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Now that Nintendo has announced a premium edition Zelda, I think that means every major publisher in the industry is in on this trend.

So then, who started it? And by "it", I mean the first game to launch with two different SKUs for a regular and a premium version? This does not count stuff like lightgun games that had two versions with and without the gun.

What was the first console premium edition? The first PC premium edition? (USA only, if Japan were included we'd probably never figure it out). It seems like a recent development, but I can't help but think there must have been at least one or two premium editions back in the PSX or SNES days.

 

[BuddyC]

Could Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete on PS1 count? There was that extra-laden edition, and then a few years later, the game-only reprint.

Argh, I guess I should learn to read. "..launch with..."

Right now, I want to say Growlanser Generations, as that was announced prior to Halo 2's CE.

 

[Amir0x]

Would you count Earthbound? That shit came with a fucking strategy guide in the box. And there was also two prints of the game (one came without it), although the one that came without the strat guide was rare I believe.

 

[BuddyC]

Would you count Earthbound? That shit came with a fucking strategy guide in the box. And there was also two prints of the game (one came without it), although the one that came without the strat guide was rare I believe.

I was debating this myself, but I wasn't sure if there was a non-strategy guide edition.

Hmm, what about Zelda: OoT and the gold cartridge?

 

[Amir0x]

I was debating this myself, but I wasn't sure if there was a non-strategy guide edition.

Hmm, what about Zelda: OoT and the gold cartridge?

The old NES editions had gold cartridge too. But I don't think they'd classify for "premium", since there isn't really anything premium about them besides the color. Otherwise we should consider the copies of Zelda:OoT that contained blood to be "premium", imho.

But yeah, there was a non-strategy guide edition of Earthbound. You can find them occasionally on eBAY.

 

[Kobun Heat]

Except we're trying to come up with the game that launched with two different SKUs. If that Earthbound was a later release, then...

 

[BuddyC]

The old NES editions had gold cartridge too. But I don't think they'd classify for "premium", since there isn't really anything premium about them besides the color. Otherwise we should consider the copies of Zelda:OoT that contained blood to be "premium", imho.

But yeah, there was a non-strategy guide edition of Earthbound. You can find them occasionally on eBAY.

If I remember right, the gold NES cartridges were standard until they lowered the price, at which point they were all grey. Both gold and grey shipped for Zelda OoT at launch.

Also, remember a lot of the items that would constitute a premium edition, such as t-shirts or maps, used to be pre-order bonuses.

 

[Ironclad]

IIRC, the gold NES Zelda cartridges were standard until Nintendo decided to make the game one of their "Best Seller" titles. Then they just released it as a normal colored cartridge.

Edit: Damnit, beaten by Buddy.

 

[sc0la]

had to be a japanese PS1 game. (though could be a SNES game)

 

[StarscreamLSU]

What about the special Red cartriages for Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage? I remember seeing advertisements advertising the "limited edition" red carts.

 

[Amir0x]

Except we're trying to come up with the game that launched with two different SKUs. If that Earthbound was a later release, then...

I believe they were both at the same time, only one was much rarer.

 

[BuddyC]

Were there two different SKUS for Phantom Brave and the version that came with the soundtrack? If we're going by release, and color doesn't count, that's the earliest I can reliably nail down, somewhere around late August of 2004. But if we're going by announcement, then it's Growlanser, I think.

If Phantom Brave didn't have a different SKU, and I don't think Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne did, then it may very well be Mortal Kombat Deception. But that just doesn't seem right.

What about the special Red cartriages for Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage? I remember seeing advertisements advertising the "limited edition" red carts.

Another one I've been toying with. Comes down to a) if color constitues a premium and b) if they shipped both red and grey cartridges at launch.

 

[sc0la]

Another one I've been toying with. Comes down to a) if color constitues a premium and b) if they shipped both red and grey cartridges at launch.

No the real question would be as to if it had seperate skus. which it likely did not

 

[Community Forum]

Here's one... Nascar 98 for PlayStation...

 

[BuddyC]

Here's one... Nascar 98 for PlayStation...

Those didn't ship at the same time though. The difference in ratings (K-A was replaced by E on January 1, 1998) is enough to prove that.

 

[Community Forum]

Those didn't ship at the same time though. K-A vs. E.

So right you are!

 

[border]

Yeah, I do not count games that had their content / extras removed in later-on reprints as having being "Premium editions".

Earthbound crossed my mind, but I really can't be sure if it launched with 2 versions, or whether the strategy guide was removed in reprints.

Zelda: OOT, Maximum Carnage, Killer Instinct, etc are all Limited Editions -- not Premium Editions. Though amusingly enough none of them were really that limited. I doubt that they even made any copies of Maximum Carnage that weren't red. Were there ever actually versions of KI that didn't come with Killer Kuts and a black cart?

If Phantom Brave didn't have a different SKU, and I don't think Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne did, then it may very well be Mortal Kombat Deception. But that just doesn't seem right.

Madden 2005 has all of those beaten anyway, I think. Don't bust your brain too much.

 

[drohne]

there was a premium edition of that crap robotech game, which at least predates growlanser and phantom brave. but it seems like there should be something considerably older.

 

[Prince of Space]

I'm pretty sure OoT shipped with both gold and grey carts at launch, so it might be that.

 

[BuddyC]

Madden 2005 has all of those beaten anyway, I think. Don't bust your brain too much.

You're right.

Phantom Brave Nippon Ichi Software 08/31/04 NA
Phantom Brave Special Edition Nippon Ichi Software 08/31/04 NA

Madden NFL 2005 EA Sports 08/09/04 NA
Madden NFL 2005 Collector's Edition EA Sports 08/09/04 NA

Hey, GameFAQs makes comfirming the SKU thing way easier.

 

[border]

I don't really want to get caught up in the "separate SKU" thing too much, I just did it so that we can exclude games with special prizes ("1 in 1000 comes with an autographed postcard") and games that might have had the first million copies with some special feature (the Zelda OOT cartridge thing).

So far I think that Robotech game is the earliest one that fits the bill.

Can any of the forum PC fanatics comment on PC premium editions? Didn't Diablo 2 ship with two versions?

 

[BuddyC]

I can confirm Diablo 2 had a special edition, but I think it goes even earlier than that. I want to say Baldur's Gate 2 or Icewind Dale 2, but those actually shipped after Diablo 2. Hrm.

 

[Gazunta]

Didn't Last Ninja 2 (C64) ship in two editions - one witha bandana and one without (would have been 1988)

 

[StarscreamLSU]

Zelda: OOT, Maximum Carnage, Killer Instinct, etc are all Limited Editions -- not Premium Editions. Though amusingly enough none of them were really that limited. I doubt that they even made any copies of Maximum Carnage that weren't red.

I must have been the only one. I remember being so upset on my birthday that I didn't have a red cart like in the ads. :lol

 

[thorns]

Warcraft III had a Collector's Edition when it shipped.
I'm not sure if Diablo 2 had one that was simultaneous release or if it was just something that came out later.. but for sure it also had a collector's edition.

 

[SiegfriedFM]

Super Metroid was released in Europe with a big box that included a strategy guide. I'm not sure if there ever was a regular box though.

 

[Alex]

Earthbound only shipped with the strategy guide bundle.

 

[Hooker]

Didn't you have a couple of N64 games that launched with a special edition joypad. Like Mario Kart with the black and gray pad, Donkey Kong with the yellow banana print etc.

 

[Agent X]

Now that Nintendo has announced a premium edition Zelda, I think that means every major publisher in the industry is in on this trend.

Sony sure as heck isn't. I thought they would've at least done something for Gran Turismo 4, but they didn't (at least not in the US). We didn't even get a preorder bonus.

I think Shenmue on the Dreamcast might've had the first "special edition" for the current generation of video game systems.

 

[Amir0x]

Earthbound only shipped with the strategy guide bundle.

No, there was DEFINITELY a version of Earthbound that came without the strategy guide. I know it was super rare, and I can't quite put my finger on if it shipped at launch with the SG version. I think I recently saw an auction for it on eBay...

 

[Rlan]

I Australia there was a Special Edition of Batman Forever on the Megadrive you could buy. It came with the game, a big poster of BF, and 4 postcards, all in a cardboard box which was about twice the size [in width and length] of a Megadrive game cover.

 

[koam]

Unless someone can find something before this, the first special edition was the original Legend of Zelda.

The game was produced in "limited" gold cartridges, the rest were grey. Nintendo however, made more gold carts than they did gray so in the end, the gray ones were the rare ones.

 

[The Faceless Master]

what about the limited edition black Turok 2 and Turok Rage Wars!?

 

[BuddyC]

You guys aren't really grasping the concept here. Two different SKUS, launching at the same time, something beyond a simple color swap.

So far, that Robotech: Battlecry game is the earliest console example anyone can think of. Rlan brings up an interesting bit of trivia, but that doesn't answer the question about US premiums.

 

[DDayton]

I think the easier way to explain this is:

What was the first game to be released in two versions at the same time, with one version having a higher price?

That's what you're looking for.

 

[Ferrarisimo]

So this might not really qualify, but I remember several different SKUs of popular PC games releasing simultaneously in the late 80's and early 90's. Specifically, Microsoft released a 5.25" (asston of discs) and 3.5" (not quite as asstonny) version of Flight Simulator 4.0 in 1989. In 1990, Origin released a regular version of Wing Commander as well as a Speech Pack version, which gave PCs with Ad Lib and other sound cards the ability to run the game with actual dialogue.

Oh, and I'm old!

 

[aphasias]

i remembered seeing a thread on dp about a limited editon maximum carnage set for genesis.
i found this (click on 'Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage' on the right menu):
http://www.mothcomix.com/html/ResearchNews/MarvelLimited.asp

and the thread from dp (with link to an old auction with pictures):
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47579

apparently it was made for both systems (snes & genesis). the game, a few die cast buttons and a hardcover book in a box. 5,000 copies.. dont know if thats per system, or between the two.

for the record, i also had one of the black carts for this game.

 

[border]

Games released on different media (3.5 floppies vs CDs vs 5.5 floppies) I wouldn't necessarily count as premium editions, but within the construct of the question I suppose it would have to count (particularly since CD editions would have extra media features). You might win on a technicality, gramps

I could swear that I remember Wing Commander Speech Packs were separate add-ons though. They might have released a later "Complete" version that encompassed the Speech Packs and Secret Missions discs, but I dunno if they were launched simultaneously with a regular and deluxe edition.

 

[Rhindle]

There was a limited edition of Shenmue signed by Suzuki with a bonus music disk, and it WAS released at the launch of the game in the US. That's a earliest one I remember.

 

[DCharlie]

There was a 'special' version of World Cup Carnival released just before the World Cup in Mexico 86.

It came in a hard case, with a sew on Mexico 86 badge, a chart to help you map out the action and ... something else. Can't quite remember.

Oh, actually, there was a premium edition of a racing game on the Spectrum when i was a kid (well, pehaps not a premium edition, but a controller set....)

it was a race game , the premier edition of which was supposed to come with a steering wheel!!! The adverts clearly showed someone playing the game on a steering wheel. My friend ordered this , paying for the extra 10 quid set to get the wheel (10 quid then was a lot of money). He spent a good few weeks gloating about getting the premium pack.

However, the "premium" edition showed up ... and the 10 quid wheel turned out to be the lid off a jar of Nescafe coffee, painted yellow, and labelled "Steering wheel"... the idea was that you simply placed this wheel onto the top of your Speccy, and pushed the wheel left and right (thus depressing the keys beneath).

 

[DDayton]

There was a limited edition of Shenmue signed by Suzuki with a bonus music disk, and it WAS released at the launch of the game in the US. That's a earliest one I remember.

The trick is whether or not it was sold as a higher priced item than the standard Shenmue game. I mean, the first batch of MKDD games were split between standard games and those with bonus discs, but they were -all- the same price... hence they weren't "premium editions".

For the sake of this thread...

Premium Edition = special edition of a game, released at the same time as the standard version. Contains some sort of "premium" and sold at a higher price than the standard version.

Limited Edition = game sold in limited quantities, OR a version of the game only sold to the first X number of buyers. Generally sold at the same price as a standard game.

Alternate Version = game sold as a "different version" of the standard game. The change could be in the game or just in the packaging. Reissues are often alternate versions, as are greatest hits/player's choice titles.

Premium Editions: Halo 2 special ed., RE4 special ed. (with metal case)

Limited Editions: Ocarina of Time gold cart, Mario Kario DD w/ bonus disc

Alternate Versions: Star Wars Bounty Hunter (multiple covers), Pokemon Red/Blue (the same game sold as two different versions, essentially), Legend of Zelda (original gold cart, rerelease grey cart)

 

[einhard]

Ultima Online had a premium Charter Edition at launch