The Digital Pulse 05.18.07: The Limited Edition
Posted by Joshua Richey on 05.18.2007
Are "limited edition"'s really worth that extra $10?
More and more here lately I've been going to places like GameStop and EB and I'll see two different versions of any given gaming title. You'll have the standard edition and then you'll have a "limited edition". For humor sakes, it'll help me out if you do quotations with your fingers every time that I say "limited edition" from this point forward. Got that? Good.
What is the point of these "limited editions"? Why do we [gamers] want them? Should we care? That's the issue that I'm going to tackle in this week's edition of "The Digital Pulse".
According to Wikipedia, the term "limited edition" implies a kind of an extraordinary, rare quality. Generally used as a marketing phrase, it is intended to give a product a feel of containing something new and previously unseen; that it is somehow better, unique or more desirable than a "regular" edition.
Honestly, who needs a "limited edition" version of a game? They're just like DVD's in the sense that all of those "special qualities" are nothing but filler. Two Christmas's ago, I received Sin City on DVD from my mother. This wasn't the $20 version that most people own; no, this was a $60 version that had two discs and the book, ‘The Hard Kill'. Sure, I've watched Sin City plenty. It's one of my favorite movies. But I've not even checked out any of the so called "special features"… I've not even opened the book. Do you see where I'm going with this?
I walked up to a GameStop checkout counter a few years ago to complete the purchase of some game. As usual, the cashier tried to throw a pre-order my way. He asked if I had pre-ordered Halo 2 yet, and if I hadn't, he asked if I would like to. I expressed interest in pre-ordering Halo 2 – but then I was hit with this: ‘well for $10 more you can get the "limited edition"'. I hate when shit like that is thrown my way at the last second. I kind of just nodded and that was that.
When I finally picked up my copy of Halo 2, I got to see what was so "special" about the "limited edition". Instead of the standard case that featured the cool art work of Master Chief doing battle… I got a shiny tin container. I still don't see how having a game case that weighs 2 lbs more than everyone else's is a good thing. Also included in the "limited edition" was a "special" making-of-the-game DVD; which I've still not watched.
These "limited editions" are getting straight up ridiculous. I didn't get the "limited edition" version of Lost Planet… and what did I miss out on… a 3 inch plastic action figure? You know what, I'm okay with that. I don't think that my opinion of Lost Planet was worsened any by not having that figurine.
Bungie announced this week the special "limited editions" that they're going to release with Halo 3. I find it pretty outrageous, but all I see on gaming message boards is people clamoring up for the most expensive set.
(courtesy of TheLastBoss.com) Legendary Edition ($129.99):
Individually numbered and available while supplies last, the Legendary Edition includes a copy of "Halo 3" in a collectible Spartan helmet case. In addition to the game, the exclusive set includes the following content:
* Remastered cinematic material from "Halo: Combat Evolved" and "Halo 2" with developer commentary
* "A day in the life at Bungie" featurette
* High definition "Making of ‘Halo 3'" documentary
* Featurettes on game design, development, and more
* Early game concepts and their evolution over the course of "Halo 3's" development
* Audio-video calibration tool custom designed by the "Halo 3" graphics and audio team
* Exclusive content from the creative minds of Machinima artists Red vs. Blue and This Spartan Life
* Illuminating "Halo 3" storyboard art book from artist Lee Wilson
* The Legendary Edition will be available in limited quantities for a limited time at select retailers.
Limited Edition ($69.99):
Available while supplies last, the Limited Edition includes a copy of "Halo 3" in a sleek metal collector's case. In addition to the game, the exclusive set includes the following content:
* High definition "Making of ‘Halo 3'" documentary
* Featurettes on game design, development, and more
* Early game concepts and their evolution over the course of "Halo 3's" development
* Audio-video calibration tool custom designed by the "Halo 3" graphics and audio team
* Elaborate and compelling "Halo" fiction and art book
* The Limited Edition will be available for a limited time at select retailers.
Who in their right mind would actually pay $130 for a game? Of all that stuff that comes with the game, how much of it are you actually going to watch. And of the stuff that you do actually watch, how much are you going to watch more than once? Yeah, it's pretty neat that it comes in a Spartan Helmet; but it's not life-size! What the hell are you going to do with the mini helmet? You going to put it on your Build-A-Bear? You going to put it on you cat? Not that I'm trying to give you any ideas.
THE QUICKIE: It's not been a very good month for Spidey. First - despite making a ton of money at the box office – his latest movie left a lot to be desired; and that's being generous. Die-hard fans of the comic book were underwhelmed, and people that weren't into the comics were bored rigid. Now, after all of that, Spiderman 3 hits the consoles and it's just as ‘ehhh' as the movie was.
Spiderman 3 plays a lot like the previous versions did; and maybe in that is this games ultimate downfall. The game's gameplay is really beginning to show its age. Slinging through New York City just isn't as enjoyable as it once was. The city itself is pretty incredible to look at, but the gameplay is nothing but constant button mashing… and that gets old real fast.
Final Score: D
EYE CANDY: The big news this week was the release of the Halo 3 Beta. I've taken a wait-and-see approach with Halo 3 up to this point because of how disappointed I was with the 2nd one. But after playing the Beta myself, I'm signing off on Halo 3. Get ready… Halo 3 is coming out September 23rd… prepare to sacrifice a lot of sleepless nights come then.
For those who don't have the luxury of playing the Halo 3 beta, here's a sample of what it's like.
PIMPIN: Usually I just plug a movie in this spot, but I've not seen anything decent since Hot Fuzz. Spiderman 3 was a huge letdown for me, as was 28 Weeks Later. So I won't be recommending any movie this week. I listened to the new Linkin Park album this week, but it too was pretty horrible… so I won't be pimping that either.
This week – instead of pimping movies down your throats – I'm going to gloat about a few of the things that I've been working on recently. Essentially I'm going to pimp myself.
Big things are in the works for this guy…
First, my buddies and I are starting a bi-weekly podcast. Now this isn't just one of those ‘lol, you know what would be cool to do' things that you conjure up while drinking with your buddies on a Friday night. No, this is for real. We're going all out for this. After listening to a lot of podcasts in recent weeks, I think that I've got a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn't. A lot of planning, money, and effort is going into making this something that's epic, and thanks to Sound Forge and a number of other programs, it's going to be that and be top notch as far as quality goes.
Secondly… I'm blogging once again. If you're feeling a little lonely or bored and need a dose of Joshua Richey to cheer you up… than you need to check out OMGodzilla. OMGodzilla is a blog that will be working in unison with this article and my above mentioned podcast. Not everything on there will be gaming related. Actually, a lot of it won't be gaming related. Instead, it'll be more about my thoughts on a variety of other things: movies, sports, beautiful women… you know, those sorts of things. Heck, I even created this badass little logo for it.
Click to goto blog
Send me any thoughts and opinions that you have on this article. Summer is here, and as you could probably tell by my lack of article last week… I'm already having a blast. I've been intoxicated more in the last two weeks than I have in the last 4 months combined.
Also, Monday, May 21st marks my 23rd birthday… and my one year anniversary of being a contributor to this fine website. Thanks to everyone that's sent feedback or read my work…. Yes, even you Jack Thompson.
