PS3 News: Collectors Editions Yield Lots Of Extra Cash For Developers - PS3 News

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Collectors Editions Yield Lots Of Extra Cash For Developers

You may not have noticed, but it seems we're running a lot of Collectors Edition stories for most major game releases. Some may complain that the extra $10 isn't worth the price of admission, while other hardcore fans say they must have it, even if it's more outlandish (like that crazy Resident Evil 5 LE package).

But either way, the reason for these special packages for the fans should be obvious: it makes the developers more money. According to PS3Center, it was revealed at the MI6 Conference that a $69.99 Collectors Edition will yield an extra $700,000 in revenue on average, and believe it or not, CE or LE editions make up about 15% of total software sales for the PS3. ...is that even possible? Well, they do say that three titles this generation have actually sold just as many Collectors Editions as regular editions: Prince of Persia, Perfect Dark Zero and Stranglehold. Not surprisingly, you won't find many fancy editions for Wii games, simply because they don't cater to the hardcore, so a Collectors/Limited edition of something like Rayman Raving Rabbids may appear silly. Worse, it'd probably be a waste of money for the publisher. Even avid gamers aren't always interested in the extra content; the soundtrack, behind-the-scenes videos, figurines, etc. just don't appeal to everyone, but clearly, enough people want the goodies. We wouldn't keep seeing CE/LE editions of games if they didn't, right?

So, do you buy Collectors versions of hot titles? Maybe if it's a game in your favorite franchise or something, right? For my part, I'll buy a Final Fantasy or Gran Turismo CE, but that's about it.

4/9/2009 Ben Dutka

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Comments (29 posts)

yak4life85
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 10:55:27 AM
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I have never bought a collectors edition, just regular game for me. I don't need the extra goodies for an extra $10.

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badradio
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 10:57:10 AM
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Even though I am broke, I am still very happy to see CE or LE versions. Remember back in the day when Japan was the country that got all the good stuff? This is a bright side to video games being this huge. Obviously the downside is more shitty movies and the Wii shovelware.
Let me say that most LE or CE versions are kinda lame. The one that I am proud of is my lunchbox and bobblehead from Fallout 3!
Last edited by badradio on 4/9/2009 10:58:44 AM

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 12:32:29 PM

awesome avatar.

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JofaMang
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 10:57:28 AM
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I bought the CE for FFXII just so i could have the cool metal case.

Otherwise I generally don't give a crap for CE/LE versions.

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Mornelithe
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 11:01:15 AM
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Oh yeah, I have the CE's of GTAIV, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Soul Calibre IV, MGS4, Assassin's Creed, Resistance 2, Street Fighter IV.

There are just some games that I will always pay top dollar for. Regardless of what content is available. Some just deserve the recognition imo. However, that having been said Assassin's Creed was a waste of money. That game blew.

Morne

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crapreviews
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 11:06:49 AM

hehe i still use my GTAIV bag and lock box :)

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crapreviews
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 11:05:35 AM
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the ones i can remember.... GTAIV, SCIV, SFIV.

i will also be getting the Batman CE. in fact gonna pre order it today lol. heck i would have pre ordered the CE of Infamous if they would have had one.

i don't always get the CE or LE of games. i just have to really be into the game and the MOST important thing is that the CE/LE has to have GOOD stuff in it.

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crawdaddy
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 11:07:27 AM
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Games cost too much anyway, and i'm not paying extra bucks for a few toys ect...

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MadKatBebop
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 11:08:54 AM
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Ive never bought CE/LE versions of games, the stuff they normally add with it aren't really anything you'd want to pay an extra $10 or $20 for.

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Ultimadream
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 11:29:41 AM
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i only get them if they have a making of DVD and artbook, i couldnt care less for figues, what do you do with them?!

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PANICinc
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 11:29:57 AM
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I love CE/LE swag! I got Fallout 3, GTAIV, BiA: Hells Highway and R2. I pre-ordered Red Faction a while back, but the CE got canceled!

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BTNwarrior
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 11:59:42 AM
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most of them are worthless but the MGS4 one was worth every penny because of the included soundtrack. Plus have you ever tried to buy MGS3/LE? that thing is $300 now for a copy.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 12:35:16 PM
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Never got one in my life, it's never been worth it to me and 60 bones hurts me enough. I've already got too much stuff anyway:
World=Packrat.

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Highlander
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 12:50:40 PM
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I got the CE versions of Soul Calibur and Madden, I've got a CE of Ar Tonelico somewhere. I like the CE versions, the extras are cool, and rare. So if you're a collector, it appeals to you, even if you don't collect the specific thing, the rarity value piques your interest.

Upcoming games that'll get CE interest from me if they go that way include the new Ratchet and Clank game, Uncharted 2, Gran Turismo 5, Tales of Vesperia, Final Fantasy XIII (if it's *really* good). If ever they did a CE version of Hot Shots Golf with a small resin figure or Obitsu doll I know my wife would be all over it.

My favorite inclusions in CEs though, are art books and or limited edition figures. For some games the soundtrack disc is a nice edition, but that's a pretty cheap extra these days considering how little it costs to print CDs. A snazzy metal box is always good though.

One thing that isn't/shouldn't be part of a collectors edition is a decent game manual. It's awfully nice to do a fleshed out manual for the CE version, but that short changes both regular copy buyers and CE buyers since it's just a game manual. I'd like to see more games come with a decent game manual, and keep the CE stuff in the realm of rare optional extras.

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sunspider13
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 12:57:56 PM
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I have never gotten a CE/LE, that will change depending on what stuff is included with the GoWIII CE. Otherwise unless it's a game/series that I'm really into then I would just keep the extra $10-$20 and put that towards another game that I would want.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 1:15:01 PM

Agreed my man, better that money go toward another game than some action figure or something.

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Highlander
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 1:45:43 PM

OTOH, if sales of the CE/LE versions of a game generate extra revenue, then it's more likely that the publisher/developer will return to the platform and do a sequel or even a new game...

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Nynja
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 1:05:27 PM
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Ben,

Are you saying you opted out of the MGS4 or GeoW2 LE/CE? I went as far as to purchased 2 collector's edition's of MGS4 and the guide to keep one of each unopened.

For myself, when the wallet permits and the option is available I will pick up the collectors. So far for PS3 I have MGS4(2), Resistance 2, Fallout 3, SFIV, Madden09, DMC4, RSV2, Soul Calibur IV, Stranglehold, and SOCOM (if that counts). For the 360 its Fable II and GeoW2.

omg... i have a problem.

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Daedusian
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 2:28:46 PM
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I bought the GTA4 CE, but that was a waste.. I don't even play the game anymore. I also bought the R2 collector's as well, but I'm a big fan of the series so I don't mind.

Would've bought a K2 CE if they had one and I am most likely going to buy the Uncharted 2 CE. So yeah, for my all time favorite games I will go ahead and buy the CE. But if it's $20+ extra, then hell no!

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godsman
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 5:29:23 PM
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First thing is first.... screw you Capcom!! I They make enough money off that Versus mode in RE5. I still can't believe that DLC is 1.8Mb.

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cadpig
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 8:35:02 PM
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I like Collectors Editions. Some of them are a waste of time. I'm glad to have the choice. I guess... i'm one of those guys that love the art books and making of videos

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Sol
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 8:38:07 PM
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You know, if I buy a collector's edition, it is only for something in my top franchise list,like the one for Final Fantasy XII. In Resident Evil's case I probably would've picked it up... if I had a system to play it on. But yeah, only if it's in one of my top frachises.

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Soultaker
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 8:46:41 PM
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If i had the money id spend the extra $10 on a CE :D and get the extra tidbits that go with the game but id rather have a Key chain or a shirt or something.

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Neurotoxiny
Friday, April 10, 2009 @ 12:05:21 AM
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I don't buy special editions...

In fact most of the time I wait until next season to get games used because they cost so much nowadays.

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ZubraZap
Friday, April 10, 2009 @ 12:23:14 AM
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The only reason I have the MGS4 Special Edition is because they ran out of regular versions on launch day at Gamestop. Had to get the SE cuz' I slacked on reserving the damn game.

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N a S a H
Friday, April 10, 2009 @ 5:31:34 AM

Lucky, here they'd have told you it's sold out. They won't sell you any sort of LE here because you have to preorder it before hand. Although, after one week of release they always put them on the shelves for people to buy.

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Ultimadream
Friday, April 10, 2009 @ 5:37:32 AM
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I got the ultra rare UK Special Editon of MGS4 for £80, you got a toy **rols eyes**, the soundtrack (Which was quite weak for MGS4 in comparison to 1-3) and a making of Blu-ray which wasnt as interesting as the one you get with the normal edition of MGS2, which is was very dissapointed with.

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Mista
Friday, April 10, 2009 @ 11:36:52 AM
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The toy sounds like the only addition to the CE I don't have in my NA version. I'll buy collectors Editions of only games I know I will love and not trade later. I have RE4, FFXII, SF4,MGS 3, MGS 4, and FallOut 3. Come on it has a Bobble head and lunch box man! I have Resistance 2 which I only did for the box art, it was probably the worst collectors I ever bought. I'd be interested in a God of War 3, FFX13, FF Versus, BioShock 2, and depending on how cool the Uncharted 2 one is maybe.

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Mista
Friday, April 10, 2009 @ 11:41:02 AM
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Sorry about the double post it wouldn't let me edit for some reason??? But I had a RE5 one on pre-order. I have connections at my old game store still and had mine 2 days early and actually sold it and just rented the game. For some reason RE5 isn't as great as it should be and didn't grab me the same way RE4 did. It did have plenty of good stuff crammed in that collector ED though.

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