Limited Edition Gimmicks

[Varchld]

We've all seen them, most of us have bought one or two. I own around 5 ><

Are limited/collectors/special editions of games that are rolled out merely an easy way to turn a little extra profit or add marketing value? Or are publishers trying to offer a more immersive experience and trying to give you the most that they can offer?

There are many which simply include an additional DVD showing a "behind the scenes" documentary on the making of the game, and sometimes a few extras like a concept art gallery.
A few recent ones that come to mind as going a little overboard are Halo 3's [http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/2007/0316-halo3editions.htm] "Legendary Edition [http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k90/crunchgear/January%202007/0088222444449_500X500.jpg]" which contained a replica Master Chief helmet, and Fallout 3's [http://fallout.bethsoft.com/eng/vault/diaries_diary5-6.6.08.html] Lunchbox, bobblehead and possibility of a BoS figurine or Pipboy clock. (after being indefferent to the fallout limited edition, i now love my bobblehead ^^ )
I also regret not getting the limited edition of World in Conflict, which contained a piece of the Berlin Wall.

So what do you think, do you appreciate the extras in these limited editions or avoid them like the plague?
And which have you gotten or wish you had?

...
PS. i'm a sucker for metal game cases
& Wiki's list [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_game_collector_and_limited_editions]

 

[Good morning blues]

Obviously these are simple money grabs. Playing up scarcity is one of the first things you learn in marketing classes.

 

[Erana]

...They sold off the Birlin Wall as a collector's item?

My God, what is the world coming to?

 

[ThaBenMan]

I love my Fallout 3 collector's edition, I think it's a great example of the concept executed properly - the lunchbox and bobblehead are awesome collectibles, the art book was cool (haven't watched the dvd yet), and it was only $20 more than the regular edition. Well worth it, in my opinion. But I think part of it may have to do with my long-time fandom of the Fallout series.

Other collector's editions I've bought, not so much - The Morrowind set only came with a little pewter figurine and a mediocre art book, I think. Oh yeah, and a music cd I listened to once. Same for the Neverwinter Nights set (minus the pewter figurine).

 

[_Serendipity_]

I am a horrible, horrible sucker for limited editions. I've got the version of Far Cry 2 that actually comes in a little wooden crate... *sigh*

 

[Gahars]

I use to buy into some, but now I just avoid them like the plague

 

[Varchld]

Haha, this amazes me too... Is it actually a piece of Berlin Wall or just a cheap replica?

Everywhere i've seen it's claimed authentic.
It seemed weird and a bit wrong to me when I first saw it so I didn't get it, but I wouldn't mind having it now.

 

[Librarian Mike]

What bugs me about special editions is:

1. They release a game, which people rush out and buy right off the bat

2. They wait 6 months to a year and re-release the game with new features so you need to basically buy it again.

...and this part just kills me:

3. Upon the release of the special edition, the creator proclaims that 'this is the true version of this game'. Right, so you sold me an unfinished game last year? Thanks.

 

[Cinder Block of Oppression]

I can bring myself to spend extra money to lose uniformity.

 

[Varchld]

What bugs me about special editions is:

1. They release a game, which people rush out and buy right off the bat

2. They wait 6 months to a year and re-release the game with new features so you need to basically buy it again.

...and this part just kills me:

3. Upon the release of the special edition, the creator proclaims that 'this is the true version of this game'. Right, so you sold me an unfinished game last year? Thanks.

haha yea, I think that they're keeping it to special editions on release more and more though.
Movies did this heaps, I think the Star Wars releases were especially bad for it.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

Limited editions are for collectors. Collecting things isn't rational, merely a symptom of our instict to hoarde desirable objects.

That said, I'm off to preorder the Halo Wars Collector's Edition.*

Also, I usually don't buy collector's editions because of the metal case. I'm pretty into organizing my collection and the metal would just be out of place. But now I'm over that and will probably buy a bunch of collector's editions of games I already have (assuming I get the money).

*Not really but I will soon.

EDIT: And I suppose it bears mentioning that I have a Halo 3 Legendary Edition.

It is precious to me, though I bear it with great pain.

 

[Galletea]

tin tin tin tin tin.
I'm a sucker for tins. I like the artbook in the fallout lunchbox. I think I like the bioshock limited edition best though, it has such a nice metal case.

 

[meatloaf231]

Fallout lunchbox.

Totally worth it. I use that every day.

 

[PersianLlama]

Only one I want is LoTRO: Mines of Moria, 'cause I'm a LoTRO nerd. Too bad I dislike MMO's.

 

[Dead Man Wade]

What bugs me about special editions is:

1. They release a game, which people rush out and buy right off the bat

2. They wait 6 months to a year and re-release the game with new features so you need to basically buy it again.

...and this part just kills me:

3. Upon the release of the special edition, the creator proclaims that 'this is the true version of this game'. Right, so you sold me an unfinished game last year? Thanks.

It's called "multiple bites from the apple", and, given how well it's worked out, it's not going away any time soon.

 

[Erana]

Does my old pre-XBL Halo box count...?

 

[DownLikeLead]

Usually I'm not into the whole "limited edition 1 of 1,000,000,000,002" kind of thing but I did pick up the Fallout 3 Collector's Edition. Sure, the bobblehead is fun and the art book is a good coffee-table nerd beacon but its the tin lunchbox that had me at hello. I'm also the "proud" (there have been some debates at the house of how I should be saying that) owner of the Halo 3 Legendary swag which I picked up at Best Buy waaaaaaaay after the launch date for the same as the generic Halo 3 game.

 

[xitel]

What about GTA IV's collector edition? Persoanlly, I've only bought a couple collector's editions, namely Morrowind and Devil May Cry 3 & 4. Morrowind had extra in-game content that wasn't on the regular edition (the two expansion sets released for the PC), DMC 3 had a bunch of different content, like a new playable character, and DMC 4 had a metal case (love those, adds durability) and AWESOME box art.

 

[Mstrswrd]

I usually don't care, but I have a thing for tin cases. I don't know why. That's actually what pushed me to get DMC4 special edition. Well, that and the art booklet. Also, I'm getting the new PoP: Special Edition, but, hey, it's a free upgrade to special edition, so why the hell not!

 

[cleverlymadeup]

i love getting special edition stuff

i mostly shop at ebgames cause they always have some cool preorder thing

i love getting dvds with cool stuff like that, currently i look between futureshop and bestbuy to see who has the better bonus thing