First "collector's edition" video game ?

Anyone got a clue ?

I want to do an article on Collector Editions and pretty much have the middle and end covered but not the first bit.

I don't mean things like contest edtions of NES games more like the game and whatever else they would pack with it, sound track etc...

I'm stumped with anything pre PS1 as I can't remember any for the SNES (with the exception of Final Fight Guy w/CD single) or other consoles.

Any help would be appreciated :thumbsup:

 

In the UK there was a collector's edition of Mystical Quest (SNES, Squaresoft) with the player's guide included (including stickers on the box). Not sure that qualifies though

 

That counts in my book, thanks Taucias

 

Does that include computer games as well? They were doing collector's editions in the US long before console games.

The first true collector's edition that I remember (At least in the US) would be Robotech: Battlecry for the PS2 since that actually had both a regular and collector's edition.

There is also the PS1 Lunar series and Arc the Lad from Working Designs which were the first with truly great pack ins. Even earlier than that was Earthbound for the SNES. I'm not sure if those can be counted though since I don't believe they actually had a regular edition for them.

Like I said, This is all for the US. You can almost be sure that there was earlier stuff than that in Japan.

 

Wasn't there a normal version and a massive collector's version of Maximum Carnage for the SNES? I know I've seen the special version on e-bay, but I don't know how it was originally offered for sale.

 

Well PC games don't count as with the early releases of Infocom etc... they were pretty amazing collections and Ultima I'm sure had some special sets.

I'm just trying to focus on consoles.

I believe the Maxium Carnage was just a red cartridge kinda like the gold Zeldas but those weren't offered as a "collector's edition" it was more chance or a first run printing.

I would mention Working Designs but as you stated they never offered them anyway else, hmmm still might be worth a mention anyhoo.

Bascially this article is going to end with the details of Legendary set for Halo 3 and just how "limited" something is when you're pumping out 36K of them a week .

 

i remember an atari sequel that was only given to people who had high-scored the first game and sent it to the developers via mail (the picture of the high-score). Only 5 or 10 were made. Doesn't get any more collector's edition than that

 

Yeah that's probably that Fireworld game or something with the jewel encrusted loot, I remember reding about that last year.

I'm focusing more on the marketing aspect and how a "true" collector's edtion holds it's worth and increases i.e. Dreamcast S.T.A.R.S. consoles vs something like Capcom's Lost Planet deluxe version w/ plastic robot.

 

No, there is a version of Maximum Carnage that came in a large leather like book thing and included pins and a comic or something, I just don't know how it was given out/sold, so I didn't know if it counted for your purposes. This is the only reference to it that I could quickly find: here.

 

hmm, I thought every Mystical Quest was supplied with a player's guide, like they did it with Secret of Evermore or Illusion of Time, etc. But maybe this was only in Germany.

 

WOW never heard of that one before !

Box art + Inside the box

limited to 5K

 

Probably Atlantis II, but that is definitely a contest cart.

 

I think it was marketed more towards comic book collectors.

Anyway, here's some info about it:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83658

 

dunno if you count them but the "big box" versions of some SNES games were sort of collectors editions.

they were the regular game released in a bigger box to house the official guide, i know in PAL there were super metroid, terranigma.. uuuh.. and a couple of others.

there were also SFC games that came with colectors items.. like the cotton game with a cup or that bomberman game with the figures..

 

Terranigma? I used to own the normal sized box version, so that must be another one.

 

Yeh what`s the game with Samus....METROID that came in a big box also

 

I'd say the initial release of Zelda 1 should count as a "Collector's Edition", with it's shiny gold cart, as the later reprints of the game came with a regular grey cart. A bit of a treat for those who picked it up early.

I don't think they sold it off as a collector's edition, but the game more or less rubbed it in your face that it was gold.


Besides that, I dunno, if you wanna exclude PC games under "video games" or not, but if not, atleast many PC games back, all the way back to the old days, have had "special" release where you've been treated to extra goodies of some sort (usually box variations, manual variations, extra cloth maps and god knows what).

 

For the Master System there's the UK "Limited Edition Boxed Set" for "the Lucky Dime Caper starring Donald Duck" and the box included a T-Shirt and a "Donald Duck's Disney Selection" music tape.

I've seen a few Namcot Famicom RPGs (the ones in the plastic boxes) over the years that people claim are "collectors editions" as they included stickers / metal figures etc. but I'm unsure if this was just how they all came. There was also a MarkIII RPG with a metal figure included.

 

True, but seeing as they didn't start making grey carts of Zelda until 1990, 4 years after it's release (and note: they sold over 33 million carts in 1988 alone) I don't think the gold carts count as a collectors edition.

Perhaps the 1990 'Classics Series' games (of which that rare grey cartidge of Zelda is included) count as collectors items?

 

These instantly spring to mind...

Pal MD - Ecco set, Primal Rage set, Phantom 2040.
JP MD - Doraemon stationery set

All of which had a regular release and the bundle/collectors/special/whatever you choose to call it release!