I’m here to explain why people like myself are always geeked when collector’s editions or limited editions of games are announced.  They often come in casing that is so much better than the normal casing.  Thanks to Capcom, I’ll use Lost Planet’s Collector’s Edition as my first example of this and my first showing of The Edition Examiner.  I’ll be taking an inside look at other Limited or Collector’s Editions of games to examine if they’re worth collecting or not.  I hope you enjoy it.

These are just my opinions of the limited or collector’s editions that I’m able to get in my grasp.  The Edition Examiner scale will cover two important things; craftsmanship and extras.  I’ll use a 5-point scale to gauge whether these types of editions are truly worthy of being called such.  

Craftmanship - The case clearly stands out when you first see it.  It’s protected by a plastic casing sleeve.  Any edition that doesn’t come with the sleeve to protect the case is suspect.  I’m glad Capcom included it.  The artwork on the front/back of the case is done very well.  It almost captures the “icy” theme of Lost Planet perfectly.

The case is sturdy and has a steel design.  (it’s only tin/aluminum)  It feels great to the touch.  It’s also properly marked on its side so filing it shouldn’t be a problem if you’re like me and keep your games filed away like books on a shelf.  Some editions leave this out and you can’t identify what it is in your collection.  It may be a small thing to some but for the Examiner, I had to point it out.

Extras - When initialy released, the Lost Planet CE came with a 48-hour trial, bonus map, exclusive art book (classy) and a bonus CD with soundtracks, trailers and more.  The art book alone I think was worth this being in the collection.  It details the Vital Suits, environments, the Akrid and the characters in the game.

Screenshots: The Edition Examiner - Limted & Collector’s Edition Photos

Edition Examiner Result - The case and art book really help the Lost Planet CE stand out.  You can see from the screenshots that it was designed beautifully and the extras at the time of release were well worth it.

I just got word from Capcom about a PC and Xbox 360 patch coming as well as some great news for the Xbox 360 Lost Planet community.  A new set of DX 10 enhancements for Lost Planet PC will be released as an automatic downloadable patch on August 16th.  These are designed to take greater advantage of DX 10 capabilities by utilizing Geometry Shader to improve overall visual quality through better depth of field effects, improved motion blur and fur shading.

In conjunction with the PC update and free PC Map Pack #2 on August 16th, the “Lost Technology,” “Ruins,” and “Ice Drop” maps of Map Pack #3 will be made available for free download on Xbox Live Marketplace.  Map Pack #3 was originally released last June and made available for 400 Microsoft Points.  Those of you who haven’t downloaded it can grab it for free next week!

Also, a new patch addressing connectivity for players of the Xbox 360 version will be available in the next few weeks.

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition fans rejoice as the first downloadable map pack is now available in the Xbox Live Marketplace.  The new download includes two (2) maps, Radar Field and Island 902.  It will cost you 400 Microsoft Points to get this puppy.

Radar Field features a massive radar and Island 902 includes an aircraft carrier and submarine.

Want a look at the new maps?  Capcom’s Brian Dunn has a video of the new maps posted as well as footage of the other maps coming soon.

Apparently not many were ‘lost’ out there in finding a copy of Capcom’s Lost Planet: Extreme Condition.  Reports from the NPD have it as the top-selling console video game in January.  I suppose we all like a little bit of snow and Akrid in our gaming.  The reason I bring this up is to point out that if you don’t have this game, remember to rent it for this weekend’s Unscripted Nights ‘Get Lost!’ event!

This is something very positive towards talk about exclusives and how well they can do this generation compared to multi-console titles.  Capcom has to be pleased with the results of their two original franchises (Lost Planet and Dead Rising) and how they’ve done on the Xbox 360.  Could we see more exclusives from developers when titles such as this one are having such great success on the 360?  I would imagine so.  Keep rocking the exclusives baby!

I know how we all love to spend Microsoft Points.  What’s even better than spending points is to spend points you didn’t even have to pay for.  Capcom is giving away 4,000 Microsoft Points to the winners of an image contest.  First place winner gets 2,000 and there are 2 runner-up winners set to receive 1,000 each.

All you have to do is create an image or video of playing Lost Planet in the most extreme conditions and you could win.  So for all you designers and video YouTubers head over to check the contest out.  Get extreme enough with your entries and win!

Are you preparing for the release of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition on Friday, January 12?  The game has been available in Japan for almost a month now.  Brian @ Capcom doesn’t want you going into battle with/against your fellow Japanese players without being equipped with the proper way to introduce yourself or the proper way to smack talk.

Lost Planet: Extreme Smack Talk

Check the link above.  It’s an excellent post from Brian to get gamers in the US who aren’t familiar with common phrases a head’s up on what they might experience.

Here are a few examples that are listed with the correct way to say them and proper time to use them:

Konnichiwa – Kon – ni – chi – wa
When to use: Pre-game lobby
Meaning: “Hello”

Ganbarimasho – Gan – ba – ri – ma – sho
When to use: At the beginning of a match
Meaning: “Let’s go get ‘em” – literally, “Let’s do our best”

Zama miro – Za – ma – mi – ro
When to use: When you get revenge on someone who killed you first
Meaning: “How you like me now, huh?”

I’ll be printing the list off to study for a bit before I head into battle with my Japanese friends.  I need to find out how to say “Come and get some!!” in Japanese.

Are you getting ready for the release of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition next week?  You should be!  I’ve had dozens upon dozens of entries in the Lost Planet Giveaway so I know plenty of you are eager for this game.

My friend at Capcom, Brian Dunn, has some screenshots of the packaging. (both regular and Collector’s Edition).  The CE packaging looks fanastic!  Get ready because this game will be a blast!  I’ll be getting extreme with this game on Xbox Live so prepare yourselves!

Who said the giving has to stop when the holidays do?  I told you to get ready for an exciting 2007 with Unscripted 360 and I decided to start the party early.  Five (5) lucky Xbox 360 gamers are going to win their very own copy of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition!

A little over a month ago, I gave you the hands on Lost Planet treatment.  Now, Capcom and Unscripted 360 are magnifying the new year celebration with some ‘extreme’ fun.  Are you ready to fight the cold and defend the planet?  Lost Planet ships January 12 so get ready!

So what do you have to do?  Just answer these 3 questions, get them right and you’ll have your chance to win.  I’ll pick the 5 winners from the batch of correct answers.  Answers can be found on the official website and the Lost Planet Blog with Brian Dunn.

What is the name of the main character in Lost Planet? 

What engine does Lost Planet use?

What is the name of the alien race you battle in Lost Planet?

Email your answers before January 12.  Winners will be notified and selected before January 31.  Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. This giveaway is open to everyone.  (it won’t take that long but I had to put a time on it)  Good luck.

For those of you who emailed me, here is the news concerning the trouble some of you had with obtaining the code card for the special map.  Word from Capcom is that by this Friday, all Gamestops and EB Games should be on board with the appropriate information.

The tokens were shipped to GS in advance of Black Friday, however they were unable to move them from their distribution center to the store levels in time because of the holidays. I apologize profusely for that.

As of this Friday (most Gamestop stores nationwide should have it now, but let’s say Friday to be sure ALL stores have received the tokens) anyone who has preordered at any time should be able to go back into their Gamestop and pick up a token to receive the extra map.

In other Lost Planet news, Tina Wood over at on10.net posted a video with more news from the Capcom team about the game.  I had a chance to meet Tina during the Lost Planet Summit and she’s A+ in my book.  It was funny because only days before the summit, I had watched her refrigerator video so I had a real ‘hey it’s you’ moment.

Last night I had a chance to get some early action with the Lost Planet: Extreme Condition multiplayer demo that Xbox 360 owners will have a chance to download tomorrow.  Capcom sent early holiday goodies to a few community members including myself, Godfree from Gamertag Radio and shazam from Joystiq.

Lost Planet Multiplayer Video Footage

The ’show on wheels’ himself, Godfree, managed to grab some really nice footage of us laying the smack down on each other and also managed to conduct a video show between himself and yours truly.  I managed to get a few kills especially with the VC!  Check the link above for the video and get ready for some action tomorrow.  Did you miss the exclusive interview with Capcom on Lost Planet?