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Save your money: collector's edition games you shouldn't bother collecting
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I've written in the past about the dubious "game of the year" editions of games that we're seeing more of on consoles recently, but the real offenders are the "collectors editions," sometimes also called limited or special editions, that don't really add value for the money. They cost you more money, and they might come with a few trinkets, but any assertion that you're getting your money's worth or that these collectors editions are actually collectible and will become more valuable over time is just untrue. With nearly every developer/publisher jumping on the special editions bandwagon, I thought it might be useful to give you a heads up on the ones that you don't need to invest in. To be clear, this is not an indictment of the quality of the games themselves, merely their marketing which was designed to take advantage of customers.
DJ Hero: Renegade Edition
MSRP: $199.99
Premium: $80
DJ Hero is already an expensive package, at $120 for the game and necessary controller, but the $200 renegade edition is a little ridiculous. It includes a carrying case that doubles as a stand and 2 discs of music by Jay-Z and Eminem, which is almost all previously released material and has little to do with the actual game. In addition, the knobs on the turntable controller are also now painted gold. Even the most fervent DJ Hero fan can't justify the extra cost when the (originally) $200 bundles for Rock Band and Guitar Hero come with a set up for 3 people. For $80, you could buy a small stand, 2 better cd's and some gold paint and still have some left over to buy another game; or better yet, just buy another game, because you don't need those other things.
Modern Warfare 2: Hardened/Prestige Edition
MSRP: $79.99/$149.99
Premium: $20/$90
In only two days, the biggest game ever, Modern Warfare 2, will be released, and Activision is taking full advantage of it by releasing it in three consumer unfriendly versions. The Hardened edition comes with a steel book case for some reason, an art book you'll glance at once and a code to download the original Call of Duty, which you don't want to play. The Prestige edition, for a mere $70 more, comes with cheap night vision goggles and a stand (for the goggles, not the game), in addition to what the Hardened edition came with. The Standard edition only comes with a copy of the game, you know, the thing you actually want. Why anyone would pay $20 for an art book and an old game is confusing enough, but paying more than double the cost of the game for some night vision goggles which no normal person needs is just ludicrous. If your shelf needs some decoration, may I recommend using the money to make 90 origami birds in a recreation of Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller The Birds instead.
Forza Motorsports 3: Gamestop Exclusive Limited Edition
MSRP: $79.99
Premium: $20
I'm a little late on this one, but if you haven't picked up the game yet, may I suggest going to a store other than Gamestop for purchase, because exclusively at Gamestop you can be sold an extra bundle of uselessness. This is, perhaps, the most functional of the collector's editions so far, including a 2GB thumb drive, a nearly $8 value itself, and 10 special in-game cars. Car Packs are fine, and I'm sure hardcore Forza fans would want them, but it's just a dick move to release the cars this way, forcing fans to go to a single retailer and pay $20 for a few more cars that are almost certainly already on the disc. The game includes more than 400 cars already, I think you'll be able to find some that you like amongst them, and if you want specially painted cars, such as the ones in the GEL edition, just go to marketplace and buy some with in game currency.
Dragon Age: Origins Collectors Edition
MSRP: $74.99
Premium: $15
It's almost refreshing to see a collector's edition just called a collector's edition, but that doesn't make it any more collectible. In this case, for $15 you're getting a tin case (whoopee!), a making of DVD with stuff you could see on the internet, a cloth map that nerds will appreciate but is too cumbersome to actually use, three in game items that improve your stats, an unlockable bonus quest and character and something for Mass Effect 2. That seems like a lot for $15, but keep in mind that you don't need any of it. The game is rich enough in quests and items, but even if you did want them all, this doesn't come with all the bonus quests, just the one, and the other things are standard throw aways for collector's editions. It might seem cool to have a tin case, but that's the trick to these things.
Splinter Cell: Conviction Collector's Edition
MSRP: $79.99
Premium: $20
This is a lot like the Forza 3 collector's edition, including another 2GB thumb drive filled with the making of and behind the scenes stuff that you can throw on the pile, an art book, "first access" to some in game guns and an exclusive multiplayer outfit, a comic book, some sticker decals and, oh boy! a steel case! It's a lot of stuff on paper, but when you take it home and look at it, you're going to wonder where that $20 went. This is clearly a case of quantity over quality, not to mention limiting game items needlessly so that you can sell a premium edition. At least you get that neat steel case though.
God of War III: Ultimate Edition
MSRP: $99.99
Premium: $40
God of War isn't a stranger to collector's editions, but they've really outdone themselves this time. Now you can purchase the threequel with an art book, an in game arena and skin, a making of feature, a soundtrack as well as music inspired by God of War, and finally, the raison d'etre, a sculpted box. Yes, a box. Why is there a box? You see, there is a box in the game, and it's kind of a big deal. Since you like videogames, you must also like live action role playing, and have good use for a model of pandora's box. What's that, you don't? You're not a huge nerd, you just like to play videogames? I guess you get to spend that $40 on something other than a box then.
A good rule of thumb when considering a collector's edition of a game is that you shouldn't buy it. It's not a good value, and in a few months it's going to be marked down to get them off shelves. In a few years, it's going to be worthless, at least, everything but the game disc will be. If you really have your heart set on buying a collector's edition, just know what you're getting into, and if you still want it, so be it.
