CE Regional Differences - Let's Talk About Them

[Valcro]

Are we REALLY that shocked though?

This CE business has been going on for ages with Japanese releases getting far superior packaging and contents.

Indeed. JP games have held a long history of getting superior CE product. Best example for the here and now is MGSV. JP gets a full scale bio arm compared to everyone else who gets a half scale(they are paying for it dearly, though, or so the claims go)

As per the norm everyone outside of JP gets treated differently. They don't view it as what the NA FF fan base market wants, they view it as what the NA market in general wants to see on a package to get them to buy the game. It's a out of touch practice because people haven't bought games in that manner since the 80s and 90s when good NES/SNES/SEGA/so on box art was the difference between a sale and no sale. And then there's the CE editions. I think the reason why JP gets such preferred treatment here is that they have proven they will pay up for the goods. I can't say this for certain but I feel like in the past games have tried to give us the goods and the market just isn't there for it. The average American just doesn't have that kind of money, and even the above average American is apparently too deep in monthly luxury car/house/etc bills to care about a premium product. *shrug* I'm just speculating.

I'm fine with the usual treatment here. I accepted it long ago, though it doesn't mean I must be happy about it. But I'm also fine with not purchasing this CE for $129. I could see 129 with the fancy fold out box. Am I that anal? Well, yeah. As it stands, they want 70 dollars for a blu ray we don't need or want in a cardboard container, standard art book that's a standard for some reason, and a statue that is nothing remarkably expensive but leave it to SE to charge premium prices. As far as I am concerned all of that costs them like 30 dollars and I say that with moderate knowledge of the costs in mass producing it. They make 40. That might change alot depending on the materials used for that statue. I'm fine with them making money, but give me stuff I care about. Ditch the book and blu ray and give me a flag or a coin or playing cards or something that makes the CE pricing worthwhile, and that desire goes for the entire industry and it's CE editions. Doesn't matter now, but it's something to consider for the next expansion. Seems like people think offering a statue or figure is enough to justify the price and the rest of the goods are after thoughts. It's box filler at best, really.

[Kosmos992k]

Are we REALLY that shocked though?

This CE business has been going on for ages with Japanese releases getting far superior packaging and contents.

In fairness, have you looked at the prices of CE games and video in Japan? Japanese consumers will pay for special editions, much more so than consumers in the West. Look at how much a typical anime costs on blu ray there, typically a single volume there will cost about the same as the box set in the US.

[Shougun]

In fairness, have you looked at the prices of CE games and video in Japan? Japanese consumers will pay for special editions, much more so than consumers in the West. Look at how much a typical anime costs on blu ray there, typically a single volume there will cost about the same as the box set in the US.

Isn't the Japanese CE similarly priced to the NA version (EU not so much)? Just did a quick google, have only visited so partly a legitimate question partly curious on if there is a fairness in discussion of difference in price vs quality.

[ArchimedesVandiir]

Frankly I don't really care if the artwork on the box is different in each region, but If I don't get the display box that I saw in the video and I get a cardboard bluray sleeve instead of the plastic case with the cool artwork I will be pissed beyond recognition and will never buy another Squeenix CE ever again. One of the main selling points for me was the display box I saw in the vid and the fact that the bluray case was actually plastic with nice artwork.

[Seif]

Personally to me and this mind sound stupid but.

I want CE FOR THE BOX.

I think EU and JP have the best ones but personally to me the EU one that has a full color print + the B&W drawing on it makes it the most attractive to me.
I'm a huge Amano fan and to me NA is getting the short end of the stick here. But if you consider the store screwing customers every which way in EU for multiple reasons then I'd call us all even.
cardboard sleeve!
p.s. Japanese game case is FAR better looking!

[Coldbrand]

JP ONLY [Can you speak any Japanese?]

[Natashio]

＼（−"−）／... I give up reading these post/threads.... people will complain and whine for the smallest of insignificant things..

[Bimi]

＼（−"−）／... I give up reading these post/threads.... people will complain and whine for the smallest of insignificant things..

It's not really insignificant, though. JP version shows an actual showcase. A box of sturdy cardboard with a beautiful illustration on one side if you choose to stack it like that on your shelf, or a very nice backdrop/display area for the figurine if you rather have it open. This CE isn't exactly full of goodies so every little bit counts. Like others have said, if there was a set of astrologian cards, a new HW-themed identificator or any other number of things then people wouldn't care so much. As it stands though, the case IS one of the selling points in a pretty expensive CE because there just isn't much else.

Bimi Bimi

[Kinseykinz]

And then there's the CE editions. I think the reason why JP gets such preferred treatment here is that they have proven they will pay up for the goods. I can't say this for certain but I feel like in the past games have tried to give us the goods and the market just isn't there for it. The average American just doesn't have that kind of money, and even the above average American is apparently too deep in monthly luxury car/house/etc bills to care about a premium product. *shrug* I'm just speculating.

Just so you (well more so SE knows), I could afford the CE version of the expansion. I have in fact purchased both the 1.0 CE and the 2.0 CE, I've also purchased (or my husband has), several CE/Limited Edition versions of other console games in the past. So my point is, we DO buy them. That said:

I have no interest in this CE. Why?
1. Price point. Now grant it, if I was in fact, interested in all the 'fluff' stuff, I would maybe be okay with this. But simply put, the additional items offered are unappealing (overall) to me...or more importantly 'nice to have...but not worth it to me'.
2. I get that the dragon statue is 'cool' and all...but really, not something I need or want floating around my house. I know this is my personal taste, but the dragon to me would just be something I keep in the box/have to dust and care little about.
3. While I do page through art books etc, and I do enjoy them somewhat, once again, it's mostly just something that will sit on my shelf.
4. The 'in-game' items while nice and interesting, I'll likely seldom use/glamour either because they really don't fit my character or because 'everyone else has them and I'm sick of seeing them.'

I likely won't even pay the extra money for the 'Digital' CE version because /meh on the additional items (see number 4). The Griffon mount for example IS cool....but I likely won't use him as the game will have other flying mounts and well...everyone else will use him (also, I already have a stable-full of mounts and 99% of the time I only use my GC chocobo...so yeah waste of RL gil).

This all said, I don't get why the CE isn't the same for ALL regions...especially when you factor in that those most interested in it, are in part interested in it for the SAME reasons as the JA playerbase/like it because they like the JA artwork/game/playstyle/culture etc. Many of my friends who play this game for example, already import entertainment, reading materials, games, music, clothes and other items from Japan because they enjoy their culture...esp. the entertainment. So the same 'special niche' they are appealing to in Japan (the collectors), are also the same folk most interested in SE's 'collectors' editions here. The rest of the world has the expendable income as well...heck, many who really want the 'authentic' versions are willing to pay more to get the IMPORT things from Japan they can't easily get/can't get the same of in their own countries....and then also pay for the 'normal' version their country is permitted to sell/is locked to their region.

Basically, SE is wasting their time trying to market to me. (by changing the packaging on the CE)...I don't want what the CE offers/price point for those items...and I'd never want that stuff. And if they changed it to stuff I WOULD be more interested in...well then part of me would be like 'woah, wait a minute...why does the JA playerbase get that but we only get this? I don't care it's cheaper it should be at least an option we have...blah blah blah.' So basically, either way, by trying to market to specific regional audiences, it backfires in their face. Which is why SE'd be better off offering the exact same product in all regions (and SE in ALL regions you support btw...stop leaving the Pacific out of it when you also include them in your marketing)...they might be surprised how many CE's they'd sell overseas this way. SE should stop worrying about what people like me would buy (because obviously I'm still buying some version of the game=giving them money), and cater more to their die-hard/figurine and JA influenced culture junkies who, like their native players ALSO want the goods.

[LorenzoMoranta]

...Are we really complaining over a box? I'm sure the box still opens out as a stand. Personally it doesn't matter to me either way seeing as I don't have the room for a giant cardboard box to be on display.