Last week, we reported that Sony and Insomniac were offering some pretty neat pre-order bonuses for Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, but with the downside that the bonuses would be divided and split among the numerous retailers offering the game.

Naturally, this caused a bit of backlash, with some simply dissatisfied at not being able to get everything the game has to offer, while yet others were concerned about potential "game-breaking" aspects to some of the bonuses.

Fortunately, Insomniac's James Stevenson has been keeping tabs on responses, and offers some reassurances and consolation to those upset by the news.

Regarding the assertion that some pre-order bonuses are allowing those gamers who receive them to cheat their way to victory, he says the following:

While each package would give you an advantage in the game, we are not unbalancing the game. Specific care has been taken to not give anyone a gamebreaking advantage.

Another commenter said:

This pre-order BS is garbage. I'd understand if they were all things like the "Bolt Package" where you can obtain all of the items in game some how. However, the three other ones that contain unique content that you can't acquire post-launch each require a pre-order at a different place. So, either you want Ratchet and Clank enthusiasts to go pre-order the game three times, or you're just flipping us the proverbial bird.

Of course, you'll probably just release this content post-launch on the PlayStation Store for five dollars each.

Stevenson replied:

How do you know that we would charge for this content, and how do you know that it's not unlockable in other ways on the disc?

Keep in mind this is still INSOMNIAC. We're still going to do you guys right - but we also have to work with our retail partners who are making bigger pushes for in-game content as pre-order bonuses.

He later states:

If you look closely, the overriding theme is giving you some light advantages to start the game, depending on your playstyle — not necessarily keeping exclusive game-content out of your hands.

Do you guys really think we'd do that to you, our loyal fans?

Another comment reads:

If the Insomniac Moon, the custom weapon skin, the Hotrod ship skin, and the Home avatar are all on the disc and unlockable by playing the game, you should have said so in the post. Please clarify what items will be available without a pre-order in-game.

And in turn, Stevenson says:

Many of the items (like the Bolt Basher and Box Magnetizer) will be available through the course of the game as you play.

And just like the Grim and Malikov pre-order skins we eventually released to the community for free, I'm confident that if you are crazy and want ALL of the content, you'll eventually get it.

And that's more or less how it goes; it sounds more like those who preorder will only be getting various nick-nacks and such early, not exclusively. But that's not all Stevenson has to say.

To one person's concern about having to import the game into Mexico, and not being able to get the bonuses at all, Stevenson tells him "We realize this, and that SCEE and Japan and Asian territories also have restrictions, hence we did account for this in designing this program."

Another question asks about cross-compatibility with save files from the previous Future game, Tools of Destruction. John confirms that "The game will read your Tools of Destruction save and you will get some of the classic weapons earlier than usual if you have it."

Finally (for this post), one person suggested something a little less bound to the game as a pre-order bonus next time-- action figures, art books, etc. Stevenson says:

Here's the problem with action-figures/art books etc = we may order 100,000 of those items, and then, when a retailer runs out, they have 40,000 pre-orders. Where did the other 60,000 go? How much money did we burn to have them get handed out, swiped, etc?

Plus it's hard to make something really cool that doesn't cost a lot of money, which sort of defeats the purpose. Retailers realize this, publishers realize this - and hence this new trend.

With all of that said, perhaps there isn't so much to worry about now, after all.

You can find more of Mr. Stevenson's replies by looking for the red posts in the comments of the PlayStation.Blog.