Anyone here collect or more often than not purchase limited/collector's editions? If so, what's the appeal? I rarely purchase limited editions, but on occasion I will if it has a nice art book and soundtrack. They do seem to be coming more popular. I'm guessing it's because people can't stomach $60 for a game which is often just a beta release (hello EA, Ubisoft), but on the other hand you can charge a lot of money for that upcoming Batman game with some cheap figure. Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh, since some people do collect these cheap figures. By the way, it seems like this limited edition model has also become popular with Blu-ray releases. For example:

http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Dead-Seas … 00JKQSIG8/

But what are you getting with such limited editions? And how limited are they? If the limitation number is not spelled out, I think it's a bit of a gyp.

When I was younger, I'd be attracted to collector's editions, since they weren't as common as they are now and were sometimes of exceptional quality (hello Lunar PS1 releases).  I can't remember the last time I got one, though, even for games/franchises I'm wild about. I have enough pop culture detritus. If anything, I'll hold out for the Greatest Hits re-release with all the patches and DLC included at a lower price.

However, if a limited edition/first run bonus/preorder bonus includes a soundtrack CD, I am a bit more inclined to consider it.

Of course the Lunar games weren't released as anything else.

Yeah, personally for myself I get a limited edition if it has the soundtrack, I've been burned one too many times from crappy art books. DoA and Demon's Souls I'm looking at you. But even then the soundtrack portion is getting even more annoying. They used to put on a decent portion of the soundtrack but now its usually a 4 song teaser, or a 4 song remix album, if they do happen to give you the full soundtrack a lot of times its horrible 128 kbps downloadable songs ala Dark Souls 2. I remember one time being extremely hype for Dante's Inferno as I am a huge fan of The Divine Comedy and being hugely disappointed by the game and the limited edition enclosures. They advertised the soundtrack was included but neglected to mention that it was basically soundtest mode. Atlus and Aksys have been getting worse over time too. The next limited I am interested in would be for Guilty Gear Xrd as the whole soundtrack is supposed to be included but I am not keeping my hopes up. Unfortunately there is not a separate OST release for that either. Probably the last special edition I was kind of satisfied from was CastleVania Lords of Shadow even though the OST wasn't complete.

Conclusion, usually its a waste anymore, at least if your waiting for Artbook and soundtrack. If you are a statue person I am sure new special editions appeal to you. I think Mortal Kombat had some sick book ends.

http://s5.photobucket.com/user/iamtfc/m … 5.jpg.html

The Ni No Kuni Wizard Edition includes a CD with 2 tracks. Two tracks... LAME!! That said, that limited edition is actually quite spectacular because of the fully printed (and in color) Wizard's companion book. It comes with a few other items which are fine, and in a somewhat poor box. Still, the Wizard's companion book makes that limited edition absolutely worthwhile. Also, the retail price was $99.99 which was a good deal. That said, an evil company (Play-Canada) basically purchased all of them

http://www.aristogamer.net/2013/02/ni-n … gital.html

I also thought the limited edition Tales of Symphonia for the PS3 was very nicely done as well, and it even came in an elegant and sturdy box (with the limitation number stamped on each box)! Not to mention it included a 4-CD soundtrack!

http://www.gamestop.com/ps3/games/tales … ion/112341

Those were the last two limited editions that I thought were well done. Most are like this

http://www.gamestop.com/ps4/games/blood … ion/117421
(digital soundtrack, big whooop)

Arguably, it's "only" $20 more and you get a steelbook and "art book", but it still feels rather hallow (pun intended). That said, currently the only collector's edition that I'm interested in is the Witcher 3 edition. If it's like the Witcher 2 edition, it will be great

http://www.gamestop.com/ps4/games/the-w … ion/115388

Out of my entire game collection I think I have three collector's editions... well make that two.

I have the Limited Edition of DMC4... but the extras aren't that great (this was before LE/CE's really took off). and the limited X|X-2 remaster...

and I had the Special Edition of WIld Arms 5 which I had for the artbook... but I separated the book from the rest of the package cause I really don't give a crap about the game. I tried to replay it and I couldn't force myself to do it....

However, I thought the recently Limited Edition of Kingdom Hearts 2,5 was AWESOME... I almost want to buy it for the heartless plushie it comes with... but I'm not much of a  Kingdom Hearts fan.

They actually did release a bare-bones version of the first Lunar, with some fan-art on it. This was around when the PS2 had come on the scene and the PS1 was on the way out. I got mine for about $10-$15 used at Gamestop, so I think it was pretty under the radar.

Usually though, there isn't enough to justify the extra cost to me. I looked through what I had and I didn't have anything limited edition, save for the gold Legend of Zelda/Link to the Past carts (at this point, I think the grey ones are more rare than the gold ones).

I'll grab the LE version if it has something I want like a soundtrack CD, but only if there's something I want. I don't collect them or try to get all of my games that way or anything like that.

It's rare for me to buy the LE version of anything, because they hardly ever contain anything that I find even remotely interesting (don't care about figurines and stuff like that), but I'll still buy them occasionally if I want to show my support to the devs.

If I remember the PSP remake (Harmony) came in two flavors: LE and normal. I got the normal one. I'm not the biggest Lunar fan but Harmony was actually a very remake IMO... so nice I don't see the need to replay the PS1 version.

Yes, along with the PSP Ys they came in both limited and regular editions. The Limited Editions were very nice because they include full soundtracks, and Ys (along with Lunar) has always had great music.

Well I meant the PSX ones, of course.

Generally, I go for limited editions for certain series (Ys, Disgaea, Bemani games), but regular edition for most other games. If there is an included soundtrack CD, the odds I go for the limited edition multiply by a factor of 10.

I have gotten better about it though. I used to buy some LEs just to get the soundtrack, with no intention of playing the actual game. I haven't done that for a while.

I'll pay extra for a limited edition of a series I like when it comes with goodies, such as Mass Effect or even going further back like Ar Tonelico.  I was on the fence about the KH2.5 collector's edition, but by the time I decided I wanted it, it was sold out.  I don't want it enough to pay over 100% markup though.