| Videogames have recently become a regular sight on shop shelves.
It seems every major release - and quite a few not so major
ones - is accompanied by an expensive and lavishly packaged
version, complete with extras such as art books, action figures,
posters and soundtracks.
Japanese publishers used to be amazing producers of special
editions – that come with lovely packaging, stylish art booklets
and with really good action figures, rather than shapeless
blobs of plastic bearing only a passing resemblance to the
game's hero.
In the Playstation 2 and Dreamcast eras it was the big Japanese
titles that came with special editions such as Metal Gear
Solid and Final Fantasy XII, but these games are enjoyed by
fanatical zealots who really do see value in owning a version
of a game that will be coveted by their community.
Some games have a wider cultural value and an aesthetic appeal
that warrants a marketing approach, ie. Gears of War came
with a decent hardback book looking into the game's 'destroyed
beauty' art style, while Halo 3 Legendary Edition was packed
with extras in a really quite impressive case. Both these
games look like arresting pop culture artefacts , which is
what you are looking for from a special edition.
You may also like the 'behind the scenes' and 'making of'
documentaries that come with some games. It is also becoming
more common nowadays that special editions come complete with
access to downloadable content, ie. the recently announced
Ratchet and Clank: A Crack In Time special edition offers
a PSN voucher that allows you to download an in-game area
entitled Insomniac Moon.
Game publishers know that many gamers are men, and that most
of them are sad, anally retentive hoarders for whom the phrase
'collectors edition' holds exciting promise of exclusivity
and elite social status. But can true happiness and peer respect
really be located within a Tales of Vesperia Special Edition
metal case?
If you have a quick look on ebay, you may find desirable
rare editions going for hundreds of pounds - most are on there
for no more or less than standard editions of the same titles.
This may be because - unlike similar DVD editions - you're
rarely getting extra content with the product itself. You
don't get five extra levels with the Resident Evil 4 Premium
Edition, you won't get deleted scenes with the Assassin's
Creed Limited Edition.
So once the initial excitement of taking something nice and
metallic to the counter at Game Station collapses, you're
left with a white elephant, that will not file nicely next
to your other games.
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