"Collector's edition" games - trully collectible?

[Robocop2]

I'd say buy CE if you like the addl content other than that no they're more a marketing gimmick

[The 1 2 P]

I'd say buy CE if you like the addl content other than that no they're more a marketing gimmick

Thats all collectible/limited/special editions are today: marketing gimmicks. I remember not too long after Street Fighter IV and Resident Evil 5 came out, there was a member on this board telling people to buy the special verions of each(for $90) before they disappeared. Now those same limited versions can be found in Best Buy for the same price as the regular editions, sitting side by side.

If you like collecting special editions for the bonus content(like I do), then by all means buy them. But buying them for investment purposes only is pretty stupid. If you didn't know before, you know now because we are telling you exactly what 99% of them are: a marketing gimmick that isn't very collectible/limited/special after all. And considering these c/l/s editions cost $10-70 more than the regular versions(only to come down to equal or cheaper than the regular version in a few months) I'd definitely recommend against getting them when they are first released.

[Nikademus1969]

I buy collector/limited editions of games that I like because the added stuff appeals to me. If it actually gains value, it's a bonus but that's not why I get it.

[Queen Of The Felines]

The only one I've ever seen increase was the Bioshock LE, and that's probably because most of the included Big Daddy figurines ended up breaking during shipping (or something like that).

[SegaAges]

The best LE I have seen for the current gen systems is Skate 2. I think they put out like 500 of these across both systems and they came with a full size skateboard. I got one of these. The board is still in the generic box it was shipped in.

[Solertia]

I only buy limited/collector's editions when they are offered for the same price as the regular game (like anything released by NIS and Atlus, and recently BlazBlue (FANTASTIC deal)). I like getting the extra stuff, and especially like that they come in cardboard boxes (cardboard boxes > plastic cases imo)

[MoreEbolaForYou]

i sold the collectors edition of morrowind, pc version, on ebay last winter for like 80 bucks. i think the regular version goes for about 10.

[Therealqtip]

MGS3 Subsistence or whatever in the red case that is truely a collectible rare item. I can't remember how many were made but they're like really expensive now, I think...damn if I only I picked one up at Wal-Mart when I could.

EDIT:

Has anyone mentioned the MGS3 CE? I thought that one was rather limited.

Damnit you beat me to it.

[kupomogli]

FF12 collector's edition/regular edition. Which one is more rare? Neither are rare and I'd assume the regular edition isn't because it can still be found new, but which one currently has more sales if that can be found out?

[Bojay1997]

The best LE I have seen for the current gen systems is Skate 2. I think they put out like 500 of these across both systems and they came with a full size skateboard. I got one of these. The board is still in the generic box it was shipped in.

It's funny, but I don't consider that to be a limited edition. The game itself is just the regular version and there are hundreds of thousands of them out there. The skateboard is limited, but it's just an additional item that was sold with the game as a collectible. Unless you collect skateboards, it's not really that interesting. It's kind of like those Ghostbusters LE packages on Amazon. The game is the regular version and then they just put some extra stuff in the shipping box generically packaged. To qualify as a CE or LE, I think everything needs to be packaged in a single box and there has to be some difference in the outer packaging of the game. Otherwise, any piece of pre-order swag or promo item specific to a game would make the game a limited edition.

[Ed Oscuro]

Whoa, I'd actually like that Skate LE, or at least to see it (owning sporting equipment I can't or won't use only adds to my lameness quotient so I'll have to pass for now). That does sound nifty, but it's firmly in the category of "swag." At least it's potentially useful (although I wouldn't be surprised if it's made with cheap components that would have a dedicated plank connoisseur turning up their nose, or an ankle when trying some difficult trick).

I think that the CE tag only may be meaningful on things that are generally trashed once bought (i.e. consoles), or packaged with desirable materials (I'd still like to get the HL2 collector's edition actually). For the vast majority of these "CE" packs I think they fail:

- Not a good bang:buck ratio compared with the old fashioned low print run game

- No proven track record of desirability (and some arguments against it; I've mentioned the 1995 crop of Topps limited editions, "Black Gold" and the like, as the final straw)

- Too close to the age of DLC anyway ("collector's editions" will soon just be "you get some piece of cardboard to make you feel better about having a virtual asset that may be stolen or lost at any time")

As everybody's saying, it's seems to be madness to talk about "investing" right now and then turn around and use that to justify a current-gen gaming habit. There's good deals to be had on older games right now, I'm sure, but old fashioned stocks are offering some crazy opportunities right now.