CE Regional Differences - Let's Talk About Them

[WHS]

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.

This is pretty much how I feel too and will make sure I let everyone I find know all about it from here on out if not fixed.

[BreathlessTao]

Okay, this is mildly worrying.... Granted, the slides/post do say that "package designs will differ between regions", but each of the teaser sites also says "Contents subject to change."... of course, it doesn't justify anything, but is an indication that we shouldn't accept everything we see as 100% fully finaly.

[Zofis]

...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.

There's a lot of people hoping it still does, but the main issue at hand is that there's no mention of that on either the North American or European Heavensward sites. It's listed as a major selling point for the Japanese CE and as such is one of the main differences between what would otherwise be identical websites.

[axemtitanium]

Looks like they pulled this with the 2.0 collector's edition as well.

JP:


NA/EU:


The Waning of the Sixth Sun disc looks to be in its own jewel case (in US version, the game box had a 2nd disc slot in it) and the box itself folds out with a hinge instead of being a sleeve to a regular box. Very disappointing.

[Causality]

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..

That's America for you. The people that want it are the ones who can't afford it and the ones that can afford it don't think its worth it. Though Personally to throw in my two cents. The reason I'm buying it is for the Statue. I could give two cares about a Cardboard box. Really most of this thread is about a Pretty piece of Cardboard. Now if the display was even plastic I might care about it, but cardboard that is going to biodegrade over time.... not so much.

[Zofis]

The differences in the ARR CE weren't too severe. I really didn't mind them, personally. People were also just really excited for the relaunch and didn't bother to be analytical so it didn't come up much.

With the Heavenward CE, however, people are actively taking notice of the differences because features like the display box have been directly advertised on the Live Letter and at Fan Fest.

[Syrellaris]

They are exactly the same.. the box in the EU picture on the left folds open to be a stand. The Japanese picture just has it open -.- The NA picture is just taken without the box (the box stores the statue!)

[Causality]

This all makes me glad the only thing I intend to display is the statue, Everything else is going to be stored. I hadn't intended to display with the box anyway since its cardboard and any cardboard regardless of quality is going to degrade over time. Anyway the box isn't going to work for the shelf I want it on.

[Agito-kun]

You guys really need to chill. I don't think that there is a significant difference except that the JP product site uses better pictures of the box. Certainly nothing worth losing your rag about.

We're talking about a beautiful diorama box and a game case embellished with glorious Yoshitaka Amano art! Of course it's worth 'losing our rag about'. xD


Judging from the pictures I'm quite positive that the NA/EU box will look good as well though but I'm a bit bummed out that we most likely won't get the same boxart for the gamecase itself. (plus, I hate those slipcovers!)

[TheRogueX]

Looks like they pulled this with the 2.0 collector's edition as well.

JP:


NA/EU:


The Waning of the Sixth Sun disc looks to be in its own jewel case (in US version, the game box had a 2nd disc slot in it) and the box itself folds out with a hinge instead of being a sleeve to a regular box. Very disappointing.

The the Japanese get the Before Meteor soundtrack with the game? That's what that one box looks like.

Edit: Also, I'm pretty certain we're *not* getting the fold-out box or the jewel case with reversible insert. The Japanese site dedicates space to explaining the box and the case, while the NA/EU one pretty much ignores it and just mentions the artwork.