hardware, but quite often the packaging artwork could influence purchases in the same way........ Marketing guys are very sneaky, Ya Know?

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crowTrobot

If its a downloadable game coupon, they should provide a choice from list. But if it's a specific game, a physical copy would be nice.

niceguyrichy

personally i've never bought a gfx card on the basis of what it comes bundled with.
i look at my needs for speeds, cooling, and price.
generally i'd just prefer everything cost a little less, rather than them lumping random games in there tbh

oh, and i agree with whoever said ^ that if they do insist on bundling a game, it should absolutely be properly boxed, not just in a little paper sleeve..

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Judas

While i appreciate the inclusion of a game..... if the options was there, i would rather see a small savings rather then packing a game in with it.

OR if it's a new technologically advancing peice of hardware that has some clear visible changes and improvement, i've really missed the tech demos that used to be part of the package.

IMO i really don't think the software disc is necessary anymore, yes i know some people don't have the internet, but then again i don't know of ANYONE that doesn't and has any modern computer, specially with one that they've jammed a new retail graphics card into. (or someone that doesn't have it available). So if that is an additional cost and part of the waiting period for a new card, i think that could be cut back on as well.

If anything, modern card should come with a DVI-VGA adapter, video card, a small peice of paper stating a web address to get the latest drivers and installation instructions/specs/so forth.

Right now i've 3 copies of Dirt 2 due to purchasing 3 of the video cards, crossfire owners are giving out copies of dirt 2 to other people. Like i said, while i appreciate it, and that having something like this is great, if it potentially can bring down costs specially for other products, i think some people would prefer to download free tech demos that really showcase the capabilities of the cards vs bundling such games. At best provide a coupon or discount slip of some kind, don't bundle CD games, i'd stick to the downloadable stuff.

Personally I miss the Ruby demos, I miss seeing the tech demos that REALLY push the envelope. I think it could be great if Winamp visualizations could be greated using such things.

It would be i think kinda cool for ALL the ruby demos to be updates and upgraded to the latest and greated and slapped together, each new ruby just to be appended. Turn it into a continious storyline maybe.

Just some of my thoughts on it.

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IvanV

What I want to see in the box is the card itself and ALL the connectors and adapters. The most idiotic situation one can get in is buying a pair of Radeon cards and a CrossFire motherboard and finding out that there isn't a single CrossFire bridge in any of the boxes, and that happens.

If the manufacturer wants to add something on top of that package, that's nice and might sway me towards a particular model, but good cooling and not having any gotchas on the card, such as underclocked memory, is always more important than the software bundle.

Bundling a game with a lower market segment card is a nice touch, it would make me feel a little warmer around my heart. If I got a game with a card like that and it kept me entertained even for a day or two, it would probably make me glad that I chose that particular GPU or graphics card brand which might affect any future purchases (possibly of some hardware other than graphics cards as well, if the manufacturer also makes motherboards for example).

Still, I think that Craig nailed it on the head when he said that a redeemable coupon which would allow choosing between one of a few titles from a certain publisher would be a good idea. Years ago, I bought a 9800Pro from MSI. It came with an amazing bundle, including three full games, a Ghost Recon game, Morrowind, both AAA titles, and Duke Nukem Manhattan Project. Eventually, I gave Morrowind away to a friend who's an RPG fan and the Ghost Recon is still collecting dust as I tried it once, found it a little cumbersome and gave it up. Of the dozen or more discs that came with that card, I found PowerDVD of most use, so clearly letting a buyer pick his game can be a lot better as even going over the top with the bundle like in this case doesn't necessarily mean you'll get it right (I took the card because the seller gave me a really good deal on it as I bought a lot of relatively high end kit at the time).

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Judas

A crossfire Bridge should never be excluded from the box..

I've yet to get a single card without a crossfire bridge that is above a Radeon 5650

those below usually don't.

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BlueMak

As long as they don't cut on the cables (including a vga but not a HDMI cable...), I appreciate any "free" games that come with hardware. The problem is with hardware that is sold for several months or more and they still sell it with that original game that everyone already has it.

Including a too heavy to run it good, game with a budget card, is not winning any points... As long as they don't have an old game or a game that no one wants, I don't have an issue with this. I don't personally care for Street Fighter 4, but I wouldn't mind getting it or have any issue with it. I don't "read" beyond what it is offered.

Sims would be nice. Everything now bundled is either a FPS or a racing game. It makes sense, but more variety would be nice.
For example, if they release a card in 3 versions, each of which has a different game. So, there is a larger chance whoever buys it, to get a game that he/she doesn't already have. Or, in the other way, it gives one more reason to prefer a specific card bundle over a competitor's, by having a broader selection of games. So, both brands have the game Dirt 2. I am looking for this model of graphics card, but I already have Dirt 2. Company B has another version/bundle of the same card, not with Dirt 2 but with (why not) Street Fighter 4. Sure, I might not care for the specific game, but since the money is the same, I will buy the one with the Street Fighter 4 game, I don't have, than the one with the game I already have.

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Chaos

i dont usually care but it was a bonus to get Dirt 2 with my 5850

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MIG-31

Personally id prefer to get Quality hardware from the GFX Card i would buy.

In my opinion id say Free Games is just a bonus.. There is a few companys that bundle free games that can be quite dated and has passed the time.

Im a FPS Fan in general which seems to be the most common Genre that is given out.

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BlueMak

I would like to add one important thing. For my next graphics card, the most important thing will be LOW NOISE and TEMPS. Any game bundles of course will matter, but only after the above.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

gascieus

Like many have said already, I am rather lackluster about bundled games (and other software too). I prefer receiving a slight discount for not buying a card with bundled game(s) and use that saving to buy a game that I can choose to purchase rather than forcing it down my throat.

But if bundling games do have to occur, then I agree with Craig. I think getting a discount/token coupon code and use it online from a selection of games is a much better alternative. The point is to give users the freedom to choose, not limit them with only a single selection.

Liqourice

I've never ever thought about it. I've gotten the hardware I wanted.. There have been games included but generally nothing I'd given much thought about. Got Dirt2 with my 5770 though, as a coupon, and it was decent but I didn't even know about that when I bought the card.

So no, I don't really care about it. For me they could rather lower the price instead of including a game. If it's a game I want I'll get it anyway, unless I already have it.

Share the same sentiment as many others though, if there IS a game, please let it be on a CD/DVD. Not that I have any problems downloading things but it still feels more like it's mine if it is.

Dark Lord

everything else being equal, id take the card with the bundled game.

with that said, if the option was there, id go for a bare bones card if it had a cheaper price.

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Sihastru

It matters only if the game isn't an old failed title, and if they don't use it to justify the lack of other things (like an HDMI cable on a HDMI capable card, or EVEN the DVI-HDMI adapter that's missing from EVERY package I bought).

If the card is more expensive because of that game and I do have another option of a similar package minus the game, but for less cash, I will usually buy the cheaper card.

So I'm all for the cheapest card I can get from a respectable AIB because I have all my favorite games already in my Steam account. I will also usually go for the "reference" design, unless the modified version is really good in that respect (it doesn't matter that much "how it looks", it's more about "how it performs").

Heat is not that much of a deal, power consumption is not that much of a deal, NOISE is a BIG deal, OVERALL performance is a big deal. The size of the cardboard box or the number of accessories will not help increase FPS.

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Veridian3

Thanks all, some interesting opinions.

niceguyrichy

had to chuckle, i was just raking through my 'big cupboard' looking for something, and stumbled on a sealed copy of CS:CZ that i got bundled with a gfx card many, many years ago
don't think the bundle with that one had any influence on my decision
anybody want btw.. ?

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Veridian3

You should give CZ - Deleted Scenes a go... not the greatest game but quite fun.

SFOSOK

Its a good way to sweeten the deal.

"But honey, I can upgrade the computer and get that game I've always wanted for free!"

If you can say free when your buying something, its usually a shoe in for permission from the boss.

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METAL!!

Tipstaff

Agreed. Getting a card that has a free game, but that doesn't come with ANY cabling, such as no SPDIF cable on a card that supports it (GTX260, for instance), or mini-HDMI to HDMI cable (which is used on the newer GTX400 cards).. that pisses me off. That's more money I have to spend to get those components, components which could have been included IF they didn't give a game that I might already have, or may not even play.

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Callandor

Hope I'm not too late on this one. Personally, imo, yes its a good thing to bundle games with cards.

Secondly yes it is important what type of game is bundled with what type of card, no use if the game is too graphically intense for the card that it's bundled with.

And finally, I haven't seen too many strategy games being bundled with new cards, and what Craig said in the beginning is too true. It would be nice to get a redeemable gift card instead which you can use to pick 1 or 2 titles out of a selection of 5 or more games from different genres.

Also, I understand they do it due to the space available in the box the graphics card is shipped in but it would be nice if they gave you a case at least with the game, even if it was an old style crystal case like the ones we see with music cds.

On top of all that, what cow said is important too. For higher level cards it would be nice to have a higher level game that takes full advantage of the card or gives it a run for its money. Kein hit on something vital as well, if the game were to be omitted completely and better cooling included instead of just the regular fan and heat sink.

IvanV's point of getting all connectors and cables is something I would agree with as well, as some of you would remember, when I got my 4870X2 I was missing the molex to 8 pin power connectors that I needed to use the card.

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iPlayer

I mostly care about the card, being that the game included I sometimes don't even care bout.

Would be cool if we could choose one among several, if not more, games released recently (steam maybe).