Rules that All CE makers should follow

[twistedsymphony]

This is my personal opinion but these are the rules I feel that every CE released should follow.

1. All content should be contained in a single package, wrapping cellophane around two or more separate items does not a CE make, nor does handing me a bunch of separate items and calming "this pile of stuff is the CE" (I'm looking at you Ghostbusters) It boggles my mind that I would even have to add this to the list.

2. Discs should be cherished... Anyone who releases a CE with a plain white paper sleeve holding the bonus disc deserves to be slapped in the face... all discs should be held by a proper plastic spindle without question, I don't care if it's a jewel case, digi-pack, steel book or Amery. No disc belongs in a sleeve, especially not when you're paying extra for it.

3. Any content that that doesn't ACTUALLY require a network connection should be included on physical media... I don't want to download a soundtrack, or single-player expansions, or gamer-pics, or dashboard themes, or avatar clothes, or anything other than content designed for an online connection. Soundtracks should be on a CD without question.

Bonus content means more if its on physical media as opposed to a one time use code.

4. Packaging is Paramount. As far as I'm concerned a CE that is nothing more than the Standard Edition with a nice high-quality SteelBook case with more tasteful (less market research driven) cover art and NOTHING ELSE is a CE worth buying, and buying at a higher price than the standard edition... Similarly a CE that is nothing more than a bunch of bonus content codes shoved inside the case, even at the same price as the Standard Edition is worthless in my eyes...

Packages should look nice, they should be sturdy and durable, they should have great attention paid to detail (not like throw-away toy packaging) and they should hold all of their content well.

5. Assume the collector buying your Game is at least as old as your ESRB/PEGI/BBFC/etc rating, better yet, most collectors are fairly mature compared to most gamers in general so assume they're at MINIMUM a few years OLDER than the rating.

I see too many CEs with pack-ins clearly geared toward people several years younger than their content rating... it's not appreciated

6. DO NOT include time-sensitive material... this includes advertisements, contest fliers or content codes that expire. if I can't open my CE 3 years after release and use everything included then that content is worthless.


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Feel free to add your 2 cents on these items and add your own.

Keep in mind that this is a list that ALL CEs should follow without exception, not things that you like to see included.