Within the last year, both Starcraft II and WoW: Cataclysm have been released and collector's edition of both games have been available. Both versions have included some of the same extras as well as a few special items to that franchise. Because of this, there is some assumptions we can make on what will be included with the Diablo version.
Art Book: Both versions included a 176 page art book with never-before-seen images. Ranging from the earliest concept arts to full-rendered 3-D images. They offer an exclusive look into the artists and their work in the development of these games. Diablo III will be no different as there are hundreds if not thousands of pieces of artwork that we only got a glimpse into with the Facebook like promotion.
Soundtrack: There is also a high chance of an exclusive soundtrack being included like it has been for the last two games released. The Diablo series has had a past of excellent music from the canon Tristram music to the horrifying sounds of Hell. Diablo III will surely include a soundtrack as well with the collector's edition.
Behind-the-Scenes Look DVD: The next item on the list will be a behind-the-scenes look in the making of and development of the game. Again, both Starcraft II and Cataclysm included this DVD in their collector's edition and will most likely be found in the Diablo version as well. And with a 3+ year development, this DVD will definitely be interesting to watch.
Blizzard In-Game Exclusives: While not the exact same in its product, both of the previous versions included some exclusive in-game items for the other Blizzard franchises. Both included a WoW non-combat pet, Lil' Deathwing and Hammer of the Gods. Both games also offered exclusive Battle.net content like special avatars that resembled creatures of different games. Diablo, will probably be no different. While we have already seen Murkablo, there is likely to be another non-combat pet for WoW. There is also the new Battle.net 2.0 that Diablo III will be using and exclusive avatars for that are likely to be incorporated as well to show others you have the collector's edition.
Extra Merchandise: Here is where the two previous titles differ but while the merchandise is different, these little extras are sure to come as well. With SC2, purchasers got an exclusive Starcraft Comic as well as a Jim Raynor dog tag, a 2GB USB drive that included the orignal Starcraft and Brood War. The Cataclysm version included a WoW mouse pad as well as some packs of WoW TCG cards. With Diablo, the ideas are limitless but looking at these examples, it is possible we may get something similar.
With all of that in mind, are you looking to buy the collector's edition and if so, what are you looking forward to the most?
Last week we asked you guys what Runestones, or more importantly their effect, you were looking forward to the most. Out of the 269 of you that voted, a staggering 117 (43%) voted for changing the playstyle of the skill. Coming in second was increasing damage with over 21% of the votes. Additional damage type came in third with 38 votes and the remaining choices of resource management, debuffs, and PvP effects all had less than 20 votes each. If you would still like to voice your opinion on runestones' effects see the previous poll here.
But I argue that this is still unacceptable.
I doubt Blizzard would add any in-game rewards different from the way they have them in other games. Superficial or ascetic items, not the way that some games have given away basically overpowered items in the CE. So in that case, I'm ok with in-game items.
I am not planning to get the CE right now, and I almost never do by CEs of games, but maybe if it contains enough things I think are worth it, I'll change my mind.
Edit:
I feel the same way. I'd prefer if everyone always had access to everything in the game, but Blizzard has a growing history of giving away promo and extra in-game items to people that get CEs as well as people who go to Blizzcon. I don't really like it, but I seriously doubt they are planning to go 180 on this issue either. If anything, they seem to be adding more things like this, especially for Blizzcon attendees.
Bobby Kotick, if he's reading this, probably had to stifle a laugh at that one.
Thank you come again! *ding*
If you shovel out the Extra 10-20$ for collector's edition, assuming it's not more. I think the least you deserve is an avatar.
I wouldn't mind something like an extra row of inventory space or something like that. Nothing that would change your character's power.
If you start adding things like this for extra pay, you might as well just turn the game into a micro-transaction Korean MMO or the like. Game features in a full priced title should not be extra charges.
I voted for Soundtrack - and not just the D3 soundtrack - I want all of 'em
Loves me some Collectors Editions
I'm unsure if I will ever get another CE, but if D3 came with some awe inspiring statue of Diablo I'd think it over.
I bought the "Founder's Club" for Hellgate: London. You can be sure I feel your pain. To this day, I consider Bill Roper my nemesis.
What if they get to change their armor models to the coolest looking armor in the game (but doesn't affect stats)?
What if they could customize their character models like a MMO, while others can't?
The problem is not in-game advantage vs cosmetic rewards. The fundamental problem is fairness. For the game to be fair, everyone should have access the the same things in the game, cosmetic or not.
And giving CE buyers exclusive in-game rewards is completely unfair, because not everyone will buy the CE. Indeed, not everyone can buy the CE even if they want to, there is limited supply.
Blizzard can give everyone who buys the CE a free car for all I care, at least that doesn't damage the integrity of the game the way exclusive content will.
Didn't see any of those other things you mentioned, though I could be overlooking it.
Giving CE buyers an extra row of inventory goes far beyond what was offered in past Blizzard CEs, such as those offered in the SC2 CE (Battle.net icons and bonus Thor model), and WoW CEs (non-combat pets). Extra inventory space is an explicit in-game advantage, we wouldn't be talking about cosmetic bonuses anymore.
All the above are examples of premium content, so they all damage the integrity of the game (some more than others), as this blatantly undermines the notion that everyone starts on a fair and equal playing field. But extra inventory space takes it one step further. If you're going to give those who pay more, more inventory, you've essentially adopted a microtransactions model
Considering Blizzard's history with CE-exclusive in-game content, I would expect that they will offer some silly Battle.net avatars (like Blood Elf wizards or whatever). These comical avatars diminish the seriousness of the game, as was the case with people using the CE-exclusive Night Elf Banshee avatar in SC2. While I find that adding these silly tokens to the CE is merely unacceptable, in comparison, extra inventory space would be utterly outrageous.
Therefore, I gave 2 examples of exclusive content that I think most people would find to be unfair and outrageous. If he maintains his claim that all exclusive content is OK, as long as it doesn't give an in-game advantage, then that necessarily implies that he finds those 2 examples I listed as OK.
Otherwise, he should adjust his position to *some*, and not all, exclusive content that doesn't give an in-game advantage is OK.
P.S. Love the Diablocast and Purgatory vids, great job guys. (Twitter perhaps?)