• 15Feb 10

  Pre-Order Exclusives and Collector's Editions - A Downfall of Gaming?

  Lately it seems as if every single game that comes out has some sort of exclusive, whether it be a collector's edition or a pre-order bonus from different retailers. It has gotten to the point to where it's just annoying. The main argument - one that I stand behind - is that it leaves a lot of gamers to feel like their experience is lacking. If I'm looking forward to a game and I find out that there is a collector's edition it makes me quite happy, for a moment. Usually these editions are around $100. That's a lot of dough to shovel out, especially in a recession. (I'm actually tired about hearing about the recession, but hey it helps back up my point.) I don't really blame the company for pricing it so high, if I'm able to get a collector's edition then I always feel like I got my money's worth. However, so many games nowadays have these limited editions that I can't possible get all the things I want. Maybe that seems selfish, but games are the only real medium that I spend money on for myself, but that's neither here nor there.

  On top of that, different retailers have different bonuses if you pre-order with them. That's what REALLY irritates me. No matter what I do I can't get all the content unless I'm very well connected or very wealthy. Even worse is when I wont be able to get enough cash by then to pay when it comes out, so I don't bother pre-ordering because I'd lose said pre-order anyways.

  It wouldn't be as irritating if EVERY game didn't have something like this (I'm looking at you Saint's Row 2 Collector's Edition...)

  

  I mean, I didn't even want that game, but dammit if that bullet shaped USB wasn't so cool...

  Anyways, you get my point. I'm just thankful I have the self control to not impulsively buy all these special editions that I see.

  Those first two arguments aside, what irritates me further is...multiple special editions. Halo 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are the first two that pop into mind. That would be at least $200 for one of those titles to get all the content without considering the pre-order bonuses (if there were any, I can't recall.)

  I'm just tired of companies spending more time on tangible goodies or in-game exclusives to try to reel in potential customers. While I can't really blame then (it is their job, after all) I'd prefer such items remained, for the beauty that is irony, exclusive to big-name, ridiculously anticipated titles. How one is able to differentiate those titles may be difficult, but that's not the subject of this topic

  And finally, my least favorite of all the exclusives: console exclu...you know what, never mind.

  • Posted Feb 15, 2010 12:58 am GMT
  • Category: Games
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