June 17th, 2008 Michael Pica
The good people at Scanavo, (one of the companies behind SteelBook). Were kind enough to send me another package filled with samples of new SteelBooks. This is the second of such packages you may remember the post about the first of such packages I received. Most of the cases this time were for DVD video releases however there was one very special PS3 case thrown in. I made my feelings known the last time I posted about the SteelBook cases, this time I’m simply going to let the cases speak for themselves…
Transformers Autobots and Decepticons:
Dragon Ball Z:
Battle Star Galactica:
This one is rather interesting since it shows off the ability for SteelBooks to hold as many as 6 discs.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition Blu-Ray Disc:
I’m not entirely sure which (if any) region this case was intended for but it is unlike the Limited edition bonus disc packaging I’ve seen for the US, UK, and European version of the MGS4 LE. One thing is for sure though, it’s dead sexy.
Games Discussed in this Article
Posted in DB Update, PS3 |
(0) comments | Add your comments
June 12th, 2008 Michael Pica
For those of you who are visiting looking for pictures of the latest Metal Gear Solid Limited Edition Packaging you’ll have to wait a little longer. Hopefully I’ll have them up this time tomorrow.
Thanks for hanging in there.
Posted in DB Update |
(0) comments | Add your comments
May 10th, 2008 Michael Pica
Humberto Saabedra has written with an update to the ADV Films Case Redemption for Devil May Cry 4 Collector’s Edition Owners:
I’d like to offer an update to the whole debacle, yet I’m sure this will incense those of us who purchased the Special Edition.
As a result of ADV’s recent distribution arrangement shifting away from direct customer fulfillment to third-party fulfillment through RightStuf International, the new distributor has taken it upon themselves to offer the actual cases at an additional charge of $3.99 instead of supplying a redemption form.
Why this is being done instead of supplying the cases at no additional charge with proof of purchase is upsetting to me, as one would think that the additional cost of the Collector’s Edition covered the future costs of production related to the actual cases.
Not only that, it shafts those that imported this game as it is only for US residents.
RightStuf Devil May Cry DVD Case Offer Page
This news is quite bittersweet, while the issue has been resolved it’s no where close to the resolution anyone was hoping for. Perhaps most aggravating is that there was no official apology nor so much as an email sent to those patrons who had contacted ADV over this issue.
The Right Stuf International (TRSI) is, for the most part, quite an honorable company. It’s pleasing to see that they’re actually making these cases available even if it is at a small fee.
Posted in DB Update |
(0) comments | Add your comments
March 14th, 2008 Michael Pica
Collector’s Edition is but a few weeks old. Starting a database with the level of detail here that I would like to strive for is no easy or quick task. Once I got the base site and database laid out I got a lot of feedback about what people wanted to see, and I had a sizable task list in front of me about what needed to be done. Well here is the first major update.
Here are the features that have been added:
- Title bar Navigation
- Dates added to the Game Database directory
- The ability to sort the Game Database lists by by console, release date, title or region coding.
- The ability to move through the game database list like a directory structure
- RSS feed added for the news page. You can also subscribe to comments for any individual page or post that allows for comments, look for the link in the grey box at the end of the post/page.
- entries in the database for every last current generation game that exists to my knowledge… That means every CE for 360, PS3 and Wii that I know about is listed here now.
- A page for each and every game in the database that means no more dead links, you’ll be taken to at least bare bones page with some basic info, in most cases there is at least a feature list.
- A glossary of terms describing the different styles of game cases along with other terms and what they mean. Eventually this will be larger and have pictures as well.
- Loads of bug fixes that caused duplicate entries to be displayed, voting problems on certain pages, or graphical errors in IE (fsking… ie and their non CSS compliance) :D
All in all the database now has 105 records, honestly i didn’t even know there were that many CEs this generation but every time I turned around I found another one that I didn’t notice before.
I’ve also completely fleshed out about a dozen pages at this point with detailed pictures and descriptions, and I’ll be adding more to that list every day. I hope every page will be at this level eventually. Currently concept art has been put up for most of the unreleased games. There are also detailed photos and descriptions up for the following titles:
I’d encourage you to check out the database and let me know if you find any bugs or incorrect info, if you have any ideas for new features, or can provide me with information about a game that I’m missing. You can shoot me an email at any time buy simply clicking the “Contact C.E.” link at the top of the page.
Posted in DB Update |
(0) comments | Add your comments
March 11th, 2008 Michael Pica
The first metal cased Collector’s Edition I ever owned was Halo 2. I wasn’t expecting anything special when I ordered it but when I found that the case was made of metal I was quite pleased, as well as intrigued. Looking back I was actually more interested in the packaging than the actual game and I quickly started seeking out other Special/Limited/Collector’s Edition games for the Xbox console. At this point I own nearly every “edition” made for the Xbox platforms and quite a number for other consoles as well.
While the Halo 2 Collector’s Edition case wasn’t a genuine SteelBook brand product, it was actually imitating that design. As the proud owner of many DVD movies and games contained within genuine SteelBook brand cases I can appreciate both the high build quality and appealing visuals that these cases offer over a standard DVD keep case and even over knock-off products like the Halo 2 case. Really isn’t that what a Collector is looking for? Something that not only protects your investment, but cherishes and embellishes it, particularly us game collectors spending $70 or $80 on a Special Edition here in the USA and equivalent to $100 elsewhere in the world. SteelBooks have raised the bar, I now find it disappointing when a Special Edition game is released without one.
You can imagine how excited I was when I was actually contacted by an employee of Scanavo, one of the companies behind SteelBook. I talked with him at length over email and he was kind enough to send over sample cases that they had produced. I received them today and wasted no time putting them in the photo-booth to share with you here. Not to mention I uploaded them at a higher resolution than I normally do for images here on CE so you can take in some of the details.
I also visited http://steelbook.com for the first time and was quite pleased with what I found there. It’s loaded with pictures of the different cases they’ve made and also features “behind the scenes” content discussing the evolution of the their design and the ideals behind the product from the people who actually designed it. It’s essentially the bonus disc to your Collector’s case. I thought it was a nice touch.
One thing that makes SteelBooks special is that steel is not a material you typically find on store shelves these days, nearly everything is plastics and paper, and if you do happen to find something made of steel there is usually an attempt to hide that fact. Metal can be quite beautiful if crafted properly, and it caries with it an association with high quality and value, while paper and plastic are most commonly associated with cheap or disposable products. Take a look at these comparison shots between the NTSC and PAL releases of John Woo’s Stranglehold Collector’s Edition for Xbox 360. Not only does the SteelBook version look sleek, sturdy and much higher in quality, but the graphics have a 3D quality to them and much better color fidelity.
Lets face it, if you’re going to spend extra to get the best possible version of your favorite game, movie, or TV show then it’s only right that it’s wrapped in metal. Of course I’m preaching to the choir here, as I’m sure most collectors would easily opt for a SteelBook over a keep case when given the option. I consider this write up for the benefit of game and movie publishers out there. Take note: collector’s want high quality and unique cases and SteelBooks fit that bill better than any other case design.
Beyond the build quality SteelBooks can do things that just can’t be done with a paper or plastic case. The natural brushed look, the natural shimmering qualities of the metal, the ability to emboss images and create textures, and most interestingly the ability to decorate with not just gloss and metallic finishes but also flat finishes really make them POP in the right light.
Personally some of my favorite features found in SteelBooks are also some of the things that separate it from other metal cases. The use of clear plastic on the inside of the case with printing on the inside of the metal shell to match the outside makes the whole case feel complete, especially considering that most other metal cases either have an opaque plastic or simply bare metal, the inclusion of additional artwork, coherent right across the inside of the spine is something that’s rarely found elsewhere, and when it is, the case is usually made of cheap paper.
The other thing I like about SteelBooks is the way their spine looks when sitting on a shelf. the curvature of the top and bottom of the case sandwiching the slender spine is slimming and gives it somewhat of an hourglass shape. The outline of the thin metal rails on either side of the spine give it a smooth hard detail that just makes every other case on the shelf look sloppy and inferior. The spine is something that separates real SteelBooks from imitations too, as they’re unable to duplicate the slick and slender design. Not only that but the spine on SteelBooks is built better, using a design analogous to stitch welding, which dramatically increases it’s lifespan. I can’t tell you how many Halo 2 Collector’s Editions I’ve seen on the used rack in stores with broken spines.
As you can see the SteelBooks in my collection are easily my most prized pieces, they have the ability to make a mediocre release stand out on the shelf, and to make a great release a prized possession for fans and collectors. I’d like to thank Dave and the other fine people at Scanavo for sending me these samples and hopefully I’ll be able to share more of this stuff again in the future.
-TS
Games Discussed in this Article
Posted in DB Update, PS3, Xbox 360 |
(7) comments | Add your comments
January 18th, 2008 Michael Pica
Welcome to CollectorsEdition.org!
My name is TwistedSymphony, but you may refer to me as TS. I’m a collector of sorts. I’ve always been enamored with collecting things. I’ve also always had a strong love for console games. Combined I’ve begun to grow my collection of “Special”, “Limited”, “Collector’s”, and other “Edition” games. Basically any non-standard version of a console game released with the word “Edition” in the title is of interest to me.
This is not a blog, but I hope to grow this site into the foremost resource on the subject of Collector’s Edition games, delivering in-depth info on the various Editions that have been released in the past and providing news on the various Editions that are scheduled to be released in the future.
I will start with my own collection of games which are mostly games from the Xbox brand consoles in the NTSC region; providing pictures and information. I hope to grow this site beyond myself so if this is a topic that interests you and you’re from another region of the world, or collect games from another brand of consoles, and are willing to help out: please let me know. I’d love to hear from you. Similarly if you find any of the information provided here to be incomplete or incorrect, let me know. Ensuring that the information here is complete and correct is of the utmost importance to me.
Thanks for stopping by, sit back, and enjoy your stay.
Posted in DB Update |
(2) comments | Add your comments
