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New Images of Heavy Rain Special Edition

January 28th, 2010 Michael Pica

Maven posted up a new image of the upcoming, exclusive to Europe, Heavy Rain Collector’s Edition.

It would seem that the previous information about this being nothing more than a nice slip cover and code for some downloads were incorrect. It’s turning out to be quite a nice little CE. Its actually refreshing to see a CE release that offers simple, classy, appropriate embellishments as opposed to the over the top for twice the price CEs we’ve been getting as of late.

Another interesting note is that up to this point the edition has been titled inconsistently with some referring to it as a “Collector’s Edition” and some referring to it as a “Limited Edition” this image actually shows “Special Edition” on the bonus content card. Up to this point that’s the most official title for the package.

Games Discussed in this Article

Heavy Rain (Special Edition) (PS3) [2]

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Europe Gets Final Fantasy XIII Collector’s Edition

January 22nd, 2010 Michael Pica

Game.co.uk has listed a Collector’s Edition release of Final Fantasy XIII for both PS3 and Xbox 360.

Released along side the regular edition on March 9th, the collector’s edition will fetch £60 (~$100USD) and is slated to include the following:

FINAL FANTASY XIII Original Sound Selection: Soundtrack CD including a selection of music tracks from the game that are especially chosen for this Limited Collector’s Edition by composer Masashi Hamauzu. The CD is presented inside a slipcase featuring artwork from FINAL FANTASY XIII, and also liner notes that are written by the composer.
The World of FINAL FANTASY XIII: Hardback book featuring character artwork, CG rendered artwork and environments from across the game production.
Exclusive Art Prints: 3 highly collectable art prints showing artwork of the Eidolons, powerful summoned allies of the lead playable characters in FINAL FANTASY XIII
Unique ‘Brand of the l’Cie’ decal: Collectible decal featuring this most iconic symbol from the game storyline

No word yet on whether or not North America will see a Collector’s Edition as well, here’s hoping they will.

Games Discussed in this Article

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How Game Packaging is Designed

January 4th, 2010 Michael Pica

GameSetWatch has an interview with Justin Carroll (who worked on Modern Warfare 2’s box) about what goes into designing box art. Interesting stuff for those of us who love the Collector’s Edition packaging and the extras they entail.

As elaborate packaging becomes more prevalent, does it still stand out?

JC: … More elaborate packaging communicates a deeper story about the game, and also connects to the passion the gamers and developers share about the game. To me it’s about authenticity. We created the collectors edition packaging for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. The Mythic/EA teams sweated over every tiny detail of that package with us, and that really shows in the final results. You can’t bullshit a core audience.

Also, the majority of packaging on the shelf is still in the 1st party templates, so the elaborate Collectors packs grab your attention. If you had a hundred Collectors Editions sitting on the same shelf it would be a different story.

Does that create an arms race, in effect, where packaging becomes more elaborate? Some things we’ve seen in limited editions are a bit ridiculous.

JC: I guess it does start an arms race but still, if it’s an authentic experience it adds value. There comes a point though where the economics will stop supporting it.

… with the killer AAA titles it will always make sense. Look at Infinity Ward’s “unboxing” video for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2: Prestige Edition on YouTube (we did the packaging). Over three million views to date. Obviously someone thinks that over-the-top package offers something valuable.

Justin Carroll, who worked on Modern Warfare 2‘s box

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Dante’s Inferno Death Edition for Europe

December 14th, 2009 Michael Pica

While North American PS3 collectors will have a shot at the Divine Edition of Dante’s Inferno European collectors will get the very similar Death Edition.

Translated from the report on Coolplanet.it:

Visceral Games, Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today Dante’s Inferno “Death Edition” for PS3 and Xbox 360, which will be available in Europe on February 5. In addition to the game, the special edition of Dante’s Inferno will also include the following bonuses in an exclusive “Death Edition” packaging with lenticular artwork.

Exclusive costume for a playable character in-game: Isaac Clarke from Dead Space!

Making-of documentary with the game (Italian subtitles)

Documentary “Dante in History” (subtitled in English)

Soundtrack full game

Documentary on the creation of music and audio (Italian subtitles)

Digital Artbook edited by visual designer Wayne Barlowe (in English)

Over 10 minutes of scenes from the soul “Dante’s Inferno An Animated Epic” (in English)

digital reprint of the poem Complete (in English)

“We are very excited about the Death Edition, because it gives us the opportunity to create something truly unique and special for Europe,” said Jonathan Knight, Executive Producer for Dante’s Inferno. “There’s really a lot of exclusive material within this Special Edition, and the demo coming December 24th on Xbox Live and PSN, players can finally get a taste of what awaits them in the full game out February 5, 2010. ”

The demo ‘Gates of Hell’ will introduce the players in with a creative reworking of Dante’s poem, where Dante’s version of a warrior returning from the crusades back in his native Florence to find his love, Beatrice, cruelly killed and dragged to the soul ‘ Hell by Lucifer. Voted to rescue his beloved, Dante begins the epic journey to the gates of Hell and beyond, along which face monstrous undead, demons, cursed and even death itself. The demo will therefore allow a first glimpse of the vast world of Dante’s Inferno and will be the prelude to the trip a nightmare that will take Dante through the nine group.

In Dante’s Inferno, gamers play the role of Dante himself, as it passes through the nine circles of the damned – the limbo, lust, gluttony, avarice, wrath, heresy, violence, deceit and betrayal. At a speed of 60 frames per second, each group is characterized by unique environments, new creatures, fearsome demons, the only elements of history that have been created to give the maximum dramatic features of each of retribution.

Players will have the opportunity to go to hell from 5 February 2010 for Xbox360, PS3 and PSP. The demo for The Gates of Hell will be available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 since 24 December.

thanks to Rinsukaze for the tip

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European Splinter Cell Conviction CE Details

December 14th, 2009 Michael Pica

Details have been released for the European release of Splinter Cell Conviction.

From the Kotaku report:

Splinter Cell Conviction’s collectors edition variant for “all European, Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific territories” will contain the following, including an exclusive gameplay mode.

An exclusive Sam Fisher statue

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction game in unique SteelBook™ case

Infiltration Mode : Eliminate all hostiles in the mission area without being detected

A special playable skin: Shadow Armor

Early access to 3 weapons: SC300, SR2 and MP5

The official Splinter Cell Conviction Soundtrack (more than 17 tracks)

That applies to both the PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game, due to hit the territories listed above on or about February 26.

Games Discussed in this Article

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction Limited Collector's Edition (360) [PAL]

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Dante’s Inferno Divine Edition Announced

December 10th, 2009 Michael Pica

Kotaku is reporting that the PS3 will receive an exclusive “Divine Edition” release of upcoming Dante’s Inferno game.

The Dante’s Inferno Divine Edition is the version all PlayStation 3 owners will be receiving once the game is released on February 9th, so there’s no need to worry about changing over your preorders or making sure you don’t get a gimped version accidentally. Whether they want it or not, they’re getting it. What are they getting? On top of the game itself, the Divine Edition comes with developer commentaries, a Wayne Barlow digital art book, the game’s soundtrack, and a digital copy of the complete Longfellow translation of Dante Alighieri’s Inferno

….

The Divine Edition of Dante’s Inferno certainly contains enough additional content to justify jacking the price up another $10, but EA is delivering this treat to PlayStation 3 owners for just $59.99, the same price Xbox 360 owners will pay for their plain vanilla version, barring any forthcoming announcements of special content for Microsoft console owners.

Games Discussed in this Article

Dante's Inferno Divine Edition (PS3) [1]

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Bioshock 2 Special Edition Details Revealed

November 19th, 2009 Michael Pica

Details of the upcoming Special Edition of BioShock 2 have been released via the Cult of Rapture site.

Over the past few months, I have seen a lot of speculation around whether or not we would have a special edition for BioShock 2, and if we did, what would be inside.

This is the announcement many of you have been waiting for: There will be a BioShock 2 Special Edition.

The Special Edition will come in 13″x13” premium packaging with special art on both the slipcase and the box cover. Inside, you will find three posters featuring vintage ads from Rapture (rolled), a vinyl 180g LP featuring the orchestral score from the original BioShock, a CD containing the BioShock 2 orchestral score, a 164 page 8″x11″ hardbound artbook chock full of developer commentary and, of course, a copy of BioShock 2.

This edition will be available on February 9th, 2010 for $99.99 for Xbox 360 and PS3 and $89.99 for Games for Windows LIVE and is limited to a single production run. You’ll be able to preorder the Special Edition in most countries worldwide, starting now.

Stay tuned for the Official Unboxing for a closer look at the BioShock 2 Special Edition.