My Recent Thoughts On Collector's Editions

[Mandingo]

I've been mulling over this for awhile as someone that has collected the various "collector's" or "limited" editions over the years. Back in the 90s companies like Westwood would do limited runs on CEs with the actual print number bound to each copy. You know, like 3958/25000. Now CE copies seem to have little to no collector value in the long run due to what seems to be overproduction.

Just like anything else that's supposed to be valuable for a collector, these items should at the least retain their original value, and gain value over time. It seems that too often, a lot of buzz is generated about having to pre-order certain CE's, but before you know it, you see them on Amazon in stock again just like many other CEs that we've seen over recent years. Halo 3 was probably the worst culprit of all, completely oversaturating online and in-store stock to the point that most stores had mounds of them available for years. Activision also implied that the MW2 Prestige Edition would be extremely rare, but even today stores still sell it.

I'm beginning to think that it's time to evaluate this hobby seriously because I'm tired of buying these games, keeping them sealed, only to see them sit on shelves and show availability online for months to years to come. Typically it's even the norm to see these CEs sell for half price a few months later. I'm not complaining as someone looking to resell, but as a collector. What the heck happened to creating true collector items?

It just smells like a greedy money grab to me, and now instead of having limited production batches we've got overproduction with NO communication to consumers hinting at what to expect. Instead the collectors out there scramble to get a copy or two only to watch their investment crumble over time while others usually get the same limited item for much less.

What do you all think? Now I'm actually worried because I've even read reports about missing items in some CEs (Splinter Cell USB's). I usually prefer to keep "rare" stuff sealed, but I have no way of knowing if anything is missing unless I open them up. :(

[MrBubbles]

I've been mulling over this for awhile as someone that has collected the various "collector's" or "limited" editions over the years. Back in the 90s companies like Westwood would do limited runs on CEs with the actual print number bound to each copy. You know, like 3958/25000. Now CE copies seem to have little to no collector value in the long run due to what seems to be overproduction.

Just like anything else that's supposed to be valuable for a collector, these items should at the least retain their original value, and gain value over time. It seems that too often, a lot of buzz is generated about having to pre-order certain CE's, but before you know it, you see them on Amazon in stock again just like many other CEs that we've seen over recent years. Halo 3 was probably the worst culprit of all, completely oversaturating online and in-store stock to the point that most stores had mounds of them available for years. Activision also implied that the MW2 Prestige Edition would be extremely rare, but even today stores still sell it.

I'm beginning to think that it's time to evaluate this hobby seriously because I'm tired of buying these games, keeping them sealed, only to see them sit on shelves and show availability online for months to years to come. Typically it's even the norm to see these CEs sell for half price a few months later. I'm not complaining as someone looking to resell, but as a collector. What the heck happened to creating true collector items?

It just smells like a greedy money grab to me, and now instead of having limited production batches we've got overproduction with NO communication to consumers hinting at what to expect. Instead the collectors out there scramble to get a copy or two only to watch their investment crumble over time while others usually get the same limited item for much less.

What do you all think? Now I'm actually worried because I've even read reports about missing items in some CEs (Splinter Cell USB's). I usually prefer to keep "rare" stuff sealed, but I have no way of knowing if anything is missing unless I open them up. :(



I have to be honest now. I have been thinking of selling my whole collection. Collectors Editions aren't Limited at all anymore. They even overproduce them and a month after it's been released prices will drop.
This has very little to do with satisfying customers, Collectors Editions are only made for the big bucks.
It seems only Nintendo stuff and RPG games keep their value, and increase in value after time passes.

And about the CE's which aren't complete. If you keep it sealed no one will ever know. For that, you can consider it as a complete one and also mention it as complete when selling it.
I'm more worried about sellers who re-seal their games and sell them as factory sealed ones.

I just don't know what to do. In some ways I just wanna quit collecting games, but on the other hand I just love them, lol.

[Mandingo]

I'm more worried about sellers who re-seal their games and sell them as factory sealed ones.



Yep, this is a real concern as well. I know for sure that a ton of Gamecube items over the past few years have been 're-sealed' on auction sites by shady sellers.

I just don't know what to do. In some ways I just wanna quit collecting games, but on the other hand I just love them, lol.

:lol: I feel the exact same way.

[gurpswoo1]

Yeah I feel the way Collector's edition releases are going, we will end up with just DLC codes and nothing more.

It's one of the reason for making the thread about what the collector edition should include so we can hopefully fix it before it's too late.

[Mandingo]

It's one of the reason for making the thread about what the collector edition should include so we can hopefully fix it before it's too late.

Yeah, I really hope contacting these guys through social media can have some influence.

[page305]

My only problem is I have OCD. I can't buy the US Assassins Creed "Blah Blah" Edition and know the EU version has the EXACT SAME ITEMS but with an additional art-card, because then it feels incomplete; so I end up paying to import the EU/AU/DE/JP versions just for a small single item. Sometimes 3 or more versions! It's expensive, and I never recoup my $$$ on the duplicates.

I don't mind buying both when they're truly different; steel-book -vs- replica statue etc etc (Ex. Assassins Creed Codex and US Brotherhood) (US LittleBigPlanet2 and UK LBP2).

That's my only problem at the moment.

[DJDREAM]

@mrBubbles

I know you dont like but dont give up your Collection. Really you will regret it. I really regret it, i've Sold some of my really great Collection and every day i thought, i'm an idiot i search some Games over years and then give them up after minutes.

I will never sell my Steelbook Collection!

[MrBubbles]

@mrBubbles

I know you dont like but dont give up your Collection. Really you will regret it. I really regret it, i've Sold some of my really great Collection and every day i thought, i'm an idiot i search some Games over years and then give them up after minutes.

I will never sell my Steelbook Collection!

Thanks, but I've had this before. I had a great Gi Joe collection with all the items someone could imagine and wanted to have. I had the Defiant Space Shuttle, The USS Flagg and so many items brand new in box. But after I collected about everything I wanted to have the joy to collect new items disappeared.

I'm in a similar position now. Collecting items feels like going to work. Everyday I search through ebay auctions, look up the latest bargains on the internetshops and almost have no time for a decent game to play, or even enjoy it when playing.

When I'm playing a game, I stop every 10 minutes because I wanna look up new items or start the hunt for a bargain. It's just insane, I've lost the feeling what collecting is about, obtain an item and enjoy it. I just put it in my room, just staring at it wondering what my next find will be. It looks like a disease, lol.

I might regret it, but that's a sorrow I have to deal with after my stuff is gone. I love gaming, and hope I can enjoy that great hobby again at it's fullest when selling my collection, no more searching or wandering around on the internet......

[Mandingo]

I dunno, MrBubbles. Maybe you could consider first paring down your collecting, rather than giving it up completely.

That's my plan for now. I used to buy every CE I could just -because-. Now, I think I shall purchase CE's based on what I would genuinely want to play. :)

[gurpswoo1]

I agree with mandingo, reducing your collecting to the most wanted and exclusive one rather than get them all.

[twistedsymphony]

I've already started reducing what I collect....

I only collect
1. CEs for games I plan on buying anyway
2. CEs for RPGs
3. CEs that are actually LIMITED with published production numbers.

I used to collect anything that had "edition" in the title but seriously it's so watered down at this point it's ridiculous.

I think really the term "Edition" has been tarnished by the over production but there are still just as many rare and collectible games as there ever was, you just have to be more selective about what you buy.

[gurpswoo1]

I decided many months ago that any edition that just came with DLC I wasn't going to purchase.


I also agree with Twisted, collecting RPG and certain franchises is a default buy for me.

[Mandingo]

1. CEs for games I plan on buying anyway
2. CEs for RPGs
3. CEs that are actually LIMITED with published production numbers.



Yup, this accurately describes my collecting habits.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I've started to eveluate the hobby, and have wised up to the tricks that companies like EA seem to employ. For example, I am boycotting any of these nasty "Day One" releases from EA, as they offer nothing more than DLC perks - Yet they have the nerve to call these Limited or Collector's Editions... That's just wrong in my book

I actually expect something limited for my investment. The Halo 2 CE is a prime example of an edition which was over-hyped, and is probably more common than the standard version!

If something is truly limited, then the publisher will go out of their way to number it as such, like the UK version of Fallout: New Vegas.

[gurpswoo1]

100% agree about the Halo 2 edition, there were so many copies releases.

It should be a default now to have a number of the release on each box, either internally or externally.

[Mandingo]

It should be a default now to have a number of the release on each box, either internally or externally.

I wish every company did this, too. Maybe it would prevent EA from stamping 'Limited Edition' on every 1st press game they release.

[DaSaru]

i don't know..for me it's more to "yay stuff" rather than "yay investment" since i don't plan to resell so i don't really care about the value.
also i kinda like it that it more accessible i.e easier to get especially being where i am (asia) we get the suckiest version of CEs(example assassin's creed brotherhood coaster. seriously) and now with the internet we can take our picks.
problem is with the various version i am tempted to get them all..

yeah it's more to "collectors" mentality rather than "limited" for me.