Collector’s Editions Stole my Bike!

It seems like Collector’s Edition have been around forever. If you go back and count gold cartridge games on the NES, then this may be true.

But gamers might remember Collector’s Editions’ later proliferation, beginning somewhere around the mid- to late-PS2-era of video games as a sort of test market for a reestablished price point of $60 per game.

With the new price point in place for this generation, it’s only natural for collector’s edition eclipse this mark by another 10 dollars. If my math is correct, that would put a current-gen CE running for $70.

Wrong!

Sure, sure it started with a $10 price increase, most likely for an extra disc of behind the scenes footage or maybe a special download code or an art book. But it didn’t take long before Microsoft unleashed some three-tiered madness.

Assumably the work of an evil genius at Microsoft, Halo 3 launched at three different price points. For 60 bones you took away the game, $69 got you a collector’s case and a second disc, and for the ball-busting price of $129 you scored a spartan helmet made for a shrunken head — the evil genius at Microsoft might help you here.

And that’s not all! Four discs and a special case for your viewing pleasure. All for the same price as two brand new games! Thanks Microsoft!

Whether or not you liked the Halo 3: Legendary Edition, there are worse money grabs out there. Amazon.com and Fallout 3’s collaborative crime is definitely worse.

Fallout 3’s normal CE retailed at $99 wasn’t too shabby. It had a lunch box, bobble-head, bonus disc, and a snazzy art book. But wait, there are even greener pastures!

Amazon.com announced a “Survival Edition” of the game that had all this and a cheap, plastic Pip-boy 3000 alarm clock, which looked pretty cool based on the pictures on Amazon. However, actually buyers would cry out in anguish as the clocks battery live wasn’t even practical — three weeks? C’mon!

Not to mention it was just a large chunk of ugly plastic.

Fast forward to this year when Amazon announces the “Ultimate Slimer Edition” for the upcoming game, Ghostbusters. Another $129 CE with quite a bit of swag. But $129?!?

The edition comes with a bust of Slimer, complete with certificate of authenticity, an Ecto1 keychain that makes noise, some Minimates, and some exclusive gamer graffix skins. Exclusive to the “Ultimate Slimer Edition” only, oh boy! All cash conceivable funds Slimer’s 50k a day cocaine habit.

This also was announced around the same time of Batman: Arkham Asylum’s CE that retails for $99 and comes with a Batarang! That and a character journal, huge-ass Batarang tin, extra discs, and challenge map DLC.

Much better than the previous, but still $100.

If Collector’s Editions of games are going to blow past $100, make them worth it instead of just including cheaply manufactoring schwag to make some extra duckets. Resident Evil 5 is a perfect example of money hungry decisions.

Japan gets sweet 2 GB flash drive resembling an object in the game, art book, and a crazy waist strap. US receives a stupid BSAA patch, small figure, cheap necklace, collector’s case, extra disc, and poorly designed messenger bag.

The only plus would be Japan’s equivalent to $130 price tag to the US’s $90. Yikes, that’s like 12,800 yen!

Where are the good old days when CE’s were only $10 more than the retail copy and came with a Big Daddy?

What are some of your favorite collector’s editions?