The financial transaction associated with securing a physical copy of a video game produced in limited quantities before its official release involves a payment collected by the distributor. This transaction guarantees the customer’s acquisition of the item upon its availability. For example, a customer placing an advance order for a special edition of a game, offered only through a specific vendor, will likely be required to remit funds at the time of order placement.
This policy serves several purposes. It provides the vendor with capital to offset production costs and gauge consumer demand accurately. Furthermore, it minimizes the risk of unsold inventory, given the defined production volume. Historically, this practice has allowed smaller publishers to release niche titles without the financial burden of large-scale manufacturing, catering to dedicated fan bases.