Character Design

[MMMowman]

I don't know how many of you have seen the Teken 6 Special Editon but it's got a large hoodie, a booklet with all the moves of the characters in the game (About 5 cm thick, A3) and a copy of a game. It was a size of a small child. I've only seen it once in a JB HiFi store for $159 Au.

 

[T-Dogg]

I agree with Yahtzee that games should prove their worth to warrant a "special/collector's/GOTY edition", but I argue that in some cases putting out a special edition on the game's release date does make sense. That's due to media evolution: these days gamers know so much about almost any given game that they can become genuinely interested in its design and possible artistic value before actually playing it: there's tons of previews, reviews and promotional material just a couple clicks away on the Internet, so building interest for a bonus art book, a "making of" DVD or whatever is easy. And in some cases you can see a game is worth its "collector's edition" before it's out. But back when PC games still came in big boxes (mostly filled with air) a game did have to make the rounds - so to speak - to create that interest.

Seems to me though that the bonus schwag in these special editions has become more, well, special. There's statuettes, lithographs, soundtracks etc. Back in the Half-Life: GOTY-edition days it was almost always a t-shirt (like in Half-Life's case) or a poster, usually folded and creased so that it wouldn't even look good on your wall. I'm not saying most of the plastic Master Chief helmet-stuff is actually any good, most of it is utter crap - but at least they're trying to come up with something special these days.

Then again, you can pretty much always find use for a t-shirt...

 

[tobyornottoby]

These days, however, special editions for games are released on launch day at the same time as the standard edition. That strikes me as an act of legendary arrogance on the part of the publisher. "No-one's even played this game yet," they say. "But we believe that people are obviously going to go so nuts for it that we will cut out the middleman and bring out the Game Of The Year edition right now. That'll save a bit of time, won't it, you figurine-buying tards. Now, bleat! Bleat like little lambs! You'll like whatever we tell you to like!"

If people don't like it, people don't buy it. Really. We are very much in control of them. If you feel in control of them, I suggest you go talk to somebody =p

 

[tobyornottoby]

I don't mind figurines and artwork being included in special editions. It's the exclusive game content that really gets on my nerves.

It would be nice if... you know... one could simply get the entire game when paying for it - no matter what "edition" is purchased.

How about extended special edition DVDs? Isn't that the same?

 

[EleanorRoosevelt]

You know, Valve designed every single TF2 class to be recognizable immediately. That's good characterization, seeing as how there are 9 classes to characterize (meaning it'd be difficult to make each one unique from the other).

 

[teh_gunslinger]

I think Agent 47's character design is quite good as well. There's just something about that look that screams "Professional." And too often, people focus on the "Killer" part of "Professional Killer" and forget about the "Professional" bit.

Compounded by the games themselves. You get the best ratings for making things look 'accidental' rather than just breaking out the dual pistols.

Indeed. Making it look like no murder ever took place be the most professional way to kill someone. That would leave the client out of the frame in the investigation as no suspicion would fall on him or her.
47 is a service provider and carnage is not good for business. It may be slightly less action filled to use the wine barrel to kill a dude than your gun, but I sure as hell feel a lot more professional when no one is on to what really happened.

 

[Shjade]

While the article itself is interesting (Seriously, what's up with special editions on release? I figured it was just a marketing ploy but OH WAIT) I have to say it's a bit overshadowed by the blog Yahtzee linked at the top of the second page.

I just read that thing from darn near top to bottom without realizing how long it was. That may be the longest I've spent looking over an analytical look at character design decisions in one sitting. Seven brownie points to Gausswerks. Good stuff.

 

[Kurt Horsting]

Not all Collectors editions are just pricey rip-offs that work off of fan hype. Blazblue (A mildly popular Japanese fighting game)had it's collectors edition have the same price as the regular product, and came with a soundtrack and a tutorial dvd made by top Japanese and American players giving tips on the game to help new players understand the strategy and depth of the game. It also came with explanation of all the terms and mechanics in the game (now why they just didn't put that in the game is beyond my understanding). It was only available via pre-order, and now all material that was on the dvds is on youtube so anyone can get the info on the game if they didn't get the collectors edition.

Also, the game was out in arcades 6 months prior to the console release so people that where interested could try the game for 50 cents before they thought about the $60 purchase. Fighting games might not be most people's cup of tea, but it feels like Arc System Works where not trying to force people to get the extra bits for there its own sake, but a way to help the guys pre-ordering to justify their purchase.

My personal favorite section of the dvd is Mike Z's tutorial where he does a parody of the old school street fighter tutorials that where on VHS as he explains the finer points of Iron Tager. Here's a link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp8KOM2zw98

Actually, it wasn't pre-order only. It was given in every new package of the game when it first came out. They only released a limited number of the 60$ "Collector's Edition" games, which had the sound track (God-f***ing-awesome I might add), and the mentioned tips dvd.

At least they didn't make you pay extra before it came out to get a special version of a game that no one knew was good or not. (Oh, its damn good btw).

 

[StriderShinryu]

I like the idea of special editions on launch simply because it means if I'm really interested in a game I can get the special edition and get the extra stuff now. If it turns out that I don't like it, I can toss it or what have you. If I do like it, I'm not put in a position where I have to buy basically the same thing I already have but with more goodies again later. *gives a scathing glance to DVD special editions* That's a gamble I'm willing to take if I'm interested in the game.

I think the complaint here is more one of a changing set of terms. To me, "Collectors Edition" doesn't necessarily mean the game is worthy of collecting, it's more that it includes collectable stuff.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

I'm a figure collector i'll admit..but i have to have a like of the figure that will have future low-rent housing on my collecting shelf.

 

[Angerwing]

I got the Fallout 3 Collector's Edition as a gift, and I thought it was pretty awesome.

It all came in a metal lunchbox (exactly the same as the ones you make Bottlecap Mines out of), and it came with the game, a conceptual art book, and...

A Vault-Boy Bobblehead.

After spending unfathomable hours on Fallout 3, seeing the bobblehead when I went back to my room filled me with that small instant of joy and success when you find one in game. That went on for a couple of weeks.

 

[jimduckie]

gee i hate it when special editions like forza 3 sp ed has content you can't buy as dlc if you get the regular edition , goty like fallout 3 is a great idea but buying the same game twice sucks , when i switched from ps3 to 360, buying fallout 3 goty was worth it

 

[sketchesofpayne]

Sometimes you want the figures because you like the character design, even if the game is only mediocre, or doesn't have wide appeal. These special editions of the game are usually purchased by people who are determined to like the game anyway.

 

[warrenEBB]

Design-Wise:
I think you (do we address lord yahtzee directly in these parts?) are overlooking the genius of evolution. Legend tells that mario has a moustache because changing a couple pixels made his 8bit face clearer. So it was GENIUS design back when it first arrived. yeah?
The way they've chosed to evolve the character since then is the thing to argue. Somehow he's become this bouncy perfectly rounded mickey mouse. I doubt it's an accident. He has gotten so far from "italian plumber" that it's kind of crazy. but maybe that's also a good movie.

I wonder if the agent 47 barcode is a similar example. a detail that's there for the closeups, but not really core to the design. Which to me is just well dressed baldy, with gloves. I hadn't played those games enough to know he always had a red tie. I'd guess this is meant to evoke just a splash of blood in the player's mind. (or is it explained in story? does it ALWAYS have to be red? could they one day do a multiplayer mode where different agents were only really discernable by goofy lifesaver tie colors). hmm.

Gordon freeman seems like a non character. in that you never speak, and your focus is on the hands. I think he must look freakish in his special coppery suit, when hiding out with rebels in rags. It works well in making you feel like you stand out. but. seems like it's worthless to discuss? since you just don't look at his character, and it's totally incongruous with the worlds he passes through, its design has no real relevance to gameplay? (maybe i'm missing something). Maybe it works on a subtle level, making you feel separate from whatever story you're in (which does seem to be part of the story's point), with just a dash of feeling like a spaceman.
I think it's more interesting to focus on the recognizable shapes of alyx and the combine bastards, and anything you look at and have to differentiate. (these designs are huge winners, yeah?).

...Gah. I still can't stand seeing Gordon's silly face (posters, book covers, box art). feels like the developers were just having a laugh. And now they're trying to make him sexy and sleek. but still horribly nerdy. so strange. i think that sbecause ... it's actually aweful. and nobody wants to admit it. because the games are so good.

 

[warrenEBB]

Regarding special editions:
I thought Bayonetta was a big joke. soo. Can't we give it's "climax edition" a bit of a pass for being a big joke on the rise of special editions? no? hmm.

Dark Void strikes me as the main offender here. All the other examples I've read have indeed championed a beloved character. (if you give bayonetta a pass.)(Bayonetta should have just come with wearable horn rimmed glasses. that would have been kind hilarious commentary on the audience?).

... the example that springs to my mind is the resident evil 5 snow globe at Gamestop. It featured two resident evil characters i didn't care about. it was filled with sand, so it didn't work like a snow globe (the powder just imediately collapsed. no floating). Aren't snow globes a nostalgic thing for girls? ... this stands out as the most bizarre special edition gambit i've seen. hmm.

 

[Kanazuchi]

...Actually, the image of Bayonetta thrashing around from being incessantly tickled is slightly erotic....

Play the game, and when you die, don't continue. Enjoy your slight erotica. (Okay, so that's not exactly tickling, but....)

It seems like the real problem here is the use of the words "Special" or "Collector's" when dealing with a new IP. Would it offend you any less if it was called the "Bonus Edition" or "Extra Edition"? Still descriptive of the package contents without the arrogance of an unproven game.

 

[johnman]

I had forgotten about Mr 47, which is strange since he is is one of my favourite characters. No remose, no emotion. He is the ideal man for games increasingly being filled with romance side plots.

 

[felixader]

I have to tell you that i have yet NEVER ever bougth ANY Special Edition, except for those GOTY Editions where not only a game that i wanted but also their additional add ons where on.

 

[Stylish_Robot]

only reason why I like collector editions is artbooks. AC2, Fallout 3, Resistance 2, Mass Effect and even MW2 had great artbooks (not Gears 2 though, that thing was ass) and I'd be happy with just the artbook but noooo, they had 4 other things to make it 30 bucks more