[General Discussion] Limited Editions and You

It definitely depends on what comes in the Limited Edition. I'm sure I own at least 30 different games that would be considered limited editions.

What I LOVE in Limited Editions:

- Steelbook/Metal Packaging: PS2 RE4 is probably my favorite. There's just something classier about a nice metal case.

- Soundtracks: Probably the best overall value in an LE. The fact that these are hard enough to find/overpriced when they're actually being legitimately sold makes it really nice to have them just included with the damn game.

- Figures: I do love me some action figures/models. Mileage of course varies with these... Big Daddy figurine >>> mini-Crimson Viper that looks like Crimson Viper >>> mini-Chris Redfield that doesn't even look like Chris Redfield.

- Artbooks: Kinda on the low end of LE value, but they're nice enough for the one time you will ever flip through them. Negative points for SPOILERS.

- Random Ridiculousness: Messenger bags (quality tends to vary alot), dogtags, and other nonsense can be quite cool as long as they're secondary to the real meat of an LE and don't drive the price up.



What I HATE in Limited Editions:

- Making-Ofs/Misc. Featurettes: Really, does anyone actually watch these? It pissed me off so much when FANS VOTED FOR THIS as the one of 2-3 things to include in the Bioshock LE. Getting one of these DVD's as half the content of an LE is kind of like getting coal in your stocking.

- Tin Packaging: I'm looking at you, Gears of War LE. Not only are these usually dinged to some degree when you get them, but they're not the same size as your other game cases and thus may not fit right on your shelf. They also usually don't have an actual disc holder inside, just little envelopes.

- What Could Have Beens (WCHBs): Halo 3 LE coming with a Spartan Helmet? Awesome!!!!11 .....oh, it's not full-size and you can't wear it? ...Fuck You, Bungie/MS. Soundtrack CD's that suck can also be filed under this (Grandia II Povo anyone?).

-Flash Drives/Senseless Bullshit: Not sure why/when exactly this LE fad started up, but I really can't see the point in spending $10-20 on a 512mb flash drive that looks stupid and is often barely even related to the game.

- Game Content: This comes in two forms: the kind that should have already been included in the game at launch anyway but now they're making you pay extra for it (ie. bonus outfits ala SFIV or SCIV) and the kind that gives you something that people with normal editions of the game can't get unless they can pay for it as DLC (ie. special weapons). I hate both. LE's should NEVER change the content of the game itself in any way, shape, or form.

- Pre-Order Bonuses: Let me be more specific here. I hate pre-order bonuses that are different depending on where you get it OR the pre-order bonuses that only one store is doing and it's typically the most expensive store (GameStop).

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Wow, I guess I really am not nerd enough to deserve my Limited Editions then. I simply have never cared about seeing little snippets of game or movie development even though I am a geek and do love video games/movies/anime more than anything. Despite all the collector's editions (or Blu-Rays) of movies I have, the only one I've ever watched making-of stuff for was The Fountain, which was admittedly very interesting. In general though, unlike many movies, games are pretty much made all the same way (within each generational cycle) and if I really wanted to see a bunch of clips of polygons-not-yet-fully-formed into characters or cars or weapons or what-have-yous, I'm sure there's video online somewhere you can watch (legally) for free, rather than paying for it as a "bonus". If those featurettes actually gave you insight on how YOU could become a game developer yourself, that'd perhaps be one thing, but all I've ever really seen are clips of different parts of a typically large development team throwing little chunks of a game together; it's never been particularly helpful stuff to know on a personal level.

There's nowhere I can't reach.