Is anyone else getting tired of seeing "collector's edition"?

[kaedesdisciple]

Now don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for certain collector's editions, especially the steelbooks and well-produced artbooks. However, is it just me or are there a ridiculous amount of games getting released with a "me too" CE or LE to make itself seem more important than it actually is? It appears as though they are just trying to take up more shelf space and charge more money for it than actually include any content that's worthwhile to the consumer.

/end rant

[Oobgarm]

It happened with DVDs and now it's games. If it makes money, expect to see these 'LE' or 'SE' versions since people will spend extra money for the smallest of bonuses.

After the 'limited edition' Doom III and Halo 2, that was it for me. There's only been one 'true' LE mainstream game recently, and that was Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence. I'll still pick up the LE if it does have bonus content that justifies the extra price, if any, but I don't buy them straight away.

[Buyatari]

Come on man we couldn't live without the PREY limited edition.

[Chuplayer]

There's only been one 'true' LE mainstream game recently, and that was Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence.

And what a limited edition that was. I'm so glad I managed to get it.

I'm also sick of seeing limited edition and special edition. I'd give specific examples, but I see those terms on so many things they all become a blur. It really irks me when a DVD is plastered with "Special Edition" but there is no regular edition nor has there ever been one.

[norkusa]

And what a limited edition that was. I'm so glad I managed to get it.

Sarcasm, right?

I just sold my sealed Subsistence LE for $190 with the hopes that the huge JP Metal Gear collection set will come out in the US. Even if it doesn't, I don't think I'll miss it much. All Subsistence LE was anyway was a copy of the normal edition bundled with a DVD in a cardboard slipcase.

[Chuplayer]

Sarcasm, right?

Sort of. I had it reserved, but I heard horror stories the morning of release that even preorders weren't getting fulfilled. Still, it's one of the few true limited editions.

[s1lence]

Yeah, i'm tired of it. I was tired of it when the Doom 3 LE and Halo 2 LE were out on the market. They were all over the damn place, hardly limited or collectors editions.

[Cornelius]

This is perhaps getting more widespread, but certainly is nothing new. My favorite is Mega Man 8: Anniversary Collector's Edition (I think that's right) on the Saturn. Of course, there is no regular version. I think the PS1 version was just a plain old Anniversary Edition, so collectors must not be able to own it.

[8-bitNesMan]

Pretty soon every game that comes out will have a "limited edition" and collectors will collect the uber rare regular edition. Ahh, the irony of it all ;)

[cyberfluxor]

I actually like the Limited Edition metal cases a lot of games are comming in, even if that game isn't too special and "doesn't deserve" an LE/CE print. And actually due to this I've tried to stay ontop of what games have the metal cases so I know not to buy the standard plastic variant that'll be more common but I'm getting it for looks, better casing (especially when many places around here price used LEs the same as regular releases ;)) and that extra little content.

[TurboGenesis]

God Bless Victor Ireland and Working Designs.

Now everyone can finally jump on the bandwagon and put out a 'collectors/limited/special/legendary/deluxe' edition game.

[MonoTekETeA]

Well come on, I mean if companies want to come out with packaging like Working Designs came out with their games, I would gladly fork over the money. For instance, I really like Bioware, and if they came out with a "Working Design's Grade A Quality" of a collectors edition, you can bet I would buy it. But when they just throw it in a cardboard sleeve with a dvd and say "Ehy! Collectors! Only for $10s more!" Forget them.

[Trebuken]

For me this is the newest 'sub-collection'. I want that Gears of War metal case...

[zemmix]

It's crap like this that just turns me off to collecting. Same thing happened in comic books with their five different collector covers.

[heybtbm]

If you don't like "collectors editions"...don't buy them. Personally, I think they're primarily marketed to suckers with too much money. I've never bought one mainly because I don't see the extra $10 being worth it. New games are expensive enough. Besides, who wants those odd-shaped cases disturbing the flow of a uniform shelf? It's the same logic I apply to never buying "greatest hits" re-releases. Strange perhaps, but to each their own.

[whoisKeel]

It doesn't make much sense to me, really.

With DVD it is a totally different game. If you are buying a Special or Limited Edition DVD, there is a very good chance that you are already a fan of the movie, and have been for quite some time. At least you saw it in the theater or rented it. Special edition usually means a couple extra bucks for the second disc (excluding some exceptions like Criterion).

With games, there's a good chance that you haven't ever played the game, and an even better chance you haven't finished it before you purchase it. How the hell are you supposed to know if you are a big enough fan of the game to warrant the special edition? Plus, it is $10 more, a considerable chunk in the wallet.

Count me out.

[RPG_Fanatic]

God Bless Victor Ireland and Working Designs.

Now everyone can finally jump on the bandwagon and put out a 'collectors/limited/special/legendary/deluxe' edition game.



The Working Designs editions are still the best.

[G-Boobie]

There is no hard and fast rule in regards to collectors edition/limited edition value; it's dependent on the game, content, and how into the game/genre/developer YOU are... No duh, right?

I own the CE for Doom 3, Persona 3, Metal Gear Solid 3, and Oblivion for 360. I think that I got my extra ten bucks value out of them(even if I don't understand the fantasy doubloon that came with Oblivion).

[Chuplayer]

This is perhaps getting more widespread, but certainly is nothing new. My favorite is Mega Man 8: Anniversary Collector's Edition (I think that's right) on the Saturn. Of course, there is no regular version. I think the PS1 version was just a plain old Anniversary Edition, so collectors must not be able to own it.

There was a PSX MM8 that wasn't an "anniversary edition," but it took forever to come out.

[Cornelius]

There was a PSX MM8 that wasn't an "anniversary edition," but it took forever to come out.
I didn't know that. But wtf is up with a regular version coming out well after the special edition?

Also, technically I think the Saturn version did have extras over the PSX version (Cut Man and ???), but that is more of a typical difference you might find in any particular port. And it wasn't like there was a regular saturn version without the extra bosses.

[Chuplayer]

I didn't know that. But wtf is up with a regular version coming out well after the special edition?

Also, technically I think the Saturn version did have extras over the PSX version (Cut Man and ???), but that is more of a typical difference you might find in any particular port. And it wasn't like there was a regular saturn version without the extra bosses.

Wood Man, I think.

I saw the regular edition of PSX MM8 in Toys R Us in 2003 or 2004. It didn't say "special collector's edition" or whatever on it. I would've gotten it, but I already had the "special collector's edition." It had a small artbook. Or at least, it should've had a small artbook. I got it used, and the previous owner must've lost it. I don't care, though. I just wanted something better to play that day than WCW Nitro and Thunder.

[notoriusvig]

I just don't like the content, period. Nowadays, most of them just include some extra garbage that I don't care about. If they don't include old games in them or something similar, I just don't care.

[djbeatmongrel]

I have to say i am tired of it only becuase most are lack luster in the plus's. I will say that the Bully CE and Merc Ecko's Getting have been my favorite though.

The Bully one came with a damn Dodge Ball in a locker style box and a comic. the extra $10 was justified.

Getting up had an exceptional tin, cd soundtrack, dvd on the history of graffiti, graffitti artist black book with art and more background info on the game and a silver marker. tons stuff for $10 more. again, purchase was justified.

[Oobgarm]

I have to say i am tired of it only becuase most are lack luster in the plus's. I will say that the Bully CE and Merc Ecko's Getting have been my favorite though.

The Bully one came with a damn Dodge Ball in a locker style box and a comic. the extra $10 was justified.

Getting up had an exceptional tin, cd soundtrack, dvd on the history of graffiti, graffitti artist black book with art and more background info on the game and a silver marker. tons stuff for $10 more. again, purchase was justified.

Now those are 'Collector Editions'. They're making it worth your while to drop the extra cash.

The Bully one is awesome, if only for the dodgeball.

[kaedesdisciple]

That's why I loved the Doom 3 LE. Complete versions of Doom I & II come along with it? I'm down. Tracked down my complete copy for $15, w00t!

[heybtbm]

That's why I loved the Doom 3 LE. Complete versions of Doom I & II come along with it? I'm down. Tracked down my complete copy for $15, w00t!

$15? I paid $60 for it at Target on its release day. Little did I know that something called "Xbox Live Arcade" would come along and render the collector's edition extra's meaningless within a few years (Doom 2 is still expected on XBLA right?).

[kaedesdisciple]

Truth be told, I got into the xbox a little late. I inherited an old broken one that my friend had, fixed it up and started buying games for it. I lucked out and found a complete used minty one for $15 at a gamestop.

[geneshifter]

I really enjoyed playing Quake2 on my 360 which was an extra on Quake 4. I really like some of these CE's but some do suck.

[Ze_ro]

Personally, I love the LE's and CE's. I love having extra junk beyond the normal case and manual. Reminds me of Infocom's bizarre releases back in the 80's.

--Zero

[ProgrammingAce]

My personal favorite of the recent metal can style LE's is the Perfect Dark Zero case. You can't tell me that isn't cool looking.

[geneshifter]

My personal favorite of the recent metal can style LE's is the Perfect Dark Zero case. You can't tell me that isn't cool looking.

Yeah, it's cool. Along those lines are the Doom 3 CE for Xbox and FF12 CE. I like those tin cases. I hope I can get the Bioshock one from Europe sometime soon for a reasonable price.

[Daria]

Yes.



Unless something good actually comes with the edition, otherwise it's a blatent excuse to bleed an extra $10 out of the consumer's pocket. For example as previously mentioned the old Working Designs Special Editions were something special, although Growlanser got a little ridiculous. But adding a cardboard box and a 10 page "art book" is crap. What would be awesome is if we got the some of the Japanese extras, I've seen many game that came with statuettes or action figures. Something like that would be worth spending the extra cash on.

[ProgrammingAce]

What would be awesome is if we got the some of the Japanese extras, I've seen many game that came with statuettes or action figures. Something like that would be worth spending the extra cash on.

While the Japanese get some pretty kick-ass stuff we'll never see, the difference is that we get our freebies from pre-orders. That's not to say we get the same level of awesome though...

Besides, who wants crap like this (excuse the watermark, it's not worthwhile to retake the pic)
http://www.gamerhistory.com/images/other/EverquestPromo.jpg

[geneshifter]

Oh, I forgot about the Oblivion CE. I love that making of DVD. It's one of the best ones I've seen.

[alxbly]

I've got three collectors editions; Halo 2 (the store didn't have any normal editions... go figure), Doom III and Driver: Parallel Lines. I bought Driver a few months after it was released and by that time even the "limited edition" was half price! :)

[Daria]

While the Japanese get some pretty kick-ass stuff we'll never see, the difference is that we get our freebies from pre-orders.

Are you sure they don't do preorder bonuses in Japan? I have a friend who has preorder bonuses for the newer Shining Force games. Things like Phones cards, art books, and Shining Force GBA even came with an extra box with the artwork from the Genesis original. I don't believe these were "editions" just extras she gained from preodering the games from the Sega Direct website.

[Barbarianoutkast85]

I've noticed this more and more as well. I know its been that way with DVD's for a long while now. I love when a DVD is released and the company plasters "Special Edition" or "Limited Edition" on the box, even though there isnt a "regular" edition. I personally dont buy SE or LE versions of games if I have the original, even if I am buying the game and there are two versions available, most likely I'll just buy which ever version is cheaper. Now with DVD's the only SE or LE movies I have ever bought are the Critierion Edition of movies. Because they are worth it in my mind.

[gepeto]

Funny I was just thinking about this the other day when i was at gamestops website and was reading the persona 3 collectors edition. The one that really stood out as a turd and mother of all fleecing was the gamestop re4 collectors edition. The only thing good about that one was the tin. I have heard the splinter cells are right up there case nice but dvd sucks.

I will get the bio shock and maybe the halo 3 one.

[Promophile]

I love the rise of special editions, I just hope that at some point we'll be getting Japan-quality ones. I don't see why anyone would complain as long as they release normal versions alongside the special ones. The only negative I could see is that it makes collecting every version of every game for a system tougher.

[otaku]

Most of them are a joke but some are nice halo 2 and 3 both have nice editions and GOW did as well.