Collector Editions and Uber Collector Editions

[krogothwolf]

So, I have been looking at the strange trend of the Uber Collector Editions(Legendary/Prestige/Whatever else) being created now that generally comes to a $150. Now I occasionally purchased the collectors edition for a new game if it actually had anything worthwhile or just seemed neat, but those were only 10-20 bucks extra. This new trend of paying double the cost of the game confuses me somewhat, and some of the bundle stuff doesn't even seem worth it.

I was comparing the Legendary Halo Reach game to the Prestige Call of Duty Black Ops and well, the Halo game seems to be a gross waste of money at the same price as Call of Duty. Sure the toy in call of duty probably isn't that great but man, it does look freaking sweat and everything. It's a god damn remote control car! And if it is actually decent quality then it might actually be worth it, just because they have something pretty cool in it. Halo's well it seems tame. You get some documents, 2 patches and a Halo figure. Along with some in game stuff. But when compared to a FREAKIN REMOTE CONTROL CAR! it seems pathetic. I can't really fathom spending 150 for either of these naturally, and the Halo one even less because it seems pretty tame for an extra 90 bucks.

Does anyone actually plan to get these? Do you actually agree with this? Or do you also find it sort of pointless?

[Azisien]

It's like a non-game form of shovelware, I forget what the exact term for it is. Useless shit, I think!

My roommate is, or at least was, obsessed with getting anything and everything Collector's Edition for any game he actually wanted. Problem being: that was most games. It's all completely useless. It's all sitting like 30ft away from me right now, collecting dust on a shelf. Just an ugly conglomerate of cheap figurines and boxes made in China.


The only thing I tend to like out of some CEs or LEs are the aluminum cases. Less chance of cracking than the usual plastic case. But even then, I don't shell out the extra for it, I'm just in the opportune position to swap them at work most of the time.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

I like how sometimes they include stuff in a super limited pimp edition that would've been used as a means of copy protection in ancient times. Like... a map, or feelies of some kind.

Of course today this isn't used as copy protection because they know there's always gamefaqs. What they don't seem to know is that there's also plenty of torrent sites offering cracked games regardless of bogus protection.

[The Argent Lord]

I've gotta say, I wish we were back in the days when feelies were a cool extra that they sometimes put in your game instead of a "feature" that you pay twice as much for.

[akaSM]

My only collector's edition game is Metroid Prime Trilogy, and I think it was worth it, those 3 games are great, they come in a nice metal box and with some pictures in photographic paper and wasn't really expensive compared to other big-name wii games.

[Magus]

That was more like a three-for-one deal type of thingy, where you're actually saving money to get three games for only a little extra instead of getting them seperately. Uber Collector Editions are more like charging you 120 bucks to get a game case that looks like Master Chief's helmet or something.

I think they're pretty dumb--back in the day you used to get like, Earthbound that came with the strategy guide and scratch-and-sniff stickers and a bunch of other cool stuff for not a whole ton more of money, especially in comparison to nowadays. Heck, even now every Dragon Quest game comes with an 84 page instructional booklet (though they quit walking you through the entire game now like they used to, with maps and everything), and that wasn't even an extra!

[RobinStarwing]

MY only collector's edition is a Halo 2 package. Got that at Gamestop as Used.

[Shyria Dracnoir]

I like how sometimes they include stuff in a super limited pimp edition that would've been used as a means of copy protection in ancient times. Like... a map, or feelies of some kind.

Of course today this isn't used as copy protection because they know there's always gamefaqs. What they don't seem to know is that there's also plenty of torrent sites offering cracked games regardless of bogus protection.

I always wondered why they don't go back to using "feelies" as copy protection? Or even in general just offering people who buy legally something extra as a reward or an incentive rather than using DRM that just punishes everyone indiscriminately. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, after all. Then again, I'm a little out of the loop on the copy-protection debate and don't want to threadjack this one.

[greed]

The only CE I'm willing to pay extra for is ones which come with an OST. I'd say paying an extra $5-15 for a 1 to 4 CDs of music ain't a terrible deal.

I'll also pre-order stuff if it comes with feelies. Like Shin Megami Tensei: Demon Summoner: Raidou Kuzonoha the Thirteenth vs King Abbadon and it's awesome Raiho(a Jack Frost dressed up like Raidou) plushie.

Also I got lucky a while back and managed to pick up the Collectors Edition of Arkham Asylum 2nd hand but with all it's bonus stuff for $20. That was awesome, the psych report on all the characters and the batarang are pretty neat.

Oh and Shyria that's roughly what ME2 did. People who bought a new copy got a bunch of (pretty awesome) DLC free.

[Julford Hajime]

I'll admit that I like souveniers and junk that's designed to sit on a shelf forever. Usually though I won't spend more than an extra ten, MAYBE twenty, for them; if I was really interested in it and it was that expensive, I'd just grab them at conventions or on eBay for cheaper.

[Marc v4.0]

I've already pre-ordered my Collectors copy of F:NV from gamestop

Of course, it actually comes with neat stuff... (http://fallout.bethsoft.com/eng/home/pr-051110.php)

The gamestop Pre-order also nets me some Fallout 1 and 2 related in-game swag.

[Revising Ocelot]

I never buy Collector's Editions. The prices are always ludicrously extortionate, and the content is usually worse than whatever the US gets in their packages.

[Melfice]

I do have the Collectors Edition of Fable 3 pre-ordered right now. Looking to actually pre-order it in the Netherlands now, but only if I can get that Create-a-Villager code with it. (when did I become such a bonus-whore?)

Also, if we get the same stuff in Europe/the Netherlands as they do in the US, I'll be pre-ordering the Collectors Edition of LittleBigPlanet 2.

[krogothwolf]

What? They give you less in a CE in Europe? What the hell?

See collector editions aren't to bad, 10-20 bucks extra and some stuff that is now "DLC" that costs about that anyways. (Like in DA: O). It's Halo's Legendary crap that confuses me, so much for so little. Paying 150 for a game is way to much. Halo isn't even trying in theirs but at least Call of Duty is trying with a the Remote Control car.

[Melfice]

What? They give you less in a CE in Europe? What the hell?

See collector editions aren't to bad, 10-20 bucks extra and some stuff that is now "DLC" that costs about that anyways. (Like in DA: O). It's Halo's Legendary crap that confuses me, so much for so little. Paying 150 for a game is way to much. Halo isn't even trying in theirs but at least Call of Duty is trying with a the Remote Control car.

There have been precedents where Europe has been heartily bent over and fucked right up the ass when it comes to CE's. Or not even given CE's at all. (Ace Combat 6 comes readily to mind, though no doubt there have been more examples)

And let's not forget that mainland Europe hardly ever sees pre-order bonuses.
Nowadays, publishers are getting better in this, though. If we're really lucky, we even get all the stuff with out pre-orders, whereas in America different stores have different bonuses.