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Now if only every special edition would come with your own personal Peter Moore...
GTA IV Special Edition looks to be worth the extra coin

I’ve complained before on the sad state of most collector’s editions of games that get released these days. All it takes these days for publishers to apparently justify charging (willing) consumers another $10 us just to slap the game in a tin case and include some documentary footage or soundtrack CD.

The state of things is still pretty bad, with Forza Motorsport 2 being my goat of the month. I’m looking forward to buying Forza 2 when it releases May 29, but I’m still at odds at which version to buy. The regular version is perfectly regular, but there’s also going to be a limited edition that will include a booklet and three extra cars (2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale, 2006 Ford Saleen Mustang S281 E, 2006 Subaru Impreza S204) that will be exclusive to that edition until they appear on Xbox Live as paid DLC. If you purchase the game at EB Games or GameStop, then you’ll get another Marketplace code to download an exclusive Nissan Fairlady Z. It’s just a mess and Microsoft isn’t doing its hardcore Forza fans any favors with this weak attempt at creating a collector’s edition.

Rockstar, however, appears to be putting some thought and effort into its special edition of GTA IV for both Xbox 360 and PS3. It won’t be cheap (but it won’t be Legendary expensive, either) at $90, but at least it’s something great for fans of the series.

The Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition will be presented in a customized Grand Theft Auto metal safety deposit box. The box will contain:

  • The Grand Theft Auto IV Art Book, featuring never-before-seen production artwork from Grand Theft Auto IV
  • Selected soundtrack CD from Grand Theft Auto IV, featuring new material from top artists, only available on this release
  • A limited edition Rockstar duffel bag
  • An exclusive Rockstar keychain for the safety deposit box keys

OK, so the art book and the soundtrack CD is what I would expect for $10 more – and for another $20 on top of that you get a duffel bag and a locking safety deposit box with keys. In terms of value, you’re paying more for getting more – but unlike other collector’s editions, this one looks to be worthy.

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Limited Editions
By AnnihilatorX on 5/22/2007 6:59:15 AM , Rating: 2
Western Game developers need to learn something from Japanese game companies in form of limited editions of their games.

In Japan, collector editions are a tool to make money. No matter on how much they charge, people still buy them because of truly superior bundle of accessories; fan art books, phone cards, key rings, mini novels, a random set of wallpapers (some people even buy multiple copies of a game for the random collections).

While basic editions have nothing bundled with them. That lead to majority of sales being limited editions (at release time at least).




RE: Limited Editions
By Zoomer on 5/22/2007 10:29:18 AM , Rating: 2
Limited edition PS2 controllers, like the one for FFX-2. Limited edition PS2 stands.

Maybe we'll see games that comes with a limited edition console!


RE: Limited Editions
By bkm32 on 5/22/2007 2:53:51 PM , Rating: 5
Its calle the PS3 since no one is playing it.


The Funniest Collector's Edition Ever
By thartist on 5/22/07, Rating: 0
RE: The Funniest Collector's Edition Ever
By bkm32 on 5/22/2007 3:00:59 PM , Rating: 2
Agreed.

At least the Forza 2 SE gives you content you can actually use in the game, just as long as you don't pay any more through micro-transactions, which will probably be the case.

both of these are bad, very bad. If Rockstar would include a documentary and full disclosure of their deal with Jack Thompson, it would be worth the extra coin. How about throwing in GTA--the original as a bonus/nostalgic unlockable?

"Throw me a frickin' bone, here!"


RE: The Funniest Collector's Edition Ever
By OxBow on 5/22/2007 3:21:53 PM , Rating: 3
Ditto:
It seems like the argument in the article defeats the premise. The article starts out railing against an artwork pack, audio CD and meaningless trinkets as not worth the collectors edition price, then slams Forza 2 for including extra game content in the collectors edition, and then praises GTA4 for including what? An artwork pack, audio CD and meaningless trinkets.

Excited about a lockable box and a duffle bag doesn't seem justified. Is the box as secure as an actual firesafe or lockable medicine cabinet? I really doubt it. Since I haven't used a duffle bag since college, I don't see the utility there, even if I did want to give Rockstar free advertising.

The entire collectible market (toys, games, angel statues and beanie babies) seems like an enormous scam as it is. However, if the product actually provided extra service, such as more maps, models, missions, etc. then I can see justifying the price tag.

I like the utility of owning a disk of software rather than just the liscense, but I don't kid myself into thinking there is any value in the contents of the box. I am purchasing the liscense to use the intellectual property of someone else for my amusement. If I pay extra for it, I want more amusement, hence more intellectural property, not real goods to clutter up the bookshelf only to be thrown out down the road.


RE: The Funniest Collector's Edition Ever
By NicePants42 on 5/24/2007 9:55:42 AM , Rating: 2
Another Ditto. This article amazes me.

If I need a cheap safe deposit box or a low quality dufflebag, I'll go to Target.

If I'm paying more for a special edition of a game, it's because there's something special - in the game.

Forza 2 gives me extra game content for my money, while GTA is trying to shove crap into valuable space in my condo.

Forza 2 wins.


By Assimilator87 on 5/24/2007 10:14:52 AM , Rating: 2
You guys make good points, but I feel that using ingame content to make a limited edition is the biggest scam ever conceived. Why the hell can't they just include it in the game? It's not even content that's released after the game. The content is all made and ready, but these greedy bastards want people to pay $10 extra dollars for a few digital cars that you probably won't use anyways. By the time you get really into the game, the cars they offer as extra content won't even be good compared to the other cars you've racked up in the garage. I think soundtracks and documentaries are the best for limited edition content, although that has to be done right too. Quake 4's documentary was way too short, but Halo 2 had an awesome, in depth one. As for the guy who suggested that the extra content is useless because it can be pirated, you're a douchebag. Why even buy the game at all?


Collectors Editions YAWN
By christojojo on 5/21/2007 9:30:37 PM , Rating: 5
You know that most of these collector's tins baffle me. Is it like a collectible toy were if you open it it no longer has value? Darn! my Star Wars collectible tooth brush, hygiene won out. My collectible tin of tooth picks with a copied copy of signed mimeo graph of the very first toothpick ever made had to use it to keep my eyes open waiting in line for hours for a brand new collectible of "Sonique the teenage Weregirl from Mars" with collectble cardboard box and 3inch by 5 inch poster of Sonique drinking Chok-a-Cola.

I must lament that all these things dont really make my day and I am forced to save $10 compared to the collectors editions.

For those of you that like this stuff, bless you. Just count me out.




I disagree
By noirsoft on 5/22/2007 1:01:56 PM , Rating: 2
I am more likely to buy a collector's version if it includes exclusive in-game content over art books and such, which get looked through once and left on a shelf. In-game special items tend to have more use for me.




By theprodigalrebel on 5/24/2007 4:15:04 PM , Rating: 2
Vice City had a 8-disc Soundtrack (Box Set as well as individual discs for each radio station). San Andreas had a 8-disc soundtrack available as a Box Set.

A similar Box Set bundled with the game would be worth the money. Of course, if they offer a cut down single/double disc 'Best of' compilation, this wouldn't be worth it.

Who's the marketing non-genius who thought of the duffel bag & safety deposit box?




Let's break this down...
By timmiser on 5/24/2007 7:43:54 PM , Rating: 2
->The Grand Theft Auto IV Art Book, featuring never-before-seen production artwork from Grand Theft Auto IV. Value: $1

->Selected soundtrack CD from Grand Theft Auto IV, featuring new material from top artists, only available on this release Value: $3

->A limited edition Rockstar duffel bag Value: $6

->An exclusive Rockstar keychain for the safety deposit box keys Value: $1

->A metal tin box that in comes in. Value: $0

Reading DT sum it all up by saying it is "worthy" of the extra $$. PRICELESS!




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