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Collectables Make Physical Editions More Fun

Updated: Sep 7, 2019

One of the joys of collecting physical switch games is the collectables and extra that have been released along with various games. To start with many of the companies have taken great care to try to provide desirable items that will attract collectors and consumers to the physical version. These collectables are items that those who buy the digital copy will never be able to enjoy. The variety of stuff is amazing. Lets take a look at a few of the offerings.

I first noticed this trend when I bought a copy of ittle Dew 2. This game came with a full color "Adventures Guide and Instruction Booklet" that explains how to play the game. This 31 page guide fits in the case and contains many beautiful colored cartoonish artwork. It also came with a "Waterproof Map" that is said to help you find the raft pieces.


Next when I bought Valkyria Chronicles 4 I noticed a very nice collectors set that came with a tank!!! While I did not purchase this as I did not have the spare cash that week, I did pick up the Launch edition that came with an attractive Joycon skin. Also from Sega about the same time I picked up a copy of sonic forces and it also contained a Joycon skin. Instruction are "PEEL, PRESS, PERFECT". Easy on easy off leaves no residue, perfect fit and does not interfere with the buttons. I did not apply my Joycon skins, instead I prefer to keep them intact in the collectors case.

A couple other items I have seen while shopping and buying switch games for my kids is an adhesive patch in our copy of the Lego Movie, a stuffed dragon in the Limited Edition of Little Dragon's Cafe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Limited Edition that contains a game cube controller along with the game and a Nintendo GameCube Controller adapter. Originally selling for $139 this edition can now only be be found online for double the price or more online.

Another item that can be collected is keychains. Puyo Puyo Tetris LAUNCH EDITION was the first time I saw a key chain as a bonus item with a game. PlayAsia offered a keychain to the first 2,500 copies preordered of the game Death Road to Canada a game that brags that it features teaching a dog how to drive a car. While the first two offers may have passed and be hard to find they may be desirable to collectors in the future so if you have them keep those keychains. As of today 8/14/2019 I see a copy of cave story on ebay posted for $99 US. If you like key chains a game that you can preorder right now is Rogue Legacy from limited Run games click on the photo below to see the keychain it comes with..



The most crazy collectors box has to be for the game Panty Party, this Region Free Collector’s Box contains a Manual, Karaoke Soundtrack CD, sticker set, a Numbered Certificate (as only 3,000 copies will be sold), a Minicase Keychain and what else could they include...... Panty Party Branded Underpants. Yes that is right a pair of underwear. While this game does sound like it could be perverted the game claims warning states that “NO HENTAI contents in this game! All you get is funny and stupid panties!”. While I will have to pass on this crazy collectors box ships in August 2019 and is still available as an exclusive offering from Play Asia and can be pre-ordered here for only $49.99.

Panty Party Limited Edition
Panty Party Limited Edition

While the market place continues to see more digital sales the consumer is benefiting from the trend to offer collectables with a physical copy. I know I have been more likely to try a game I was borderline in picking up because I see a nice shinny collectable included. These shinny objects sure do make collecting games more fun when they go beyond the beautiful artwork and maybe a manual. I do hope this trend continues and we see more publishers reward us with collectables. Even low cost items like joycon skins and stickers are welcome in the standard editions and are enjoyed by many. While larger items like stuffed dragons, tanks and even underwear do draw lots of attention to a games limited edition.





Publishers need to remember the whole picture and on top of these collectables and limited editions please provide us a game card with the best version of the game already on the game card. By providing a complete experience publishers can provide a game that collectors will be seeking 20 years from now. While I understand the short term gain is how business operate making your consumers happy in the long run keeps them coming back to buy more of your products. I would take EA as an example they are so short sighted and have turned off many long time fans like my self that I do not even look to see what they offer any more as I was tired of unfinished shoddy products with never ending updates. I mean it is so bad when I asked my nephew to show me how to play Star Wars Battlefield on his PlayStation we found the game would not play and required an update. This update took so long we had to leave before the game update completed.


 Best Buy Exclusive Collectable Coins
Best Buy Exclusive Collectable Coins

And this is why I love all my Nintendo systems. Nintendo has always provided quality. The quality is not only in the games like Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Pokemon etc.... But the quality extends to the system. I am always able to take a game put it in my Nintendo systems and play the game right out of the box. So quality Nintendo games and collectables are a combination that can make collecting and buying physical versions of games fun and profitable far into the future.


So what collectables do you enjoy? What have you collected? What good items are coming in the future? Please share your thoughts and comments below.

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