Fans can now pre-load Pokemon Sun and Moon from the 3DS eShop

Pokemon Sun and Moon are the only major games coming to Nintendo platforms this holiday season, and Nintendo hasn't stopped talking them up. It seems to be working too, as Pokemon Sun and Moon marks the greatest number of pre-orders in Nintendo's history. While that doesn't mean this will be the biggest Pokemon release ever, good luck unseating Gen 1, it does bode well for a company that Old Yeller'd its struggling home console just in time for the holidays.

While most pre-orders still come from retail, the digital market is catching up fast. Pre-loading is a big reason: The fastest way for gamers to get their hands on a highly anticipated game is to have it pre-loaded and ready to go the moment the clock strikes midnight, or whatever arbitrary hour the store designates as go time. It also allows gamers to avoid crowds and the occasional let down that comes when certain retailers outsell their pre-order allotments.

Its nice to see that Ninendo has started embracing pre-loads in the last year or two, as the company's digital storefront was almost criminally behind the times. Do you take advantage or pre-loads? Do you prefer physical? Or do you just wait for reviews and feedback before giving a company your hard earned dollars? Tell us your stance in the comments section below.