Starting with Halo: Reach, Q4 is going to get pretty busy with all the high profile releases coming out. So which Collector’s editions are going to be worth your hard earned money?
Please note, all prices listed are in AUD (Australian Dollars).
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
EBGames – $108, Exclusive to EBGames
Collector’s Edition includes:
- Premium Collectible Steelbook
- Exclusive In-Game Content
- Three exclusive challenge mode levels
- Exclusive Ralph McQuarrie concept “Deak Starkiller” skin
- Exclusive Lightsaber crystal
- Exclusive Mimobot USB Designer Drive Preloaded with Bonus Content
- Starkiller 2GB Flash Drive designed by Mimobot
- Digital art book, featuring insights into the art of The Force Unleashed
Verdict: Assuming the game is $89 when it comes out, you’re paying $20 for a sexy steelbook a USB key, and some extra in game content. I’d say worth it – but barely. Just pray the game doesn’t suck like the first one did!
Halo: Reach
Limited Edition
JB Hifi – $129
Limited Edition includes:
- Game disc housed in recovered ONI ”black box”
- An exclusive Elite armor set for use in multiplayer modes
- Artifact bag containing Dr. Halsey’s personal journal and other classified documents and effects that unravel long held secrets from the “Halo” universe
Verdict: If the standard edition remains at the $119 pricetag (it most likely won’t), then hell yeah this is worth it for an extra $10. Going by Halo 3 and Halo Wars, don’t expect this to be that ‘limited’ either. A minus mark for no Making Of DVD though!
Legendary Edition
JB Hifi – $229
Legendary Edition includes:
- Everything from the limited Edition
- Noble Team statue expertly crafted by the artisans at McFarlane Toys. Individually molded, hand-painted and individually numbered.
- UNSC-themed custom packaging
- An exclusive multiplayer Spartan armor effect
Verdict: You’re paying an extra $100 over the Limited Edition for the statue, a fancy box and some exclusive DLC. Avoid unless you are a die hard Halo fan. And again, like Halo 3 Legendary Edition, you may see some of these pop up at bargain sales a year down the track.
Fable III
Limited Edition
EBGames – $128
JB Hifi – $124
Limited Edition includes:
- Unique packaging: Distinctive box created in the likeness of a book from “Fable III”
- A new quest: Uncover the mystery of the haunted forests of Silverpines and earn the legendary sword, Wolfsbane, deadly against wolves and balverines.
- Exclusive location: Unlock a new region, ideal for settling down with a family and discovering new treasures.
- “Fable III” playing cards: Created by Lionhead, these cards depict every type of character in “Fable III,” including Heroes, royals, rebels and villains from across Albion and beyond.
- Guild Seal Coin: The coin features a Good side (blue) and Evil side (red) to assist players in making critical decisions that will impact the fate of the world forever.
- A new dog breed: Renowned for its loyalty, the Boxer is a brave canine companion worthy of greatest Queens and Kings.
- One unique outfit: Unearth one male and female outfit from the mysterious, faraway land of Aurora, a new destination in your “Fable III” adventures.
Verdict: Physical inclusions are the box, coin and a pack of playing cards…are they worth the extra $30 or so? I’m leaning towards no, unless that box is super awesome.
Assassin’s Creed II
Codex Edition
EBGames – $148, exclusive to EBGames
Codex Edition includes:
- Assassins Creed: Brotherhood game
- Renaissance Collector Chest (L 22.5 x D 16.5 x H 2 cm)
- Map of Rome
- Exclusive Codex
- Bonus DVD and game soundtrack
- Multiplayer character cards
- Exclusive in-game content:
- Explore 2 Exclusive single-player levels
- Unlock 2 multiplayer characters
- Additional bonus to be discovered
Verdict: I’d say yes on this but, but on a bit of a gamble. The Collectors Chest is a massive bullseye for a cheaply made dissapointment (ala God of War 3 Pandora’s Box), but you do get a decent amount of physical inclusions, AND that codex could be interesting.
Auditore Edition
JBHifi – $115, exclusive to JBHifi
Auditore Edition includes:
- Transparency box with 3D Thermoformed portrait of Ezio Auditore and “Animus” effect
- Multiplayer character cards
- Assassins Creed Lineage DVD
- Aqua Gear in game DLC
Verdict: Yes but barely, the cards may be crap, but the Lineage DVD saves the day!
Fallout: New Vegas
Collector’s Edition
EBGames – $148
JB Hifi – $149
Collector’s Edition includes:
- Let it Ride! In a huge, open world with unlimited options you can see the sights, choose sides, or go it alone. Peacemaker or Hard Case, House Rules, or the Wild Card – it’s all in how you play the game
- “Lucky 7” poker chips. Each of the seven poker chips was designed to represent chips from the major casinos found on the New Vegas strip and throughout the Mojave Wasteland.
- A fully customised Fallout: New Vegas deck of cards. Each card in the pack has been uniquely illustrated to depict characters and factions found within the game. Use the cards to play poker, blackjack or Caravan, an original card game that was created by Obsidian especially for New Vegas!
- A recreation of the game’s highly coveted “Lucky 38” platinum chip.
- A hard cover graphic novel “All Roads”, that tells the story of some of the characters and events that lead up to Fallout: New Vegas. “All Roads” was written by Chris Avellone, the game’s creative director, and created in conjunction with Dark Horse Comics.
- ‘The Making of Fallout: New Vegas’ DVD. This documentary DVD will contain exclusive video content, including interviews with the developers in which they take you from concept to creation and discuss topics such as story, setting, legacy of the Fallout franchise and more.
Verdict: Yes for me.
Gran Turismo 5
Collector’s Edition
RRP $120, Available at EBGames, JBHifi, GAME, online stores like Fishpond.
Collectors Edition includes:
- Exclusive Special Edition inlay sleeve art
- 200+ page ‘Apex’ driver’s magazine with hints on driving technique, car tuning, future technologies and more
- Five Collector’s Edition art cards featuring exclusive artwork
- In-game ‘Chrome Line’ vehicle pack: five performance-enhanced cars ready to race includes:
Chrome Line Pack:
- Shelby Cobra 427
- Lamborghini Murci lago LP 640
- Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro
- Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe
- BMW M3 Coupe
- Exclusive dynamic theme to customise your PS3 XMB
Signature Edition
RRP $299, Available at EBGames, JBHifi, GAME, online stores like Fishpond.
Signature Edition includes:
As well as the game, the ‘Apex’ driver’s magazine and the ChromeLine car pack, you’ll get:
- An exclusive, branded Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG 1:43 scale model car
- A Gran Turismo leather wallet and metal Gran Turismo key fob
- A Signature Edition coffee table book featuring the beautiful cars and locations of Gran Turismo
- A bespoke Gran Turismo 5 USB key with a trailer showing the collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Polyphony that brought the SLS AMG to screen
- Six additional in-game ‘Stealth’ cars including:
Stealth Vehicle Pack:
- Audi R10 TDI Stealth Model
- Honda NSX GT500 Stealth Model
- Mazda 787B Stealth Model
- McLaren F1 Stealth Model
- Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Stealth Model
- Nissan GT-R GT500 Stealth Model
Also a blurb on the EBGames website states:
For those 18 or over and resident in a participating country, the chance to win a real-life Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – your very own gull-winged, 6.3-litre-engined supercar – in a competition like no other! Full terms and conditions will be made available shortly here on eu.gran-turismo.com
Verdict: You’d have to be a real GT Nut to buy this. Or have too much spare money. Or both. Can you justify paying $170 extra for a wallet, model car, coffee table book and USB key? It would be earth shattering if you opened up the box only to find the car is made out of cheap plastic and not die cast etc.
This one is indeed a tough one. The exorbitant price tag will deter a lot of people, but there’s also the “GT factor” wherein people will try to justify this price by claiming that the game has been in development for 6(?) years. For me…it’s a yes.
Dead Rising 2
Zombrex Edition
JB Hifi – $115
EBGames – $120
Zombrex Edition includes:
- Zombrex Steelbook
- Dead Rising 2 game
- Making of DVD
- Zombrex syringe pen
Verdict: No for me on this one. $120 could get you the fantastic Alan Wake Limited Edition with tonnes of extras.
Outbreak Edition
EBGames – $169
JBHifi – $169
Outbreak Edition includes:
- Dead Rising 2 Game
- 12” Fully Articulated Zombie Figurine – complete with servbot, traffic cone and clothes
- Sports Fan Theme Pack – exclusive costume pack that gives Chuck new skills and attributes
- Tape It Or Die Catalogue – your very own guide to making household objects into zombie killing combo weapons
- Dead Rising Sun – full length Zombie movie, set in the world of Dead Rising. Includes the exclusive extended edition with unseen ending
- The Making of Dead Rising 2
Verdict: Avoid. It’s Resident Evil 5 Collector’s edition ALL OVER AGAIN, especially for that kind of price.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Hardened Edition
EBGames – $118
JBHifi – $119
Hardened Edition includes:
- Limited edition Black Ops Collector’s Medal w/display case
- 4 extra playable co-op maps not in the standard edition
- Exclusive Black Ops Xbox Live avatar outfit
- Premium, special-edition SteelBook™ case
- Call of Duty: Black Ops full game
Verdict: After being dissapointed with the Modern Warfare 2 Hardened Edition last year, I’m going to steer clear of this one.
Prestige Edition
EBGames – $228
JB Hifi – $229
Prestige Edition includes:
- RC-XD Video Surveillance Vehicle
- Fully custom RC vehicle modeled after in-game RC-XD Killstreak Reward
- Video camera to send wireless video to Transmitter
- Microphone to send wireless audio to Transmitter
- Digital proportional steering and throttle
- Independent suspension
- Display stand
- RC-XD Transmitter
- 2” backlit TFT 220 x176 color screen to receive video from car
- Integrated speaker to receive audio from car
- Custom pistol grip style RC controller
- High and low speed settings
- Up to 200ft control range
- Includes the full Call of Duty: Black Ops Hardened Edition
- Limited edition Black Ops Collector’s Medal w/display case
- 4 extra playable co-op maps not in the standard edition
- Black Ops PS Home avatar outfit
- Premium, special-edition SteelBook™ case
- Call of Duty: Black Ops full game
Verdict: Not worth it in my opinion. For this kind of price you don’t even get any bonus materials like a sountrack or making of DVD. This has good potential for Ebaying though.