What CE's would you change, & how?

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Looking back over the various CE's from recent years, which of them would you change given half the chance?

Imagine you're in charge of creating a CE for a specific game - What items would you have included, or removed, from a CE? Which CE's do you think the publishers and retailers missed a trick on?


To kick things off, i'll start with the Duke Nukem Forever: Balls Of Steel Edition

Now if I were creating this CE, I would first get rid of that unnecessary bust of the Duke. I would then replace it with the obvious - A pair of theraputic steel massage balls!

I would also include a steel belt buckle, which is something a macho man like Duke would wear

I'd also be tempted to include a pack of Duke branded bubblegum, although this might not be advisable as it's technicaly food and not really the kind of thing which collectors would keep

Some Duke Nukem sew-on / iron-on patches would also be cool

[The Russian Bear]

I'd also be tempted to include a pack of Duke branded bubblegum

But he's all outta gum. Ahh i couldn't resist. Anyway to business.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution CE:
The same idea that blizzard had, Include a themed USB stick with the original and invisible war on. Would be nice for people to see where it all came from.

Hard cover art book. Been waiting years for a new deus ex and all we get is a booklet-type 40 page?

Some more stuff to differentiate it from the augmented edition.

The Witcher 2 CE:
Papercraft??? why???

I nice quality metal Witcher Medallion Replica of the one Geralt wears.

Fear 3 CE
The ability to pre-order is always high on my CE wish-list

[MrBubbles]

I would change all the CE's which come in a regular green Xbox 360 box with a DLC code for a gun or so. That's no CE, that's just an ordinary rip off. Look at the Battlefield 2 Limited Edition or the Medal of Honor Tier/Limited Edition.

Next I also would change the number of copies there are made. Limit them to 250, 500 or 1000 and number every copy. Put in a personal letter from the producers with an autograph.

Every Limited Edition should come with a high quality steelbook as an extra. Include an artbook, a little book where the complete background story of the game is told, a high quality figure or vehicle, ID cards from characters in the game or a little replica gun or so.

Nowadays CE's are going budget within a few weeks. Except for the Nintendo items I just wait for them to drop in price. I still can remember the Last Prestige Edition (which I bought for 150 in euro) getting sold for 40 euro.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

But he's all outta gum. Ahh i couldn't resist.

I'm glad somebody got the reference! Hence why I would be inclined to include one, as it is contextual to the game and a little in-joke to fans ;)


Also, maybe a money clip with "Stripper Tips" embossed on it would be another neat item to have included

[Queen of Mudcrabs]

The Witcher 2 CE:
Papercraft??? why???

I nice quality metal Witcher Medallion Replica of the one Geralt wears.


I did not see a real reason for the paper crafts either. A witcher medallion would be much cooler :D

The Fallout: New Vegas CE could have included bar napkins from the casinos too.

[The Russian Bear]

I did not see a real reason for the paper crafts either. A witcher medallion would be much cooler :D

The Fallout: New Vegas CE could have included bar napkins from the casinos too.

Never got the Fallout: New Vegas CE and wish I had, seen it going for quite alot on eBay now.

[Queen of Mudcrabs]

Never got the Fallout: New Vegas CE and wish I had, seen it going for quite alot on eBay now.

You really should have bought it. The poker chips are truly unique and of high quality, and the platinum chip looks just like the real deal :D

[The Russian Bear]

You really should have bought it. The poker chips are truly unique and of high quality, and the platinum chip looks just like the real deal :D


I never trust Obsidian games since their quality varies (I'm still sore about KOTOR2). Hopefully Bethesda can make a truly awesome Collectors edition for Skyrim with no half measures.

[twistedsymphony]

I would change just about every CE released :lol:

9 times out of 10 I'm severely disappointed with the packaging. it's usually too flimsy or it's designed like the packaging for a toy as opposed to a collectors item...

even those CEs with good, high-qaulity packing usually screw it up somehow, like just tossing the standard edition game case in with all the pack-ins as opposed to a nice SteelBook or similar.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

even those CEs with good, high-qaulity packing usually screw it up somehow, like just tossing the standard edition game case in with all the pack-ins as opposed to a nice SteelBook or similar.

Agreed. The Assassin's Creed Brotherhood: Codex Edition was a nice piece, and had nice packaging as well with amazing artwork on it, but the whole CE was underwhelming due to the fact that the game they included was the standard Amaray retail version - They could've at least put the disc into the Codex somehow, like the American Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow CE...

[RaverX]

I would replace all vocuhers with the real thing. One example : I've got a while ago Killzone 3 Helghast Edition. Really nice : huge box, caschet replica, sniper figure, artbook, steelbox packaging...everything is awesome.

But...

I've got 2 vouchers that allows me to download some maps and ... the soundtrack. That really sucks. I mean : the soundtrack should be on audio CD, not digital :( I don't listen to music on PS3, I play there. But the CD is a REAL item and that's what collector's like.

Each collector edition should have a special packaging (it can be steelbook or something else, but it has to be different from the standard plastic case). Then it should have at least one extra disc with make-of and/or soundtrack. Then artbook - must have. And something small, but collectible or even usable : a medal, a key ring, a mouse pad, a t-shirt, ...

[mosavon]

Kinda agree with what you're saying i always prefer something i can physically hold, but unfortunutely the games industry seems to be heading towards digital distribution, i think this trend will continue sadly:think:

[RaverX]

Kinda agree with what you're saying i always prefer something i can physically hold, but unfortunutely the games industry seems to be heading towards digital distribution, i think this trend will continue sadly:think:

Yes, that's what I think too. I'm a little afraid that soon the collector's edition will be the only way to get a disc. Yes, a simple disc, probably the normal game will be available only for download. Or even worse : the retail version might not exist anymore and the collector's edition will simply include soundtracks and making of in digital version. That's one of my worst nightmares...

[Gemini-Phoenix]

One of my major gripes is in regards to the recent trend of including the soundtrack as DLC. In my opinion, if they're going to include a soundtrack, then I want a CD which I can play, not some DLC code card

I also hate when they advertise a bonus game or film, only to discover it's just a code card which needs to be redeemed and downloaded - I'd rather have a Dvd I can watch on many compatible devices, rather than have to watch on my Xbox. Likewise, I would prefer a bonus game to be distributed on a physical disc so that I don't have to clutter up my HDD and also so that in a few years time it's still there as a physical bonus, where a DLC bonus may expire or be taken down from the server