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What in the hell is Activision trying to pull?

A

Amused_To_Death

Member
So we got our HALO2 and HL2 collector's editions, some were happy with the extras they got, some thought they're not worth it. Now publishers like Atari and Midway think they can sell games like Mark Ecko and Mortal Kombat for $60 by giving us a "Collector's Edition". The biggest offender though is Activision, they're selling a collector or limited edition of almost every game they're putting out...Take a look:

Ultimate Spiderman Limited Edtion PS2 $59.99
Quake 4 SE PC $59.99
Tony Hawk American Wasteland Collector's Edition PS2 $59.99
Call of Duty 2 Collector's Edition PC $69.99
Call of Duty 2 Big Red One Collector's Edition PS2/Xbox $59.99
The Movies Collector's Edition PC $59.99
True Crime New York Collector's Edition Xbox $59.99

Greed is going to kill this industry if it hasn't already...
 
Amused_To_Death said:
So we got our HALO2 and HL2 collector's editions, some were happy with the extras they got, some thought they're not worth it. Now publishers like Atari and Midway think they can sell games like Mark Ecko and Mortal Kombat for $60 by giving us a "Collector's Edition". The biggest offender though is Activision, they're selling a collector or limited edition of almost every game they're putting out...Take a look:

Ultimate Spiderman Limited Edtion PS2 $59.99
Quake 4 SE PC $59.99
Tony Hawk American Wasteland Collector's Edition PS2 $59.99
Call of Duty 2 Collector's Edition PC $69.99
Call of Duty 2 Big Red One Collector's Edition PS2/Xbox $59.99
The Movies Collector's Edition PC $59.99
True Crime New York Collector's Edition Xbox $59.99

Greed is going to kill this industry if it hasn't already...
Click to expand...

What's the problem? Just don't buy them. I for one welcome this choice. Now the people that are REALLY into Quake (or CoD or Spiderman or WHATEVER) can get some cool extras, and the majority of the public still gets their $50 game.

As long as the premium $60 pack isn't the only option, why the heck do you care?
 
If people don't buy them, they go away.. if people buy them then... well either way you've got your answer on what the majority of consumers think of this new premium SKU.

I for one would like to see some of the extras in Japanese versions start to come over via this more widespread use of the premium SKU.
 
I'm all for Collector Editions. The problem is that 80% of the times, the extras are complete garbage that should've been included with the normal version.
 
I think Activision is going to take a fat one to the face for this merely because their IP's aren't strong enough to support it. At least I hope I'm right.
 
Kotick's made no secret of trying to push MSRPs up to $59, they'll use excuses like increase dev costs but their real reason to increase their margins
 
Musashi Wins! said:
I think Activision is going to take a fat one to the face for this merely because their IP's aren't strong enough to support it.
Click to expand...


Kinda like EA charging 50 for PSP games, I doubt it will hurt them.
 
The only reason I don't like Collector's Editions is because it means the vocal minority wins yet again. The majority of people don't care about Collector's Editions, but publishers see their success as an indicator that we're ALL willing to pay $60 for a game (again).

Rising production costs are one thing, but $10 "just because we can" gets my panties in a twist.
 
I remember when everyone bitched about how Japan got all these cool "collector's edition" games when the US was stuck with just plain ol' regular versions. Now that we have them, we're bitching.

I think some people who complain about extra GAME content in the CEs are right though. If you're going to make a game, put everything into it and charge one price for it. You wanna charge for another 10 bucks of shit? It should be "making of", soundtracks, artwork, etc. Not game content. That shit should come standard. That's like putting a movie on DVD and then releasing a "Limited Edition", only the standard version doesn't have the ending on it.
 
You don't have to buy the collector's editions, and most people won't. There's no harm.

So long as they don't have game content in the 'extras', then they're a great concept. It has always been awesome that big fans of a series could get bonus stuff in Japan, and it's great that the west is beginning to see the same treatment.

As a developer, it's nice to know that at least a proper outlet for bonus content is feasible with these sorts of releases.
 
kenta said:
The only reason I don't like Collector's Editions is because it means the vocal minority wins yet again. The majority of people don't care about Collector's Editions, but publishers see their success as an indicator that we're ALL willing to pay $60 for a game (again).

Rising production costs are one thing, but $10 "just because we can" gets my panties in a twist.
Click to expand...
It's not like you suddently don't have the option of paying $50 for the game.
 
This is all just as sonycowboy foretold. And it's all XBox owners fault!

sonycowboy said:
You're going to single handedly guarantee $60-$70 games

1) Halo 2
2) Mechassault 2
3) Splinter Cell: CT
4) Doom 3
5) Jade Empire

ALL did phenomenally well relative to the regular edition. You could point at PS2 Madden and I'd give you that (although a) It actually had a ton of extra playable content and b) It's sold < 20% of the regular edition.)

Way to show publishers you're only too happy to bend over. :|
Click to expand...
 
Parallax Scroll said:
It's not like you suddently don't have the option of paying $50 for the game.
Click to expand...
I understand that, but the reason I said what I said is because everyone is pointing their fingers at these Collector's Editions as being the cause of the probable $60 MSRP on next-gen games. If indeed I get forced to pay $60 for a game, like your post suggests, I don't think it would be terribly inaccurate to say Collector's Editions were a major player in that.

EDIT: Yep, sonycowboy called it.
 
kenta said:
I understand that, but the reason I said what I said is because everyone is pointing their fingers at these Collector's Editions as being the cause of the probable $60 MSRP on next-gen games. If indeed I get forced to pay $60 for a game, like your post suggests, I don't think it would be terribly inaccurate to say Collector's Editions were a major player in that.
Click to expand...

I think they are a transition SKU to get us used to the idea of more expensive games.
 
GhaleonEB said:
I think they are a transition SKU to get us used to the idea of more expensive games.
Click to expand...
And $60 will serve as a transition into what price bracket?

EDIT: Oh, you're talking about Collector's Editions. Well if that's the case then should we start expecting Collector's Edition-type bonuses in every $60 game release?
 
MoxManiac said:
If Jade Empire did so well, why did the price BOMBA so fast?
Click to expand...

Too many copies printed?

As for this collectors editions, I think sonycowboy really nailed, this is just the transition phase, it's just lubing us up and slowly bending us over for the ass reaming coming next generation.
 
Maybe I would accept the price if they included a superplay dvd, artbook, OST etc ... but mostly this sort of pack-in shit is worthless.
 
It has already begun. Quake 4 360 and Tony Hawk 360 are all $59.99. Single sku only.
Activision will really bend us over next gen.
I am fighting the urge to not buy Quake4 on principle, though it will surely OWN.

Tony Hawk is a polished turd on 360, surely a Retard pack buyer will be all over this one.
 
GhaleonEB said:
$60, silly.

Stage 1: Introduce $60 games
Stage 2: Make that price permanent
Click to expand...

Thank you, finally someone who got the point. This is not about a publisher putting out a single CE SKU of its crown jewel franchise; this is an attempt by a major publisher to effect the movement to $60 under the guise of a LE or CE.

Even the big bad evil EA, with its exclusive NFL license, isn't bold enough to pull such a stunt...
 
I bought Mech Assault 2: Lone Wolf Limited Edition.

What a piece of shit that was...

As for bonus content? LOL they released it after one week on LIVE!

(Also guilty of DOOM III and Halo 2 Limited Edition purchases...but those were WORTH IT)
 
Look at the bright side.

With an overabundance of one version versus the other (regular vs special edition), one is bound to go down in price pretty quick. :)

At least Activision is adding extra things to the game for the extra money. I don't see the big deal.
 
Oh god, Activision is offering additional content available at a premium price while my regular priced game is perfectly operable.

What will I do, GAF? I'm scared. :|
 
Uno Ill Nino said:
I remember when everyone bitched about how Japan got all these cool "collector's edition" games when the US was stuck with just plain ol' regular versions. Now that we have them, we're bitching.

I think some people who complain about extra GAME content in the CEs are right though. If you're going to make a game, put everything into it and charge one price for it. You wanna charge for another 10 bucks of shit? It should be "making of", soundtracks, artwork, etc. Not game content. That shit should come standard. That's like putting a movie on DVD and then releasing a "Limited Edition", only the standard version doesn't have the ending on it.
Click to expand...


this is exactly what I thought and feel.

The bullshit like they pulled with Jade Empire is unacceptable.
 
OH BOO FUCKING HOO

WAH WAH WAH

Live in a country where games start at $75US and have been that price for at least 15 years.

You spoiled, rich fucks.
 
Gazunta said:
Live in a country where games start at $75US and have been that price for at least 15 years.
Click to expand...

Rebel. Send your tigers and wombats off to battle the companies.

Side note: How much is Ty down there in Tasmania? I'm curious how much more expensive he is at home...
 
As long as the standard game is also in ample supply, collector's editions are a win-win.

Consumers win because they get more choice, and if they're a big fan of a franchise they can get some worthless trinkets to commemorate the occassion and feel good about it for a little extra dough.

Software publishers win because they can actually start to see some REAL margins that they're in control of. That last $5 or $10 would be almost pure profit and go straight into the publisher's pocket. Great, great news for third parties like Activision, who managed to thrive this generation on a thread, but are poised with make or break development costs in the coming generation.
 
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