The Do's and Don'ts of Collector's editions.

Ah, the collector’s edition. The shinier, seedier cousin of the plastic packages we buy on a regular basis. When picking up a game at retail (or, god forbid, pre-ordering it), when asked if we’d like the coveted collector’s edition, it can be very tempting to pony up the extra 10 dollars or so. The biggest allure, of course, being the thought that if you buy the collector’s edition, you are in turn a bigger fan of that particular game.

But that’s not always the smart thing to do (though to be fair, spending extra money at all isn’t a smart thing to do to do right now). Not every collector’s edition is a must-buy collectible, contrary to popular belief. Some are just bloated versions of the retail, to justify you having to spend an additional fee for “nice packaging”. So, how do you know if you’re getting the most bang for your additional buck?

Well, aside from the matter or personal taste, it can be very difficult to asses the good from the bad, especially when so many people find out about these special editions when they are at the store, ready to buy the product and simply see the new version there. They don’t have enough time to evaluate quality at such a spontaneous moment of impulse. So here are some things to keep in mind when you see that shiny box, or are asked “Do you want the regular or collector’s edition?”

Let’s start off with the worst case scenario: You walk into a game store to pre-order a product. Putting your five or ten dollars down, the clerk asks you the aforementioned question. Your first question should be “What’s the difference?” Asking questions is never a bad thing. Usually, they can give you a list of goodies that the extra money will net you. If they can’t give you a list or any sort of information, promptly stick with the regular version. It’s best to leave the store and check out what information is available on the net. If there still isn’t anything, hold off on that upgrade; most of the time, it won’t go anywhere.

Now, let’s move on to something less bleak: The clerk does in fact have the info you are looking for. However, the information is tentative, and could change at a later date. Again, it’s best to stick with the regular instead of getting your hopes up for something that you’re not going to get. However, it’s never a permanent commitment to say yes. You can always change back to the regular version most of the time, so depending on exactly how enticing that edition is, this is where you have a variable amount of wiggle room.

Moving on: You (somehow) can verify the information that said clerk has given you is correct (Internet phone, regular phone calling someone who has the internet), and are now looking at the official list of features that you’re going to be taking at the extra cost. The first thing you should look at is price. Just how much extra cash are you going to be putting down for you schwag? The extra money you’re putting down ranges between 10 (buys you breakfast, lunch, and dinner if you know where to look), and 100 dollars (which buys you one or two more games), so it’s the most important factor to consider.

Now comes the actual list of things that you’re going to get from this. Now, as a preface, different things have varying value different people. That being said, we (pregohunterinc) have come up with a list of things that may warrant your money, and things that may not.

Things that do warrant your money:

-Figures and toys (depending on how much you’re putting down, these are usually one of the biggest draws)

-Making of documentaries (though these usually depend on personal interest in the company).

-Good Packaging (defined by us as the same standard dimensions as the regular packaging(save for thickness), preferably metal)

-Collectible items (these differ from toys in that they are usually something like a keychain or something to that effect)

-Limited quantity (it isn’t “special” if they make just as many copies of the collector’s edition as you did the regular).

-Comics (really a subjective one though, but you could put it under a larger umbrella of "things that add to the story")

Things that don’t warrant your money:

-Oversized boxes (they mess with your shelf space, display pictures that could be shown on smaller packaging, and are generally crappy tin crates capable of giving children concussions).

-Soundtrack CD’s (Usually have a very small selection, with exceptions, and most of this stuff is found on the internet anyway).

-Art booklets (Unless you’re some sort of nut for these things, you’re going to look at once then never touch it again, however these seem to be the most prominent feature of most collector’s edition. If this is the best thing you’re going to get, don’t buy it).

-In-game items (usually something shiny usually gives you something you’re going to get anyway. While it should never be the reason you upgrade, this could be a good thing as part of a larger and better whole).

-Pens (Seriously, Soulcalibur!? A pen that isn’t even recognizable to sign a stupid shirt and fill out a tournament sheet?)

Again, all of these things are subjective, but this is how I see it. If you can take anything away from this, it should be that you should have a comprehensive list of things that you want and don't want. This will lead to you knowing what you want, and will increase your ability to buy with discretion (something you should always be using, by the way).

Another thing to do is realize that not buying a dumb collector's edition will not lead you to being a lesser fan of the game. It just makes you a smart consumer. Some collector's editions are good, others are bad. That's just how it is. So use some discretion, and learn from your mistakes (and mine, hopefully), and be savvy! In that sense, I suppose I should post CE's that I do and do not like:

Here's and example of a very good Collector's Edition:

- Lost Planet - This is probably my favorite CE in recent memory. The metal and picture feel nice, the whole thing is compact (which is a godsend as far as shelve space goes), fits two discs just fine, has an artbook, and the toy comes in a seperate package, so as to not to inflate the size of the whole thing. This might be a cost-cutting measure, but personally this is how CE's should be done as a whole. As a rule, actually, most of Capcom's stuff is well-done, and people should take a page from their book. The game was okay, but I love the CE.

And here's and example of a very bad Collector's Edition:

- Assassin's Creed - This is what I mean by overinflated. All those things you see in the picture hardly fill up the enormous box and the toy (which is the thickest part) might have been the cause, but you could've given that seperately, right? It has a art book (boring), a Penny arcade comic book (which, to be fair, is actually quite good), and a mini-strategy guide, which is dumb idea in the age of the internet. Ultimately a result of trying to make the most eye-catching product on shelves, which it wrecks, by the way. The game, in my opinion, was better than people thought it was, but this is not how you make people like your product.

So there you have it. A somewhat pointless guide to something of a pet peeve of mine. It won't change the industry, but hey hopefully you learned something today. Remember: DON'T ALWAYS BUY IT. USE DISCRETION!!

-Peace