Somehow I knew, when I clicked on the thread title, that it was going to be a rant about publishers somehow forcing people to spend more money by the simple virtue of providing an alternative edition with extra material for more money.

Damn you publishers and your choice-providing ways! Damn you all!

Dude, I would totally buy that.

I don't know. I love the septim that came with my collector's edition of Oblivion (that's the coin of the realm, in case you haven't played). I guess if I ever really get taken away to Cyrodil I have enough change to make a phone call or something. And the Dark Age of Camelot poster has lasted about 20 times longer than the game did.

But I didn't get the helmet version of Halo 3 because I don't have a cat to wear it. Plus I knew they had people out there on the list at my local gamestore that really really wanted it and they were already over-extended on the preorders for it.

I guess it's all in what you want to pay for.

I love when a game gives you a choice of Collectors edition and 99% of the time I will buy the collectors edition

Sometimes there's not anything in it that will make it worthwhile but other times it's a great thing to buy even though I am not the biggest Halo fan, I am probably be buying the Legendary Edition, I will be buying Bioshock Collectors Edition but it does depend on what each Collectors Edition includes.

I don't understand the attraction for collector's editions, but then I don't understand the adults who buy stuff like star wars legos and action figures but then never open the boxes to play with them. It's all about what you want to spend your money on.

Just today I was listening to the World of Warcraft soundtrack on the way into work.
I buy CEs only rarely, but that was a good one.

Only if you keep it on you. I do.

Only if you teleport to Tamriel desk and all, Monty Python style.

I can't seem to help but buy the CE edition if it is available. Unless it's insanely priced. I'm still packing my Ultima IX dragon edition. 5 of those boxes could make for a nice house.

I buy CEs and LEs on a case by case basis. I won't pay extra money for items I don't want. Usually, my decision is based on A) the game being awesome and B) what's being offered. I am a huge sucker when it comes to artbooks and soundtracks. Figures and special cases... Not so much. But that's me.

Zero, that's where mine is too. Considering the proportion of my time I spend here, it's a pretty good bet.

I have all sorts of random stuff on my desk, though. I'll have more than phone change if that happens. The septim lives between my One Ring and the magic wand (complete with stone frog that's all that's left of the last little marketing twit who annoyed me). It's guarded by my bendy Randall from Monsters Inc and a random pirate.

My Deluxe Edition of Silent Hunter IV is a great piece of furniture - big metal submarine-like box full of goodies such as ship spotting manual etc. Nice buy. I choose Collector's editions occasionally, when I expect to love the game very much (such as Europa Universalis III, the soundtrack and strategy guide are a nice touch in its Collector's edition) or when it's cheap - Sam & Max Season 1 DVD for just the price of postage and packing is a must for me.

I'm a whore for those metal cases some games have come in. Halo 2, the SE of Company of Heroes, Lost Planet...

Yeah.

The mentality is probably to treat the CE boxes as toys. The joy comes from handling the shiny boxes and goodies and soaking in the obvious display of quality. I like neat boxes packed with fun stuff. Who doesn't? It's just more trash to throw away later on, really. After a couple of CE boxes, I've moved on to appreciate the elegance of downloadable game services.

That's a good point as well, I wish it was the regular edition that came with dvd but it seems like CD only still, though at least it's getting more over to release it on dvd as well.