Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward is heading to 3DS and PS Vita today in the States. It’s a visual novel from developer Chunsoft that has a wicked anime art style. Pre-order customers have responded in anger after Amazon failed to meet demand for the game’s pre-order incentive – a rubber wristwatch.

Kotaku.Au reports that Amazon started the pre-order incentive on September 14th, but assured gamers that everyone who pre-ordered the title before that date would still receive the item.

They didn’t, and now Amazon has emailed those who pre-ordered the game before that date to say that they aren’t getting the watch.

Publisher Aksys replied to Amazon’s move by publishing the following statement on its website:

It has come to our attention that a number of customers who have pre-ordered Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward in hopes of getting the pre-order bonus have received an email from Amazon regarding a complication with their order.

Unfortunately, it appears that the contents of the email have told customers that they will not be able to receive the pre-order bonus along with their purchase.

When we began our pre-order bonus promotion, our understanding was that all pre-orders placed before the promotional date would be honored by the system and allow customers to receive the bonus without any additional involvement from either party.

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However, we were just informed today that technical difficulties arose in the implementation of this conversion, preventing certain customers from getting the pre-order bonus. We sincerely regret and feel for our amazing fans (you) who have waited patiently for this bonus item.

Amazon will be handling any logistics involving orders placed at Amazon and the pre-order bonus item. While we would like to do everything we can to ensure that our fans are able to obtain their favourite games and products without any complications, our involvement in the final delivery of products is limited.

If you have any further questions, please contact an Amazon customer service representative.



This led to a backlash on the Aksys forums, and one user is filing a complaint to the Better Business Bureau.

Ouch. What’s your take? Should Amazon and Aksys honour the pre-orders?