How do pre-order digital bonuses work?

I've been noticing these on PC and console games especially since the beginning of this console generation when you receive exclusive in-game bonuses by pre-ordering a game. When you do so, you receive a code to download some exclusive level, character, weapon, armor, etc. I have never pre-ordered a game in my life.

I'd like to know how exactly this works. Once you receive the code, where do you download the digital bonus from? If I don't pre-order the game, can I never, ever receive the bonus or do some times, its offered later on as free or paid DLC?

I'm interested in this with Mass Effect 2 (where I don't have long to pre-order the game now). Would it work differently for the 360/PC versions or the same, just that I download the bonus from Xbox Live or Bioware's website depending on the version?

Like with Mass Effect 2, you get a different, exclusive bonus from pre-ordering from Gamestop or another retailer. I wouldn't want to purchase two copies of the game to get all the bonuses.

 

Don't know much from PC gaming, but console games give you a code, which allows you to download special In-Game content.

 

Depending on the game, some pre-order exclusive items can be purchased for a price at a later time, but its a gamble because sometimes they aren't. For the most part, pre-order exclusive items are either just fashionable, or become obsolete withen a certain span of time.

As for obtaining the pre-order stuff, if its on a console, its most likely going to be through xbox live or the ps3 equivalent. For the pc if its single player, its usually just the same code given to all pre-purchased copies.

 

Thanks. I guess with a multiplatform game like Mass Effect 2 for instance, for the PC, I download the pre-order bonus content through Bioware's website and with the Xbox 360, through Xbox LIVE.

When you get your code, do they give you some unique, special URL to download from which the non-preorderers cannot find? Sorry for my silly questions.

 

well when i preordered left 4 dead 2 on steam the preorder stuff just automatically downloads when the game was unlocked. (getting on steam has a few benefits.) you get all updates, preorder and dlc (once purchased) automatically downloaded. no need for a disc in drive (so no carrying them around) also usually a week before the game is unlocked you can preinstall it also so once its unlocked a few files get decrypted and you can play immediately.

when i purchased chronicles of riddick at retail i was given a code to download from a provided link once the game was released. so if you buy it at retail its most likely a code youll use to download from some site. on xbox live you get a code you imput as if it was an x live card and it takes you directly to the download (at least it was like this with gears 2 preorder content) i havent gotten any preorder stuff from ps3 games but i can imagine it would be the same as the xbox live redemption.