We need Collector's Editions.

[DefaultGen]

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[Dangerboy]

Depends on your view.

Your description sans price point sums up the Halo 3: Legendary Edition...which is now almost half price and collecting dust in most stores.

Working Designs tried it with the Lunars and Arc, but truth be told...how useful is anything in a collector's edition?

Heck, even most of the recent Collector's Editions contents, usually come out separately on Xbox Live / PS Network when it comes to digitial content.

I guess it all depends on what exactly yiou are looking for. I think Devil May Cry 4 had it included the freebie artbook with it, would have been impressive.

Jason

[otaku]

working designs made some nice sets. I like the limited editions out now but would like more limited runs and maybe some nicer stuff. Dreamcast had some nice limited editions in japan

[Cryomancer]

I don't see why new games get collectors editions anyway. How does anyone know if they like the new game or not? It's silly.

How about COLLECTED editions. Graphic novels for videogames. Something where they pack together all the previous games in a franchise along with the newest release. Preferiably with "new" games that never hit the region before.

[DefaultGen]

I guess it all depends on what exactly yiou are looking for.

I ranted about it here (http://totalgamerzone.com/2008/03/12/we-need-more-collectors-edition-games-not-tin-boxes/):


So you’re probably wondering what my ideas are for a true collector’s edition game? I could say have the development staff sign each copy by hand and walk away, but that’s far too easy, and signed games aren’t anything special. How about this, include an art book drawn by hand by the artists themselves. Include an alpha or beta build of the game on a separate disc. Include an actual animation cel or concept sketch that wasn’t used in the game. Have an artist hand draw the box art. Include a CD of music and sound FX that didn’t make it into the game, and make each disc unique so that the owner will be the only person who has those tracks. Print up 30 copies, charge $450 each for them. This is the crap that would make a game ‘Collector’s Edition.’ Would it make you any money? Nothing compared to what you would get with a simple “making-of” DVD and a fancy box for $10 above MSRP, but if you’re going to call a game Collector’s Edition and it’s just a worthless overpriced copy of the same game, rename it to something more suiting like “Dumbass Edition.”

[Half Japanese]

I don't see why new games get collectors editions anyway. How does anyone know if they like the new game or not? It's silly.

How about COLLECTED editions. Graphic novels for videogames. Something where they pack together all the previous games in a franchise along with the newest release. Preferiably with "new" games that never hit the region before.

I always think the same thing when I see a movie is put out through Sony's "Sony Pictures Classics" label. I've seen some shit on that label that was far from classic.

I think Capcom is one of the few companies doing collected editions, or at least they did them for RE and DMC.

As far as "collectors editions" go, I don't give a shit honestly. I never watch the DVDs that come with CDs and I never watch making-of DVDs that come with games, and that's generally what "collectors edition" implies...well, and sometimes a steelbook case. "Collectors Edition" holds the same weight to me that "Special Edition" or "Unrated" on DVD packaging does; they're all borderline-meaningless.

[debian4life]

Collectors edition in my opinion is a companies way to just get more sales. It's bad enough they have one collectors edition. But now I have seen some games where for a particular game, they have a different collectors edition for various stores. Target and Walmart are notorious for this.

Regards,

Brian

[PingvinBlueJeans]

I ranted about it here (http://totalgamerzone.com/2008/03/12/we-need-more-collectors-edition-games-not-tin-boxes/):
Yeah really...as if people in this hobby need any more useless junk to collect.

[erehwon]

I usually only go for Collector's or Limited Edition games if they include the soundtrack. The thing that I would like is that they would put the full soundtrack in these games. I'm thinking of the OSTs you can import from Japan. That's the kind of soundtrack I want with my CE or LE games. I actually like listening to these.

[kaedesdisciple]

Personally, I've said it a million times, I'm a sucker for a steelbook. Not those crappy tins, mind you, it's gotta be a genuine steelbook. For some reason, call it stupid I don't care, I have no problem paying a few $$ extra for them.

[DefaultGen]

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[Bojay1997]

Not some package where you pay $10-20 more for a tin case and a making-of DVD, we need more games that have a print run of 500 and includes something huge that you'd have to camp out for days to see if you store even gets one kind of games. Am I the only one who feels this way when I walk into a Gamestop and see all these "CE" games for $5-10?

That's a completely manufactured collectible. Who cares about that? Do you really want to be one of the collectors left out in the cold when the first 500 get sold to people who have better relationships with the manager of their local Gamestop?

I like the Steelbook LE games on the Xbox 360, but the truth is, manufacturers create these limited editions in the first place to convince people who would ordinarily wait for a price drop to not only pay full price, but often a little bit more for a game. I have shelves full of useless promo items and freebies and I don't think anyone is really crying out for more Japanese style premiums. I think the pinnacle of ridiculousness was when Two Worlds came out in a collector's edition and got universally panned as one of the worst games in a very long time. Ditto for Turning Point which was a great idea saddled to a very poor game. Devil May Cry 4 was a joke of a Collector's Edition and offered very little for the outrageous cost of an additional $20. I could really care less about more elitism in videogaming. I'd rather see manufacturers focus on making better AAA titles and more niche games than on trying to squeeze us for $5 extra for a collector's edition.

[ScourDX]

When it comes to collector edition games in N. America, Blizzard is the best. They usually fill their collector edition with soundtrack, artbook, poster, in game DVD movie, postcard and etc.

I do missed the old PC collector edition. The box is usually big hard case and fill with artbook, t-shirt, soundtrack, poster, extra disc and etc. Now I barely see anything in the collector edition or limited edition.

[PapaStu]

It isn't going to work in todays market. Mass produced LE's (in the sense that there are more than 500) are the only way that these companies are willing to bite the bullet to release these, and I don't think that Sony or MS or Nintendo are allowing that due to minimum numbers they have to produce.

I say you should be happy with DMC4's LE. 100 PS3 and 100 360 copies did get signatures from the producers, were resealed and were shipped out randomly to stores. Now thats a nice surprise LE.

I'm personally happy if they actually make their LE's harder to get. MGS3 and BioShock have stuck to their hard to get as has CoD4 (too bad CoD 4 LE's arn't worth anything). Mass Effect and Assassins LE's seemed to be a little more available, but have been hard to find as well.

[boatofcar]

manufacturers create these limited editions in the first place to convince people who would ordinarily wait for a price drop to not only pay full price, but often a little bit more for a game.

Um, I think everyone is aware of that. This thread is about making those limited editions contain better things in them.

[thetoxicone]

The only ones I find worth my time are the ones with something addition playable like the mortal kombat (deception I believe) special editions that had Mortal Kombat playable on an extra disc or Doom 3 that did the same.

[sirhansirhan]

The RosenQueen exclusive CE Mana Khemia is the coolest I've seen come along in a while--limited to 1000 pieces, good crap inside, low price, sold out in a week or so... I'm glad I got my order in for it.

[Icarus Moonsight]

NO. WE. DON'T.

We need more kick ass console games that retail between $20-$30. Games need to get in the hands of more people and not serve some crap elitist niche market. Go slab some sealed games or something would ya? LOL Make game shopping likened to securing Hannah Montana tickets and I'm not playing anymore ok?

[boatofcar]

NO. WE. DON'T.

We need more kick ass console games that retail between $20-$30. Games need to get in the hands of more people and not serve some crap elitist niche market. Go slab some sealed games or something would ya? LOL Make game shopping likened to securing Hannah Montana tickets and I'm not playing anymore ok?

Irrelevant. This thread is about making higher quality limited editions of console games that already have a large print run in their original, cheaper form.

[Bojay1997]

Irrelevant. This thread is about making higher quality limited editions of console games that already have a large print run in their original, cheaper form.

No it's not irrelevant. This thread is a discussion about whether or not we need collector's editions and that naturally leads to discussions about what manufacturers could be doing instead of making more collector's editions. You're not even the OP, why are you challenging the relevance of everyone else's posts?

[Bojay1997]

The RosenQueen exclusive CE Mana Khemia is the coolest I've seen come along in a while--limited to 1000 pieces, good crap inside, low price, sold out in a week or so... I'm glad I got my order in for it.

I pre-ordered one and really all we are getting is a figure in a box. The other items come with the limited edition which is the only retail version they are going to release right now. I am curious if it is a specific box for the US release or just the same Japanese box in which case I am going to be very disappointed since I paid $10 for the box and a figure I will never use.

[kainemaxwell]

Many Collector's Editions are just as they ar enamed- for the collector's and the die-hard fans of the titles who enjoy the extra bells and whistles. I think the last CE I got was for FF12 (game and the strat guide)- and the extras included with them were actually pretty intresting.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Irrelevant. This thread is about making higher quality limited editions of console games that already have a large print run in their original, cheaper form.

Uh huh... in release quantities of 500 units or less. Irrelevant indeed. ;)

Why not just say it without the pretense? Just outright ask developers to make super-ultra kicky fast rare-if-not-unique variants for only you. In a decade or two you can retire off the eBay auction revenues. Now that is SO relevant. LOL

[mailman187666]

What I think would make a good collectors edition is this: say for the Castlevania: PoR for DS, instead of pre-order bonuses, they could include all the same stuff packaged with the game, and sell it as a collectors edition. I'm glad they didn't charge extra for that particular one, but still, if something like that stuff came packed in a collectors game, it would make it all the more worthwhile. Or stuff like CE only game content, skins for controllers or systems, mini cardboard stand ups for a desk in a collector's room, maybe even a disk with a cartoon based on the game or something. I stopped buying collectors editions of games because it never maintains its value (obviously), it doesn't always have good extra content, and they are hardly ever hard to find after initially being sold. I think game companies should look at what other things besides the game itself that people are collecting that has to do with games and bundle stuff like that with it.

[Ed Oscuro]

How about COLLECTED editions. Graphic novels for videogames.
Been done in Japan for ages. I've got a few of them, like the super-silly manga for Undercover Cops.


Something where they pack together all the previous games in a franchise along with the newest release.
Contra 4 came pretty close in this area.

[ProgrammingAce]

If what you really want is unreleased concept art and unreleased soundtracks, then go out and buy those. It'll cost ya a lot less then $400. The fact they're not easy to find is the whole point, isn't it?

[splex]

Whenever there's a special/collector's edition of a game that interests me and isn't too pricey, I'll get it. So what's the point in getting an expensive (well, compared to the normal set) collector's edition which isn't even exclusive or anything? It just makes me feel like those old days when games were more than just a DVD-cover and a .pdf-manual - yeah, those cardboard boxes sure took a hell of a lot space but were worth it.

Or is it just nostalgia.

[roushimsx]

I like DMC4's approach to ultra-limited collector editions with the whole randomly signed and sealed CEs. That's just snappy as hell.

For normal collector's editions, I wish more games would follow in the lead of high quality initial releases like God of War I and II (with a nice assortment of interesting behind the scenes and deleted scenes stuff) or rereleases like Metal Gear Solid 1, 2 and 3 (Integral was neat, Substance was hot, Subsistence was amazing).

As nice of a bundle as Civilization Chronicles was, I really do wish that the bonus video DVD had been a bit better fleshed out... I mean, the G4 Icons episode was nice and all, but you'd think they would have included more promotional videos from throughout the series (who didn't love the Civ Addicts Anonymous video?) or perhaps some more features on the evolution of the series. But hey, it included the card game! Now if only I could track down a copy of the board game and give it a shot with those new open source rules...

[boatofcar]

Uh huh... in release quantities of 500 units or less. Irrelevant indeed. ;)

Why not just say it without the pretense? Just outright ask developers to make super-ultra kicky fast rare-if-not-unique variants for only you. In a decade or two you can retire off the eBay auction revenues. Now that is SO relevant. LOL

You misunderstand. Limited editions of games can be made in small print runs, but there will (hopefully) always also be a regular release that will be produced in normal numbers. That way, people who don't care about the extra stuff can still play the game and the publisher can make some extra money selling limited editions with extra stuff to the people who care about it.

[Bojay1997]

You misunderstand. Limited editions of games can be made in small print runs, but there will (hopefully) always also be a regular release that will be produced in normal numbers. That way, people who don't care about the extra stuff can still play the game and the publisher can make some extra money selling limited editions with extra stuff to the people who care about it.

They already do this. While the print run may not be as limited as you like, the whole point of limited editions has been to include extra stuff for people who are interested and willing to pay extra money for it. Since many limited editions sell out already, I'm not sure what benefit an even more limited run would have for the developer. In fact, given the costs associated with different art, cases and extras, a run of 500 would have to be incredibly expensive and would probably piss off more people than it would please.

[boatofcar]

They already do this. While the print run may not be as limited as you like, the whole point of limited editions has been to include extra stuff for people who are interested and willing to pay extra money for it. Since many limited editions sell out already, I'm not sure what benefit an even more limited run would have for the developer. In fact, given the costs associated with different art, cases and extras, a run of 500 would have to be incredibly expensive and would probably piss off more people than it would please.

Ok, let's say 5,000 instead of 500. I don't even buy limited editions, but I think that there's no reason why they shouldn't be made available to the people who want them as both to have something cool for their favorite game and have something that might increase in value as time goes on.

Releasing extremely high print runs of a "limited edition" and only including a making of DVD is what people are complaining about in this thread.

EDIT: Disney, Marvel, DC, etc. do extremely limited editions of things all the time. I'm sure if game publishers did this they could make it worth their while.

I actually think a three-tier system is good.

Tier One: You've got the game and just the game.

Tier Two: Special Edition with a steelbook and making of DVD.

Tier Three: Limited Edition with an art book, soundtrack, etc, with a limited print run.

The limited edition should be the only version with a limited print run; the rest can be reprinted as time goes on. Making the limited edition actually limited would spur collectors on to buy it thinking of it as an investment, and people who just like the steelbook wouldn't have to worry about them selling out immediately.

[Bojay1997]

Ok, let's say 5,000 instead of 500. I don't even buy limited editions, but I think that there's no reason why they shouldn't be made available to the people who want them as both to have something cool for their favorite game and have something that might increase in value as time goes on.

Releasing extremely high print runs of a "limited edition" and only including a making of DVD is what people are complaining about in this thread.

EDIT: Disney, Marvel, DC, etc. do extremely limited editions of things all the time. I'm sure if game publishers did this they could make it worth their while.

I actually think a three-tier system is good.

Tier One: You've got the game and just the game.

Tier Two: Special Edition with a steelbook and making of DVD.

Tier Three: Limited Edition with an art book, soundtrack, etc, with a limited print run.

The limited edition should be the only version with a limited print run; the rest can be reprinted as time goes on. Making the limited edition actually limited would spur collectors on to buy it thinking of it as an investment, and people who just like the steelbook wouldn't have to worry about them selling out immediately.

They did this with Halo 3 and couldn't sell out of the highest end limited edition. Admittedly, the run was a lot more than 5,000 but still a very small percentage of the total print run. As I said earlier, this makes limited editions a manufactured collectible and unlikely to maintain their value, especially as speculators look to cash in. That's exactly what happened with sports cards and comics and look at how that market has contracted. If you want limited items, you can always collect press only stuff or buy the promo items that companies often sell through their web stores. I just don't see what the point of doing a very limited run of a game would be as unlike a comic or sports card, the per unit art and packaging costs are much higher, making the risk of having excess stock much higher to the manufacturer.