Collectibles, pre-order, and promotional deals...

[Diatribal Deity]

Over the past year, I have gotten into accumulating limited, special, and collector edition games and merchandise. Mainly focused on more modern titles (PS2 and newer anyway), I embarked by taking chances with sites like Gohastings and Ebay to obtain deals. After having great success and not having to pay up the nose for many, I was then presented with the challenge of obtaining newer releases without suffering buyers remorse after most drop within the first couple months of release. Also this focus has led to an interest into some more random game related memorabilia not necessarily available with the purchase of the game directly.

That being said, I am always on the lookout for deals, discounts and promotions that will offset the eventual distress of early adopter blues. In addition to obtaining these deals, an effective approach I have found, is if you are not interested in the popular DLC or pre-order bonuses offered with an initial release, it can be quite easy to sell them separately and recoup much of your inital cost.

Recent Example:
Halo Reach Legendary: 149.99 @ Microsoft online store *free shipping
- $50 email coupon
+ 6.25 tax
- $80 DLC sell off after fees
Total cost: $35.25

And yes, I am familiar with obvious arguments that by purchasing early on you are supporting the industry and you can always wait a couple months to a year to find things on the cheap with some patience. Also, there are sites like CAG, SD and others catering to this approach (and I do, although rarely, contribute to those sites as they have been a great resource to me). However, that being said there does not seem to be a central location focusing in on this.

I thought it might be valuable to at least a few members here, who maybe do not frequent those sites, or may be interested in a similar venture now or in the future at obtaining collectibles to point out a few sites and curiosities initially...so here is a few.

- Bioware Store

http://biowarestore.com/

Lithographs for Mass Effect 2:

Prototype SR2
Dead Reaper
Archangel (gone) $50
The Team (gone) $80 oversized
Cerberus (gone)
Miranda (gone)
Legion (gone)
Grunt (gone)
Thane (gone)
Tali (gone)
Purgatory
Pragia (gone)
Korlus (gone)
The Wards (gone)
Normandy (gone)
Afterlife (gone)
Collectors (gone)
The Illusive Man (gone)
Jack (gone)
Citadel (gone)
Garrus (gone)
Omega (gone)
Minuteman (gone)

Priced at $40.00 ($6 shipping) these have been known to double, triple, or even quadruple in value once they are sold out. The Citadel and Normandy lithos are now going for close to $200. They generally make only 300-500 and they are all numbered and signed by artist.



- Epic Weapons

http://www.epicweapons.com/shop/home.php?cat=252

Offer a variety of Dragon Age, Dead Space and Warcraft curiosities from letter openers to swords or plasma cutter for DS. Prices vary widely and limited edition runs generally range from 1,000-10,000.


- Visceral Games: Dead Space and Dante's Inferno lithographs and collectibles (not as popular as Bioware - but still pretty cool none-the-less)

http://visceralstore.com/



YMMV - Random spotting of cheap(er) Limited, Collector and Special Editions:

Bestbuy - Street Fighter IV Collector's Edition ($19.99 orig. 79.99)
Bestbuy - Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009 Collector's Edition ($19.99 orig. 79.99)
Bestbuy - Mafia II CE (39.99)
Gamestop - Alien Vs. Predator Hunter Edition (39.99 orig. 79.99)
Newegg - Alien Vs. Predator Hunter Edition (29.99)
Bestbuy - Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe CE PS3 ($19.99-29.99 orig. 69.99)
Amazon - Cursed Mountain LE WII $6.61 (but fluctuates)
Amazon - Alan Wake Limited Edition (39.99)
Bestbuy - Fable III LE (29.99)
Bestbuy - AC:Brotherhood CE (49.99-59.99)
Bestbuy - Halo Legendary Edition - (49.99-79.99) YMMV
Bestbuy - COD: BlackOps Prestige (14.99) was in-store and online briefly
Gamestop - Fallout New Vegas CE (PS3/360 49.99) (PC 39.99)
Gamestop - Two Worlds Royal Edition (PS3/360 59.99)
Bestbuy - Fallout New Vegas CE (360 39.99)
Gamestop - Bioshock 2 SE (360/PS3/PC 29.99)
Bestbuy - Starcraft 2 Collector''s Edition (PC 49.99)
Bestbuy - Killzone 3: Helghast Edition (PS3 49.99)
Bestbuy - Deadspace 2 CE - (PS3 34.99-39.99)
Bestbuy - MK TE (360 59.99)
PC Richard - Infamous 2 Hero Edition (PS3 59.99)
Newegg - LBP2 Collectors Edition (PS3 59.99)
Bestbuy - COD Modern Warfare 2 Hardened Edition (360 29.99)
Newegg - Tron CE (PS3/360 29.99)
Amazon - Duke Nukem Forever BOS Edition (PC 29.99)
Amazon - MK KE (360 43.72)