1.) Have you ever preordered a game for no bonuses (like a special level or whatever)? If so, why?

2.) Have you ever stood in line on a midnight game launch for no bonuses (like getting it signed or something)? If so, why?

The reason I'm asking is that me and my friend bought Tekken 6. He preordered it months ago, and got to the shop first at 8am, two hours before it opened. I, however, got there at exactly 10am and picked up my copy right after he did. In the end we both got the exact same package.

It brought me to wonder what the point is of preordering a game if there are no bonuses attached to it (though there usually is). It also made me wonder why people even wait in line for a game when they can get it the next day with no hassles.

Can anyone help me out here? 

I've done both a couple times.

Preordered: Brawl, Halo 2, Halo 3, Gears of War 2, Super Mario Galaxy
Midnight Launch: Halo 2, Halo 3, Gears 2

^^Because they were so awesome and I had to start playing online when everyone else did

Also preordered both the Wii and Xbox 360.

Well, I do preorder titles, sometimes just to make sure I don't forget about them. However, I will never do that midnight launch thing or early waiting in line for my game. I know that if I preorder from a store, they will be holding it for me, but most of my preorders are from Amazon, and the mail will get here when it gets here.

I pre-order Nintendo games through Amazon so they get shipped and billed to me as soon as they release. I really don't care if they have a prize.

However, I won't pre-order from a store I have to pick it up from unless it comes with a bonus, as I could easily just head to the local store and pick it up.

Usually, I only pre-order when
a) there are signs that a game will be popular, so I want to be sure I get a copy at launch.
b) GameStop have one of their "Turn in two used games, preorder the game for 1 DKK", which means I can go out, buy two brand new old games, and essentially get a brand new game at half price. I just pre-ordered R&C today for 280 DKK at GameStop with that offer, and a new game would normally cost some 500 DKK

If a game will have some sweet bonuses and I really want it, then that will probably push me to pre-order, but it has to be awesome stuff!

Finally, for the right game, yes I would stand in line to get something signed. I can't think of a lot of developers/actors/whatever I'd do it for though.

Some people just find it fun to hang around at midnight launches or some people want the game as soon as possible and want to make sure they do not run out of copies (pre-ordered or not, it can happen)

it all depends on the person. I personally never pre-order. I always wait till I had a chance to play the game before buying, ala demos or going to friends to try it.

I mostly pre-order games, as I buy all my games online so by pre-ordering I get them at launch. I have never attended a midnight launch, and I doubt I ever will

Preordering is a guarentee that you'll get that game when it arrives. For a collectors, preordering is worth it for majority of collectors are gone fast and cant be found unless you ebay it at a much higher price. But gone thru all that ebaying trouble paying more when all you simply couldve done is just a quick preorder.

As for lining up for opening launch is just for those that wants to play the game right away, but for those that preorder doesnt need to line up cause the store will always have your copy on hold.

Iv pre-ordred a few games in my day

Brawl, Phatom Hourglass, Wii Fit, RE4 come to mind