... so much for rumors of massive moral indignation over the Imperial exclusive "Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition Outselling Standard Edition By 5X In Pre-Orders"

http://www.dealzon.com/blog/exclusive-race-works-elder-scrolls-online-imperial-edition-outselling-standard-edition-by-5x-in-pre-orders

I was guessing this was going to happen. No matter how much griping would go on, or how bad people are commenting about it on other websites, the numbers were going to be the true determination. It seems like people will pay for it, and if you don't like it, tough.

I'm sure it's because of the mudcrab pet. It is clearly the most attractive feature of the digital Imperial edition.

No worries. Pre-order exclusives rarely stay exclusive...

I'll agree to that. The Imperial Exclusives will remain exclusive though. I only say that, because they offer upgrading to digital Imperial even after launch.

But they have to stay exclusive if the exclusives are being advertised as exclusive to the Imperial Edition. Otherwise it's in violation of advertising laws.

They can only get their numbers from:

It's not total numbers from all retailers.

Everyone needs to keep in mind, their numbers only are coming from Green Man Gaming and Gamefly Digital, and are only for the digital editions.

That's over a thousand on Dealzon alone...

(Edit: as pointed out by Thymos, that means Green Man Gaming and Gamefly Digital)

I liked this part - "Why do the publishers do this? They do it because we buy them." Just about every MMO I've played in the last 7 years has been a Collector's Edition. So I guess that means I'm to blame (partially) for the Imperial Edition.

I'm not surprised! I'd pay 1000$ for that mudcrab! But since I don't have to, I preordered a physical Imperial Edition.

This was actually cheaper than SWTOR's collector's edition, so it was easier to buy than when I got SWTOR's.

Wow, so much for all those outraged gamers. Maybe everyone complaining IS just the vocal minority?

I would like some figures of total number of pre-orders from Zenimax Media

Wait, mudcrab? I thought I got free crab cakes...

Take the Provisioner profession... but you'll have to kill it yourself

You wouldn't eat a friend, would you?

Wait... I'm supposed to be a Bosmer. Nevermind, meat pies for everyone!

I can't wait to eat a fellow Bosmer.

Right... which makes it not so exclusive. The digital upgrade almost certainly won't cost 70 USD ($20 tops would be my guess), the price will go down over time, and some (if not all) the digital goodies will eventually be released individually on the ESO store. In fact, I expect the Imperial race will be the first thing in the pack to be sold as an individual item, and I'd expect that to happen within six months.

Hasn't seemed to stop other MMO companies from doing so. There's an MMO out there that now lets you buy a "Founders pack" full of goodies that were originally advertised as pre-order exclusives. You even get a Founder title to show off your newly purchased pre-launch devotion!

The physical swag will stay exclusive (aside maybe from promotional stuff at conventions), and I can see buying Imp for that. The digital stuff... well, if there's demand for it, it will somehow make its way into the store.

If you don't trust Zenimax and Bethesda, you can think what you want... but I do trust them. Am i naive? Maybe.

During this time period of January 29th to February 2nd, a total of 1533 transaction was completed. This by no means proves there wasn't a backlash. For all we know, this number could have been doubled or tripled if there wasn't an outcry about the CE.

it usually is lol

It's not a matter of trust - it's a matter of having seen it before, and of knowing that "exclusive" rarely means "really and truly exclusive now and forever" (except for items that nobody would buy anyway). Trust aside, Zenimax and Bethesda are in the business of making money, after all, and will do what they can to get the most return on their digital items.

Spend your money how you like, but I'll hold on to mine for the time being. I "trust" Zenimax to reduce the price to more reasonable levels eventually, after they've sold as much as they can at the current prices.

It *is* a matter of trust. The fact that you think it could happen because it happened before just says that you don't trust them.

Well that is true, no where does any game sold ever say the exclusive items at launch will remain exlusive for the life time of the game, so just like all other mmo's I am sure some where down the line these items will be available,, but hey that's the way the cookie crumbles

Nah they sold to the free to play types and the hard core sub guys probably didnt buy at all.

Either way it sends a clear message for all this stuff in the future people are willing to spend 60bux (more in the future) an extra 20 bux (more in the future) for a subscription based game AND theyre willing to buy extra stuff above and beyond that subscription.

So when the game releases and 90% of the people who bought a box arent playing after 90 days it wont mean a thing. because these guys continue to show that releasing a game no one plays for more than a couple months and grabbing all the cash up front is better than these so called subscription models they keep touting.