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[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/DukeNukemForever http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/duke_forever_ce_350_8100.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:You'd think this would be the ''normal'' edition after sixteen years.[[note]]Pictured: A comic book, a bust of the title character, a certificate of authenticity, a pair of dice, a miniature deck of cards, poker chips, postcards, "foldable paper craft", a sticker, a hardcover book of art, the box it all came in, and last, but definitely not the least, the game itself.[[/note]]]]
-> ''"Limited to the number they can sell."''
-->-- '''Jerry Seinfeld'''
%% One quote is sufficient. Please place additional entries on the quotes tab.
Films and video games sometimes are released in two versions: the VanillaEdition, and a better, souped-up edition with exclusive BonusMaterial. With movies, you can expect deleted scenes, filmmaker interviews, [[UnratedEdition never-before-seen footage]], commentary tracks and so forth. Video games tend to offer a shiny metal case, developer artwork, bonus characters or the StrategyGuide. Concept art, a "making-of" featurette, background story information, character biographies, [[MultipleEndings alternate endings]] and [[{{Feelies}} trinkets]] are common with both media. All yours, if you pay some extra money.
Worth it? Depends on the individual work, as well as who you ask. In any case, this is a good marketing strategy, because it feeds into many people's compulsion to own the "best" version. It's particularly clever if you can get people to buy the "ordinary" (some more "[[VanillaEdition ordinary]]" than others) version, discover how cool it is, and then go shell out ''again'' for the Limited Special Collector's Ultimate Edition.
Occasionally the souped-up edition is the ''only'' edition for the first few months of a new release (or may be received as a PreOrderBonus). Conversely, the special edition might not be released until a couple of months after the regular edition to squeeze more money out of die-hard fans.
Another practice is releasing films both separately and in box-sets with sequels. As more sequels come out, more editions with the entire series come out. The box sets traditionally come with extra features. This is also done with TV series -- four episodes will be on one DVD. Then another four. Then another four. And finally the whole sixteen episodes of the season in a neat little box set. Done to excess, can become (and sometimes is) an example of CrackIsCheaper.
Note that, with regard to video games, this should not be confused with an UpdatedRerelease, because that's when a game is rereleased with brand new content and significant alterations to the gameplay. The Limited Special Collector's Ultimate Edition comes out alongside the regular edition and just adds bonus content separate from the core game.
[--'''[[JustForFun/LousyAlternateTitles Also known as]]''' [[LostForever Limited]] [[VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution Augmented]] [[NewAndImproved Deluxe]] [[PaletteSwap Gre]][[GreenAesop en]] [[WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries Super Special Awesome]] [[InfinityPlusOneSword Ultra]] Extended [[RedAlert3 Premier]] [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption Combat]] [[Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger Commando]] Franchise/{{Alien}} NinjaPirateZombieRobot VinDiesel [[Manga/DragonBall Widescreen]] [[GottaCatchEmAll Collector's]] [[UnratedEdition Unrated]] [[WesternAnimation/SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut Uncut]] [[VideoGame/CommandAndConquer Kane]] [[{{Hellsing}} Ultimate]] SeanConnery [[PaniPoniDash Game of The Year]] [[CosmeticAward Editor's Choice Edition:]] [[AuthorAppeal Director's]] [[ReCut Extended Cut:]] [[ColonCancer The Lost Scenes:]] [[VideoGame/NeverwinterNights Gold Platinum Diamond Chaotic Lawful Evil Good]] [[BaldursGate Saga]] [[{{Starcraft}} Bat]][[VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} tle]] [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Che]][[VideoGame/{{Diablo}} st]] [[XtremeKoolLetterz Megapak]] [[{{Spore}} Galactic Edition]] [[VideoGame/{{Half-Life 2}} Ora]][[VideoGame/{{Portal}} nge]] [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 Box]] [[{{God}} Omega]] [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Limited]] [[XMeetsY With]] MoreDakka: [[Film/BladeRunner Final Cut]] [[StreetFighter Champion Edition]] [[TheKingOfFighters Ultimate Match]] [[YesButWhatDoesZataproximetacineDO Heartburn]] [[SquareEnix Inter]][[Franchise/FinalFantasy national]] [[KingdomHearts Final Mix]] [[PrecisionFStrike Fucking]] [[Franchise/{{Halo}} Legendary]] [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV Spoony]] [[WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment Bard]] [[VideoGame/TheWitcher2AssassinsOfKings Dark]] [[OverlyLongGag Edition X]] InSpace... [[DontExplainTheJoke Do you get it because there are tons of these limited edition box sets for a single movie/game/book Edition]]--]
* Anime [=DVDs=] in general (at least in Japan) ''love'' doing this, with the Limited Edition having limited edition cards, bonus [=CDs=], fancy artboxes, the works. They're also [[CrackIsCheaper hideously expensive]].
** Sometimes, [=CDs=] normally released separately, like {{image song}}s and the soundtracks, are packaged with the [=DVDs=], giving more incentive to buy them.
* ''{{Hellsing}} Ultimate'' does this with multiple releases, there's the single disc version, with just the OVA, there's the Two-Disc Version with commentary and a special features disc, there's also the Two-Disc Steelbox which comes has the two discs in a nice steelbox case, and sometimes comes with an artbook. You can still find the Steelboxes for a decent price brand new, but all the other editions are just as expensive.
* Each disc of the US release of ''The Melancholy Of LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' came out in both a VanillaEdition and a LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition, with the latter version including soundtrack [=CDs=] and bonus [=DVDs=] featuring the episodes presented in original broadcast order.
** This was also done with the US release of ''LuckyStar'' (except for the last volume). Turned out it was almost a money black hole for the producer.
** Likewise with ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. Aniplex released the series across three [=DVDs=], which is quite normal. The vanilla editions cost your usual $30 or so, depending on where you buy it. Then there is the Limited Edition for all three [=DVDs=] which comes with artbooks, stickers, three soundtrack [=CDs=].. all for the cost of $90. Each.
*** The Italian/German Limited Editions are similar to the [=US=] ones, except cheaper (50 each, something like $55), and with slightly different extras (The boxes included both the DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and instead of the stickers thay had Nendoroid Petites of Madoka, Mami and Homura)
** Aniplex also handled the [=DVD=] release of ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}''. While the [=DVDs=] are split up into your now-standard "Part 1 and Part 2" sets, both of them cost about $70, [[SubvertedTrope and there are no special editions.]]
* When ''GingaNagareboshiGin'' was released in certain European countries in the 80's, it went through several cuts due to censorship and attempts to fit the series on four VHS tapes. Eventually over 100 minutes of the original material was left out from this release, causing the dubbing to be least of the worries. Later, when Finland and Sweden received uncut DVD releases with original soundtrack and voice acting intact, it was marketed as Special Edition of the series.
** ''Nagareboshi Gin'''s sequel, ''GingaDensetsuWeed'', got a Collector's Edition box set release in Finland and Sweden, too. In addition to including the entire series it also comes with a Weed phone strap and a leaflet with extra information on the characters.
* With the US release of ''Anime/CodeGeass'', Bandai planned out three different releases, specifically targeting the different levels of anime fans. For casual fans, there's the VanillaEdition single [=DVDs=] and "volume packs" (two [=DVDs=] packaged together). For the real fanatics, there's the LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition, which is a two-pack plus [[AllThereInTheManual a Sound Episode CD]], an official soundtrack CD and a volume of the spinoff manga.
* Although it sometimes occurs with later [=DVDs=], the first volume of most anime series gets released as a DVD-only and as a DVD in an artbox designed to hold the entire series.
* .hack//sign did this when it came out on DVD in the US. They had the [[VanillaEdition regular DVDs]] and then they had the special edition ones with a Soundtrack CD in each. Except the last two. Second to last had a box to put the previous [=CDs=] in, and the last had an extra disc with a few special features on it.
* Each season set of ''Manga/InuYasha'' came in two versions (at least in America): One was simply [[CaptainObvious the discs of that season in one set]]. The collector's editions came with show related memorabilia such as the Beads of Subjugation (Season 1), hanko signature blocks (2), Kagome's jewel shards (3), Miroku's prayer beads (4), Sesshomaru's scroll (5), Collector's watch (6) and an Inuyasha figure with Adamant Tessaiga (7).
* Bandai's release of ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' was handled quite beautifully. On top of the vanilla editions for all 14 [=DVDs=] (covering both seasons,) a special edition was released as well, and it only cost about $10 more. The 14 [=DVDs=] provided 2 figurines of Motoko, 1 of Batou, 1 of Togusa, 2 Jameson units, 3 Tachikomas, 2 Android Maids, a 2nd Gig mousepad, a Laughing Man t-shirt, the first three Original Sound Tracks, a Section 9 Employee badge, as well as Tin [=DVD=] cases to hold the [=DVDs=] in. Also, the 2nd Gig [=DVDs=] themselves came in metal cases, which themselves are stored in a rather fancy tin [=DVD=] case.
* Creator/MangaEntertainment have done this with some of their more popular titles, such as Anime/DragonBallZBattleOfGods and Manga/AttackOnTitan. This move was actually criticized by some fans and reviewers because it involved taking extras off of the existing US versions (from which the UK releases were based), and in the case of blu-rays downgrading the extras to DVDs to boot.
* DC Comics with their "Absolute" line of comic releases, which gives the deluxe treatment to well-known classic series like ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'', ''Batman: ComicBook/TheLongHalloween'', ''Comicbook/KingdomCome'', ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' - which just might be the only comic-book series to be given this treatment for its entire range in four volumes - and many more. These releases are often housed in a hardcover case and include original scripts, alternate cover treatments, introductions and commentary by the creators of the various series and much more. They're also printed at a larger size than normal, giving the artwork more room to be appreciated. Of course, they come at a premium (most sets cost between $150 and $175).
* Dark Horse Comics released ''SinCity'' in an "Archival Edition", putting all the various series in their own hardcover book (plus a special making-of book), and subsequently housing them in two dustproof hardcover cases. Ponying up the money for the two "Archival" releases will set you back to the tune of $400.
* First, the ''ArchieComics'' stories of Archie marrying Veronica and Betty came over the course of seven issues. Then, the parts were compiled in a trade paperback. Seven months after the paperback compilation, the comics received a ''hardcover'' book with interviews with the writers and artists, annotations of pop culture references, and five bonus comics from the 1940s-60s. The price difference isn't that big, but it's still surprising that an ''Archie'' comic would get published in book form twice.
* It was extremely common during the [[TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks 1990s]] when comic collector sales were at their height for multiple editions of the same comic book. Often they wouldn't be anything more than an alternate cover art, a shiny cover, or just a label saying "collectors edition" on it. However, this mass saturation of the market helped lead to UsefulNotes/TheGreatComicsCrashOf1996.
* ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'' Issue #1's joint Larry's & Jetpack variant [[http://pics.lockerz.com/s/252022729 cover]], which uses the connected rough design production artwork of the Larry's Comics variant [[http://pics.lockerz.com/s/251772299 cover]] and the Jetpack Comics variant [[http://www.jetpackcomics.com/images/excl/mlpjetcoverfull.jpg cover]], will have [[http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=6086166#Post6086166 only 125]] copies printed. The Jetpack variant itself will be limited to [[http://www.jetpackcomics.com/index.html only 750]] copies.
* Anchor Bay is infamous for this. The sheer amount of Limited Editions they've released for the ''Franchise/EvilDead'' and ''Franchise/{{Halloween}}'' movies is mind-boggling.
** The Evil Dead films are likely the best example of this trope. Excluding the VHS/DVD releases from Elite Entertainment (who owned the rights to the films before Anchor Bay), Evil Dead and its sequel were released four separate times for DVD, and will be released in 2010 as a deluxe Blu-Ray set. Every DVD release has had features that are unique, plus special packaging for each.
*** And now Anchor Bay no longer owns ''Franchise/EvilDead 2''. Lionsgate is releasing a 25th Anniversary Blu Ray.
* Each ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' movie was released as a vanilla DVD followed by a four-disc special edition a couple of months later. ''Advertised in the 2 disc set, no less'', eloquently informing the buyer that, yes, they stink. A couple years later, Limited Edition versions of the films were released, containing a brand-new documentary on each disc, which also featured the standard and extended editions. Yet, there's still more deleted footage that hasn't shown up on any edition yet.
** As a knowing nod to the double-dip, the [[DVDCommentary director's commentary]] on that four-disc special edition features joking comments by Creator/PeterJackson that more features and footage will be in the (fictional?) 25th Anniversary Version.
** The first Blu-Ray set contained nothing more than the theatrical version of each movie in HD, and the bonus features that accompanied those versions' initial DVD releases. A 15-disc box set of the extended versions came a little over a year later.
* The special edition of ''Film/{{Memento}}'' (released a year after the VanillaEdition) added the ability to watch the movie in chronological order...despite the fact that this was already possible via an EasterEgg on the original DVD. In other words, a special edition counting entirely on the idea that ViewersAreMorons.
* The ''Franchise/StarWars'' movies have been released several times over the years in numerous editions (although, many of them have been double-dip releases). The various [[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Limited-Star-Wars-Executor-Collectors/dp/B000QVT2PM VHS releases]] of the films contained a boatload of extra material, including BTS documentaries, trailers, and (in the case of the laserdisc edition) a hardcover book chronicling Lucas' work. Some editions are the original theatrical films from with nothing more then video and sound clean up, no actual changes. All six films were released on Blu-Ray in a massive collection, complete with even more BTS footage that hasn't seen the light of day until now.
* ''Film/AlmostFamous'' was available in the regular edition (theatrical release only) and a 2-disc plus audio CD "Bootleg edition"- 3-hour director's cut with commentary, Cameron Crowe's original "Rolling Stone" articles, theatrical version, and half a dozen songs by the film's [[ShowWithinAShow fictional band]].
* When the film ''Film/BladeRunner'' turned 25, a new DVD set came with just about every conceivable version version of the film - the original, the director's cut, the final cut and a raw edition/workprint with no music and bluescreens everywhere. It also came with some nice Feelies like a holographic plate and a keyring. This was partly in response to [[BrokenBase debate]] in the fanbase over which of the many editions was better. [[NetworkToTheRescue Studio to the rescue]]!
* The ''Ultimate [[Film/TheMatrix Matrix]] Collection'' is perhaps the Holy Grail of the Ultimate Special Collector's Edition concept: not only do you get all three films, but the [[DVDCommentary DVD commentaries]] on each film are provided by well-known members of the philosophical communities -- along with seven extra discs providing a massive art gallery, almost sixteen hours of 'behind the scenes' documentaries, ''The Animatrix'' (an anthology of nine short films), and an extremely-detailed archive of production assets, music videos, TV spots, and concept artwork. When it says 'Ultimate Matrix Collection', that's exactly what you're getting.
** If you can believe it, there were three different variations of the "Ultimate Collection: the regular version, a set that came with a collectible bust of Neo, and a Hot Toys exclusive version with a ''massive replica of the Nebuchanezzar''.
* Warner Home Video releases several films in "Ultimate Collector's Editions," which package the movie together with such memorabilia as books and soundtracks. In an irksome move, the initial Blu-Ray releases of some movies (such as ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'', and ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'') are released '''only''' as Ultimate Collector's Editions, which means consumers who want HD versions of certain films have to fork over about $70 or wait months until Warner releases the discs by themselves.
** Additionally, Warner has started pulling movies out of print months before they receive Ultimate Collector's Editions, making the old, cheaper versions harder to find.
** An Amazon-exclusive version of the ''Film/CitizenKane'' 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition added a DVD of Creator/OrsonWelles' second movie, ''Film/TheMagnificentAmbersons'', to the large array of extras. This marked the first time ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' became available to own on DVD.
* Disney does this as well, releasing films such as ''Disney/TheLionKing'' and ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' as "Platinum Edition" [=DVDs=], then later as "Diamond Edition" Blu-Ray Discs. That's not even counting the films released for a limited time, before they're [[IfYouCallBeforeMidnightTonight "sealed in the Disney vault]] [[BlatantLies for the last time"]].
** Disney is also fond of combining "Special Edition" and "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Vault Disney Vault]]" hype into the even more meaningless "Now available ''for the first time ever'' on '''two'''-disc DVD!" referring to a movie that has already been released as a '''one'''-disc DVD, often with decent special features.
** Disney ''does'' play the trope straighter than most with the Disney Vault, keeping their movies rotating in and out of circulation constantly. So yeah, that movie heading into the Vault will be back... but not until enough kids have been born who've never gotten to see the movie and whose parents can be counted on to buy it for them. If you want to buy it in the mean time, better find someone who stocked up on copies and hasn't sold them all yet, because they're legitimately not making any more for now.
*** Keep in mind any movie that's in "the vault" can probably be bought at an online retailer any time you want. Gotta love a company that resorts to fearmongering (buy it now or you won't have a chance for years!) to sell [=DVDs=].
** Sometimes, Disney also releases [[UpToEleven pricey box sets]] of the Diamond Editions. ''Disney/SnowWhite'' had one containing a book and some drawings and pins, and ''The Lion King'' had 3-D, Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital Copy versions packaged with DVD and Blu-Ray copies of the sequels inside a drum.
** Disney is also fond of doing a variation on this ''before the movie is even out on video'': They're the owners of Hollywood's [[http://elcapitan.go.com/ El Capitan Theater]], and screenings of their movies there usually feature a bevy of bonus stuff that you'd never see at any other venue. Beyond the sheer appeal of seeing the movie in a huge, ornate [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movie_palace movie palace]], they usually open several days early, have the El Capitan decked out in decorations themed to the film, feature a special live appearance by character(s) from the featured movie, and for an extra fee, you can eat breakfast with a character before your screening. Needless to say, tickets are rather high-end. This is probably the only instance of a Limited Edition that really ''is'' limited; once the movie exits theaters, you probably won't ever see that extra stuff again.
* Almost anything released by the CriterionCollection counts as a Limited Collector's Edition. Films ranging from ''Film/{{Armageddon}}'' all the way to masterpieces like ''Film/TheSevenSamurai'' and ''Film/TheLastEmperor'' have received extravagant presentations, some sets even spanning three or four discs. This dates all the way back to the laserdisc era, when Criterion pioneered the "Special Edition" releases of classic films like ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'' and ''Film/CitizenKane''. Some Criterion laserdisc releases (like ''Film/TheFisherKing'' and ''Film/PulpFiction'', for example) have contained extras that have never been ported to the DVD format. Another great example is the Criterion set for Terry Gilliam's ''Film/{{Brazil}}'', which has ''three'' different cuts of the movie just to drive home the suckness of ExecutiveMeddling.
** The Criterion releases of the classic Danielle Darrieux PeriodPiece ''The Earrings of Madame de...'' and the sci-fi film ''TheManWhoFellToEarth'' included hard copies (paperback) of the novels they were based on.
* The ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' films may be one of the heavyweights of this trope, as they have been released in various collector's editions over the years. One of the earliest was the "[[http://www.flickr.com/photos/16175770@N00/2805967982 Facehugger]]" [[http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartgibson/2805966878/in/photostream/ boxset]], a VHS release that contained the letterbox versions of the films, the Making Of ''Film/{{Alien 3}}'', pins, a certificate of authenticity and a pass to the Alien War attraction in England. This was all contained in a box that had a facehugger wrapped around the frame of the case it was stored in. The ''Alien Legacy'' boxset included rare collector cards, the ''Alien Quadrilogy'' boxset put all four films in a nine-disc set (complete with a Japanese variant that had an Alien head bust), and currently the ''Alien Anthology'' set, which basically takes every extra feature from all the past releases and puts it together in a case that is [[RuleOfCool an alien crawling around a facehugger egg]].
* Similar to the above, ''Film/{{Predator}}'' had a box with special editions of the then-two movies plus ''Film/AlienVsPredator''... [[http://www.zetaminor.com/images/news_pictures_2006/predator_head_set_450.jpg in a replica of the creature's head.]]
* ''{{Showgirls}}'' was re-released as a "VIP Edition" which included, among other things: Shotglasses, playing cards, a "pin the pasties on the topless Elizabeth Berkeley" game, drinking game rules, a commentary track by a creepy superfan of the movie, and a short lapdancing tutorial from two girls of Scores. It's all part of the publisher's attempt to re-market the movie as a ''[[Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow Rocky Horror]]''-esque {{camp}} classic.
* ''The Ultimate Superman Collection'' is actually in a much similar close-to-perfection status as ''The Ultimate Matrix Collection'', mentioned above, is (they are produced by the same company, so perhaps not so surprising). Contains the obvious files, namely the four Creator/ChristopherReeve films, ''Film/SupermanReturns'', and expanded editions of ''Film/{{Superman}}'' and ''Film/SupermanII'', but also a boatload of extras including ''Superman and the Molemen'', the psuedo-pilot to ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSuperman'', a formerly unreleased pilot to a rejected children's show known as ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSuperpup'', remastered WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons, and tons of other interviews and documentaries that only the most hard-core fans would actually bother watching. This set later came to Blu-Ray as ''The Superman Motion Picture Anthology'', containing all of the above ''and'' a rare alternate opening to ''Superman Returns''. They even managed to upgrade some of the bonus features to HD, along with the movies.
* ''Film/KingdomOfHeaven'' has two versions: The normal, two-disc one, and the 4-disc Director's Cut. Two of the four Director's Cut discs contain a massive documentary on the film, along with other special features. It's also [[VindicatedByCable Vindicated By Video]].
* Wanna buy ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' on DVD? God help your ''patience''. The VanillaEdition was out on [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic Earth Day, 2010]], but unless you wanted all the normal features of a DVD, you had to wait until November, and then you could get the awesome 3-Disc DVD.
** And the 3-Disc version has the first 2 discs both having ALL 3 MOVIES, with the only difference being a special feature on the second disc.
** [[ButWaitTheresMore But wait]], what if you want the 3-D version with glitzy glasses and awesome 3-D effects? Wait until ''next year'', and then you can have your glasses.
*** And guess what? You can only experience it if you buy a '''Panasonic''' 3-D TV, because they bought the exclusive rights to release it on 3-D Blu-Ray. Or you can buy it much cheaper, that is if you call buying it for $400 and two pairs of 3-D glasses 'cheap',
* ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'', as expected for Square's most prolific cash cow, has seen no less than three releases (at least in the west). The basic version already included some interesting and typical special features, but the later collector's edition added the ''Last Order'' [=OAV=], a short tie-in novel, and some artwork cards. Then at last came ''Advent Children Complete'', a re-cut of the movie with a new soundtrack in places, reordered and additional scenes to add to character development (and fill plot holes), and extended fight scenes even ''more'' than they already were.
* The first two ''AmericanPie'' films were released multiple times over the years, to the point that if you wanted all the extras (and a documentary), you had to buy the films multiple times. The original film was first released in a Collector's Edition (in rated and unrated formats), then in an "Ultimate Edition" (also rated/unrated, with a few extra features that weren't available on the previous release), and finally as a package with a (now out-of-print) documentary called "Beneath The Crust" (which had deleted scenes and extra footage you couldn't get anywhere else). That's not even taking into account the rare "Trilogy" boxset that came with a limited edition t-shirt!
* Both ''Film/BatmanBegins'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' had several bonuses that could only be received from different retail stores. BB was released in vanilla, two-disc (which came with a limited edition comic book) and limited edition sets (which had a USB drive, sneak peek at ''The Dark Knight'', postcards and a lenticular print). Going to Target or Best Buy would get you different sets of postcards (and with Best Buy, you would also get a extra lenticular print), and buying the set on Blu-Ray would get you an additional comic book as well.
** TDK needs its own bullet point, because there are an ungodly amount of exclusive items that are only available in certain regions, and may make the film one of the largest examples of this trope in action (barring any additional releases in the future). Buying the film at any one of the various U.S. brick-and-mortar stores would either get you a special "Joker Journal" and Joker playing card (Circuit City), a special mini-Joker or mini-Batman collectible head (Best Buy), a special comic book and Two-Face replica coin (Wal-Mart), Batman head packaging (Target), or miniature Bat-Pod Blu-Ray set. Plus, there was a special "Screening Edition" that was only out to Academy Award voters (that came in a custom-made attache case), and a German Blu-Ray set that had a piece of lucite with the Batpod etched in it!
** And now ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' pushes it even further, complete with a [[http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71vIUhS8MPL._AA1500_.jpg "Bat Cowl" edition]].
* ''TheSoundOfMusic'' Limited Edition Collector's Set includes two copies of the movie (one Blu-Ray and one DVD), a bonus Blu-Ray that contains over 12 hours of bonus features (ranging from special documentaries from the movie's 30th and 40th anniversaries, to features about Austria itself and the other RodgersAndHammerstein musicals), a 17-song CD, a souvenir program, a production scrapbook, and a music box.
* When ''Film/{{Underworld}}'' first came out on DVD, it was labeled as the "Special Edition", despite not having much extras and, absurdly, being the ONLY edition available. Despite this, an "Unrated Extended Cut" was released six months later anyway.
* ''Film/{{Help}}'' was released in a special collectors' edition (costing £50 as opposed to £15 for the standard edition) which came in an A4 (210mm*297mm)*50mm box; for that extra £35 one got reproductions of the lobby cards, publicity posters and shooting script, plus a "Making Of" book.
* Creator/{{Pixar}} get down to this a bunch:
** ''WesternAnimation/WallE'' was sold by Amazon UK in a special exclusive edition with a matching slinky. At least they didn't charge any extra for it.
** Some copies of ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'' came with a working replica of the Luxo Jr. lamp seen in Pixar's VanityPlate, with a base that could display up to eight Blu-Ray Discs. (By the time of this set's release, six Pixar movies received Blu-Ray releases, and a compilation of HD shorts came out as well.)
** After ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'' came to Blu-Ray and DVD, the ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'' trilogy received a 10-disc set[[note]]containing Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital Copy versions of each movie and the extra features disc of ''Toy Story 3''[[/note]] packaged in a replica of Andy's toy box.
*** Despite the high disc count, the door still seems open for ''another'' LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition of the trilogy; the 3-D versions and some of the extras from 2000's "Ultimate Toy Box" DVD are not included.
** Do you want [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005AUWY4A/ 11 discs]] of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'' movies?
* Not only the Film/JamesBond series gets some rereleases (''Film/CasinoRoyale'' itself has the one, two, and three disk editions)... but a few decide to offer the first 22 movies [[http://www.cashgenerator.co.uk/action-adventure/james-bond-attache-case-44-dvd-box-rare-new-sealed-hs497 in a case]] (a model known in some countries as a "007 case", to increase the pun) instead of a box.
* The "Dream Machine Suitcase" edition of ''Film/{{Inception}}'' is one of the rare cases that has variations between the different regional releases (making some versions ''more'' limited than others). The base set includes a Blu-Ray combo pack, spinning top replica, PASIV (the suitcases used in the film) manual and art cards. The German edition is the only one that includes steelbook packaging for the film itself (in addition to the standard briefcase). The Canadian version has different art cards, and it (along with the U.S. edition) include a physical copy of the prequel comic (''[[http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/inception-comic.html The Cobol Job]]'') that is not included on any other release.
* In the US, ''Planet Terror'' and ''Death Proof'' were initially released separately on DVD, minus nearly all of the fake trailers. Fans who wanted the full ''Film/{{Grindhouse}}'' experience they got in theaters had to wait for the Blu-ray version, [[NoExportForYou despite it being available in Japan on DVD.]]
* Did you avoid the VanillaEdition of ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'' in favor of the "Director's Cut?" Well, you can buy that one and find a flyer inside advertising an ''even bigger'' version of the film with the animated "Black Freighter" footage included! D'oh!
** Then, years later, Warner re-released the Ultimate Cut and Motion Comics together with the theatrical version and a hardcover copy of the original comic.
* The ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' films have gone a bit round and round on this one. The first film had the standard two-disc edition with decent features, a Usefulnotes/{{Walmart}} [[BlessedWithSuck "exclusive"]] single-disc edition with pretty much no features, a Target three disc edition with fan-specific features on the bonus disc, and a Borders two disc collector's edition with exclusive features on the second disc, in addition to the normal ones. ''New Moon'' went a bit overboard, with the standard two-disc, the Walmart "Ultimate Fan" edition, the Borders two-disc, the Target two-disc, the Best Buy metal case. And there wasn't one edition with everything (unless they put it on the bluray) - for instance, the Target edition had deleted scenes, while the Borders edition had the extended scenes. ''Eclipse'' was pulled back a bit, with just a couple of collector's edition, with the Borders-style one being released by Target, for some reason, and a bit less of the features-dispersal.
* ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' had a quite decent DVD release...if you didn't count the llamas on the cover and River looking nothing like herself at all. But the features were quite nice. When the Collector's Edition was released, Creator/JossWhedon referred to "new key art" as one of the major draws...and he was absolutely right. Plus there were many nifty new features.
* The last five entries in the ''Film/HarryPotter'' film series are released in a vanilla edition and a two disc edition with more features. Then come the [[http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Ultimate-Edition-[=DVDs=]/lm/R1LJS1G4R1HR9D Ultimate Editions]]: three disks (two for the fifth and sixth movies) featuring an extended cut and more extras, a book, and trading cards in a neat packaging. Then, in December 2011, all versions of each ''Harry Potter'' movie went out of print, with a set containing all eight movies and ''even more'' bonus features in 2012.
** The "Wizard Edition" mentioned above comes to 31 discs: DVD, Blu-Ray, digital copy, additional features, various collectibles, and a really nifty box. At [=CostCo=], it was actually [[SubvertedTrope cheaper]] than buying the films individually.
*** A cheaper version called the Harry Potter Hogwarts Collection was released in 2014 that also contains 31 disks but without all the physical extras and in a slightly less nifty box.
** Even before the series was over, by the sixth movie there was a Blu-Ray box set [[http://www.amazon.com/Potter-Hogwarts-Blu-ray-Includes-including/dp/B00319EX4G housed in a replica of Hogwarts castle]] (with empty room for the upcoming films).
* ''Film/TheLastAirbender'' has three Blu-ray releases - a barebones edition with just the movie on a single Blu-ray Disc, a two-disc version with the movie and special features on the Blu-ray, plus a DVD version that also had a digital copy, and the Blu-ray 3D version, containing just the 2D and post-converted 3D versions of the movie on a single disc with no special features. The 3D version was only available at Best Buy for a time.
* The movie version of ''Theatre/WestSideStory'' has a Special Edition DVD containing an hourlong documentary, an option to watch the movie with intermission (left off of older VHS and laserdisc copies), some trailers and storyboards, and even a copy of the screenplay. The 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-Ray dropped the screenplay, but added a commentary with StephenSondheim, some more interviews, plus a CD of cover songs and a book with biographies of cast and crew members. Unfortunately, each of these sets presents the movie with a different kind of DigitalDestruction, making them less desirable to fans.
* The ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Phase One: Avengers Assembled'' set consists of a silver briefcase containing Blu-Ray Discs of the movies that [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel Studios]] released from 2008-2012, 3D copies of the movies released from 2011-2012, a disc of never-before-seen deleted scenes, previews of upcoming movies, files on some of the films' superheroes, and a replica of the tesseract.
* ''Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes'': Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox released 'The Ultimate Collection' a set of everything in the franchise up to that point:the original films, the two TV series,the Tim Burton remake,a couple documentaries and some bonus booklets packaged inside a bust of the character of Caesar. It remains to be seen if they'll do another after the reboot films are all out or not.
** They've done several releases of the original films as well, both on video and later on DVD. The Legacy Collection, 5 movie collection (with RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes) or the 40th Anniversary collection are all good for those who can't afford the big set.
* The ''Creator/AlfredHitchcock Masterpiece Collection'' Blu-Ray set came in [[http://www.hitchcockwiki.com/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcock:_The_Masterpiece_Collection_-_Universal_(Blu-ray,_UK,_2012) two flavors]] in the UK. Both include all 14 of the Hitchcock-directed movies in Creator/{{Universal}}'s library (among others, ''Film/RearWindow'', ''Film/{{Vertigo}}'', and ''Film/TheBirds'') and hours of bonus features. The more expensive one adds reproductions of storyboards, script pages, correspondance, concept art, and posters. Americans didn't get any of the reproductions, but ''did'' get an option to watch ''Vertigo'' with its original theatrical soundtrack, plus another disc, containing ''Film/NorthByNorthwest'' (which actually belongs to Creator/WarnerBros) and a handful of additional bonus features.
* ''Film/ForrestGump'' got a 15th Anniversary box set that not only had the movie, on either DVD or Blu-Ray, but also a feather bookmark, a production booklet, and it came in a box that looked like a box of chocolates and had a sheet on the inside that was scented like chocolates.
* ''Film/TheTenCommandments'' has a gift set that comes in a box with a picture of the Red Sea. "Part" open the box, and find a reproduction of the eponymous tablets, which opens to reveal the movie on both Blu-Ray and DVD, a Blu-Ray of the 1923 silent film, and a 75-minute documentary on both Blu-Ray and DVD. The set also comes with a book about the making of the movie, costume sketches, and various mementos.
* ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'' had a 50th anniversary gift set containing a Blu-Ray of the movie sourced from a 4K restoration, two discs' worth of extra bonus features, a coffee table book, a CD of the soundtrack, and one frame of a 70mm print.
* ''PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' had two great examples: as a trilogy, [[http://www.discshop.se/img/filmer_foton/piratesdvdpromo.jpg one shaped like the Pirate Code]] (with the movies themselves in a replica of Jack Sparrow's compass); once TrilogyCreep set in, [[http://www.flix66.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Pirates-Box-Set.jpg a treasure chest]].
* Unlike most other media, books are objects whose physical qualities are important to their appreciation. When something first hits the shelves, its earliest editions will be in the larger and more durable trade hardback format, which tends to inexplicably cost about two or three times as much as a pocket paperback. In the more rarified realms of the literary market, there also exists the leatherbound book, which can sell for well above U.S. $100 for a typical novel.
** There are a few reasons why the trade hardbacks cost so much more: they obviously cost more to make, they take up more space than the paperbacks and therefore they can't store as many, and they know the day-one-purchase customers won't mind spending more.
* ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'': Numerous rereleases of The Bad Beginning, including one priced higher than the thirteen-book box set. Also, the box sets, which have exclusive artwork. The new paperbacks are aversions because they're much better for about half the price.
* J.R.R. Tolkien's work is a really big offender here: at least five editions of ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', three of ''Literature/TheHobbit'', and two of ''TheSilmarillion'' all have some sort of "bonus content", including (but most likely not limited to) introductions by noted authors, footnotes detailing the writing of the book in question, character indexes with extra backstory, and being really shiny.
** One reason for so many editions is that unauthorized editions were printed up by unscrupulous publishers. J. R. R. Tolkien spent some time fixing copyright problems to stop this. Famous words on back of the Ballantine or "Hippie Edition":
---> "This paperback edition, and no other, has been published with my consent and co-operation. Those who approve of courtesy (at least) to living authors will purchase it, and no other." ''J. R. R. Tolkien''
** And then of course you have the various "anniversary" collector's editions, each with their own artwork. The 35th anniversary edition was famous for being illustrated by then-unknown Alan Lee.
** Tolkien also re-released ''Literature/TheHobbit'' with revised and extended description of Gollum's cave, since Bilbo [[OrwellianRetcon "lied"]] about how he came to possess the ring; the original version actually contradicts the premise of LOTR, since Gollum simply gives the Ring to Bilbo and leads him out of the cave.
* A new and improved version of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'' released advertised sparkly new content from Jo Rowling- which turned out to be a single sketch of Snape. Ouch.
** The ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]]'' special edition seems to have had little more than some new art added. It's still pretty nice, though.
* ''HisDarkMaterials'' was re-released for the film in a complete collection with new material detailing what Will and Lyra did, will do, or might do, depending on how canon you take it.
* The Easton Press produces fine leather-bound collector editions of books. These are specially made for bookcollectors and come in landmark series like ''The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written'', ''Library of the Presidents'' and ''Great Books of the 20th Century''
* ''The Last Hope'', the GrandFinale of ''Literature/WarriorCats'', has an "Enhanced Edition" e-book available for purchase alongside the VanillaEdition. The Enhanced Edition contains videos of the author talking about the series, an [[PreviewPiggybacking excerpt of the fifth Super Edition]], ''Yellowfang's Secret'', notes that reveal things such as [[WhatCouldHaveBeen ideas that never made it into the book]] and an exclusive game.
* Subterranean Press's limited edition of Creator/JoeHill's ''Literature/{{NOS4A2}}'' comes with an exclusive alternate ending as well as an entire novella that was cut from the original manuscript.
* Centipede Press's limited edition of StephenKing's ''Literature/SalemsLot'' came with some then-exclusive deleted scenes that King removed from the text. A trade edition with them was later released.
** ''Literature/TheStand'' has the original (already fairly huge) version, then a later release adding ~400 pages left out of the original, along with a few minor revisions.
[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* For the DVD releases of the new ''Series/DoctorWho'' series, three or four episodes at a time are released on '{{vanilla|edition}}' [=DVDs=] with no extras just a month or so after broadcast, with full series [=DVDs=] with lots of extras being saved for later.
** There are also various limited special editions ''of the boxed sets themselves''. [[http://www.timelash.com/tardis/display.asp?1584 Series three]] had a normal version, and two retailer exclusive sleeves for Amazon.co.uk and Woolworths (the Cyberman head was a previous Amazon exclusive, the TARDIS box was used for all early S1 boxes).
** The earlier stories "The Five Doctors" and "Remembrance of the Daleks" were both released twice on DVD in the UK. The original DVD of "The Five Doctors" was one of the very first DVD releases of BBC shows to test the market, had no special features at all, featured an new "extended cut" version of the story that is to say the least controversial among fans, and is not officially considered part of the Who DVD release programme. The original DVD version of "Remembrance of the Daleks" had a notorious blooper in which the first and most spectacular use of the "glowing skeleton" Dalek extermination effect was left out because of a remastering error, and also had relatively few special features by later standards. Both stories came out a second time in 2008 and 2009 respectively with much more special features.
** Almost all of the DVD releases from the first two years of the release schedule were later re-released with improved picture quality and new special features, along with a couple of other famous stories released later.
** ''Spearhead From Space'' will end up with three different [=DVD=] editions: the original one, the expanded version released in the ''Mannequin Mania'' box, and a 2013 UsefulNotes/BluRay edition (as the only story made entirely on film other than the 1996 TV movie, it won't look rubbish in HD).
** 2013 saw the release of a humungous "Regeneration" box set containing every Doctor's final story from "The Tenth Planet" to "The End of Time" along with a coffee-table book. Exploitatively, it was released well in advance of the standalone "Tenth Planet" DVD.
* The re-release of the first season of ''Series/TwentyFour'' (with added commentaries, alternate endings, deleted scenes and short films). The set was first released as a barebones edition to bring in more viewers before the second season première in 2002.
* ''Series/{{Lost}}'' has the [[http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Lost:_The_Complete_Collection_%28DVD%29 box set with all the seasons]], in a fancy-looking box, with lots of {{Feelies}} and an extra disk of behind-the-scenes material.
* Several volumes of ''MST3K'' have mini-statues of the robots like Tom Servo and Gypsy. The 20th Anniversary Edition had the movies, retro-mini posters (standard) and a Crow mini-statue inside a tin case.
** One of their most interesting ''MST3K''-related release was a special edition DVD of ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S04E24ManosTheHandsOfFate "Manos" The Hands of Fate]]'', which not only contained the actual episode, but also [[Film/ManosTheHandsOfFate the uncut original movie]], two documentaries (one an interview with the MST3K cast and another the ''Hotel Torgo'' documentary) and the short featured on the episode reconnected with its first half.
* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' had a very good dvd release, with many commentaries, documentaries, a gag reel, etc. The bluray release, in addition to all the old features and remastered episodes, included a roundtable and extra commentary.
* ''Series/TheManFromUNCLE'' somewhat subverts this, because the box set release, done up with a case resembling a metal briefcase and with over 10 hours' worth of extras on two extra DVD's including the movie version of the pilot episode, ''is'' the standard (and only) version of this release on DVD. In fact, the individual seasons have never been made officially available as such; fans wanting a particular season are compelled to search on sources such as eBay or Amazon for sellers who have an individual-season box set (probably removed from the overall collection) for sale.
** This also became the first way to get the separate seasons from ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' as Time-Life and Creator/ShoutFactory had released a massive box set of two box sets, the first collecting all three seasons of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' and the second ''Series/PowerRangersZeo'' to ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy''. Both sets are now available separately but for a while this was the only way to get both sets. The massive box set also came with a figurine of Armored Red Ranger (re: Red Ranger with the Green Ranger's gear). Shout Factory also released two more box sets with the third containing ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'' to ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'' and the fourth ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'' to ''Series/PowerRangersRPM''. Unlike the above, there doesn't seem to be a Time Life bundle for these remaining sets.
* Creator/ShoutFactory also released a ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' limited edition $650 DVD set called, "Power Rangers Legacy: The First 20 Years", which covers all the seasons of 1993-2013 from ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' to ''Series/PowerRangersMegaforce'' over 92 discs. It also comes with six discs of bonus features (five already appearing on the aforementioned box sets and the last one being an exclusive), a book, and a holder resembling the helmet worn by the red Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. It's limited to 2000 copies.
** As an aside, since otherwise Shout's ''Power Rangers'' license only goes up to the end of the Disney era (IE: ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'') with duty for mass retail home videos of the Creator/SabanBrands era (''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'' onwards) passed off to Creator/{{Lionsgate}}, the ''Samurai'' and ''Megaforce'' discs included on the Legacy collection are exclusive to it, exclusively containing unique CGI DVD menus and the ''Samurai'' episode "Trickster Treat" which Lionsgate has yet to release on home video.
* Paramount has a habit of releasing seasons of TV shows with no bonus features, then releasing the complete series in a boxset with a bonus disc. (eg, ''Series/TheBradyBunch'' has [=DVDs=] containing no extras other than the first season's three commentaries and 15-minute retrospective, while the complete series DVD adds ''[[ReunionShow A Very Brady Christmas]]'', some ''[[WesternAnimation/TheBradyKids Brady Kids]]'' cartoons, and the first episode of ''The Bradys''.)
* Certain record labels (an infamous example you might be familiar with being Roadrunner Records) have become infamous for releasing an album... then releasing it six months later with bonus tracks... then two years later with a bonus DVD... and it's even got to the point where they are releasing albums 10 years later with very little in the way of bonuses. There are currently at least five separate versions of Mercyful Fate's "Melissa" album available, not taking separate mediums into account ([=LPs=], Cassettes) or the astonishing amount of compilations or especially live albums with songs from the album on them. This has become a running joke within the music community to the point where almost no one buys a Roadrunner album upon its release, because they can get it six months later with bonus tracks.
** Music/DreamTheater's newest album is a pretty good example. It hasn't been rereleased with extras (yet...), but on the initial release, three versions were available: The standard album in CD or LP form, a 3 CD version with a disk of cover songs and a disk of instrumental versions of the regular album's songs, and another edition with everything from before, a lithograph from the artist who designed the cover art, a mousepad, and a DVD with isolated tracks for all the audio on the regular album so people could do their own remixes of the songs.
** The "6 months later with bonus tracks" scheme is especially done with R&B and pop music. Several labels will release an album by an artist and then re-release it 6 months later as a "special edition" and release one of the new songs a few months before to radio, basically forcing fans of an artist to buy the album again with the artists' new big hit on it. Sometimes a record company will pull this a ''second time'' by releasing the album with the original tracklist, the 6 tracks from the "special edition" and 2-4 more new tracks just so fans have to buy an artists' album ''again''.
*** And don't try to round it by just buying the new tracks from iTunes or Amazon Music; the record companies will sometimes seal off the new track as being an 'album-only purchase'.
*** British rock bands have gotten in on the "re-release with the new single on it" game. Want "Flux" by Bloc Party, "Kiss of Life" by Friendly Fires or "Heavy in Your Arms" by Music/FlorenceAndTheMachine and don't want to buy the single? Guess what albums you're going to have to buy again?
** There's also been a trend of record labels releasing both a "standard" and a "deluxe" edition for popular music acts at the same time. The deluxe editions usually have different artwork and anywhere from 2-10 extra tracks. Sometimes there'll also be bonus videos of the making of the album, music videos, track-by-track commentary, interviews etc.
* ''13 Tales from Urban Bohemia'' by The Dandy Warhols had a 4 song 2nd disc included in the first pressing.
* ''Renegades'' from Rage Against the Machine also had a second disc included in the first pressing.
* FaithNoMore 's Album Of The Year had a weird variation. The original release of the album had the regular version and a 2CD version with a bonus remix disc. The Japanese version featured two non-album tracks added to the end. A German Limited edition called "Competition Edit" added the two Japanese bonus tracks plus four remixes to the end of the first disc. These remixes were different to those on the 2CD bonus disc. So, if you wanted to, you could round up all the tracks by combining the disc from that version with the second disc of the 2CD edition, and have no repetition, but you would have to buy both releases to do it.
* There's a super-limited expensive version of {{Paramore}}'s third album, ''Brand New Eyes''. Acoustic B-Sides, vinyl record, DVD, the works.
* Music/TheSmashingPumpkins (well, [[RevolvingDoorBand the newest version of the group]]) did the same with their seventh album, ''Zeitgeist'', to a ridiculous extent: there are six versions of the album, the bonuses of which are all exclusive. (Ironically, you can't get the song ''Zeitgeist'' unless you buy it at Target.)
** In a similar case of irony, you can't get the song "The Colour and the Shape" on the album ''The Colour and the Shape'' (both by Music/FooFighters, by the way) unless you get the 10th anniversary edition of the album. Like the Pumpkins' ''Zeitgeist'', it includes six bonus tracks; unlike ''Zeitgeist'', they're all on the same version of the album.
* A few DefLeppard albums were like this. For instance, the greatest hits compilation Vault had different tracks on the US, European, and Japanese releases; granted, the lineups were altered to reflect which songs had been hits in which region, so it made a bit more sense that regional albums be tailored, given that some songs that had been top tens in one country barely scratched airplay in others. And the Japanese releases also get bonus tracks not available on the other editions in order to encourage Japanese fans to purchase the domestic edition rather than import other copies. But then the YEAH! album got even worse than all this, mirroring examples above by having bonus tracks that were different depending on if you purchased it via iTunes, Target, Best Buy, or Wal* Mart.
* Sony Records started re-releasing famous albums on major anniversaries of their original release (10th or 25th mostly) with the original album, a bonus CD (usually demos and/or outtakes) and a DVD with a documentary, music videos and some rare/live footage. Examples include ''London Calling'' by TheClash, ''The Holy Bible'' by the ManicStreetPreachers and ''{{Weezer}}'' (The Blue Album) [[SelfTitledAlbum by Weezer]].
* Independant label InsideOut (known in some territories as InsideOut Music) is rather fond of this, regularly releasing enhanced editions of albums simultaneously with the regular editions, as well as far more lavish special editions of older albums by their more notable bands.
* A great example of a collector's edition done well is John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton. It contains both the 1966 Mono version and the 1969 stereo remix, it features early recordings of the band, done at the BBC and also early singles and promotional material. You also find alternate takes on songs and even earlier versions of them. Last but not least you get multiple live tracks with the band. You also get a great booklet, detailing the band and also a copy of the original CD booklet. Plus the [=CDs=] themselves are modeled to look like old [=LPs=].
* SufjanStevens' ''Songs for Christmas'' collection got the deluxe box-set treatment: 5 discs, 40 pages of liner notes (including guitar tabs for most of the songs and short stories), an animated music video, a poster with a full-page comic strip on the back, and stickers. There was no VanillaEdition of ''Songs for Christmas''--most of the songs had leaked to the internet a year beforehand, and one suspects that this deluxe treatment was done to give fans some incentive to pay for songs they had already downloaded.
** Similarly, his soundtrack for ''The B.Q.E.'' can either be purchased as a CD / DVD combo pack (including the soundtrack album, the complete film... and a Viewmaster reel) or as a vinyl album (with an accompanying comic book).
* Concept-album Prog Rock band Coheed and Cambria does this, sort of:
** ''The Second Stage Turbine Blade'' has three extra songs; the epic "Elf Tower New Mexico", an acoustic demo version of "Junesong Provision", the demo version of "Everything Evil" and the bonus song "IRO-Bot" moved to it, from the original final song "Godsend Conspirator".
** The band's latest album, ''Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume 2: No World For Tomorrow'', has two versions, both with the same artwork on the front and back: the cheap one, with a thin cardboard CD case; and the expensive one, with a large cardboard box featuring a wide, amazing piece of artwork depicting various portions of a Sci-Fi battle that takes place sometime during the album's storyline, as well as a DVD showing a "Making-Of" video, a collection of photographs, and a bunch of AMAZING acoustic demos, all but one of them featuring semi-animated artwork video (i.e. drawings by the ''The Amory Wars''/''Coheed and Cambria'' artist, with flame effects added in, and pulsing lights, and panning over images)
* Boris and Music/SunnO's collaboration album Altar was released six different times in less than a year, including a single CD release, a double CD release in the US and Japan where both versions include different extra tracks, US and Japan triple LP releases which included DIFFERENT VERSIONS of the same bonus tracks from the CD release, and another 3 LP picture disc release that was sold only at one show in London.
* Music/NineInchNails released the LP set "Ghosts" in 6 different editions, including a vinyl release and a deluxe edition containing 2 CD's, a data-DVD with audio streams broken down for mixing and sampling, a UsefulNotes/BluRay disc of the four albums and an accompanying slideshow, and a 48-page hardcover book. However, the '''Ultra-Deluxe Limited Edition''' was the king, housing everything from the deluxe edition, plus a 4-LP 180 gram vinyl set in a fabric slipcase and two exclusive limited edition Giclée prints, numbered and signed by Trent Reznor.
* Darkwave project Music/SoporAeternusAndTheEnsembleOfShadows released three different versions of their ninth album, ''Les Fleur du Mal'': the CD of the album (~$20), a double-vinyl limited edition (900 copies, ~$60), and a limited edition CD boxset (2000 copies, ~$100) with the album, a 40-page book of lyrics and illustrations, and a 112-page manga about the album.
* The soundtrack for {{Metalocalypse}}, "The Dethalbum", had a special edition that included a few extra songs and some audio skits. This edition was produced in such limited quantities that people were gouging the price at a minimum of $100.
* A few fans were really ticked at how {{Starflyer 59}}'s ''Ghosts of the Future'' and ''Ghosts of the Past'' were handled. Basically, the super deluxe edition (a vinyl box set featuring cool artwork) was released first, and fans who shelled out $60 or more for it under the impression that these tracks were exclusive to this set were less than pleased when the entire shebang was released as a much less expensive vanilla edition CD a year later.
* The reissue of Music/PearlJam's ''Ten'' came in a bunch of versions. A two-CD "Legacy Edition" which came with a remastered version of the original album, a new remixed version of the album and half a dozen bonus tracks. The "Deluxe Edition" added in a DVD of their MTV Unplugged show, and a final "Super Deluxe Edition" had all the other stuff, a vinyl LP copy of the album and remixes, also sold on its own, a recording of a live show on vinyl, a replica of the early PJ demo cassettes, and a replica of Eddie Vedder's lyrics notebook. Admittedly, there were a lot of complaints about the mixing/production of the original album, but ''still''. Keep in mind that they're planning to do something similar for all of their albums, leading up to their 20th anniversary as a band.
* {{Weezer}} started doing this with new albums in 2008: their 2008 SelfTitledAlbum ("The Red Album") had a vanilla version, a deluxe edition with 4 bonus tracks, and a pair of additional bonus tracks for the itunes version, along with different bonus tracks for international versions, and a Japan-exclusive dvd. ''Raditude'' had a similar array of different versions, as well as an iTunes Pass version with remixes, alternate versions and outtakes. To be fair, the physical versions of the regular and deluxe versions for both came out simultaneously, with the deluxe version typically costing only slightly more, but getting absolutely everything including international bonus tracks could still be pricey.
** They also rereleased their debut album (commonly known as "Blue Album") and ''Pinkerton'' in deluxe editions with bonus tracks and an extra disc with b-sides and rarities. The ''Pinkerton'' reissue was even released with a smattering of bonus goodies, including a diorama of the album's artwork, a reprint of the original lyric booklet, and a copy of the compilation ''Death to False Metal.''
* On September 9, 2009, EMI re-issued every album by Music/TheBeatles; the stereo mixes being released standalone and as a box set. A monoaural set (the mono mixes preferred by the band and producer, plus mono mixes of the albums which were originally in stereo... with the albums being "[[http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wU1%2BXEVjL.jpg mini-LPs]]") was planned as a very limited edition with only 10,000 copies planned for release. Massive pre-orders forced EMI to reconsider. When it finally came out, it had sold 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week. In Japan, it sold 20,000. New copies can still be found at online retailers such as Amazon.
* The re-release of Music/TheRollingStones ''Music/ExileOnMainSt.'' got put out in ''four'' different formats. The regular Single-CD version, a Double-Vinyl edition, A Double-CD version featuring 10 bonus tracks to go along with the regular album, or, if you [[CrackIsCheaper really wanted to splurge it]], an Limited-Edition Autographed Version of the album signed by all the band members, which would have set you back around $2000 had you got it when that version was available. A fifth version called ''"Exile On Main St. Rarities Edition"'' which contained just the 10 bonus tracks, is also available at Target.
* Though trumped by the above in cost, the current title-holder for music may be American metal band LambOfGod. Their 2010 anthology ''Hourglass'' comes in 5 versions: a 3-CD set, a US$100 set with all 6 studio albums on USB drives, a US$120 set with all 6 albums on vinyl, a US$260 set with the vinyl albums, USB drives, the 3-CD set, and an art book. And for the truly devoted, there's a US$1000 set with the vinyl albums, USB drives, 3-CD set, the art book, an autographed 8x10 picture, an "Hourglass" sticker, a 4-foot by 6-foot cloth flag...and a Jackson Signature Series Mark Morton guitar.
* The first soundtrack for ''{{Glee}}'' came in three flavors - one basic 17-track CD, one with one additional song, and one with three different additional songs. They did it again for the ''Showstoppers'' album, this time having an additional ''six'' songs, as well as different packaging between the two.
* Rhino Records releases boxed-sets containing (usually) all or a selection of a group's studio albums with alternate versions, b-sides and the like. They've done it with GratefulDead, TalkingHeads, TheDoors, and Music/BlackSabbath, among others. The fact that these sets usually cost upwards of $50 AND are sometimes only part of a band's output is a bit grating, although when some of them include extensive liner notes and surround-sound, it's worth it.
** Rhino also had a sub-imprint, Rhino Handmade, that focused on limited editions (of usually no more than 3000 copies) of rare works of certain artists, or compilations of long out-of-print material. Many of their releases have become collector's items and fetch high prices on eBay. Since 2013, it's been less of a label for rare work than more of a shingle for their collectible mainstream box sets.
* Bauhaus albums have been re-released as Collector's Editions with multiple discs of outtakes, alternate versions of songs and the like. They're all a few cents shy of $30.
* The Special Limited Edition of LadyGaga's ''The Fame Monster'' included both ''The Fame Monster'' and ''The Fame'' as well as an artbook, posters, 3-D glasses, a paper doll, and ''a lock of Gaga's hair''. A second limited edition was a Gaga-shaped USB drive that contained the album, artwork, music videos, and remixes.
* {{U2}} has been a fan of this trope since 2004, and their dedication to it has been steadily increasing.
** 2004: The new album ''How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'' is released in three CD formats: a standard single-CD edition; a Deluxe Edition featuring a bonus DVD with documentary and performance footage; and a Collector's Edition that had an exclusive version of the CD featuring a bonus track (ironically, the song from which the album title was derived) and the DVD from the Deluxe Edition, packaged with a hardcover book. (This does not include the vinyl edition.)
** 2007: The 20th anniversary remaster of their 1987 opus ''The Joshua Tree'' is released in three CD formats: a standard single-CD edition; a Deluxe Edition with a bonus CD of B-sides and rarities, and a box set featuring both [=CDs=], a DVD with documentary and concert footage from the era, a hardcover book, and some photograph prints. There was also a double vinyl edition.
** 2008: The remasters of U2's first three albums, ''Boy'', ''October'', and ''War'', are released, each in two CD formats: a standard single-CD edition with newly expanded liner notes and full lyrics (which were previously not available), and a Deluxe Edition featuring a bonus CD of B-sides and rarities. Again, there were also vinyl editions. Notably, there were no bonus [=DVDs=] or hardcover books released this time.
** 2009, February: The new album ''No Line on the Horizon'' is released in ''four'' CD formats: a standard single-CD edition in a jewel case; a single-CD edition in a digipak with a download link for [[TheFilmOfTheSong The Film of the Album]], ''Linear''; a single CD packaged with a magazine that also included the movie download link; and a box set with the CD, movie download link, and a hardcover book. This is again in addition to a vinyl edition, bringing the total number of physical formats up to ''five''.
** 2009, October: ''The Unforgettable Fire'', their fourth album, is remastered as a 25th anniversary edition, and receives the grand treatment of ''The Joshua Tree'' before it: a standard single-CD edition; a Deluxe Edition with a bonus CD of B-sides and rarities; and a Limited Edition Box Set featuring the two [=CDs=], a DVD with documentary and concert footage from the era, a hardcover book, and five photograph prints.
** 2011: ''Achtung Baby'', widely considered to be U2's best album, is rereleased as a 20th anniversary edition (with "slightly cleaned up" audio as opposed to a full remastering, which the band thought unnecessary). This set the bar higher than any album before it, with five physical formats, including a single-CD edition; a Deluxe Edition with a second CD of B-sides, rarities, and remixes; a quadruple-vinyl edition with the same track listing as the CD Deluxe Edition. The last two examples embody this trope to a T. The Super Deluxe Edition includes ''six'' [=CDs=] (''Achtung Baby'', the follow-up album ''Zooropa'', a CD of just B-sides and rarities, ''two'' [=CDs=] of remixes, and a "Kindergarten" version of the album featuring demo versions of each song in order) and ''four'' [=DVDs=] (the related feature documentary film ''From the Sky Down'', the concert film ''Zoo TV: Live from Sydney'', and two [=DVDs=] of music videos and other documentaries), all packaged in a very large hardcover book with ''16'' equally large prints (each one being one "panel" of the album art). The Über Deluxe Edition then outdid even ''that'', with all the content of the Super Deluxe Edition, plus the vinyl edition of the album, five vinyl singles corresponding with the singles from the album, a series of badges, a special edition of "Propaganda" magazine (modelled on U2's old fan magazine), and a ''replica of Bono's "Fly" sunglasses'', all packaged in a magnetic puzzle tile box.
* DanielAmos. When their out-of-print early albums get reissued on CD, it's almost always as a two-disc deluxe edition, with demos and outtakes and the works. And in these cases, there is no vanilla edition. But for Terry Scott Taylor's 2010 solo album ''Swine Before Pearl'', you could buy the vanilla edition, or you could pay an extra $30 to also get a personalized greeting from Dr Edward Daniel Taylor (Terry's crazy radio preacher alter ego). Or you could pay an extra $100 on top of that, to ''also'' get a personalized original song.
* {{Autechre}}'s ''Quaristice'' had a special edition limited to 1000 copies, with a metal case and a bonus CD, ''Quaristice Versions'', which featured extended and alternate versions of the songs. The Japanese version had the bonus track "Nu-Nr6d".
* The 2006 rerelease of Klaus Schulze's ''Timewind'' had a second disc with the previously unreleased outtakes "Echoes of Time" and "Solar Wind", and the 2000 self-tribute piece "Windy Times". The CD's had a vinyl record-like texture.
* {{Covenant}}'s ''Modern Ruin'' has a limited edition with a bonus EP titled "Wir Sind die Nacht"(We are the Night), which uses samples from the 2010 German horror film of the same name.
* Hoo boy, DavidBowie reissues. Not only have there been quite a few reissues that count as these, some albums have had more than one, and gathering ''all'' the bonus material a particular album's had over the years may well neccessitate much searching and a deep wallet...
** It started in TheNineties. Most of the Rykodisc rereleases of his 1969-80 back catalog over 1990-92 had bonus tracks (alternate takes, demos, unreleased songs, B-sides, etc.), and [=EMI=]/Virgin followed that up by giving his 1983-1989 output the same treatment in 1995.
** At the TurnOfTheMillennium his newest albums had special editions available alongside the standard versions, and most of his solo output from TheNineties had bonus track-heavy and/or 2-disc versions (''Black Tie White Noise'' made it to three discs, but the last was a [=DVD=]). 2-disc reissues of three of his GlamRock albums turned up as well. His first two live albums were given additional tracks and reordered to match the original setlists, and ''Young Americans'' included a bonus [=DVD=] of a 1974 TV interview and performance.
** In TheNewTens, there's been two-disc versions of his first two albums from TheSixties and a ''Station to Station'' reissue that, in Special Edition form, includes two extra discs for his much-bootlegged Nassau Coliseum concert from 1976...and in ''Deluxe'' Edition form includes an additional two [=CDs=] (one with the mix the 1985 CD version had, one with the single versions of the songs), a [=DVD=] with a new surround sound mix of the album, three [=LPs=] for the original album and the concert, and from there such items as replicas of the tour's press kit, the official fan club folder, etc. from this period. And there was a ''third'' special edition reissue of ''The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'' in 2012 (previously, it had been reissued in 1990 and 2002).
* {{Epica}} did this in 2007 with "The Divine Conspiracy" featuring a high-quality hardbound digibook, and again with their 2012 release, "Requiem for the Indifferent." There are a few editions but the super-high-end "Mailorder Edition" includes the album, an instrumental version of the album, postcards featuring album art, and a certificate of authenticity indicating which copy out of a limited run of 500 the customer has received, all wrapped up in a pine box with the Epica logo and album title woodburned into the cover. Interestingly, these may wind up proving valuable in the future, as some early releases went out with an unfinished version of the album's closing track, "Serenade of Self-Destruction", that was missing most of its vocals and so may be considered collectible sometime in the future. Ebay jockeys, start your auctions.
* Fans of Film/TheHungerGames film have at least three soundtrack albums releases to choose from: the "Original Score" CD (which contains ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin - the actual scores for the film), as well as ''two'' different versions of the ''The Hunger Games: Songs From District Twelve and Beyond'', which was a collection of [[CaptainObvious songs]] with vocals all of which either appeared in the film (if only in the closing credits), or were "inspired by" the film. The latter includes some lovely indie rock, folk, etc., by people ranging from Music/TheDecemberists to TaylorSwift (with many critics noting the latter's tracks were more interesting and "mature" than some of her previous releases), and was overall critically well-received. However, its LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition was little more than shameless marketing: the only new ''content'' you get is a download code (!) for a single bonus song, "Lullaby"; everything else is {{feelies}}, but they consist only of "nine collector's cards" (which are really just little more than a nine-piece double-sided puzzle of two of the movie poster designs), and a not-so-exclusive poster, which though nice, is both a common promo poster design and''printed on the back of the song guide''. Which does not have lyrics included, and which by default means it is not a standard poster size, either. Luckily, said "special edition" is only a few bucks more.
* KingCrimson's 1973 album ''Larks' Tongues in Aspic'' was rereleased in 2012 in several versions, the grandest of which came with ''14 [=CDs=]'' of bonus material, claiming to include "every known note" recorded by the relatively short-lived lineup at the time.
** Crimson one-upped themselves the following year with the set ''The Road To Red'', a box set of live shows from between 1972 to 1974, along with new stereo and 5.1 remixes of the 1974 album ''Red'', which spans 24 discs - 21 [=CDs=], 2 [=DVDs=], and 1 Blu-Ray disc.
* The Postal Service's [[OneBookAuthor only album]] ''Give Up'' was re-released as a two CD "10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" in 2013. Disc one is a remastered version of the original album, while disc two collects {{B Side}}s, remixes and other previously released non-album material, as well as featuring two previously unheard songs. Making a pre-order of this version or buying a physical copy at certain record stores also got you {{feelies}} in the form of a postcard set featuring photos of the band.
* Within the same year of its regular US release, Flume's SelfTitledAlbum was re-released in a "Deluxe Edition". It was a fairly generous four disc package, featuring the original album, two discs worth of bonus tracks (comprising a "mixtape" where rappers add vocals to previously instrumental songs from the album, remixes by and of Flume, and a LiveAlbum), and a copy of Ableton Live 9 Lite including tutorials and interactive sessions for three of the album's songs.
* MyChemicalRomance's fourth album ''DangerDaysTheTrueLivesOfTheFabulousKilljoys'' was released with an elaborate package available for pre-order, which included a full-color photo book, replicas of the mask and gun used by one of the characters, a bead bracelet, and a bonus EP.
* Certain machines of the ''Pinball/StarWarsEpisodeI'' pinball had a plaque declaring them "The Final Collector's Series of 100", though there's no other difference between them and the regular tables. Rumor is that they were simply used as a marketing gimmick to sell remaining machines during the closure of Creator/WilliamsElectronics.
* Stern's ''Pinball/TronLegacy'' was released in four different editions, each distinguished by different translite displays on the backbox. The first two releases also allowed operators to install an optional shaker motor in the game cabinet.
* To commemorate its status as the best-selling {{pinball}} machine of all time, Bally released ''[[Pinball/TheAddamsFamily The Addams Family: Special Collector's Edition]]'' in 1994. It included gold elements on the cabinets and playfield, more game quotes, and an expanded set of rules.
* Stern's ''[[Pinball/TheAvengersStern The Avengers]]'' came in four different variations, including a Premium Edition with laser-cut ramps and an all-green "Hulk" Edition with "ramp throwing" action.
* Along with the regular release, ''[[Pinball/SpiderManStern Spider-Man (Stern)]]'' was released in a limited run of 500 "Black Spider-Man" tables, with a different mirrored backglass and chrome metalwork.
* The 2003 machine ''Pinball/TheLordOfTheRings'' got a rerelease in ''2009'' as a Limited Edition, adding gold-plated and brass metalwork, a mirrored gold backglass, support for a shaker motor, and updated software.
* Played with in the case of ''Pinball/DoctorWho'': every game comes with a Dalek topper, but the first 100 units had a version that moved when certain things happened. This proved too expensive to continue, though, so it was discontinued. It's played with because the feature was likely intended from the start, but was removed due to budget limitations.
* In November 2001, Creator/SternPinball and Pinball Sales auctioned off 40 "Platinum Edition" ''Pinball/{{Monopoly}}'' games for the nonprofit charity Boundless Playground. These tables had chrome trimmings signed by Creator/PatLawlor, Creator/JohnYoussi, and Gary Stern, along with a backbox translite autographed by Lawlor, Youssi, Stern, Pinball Sales president Jack Guarnieri, and Hasbro CEO Alan Hassenfeld. The production run of 40 was chosen as one for each space on the Monopoly board.
* Taken as far as possible with Creator/SternPinball's ''Pinball/{{NFL}}'', which was available only in one of nineteen team-specific variations,[[note]]The game was the same, only the backbox translite was different[[/note]] with no "generic" base game.
* Stern's ''Pinball/{{Transformers}}'' machine comes in no less than four different versions: The basic one (called "Pro"), followed by three limited-production versions -- one for the Autobots, one for the Decepticons, and a "Combo" for both factions. The Limited Editions feature exclusive cabinet and translite art, color-coded metalwork, and additional playfield toys and elements.
** There's also ''Transformers: The Pin,'' an InNameOnly version for home markets.
* Zigzagged in Jersey Jack Pinball's ''Pinball/TheWizardOfOz,'' which is already seven grand on its own.
** Played straight with the $9,000 "Emerald City" version, which includes green trim, a mirrored backglass, a shaker motor, flying Winged Monkey, non-reflective glass, motorized Castle gates, and an OLED crystal ball on the playfield that plays various videos during the game.
** Somewhat subverted with the equally expensive "75th Anniversary" edition, which has red metal trim, a tinted mirrored backglass, a new backbox topper, more detailed table elements, and additional playfield toys, such as the Twister and Toto in his basket. However, everything but the metalwork and backglass are available separately, allowing owners to upgrade their existing games to match.
** There are also rumors of a planned "Ruby Red" Edition with rubies and emeralds embedded into the machine. The price has yet to be announced for this version, but it would undoubtedly be astronomical.
* Two years after its release, the ''Pinball/{{NASCAR}}'' pinball was rethemed as ''[[Pinball/DaleJr Dale Jr.]]'', a limited-edition version commemorating racecar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., with only 600 tables made.
* ''Pinball/{{Avatar}}'' received a Premium Limited Edition game, with a shaker motor, marching AMP Suit, additional playfield toys, and a score-doubling ceramic Powerball.
* Along with the basic game, ''[[Pinball/{{ACDC}} AC/DC]]'' was initially available in a Premium Edition, a "Back In Black" Limited Edition, and a "Let There Be Rock" LE. These added an "Underworld" mini-playfield below the main table, LED lights, a moving bell, animated band members in the backbox, and a premium sound system.
** The Limited Editions also include a shaker motor, custom mirrored backglass art, and laser-cut metalwork. Only 200 "Let There Be Rock" and 300 "Back In Black" machines were produced.
** And then in 2014, Creator/SternPinball released the 2014 "Luci" Preimum Edition, an updated version of the Premium table with new backglass and cabinet art centered around a HornyDevil girl.
* ''Pinball/{{Metallica}}'' came in a basic "Pro" edition, as well as two Premium Editions ("Monsters" and "Road Case"), and a "Master of Puppets" Limited Edition with a run of 500 units.
* Creator/SternPinball's ''[[Pinball/MustangStern Mustang]]'' has the "Boss" Premium and "50 Years" Limited Editions, with a modified playfield, drop targets in front of the [=N2O=] targets, a turntable platform with a scale model car, and four additional songs. The Limited Edition also has a powder-coated blue frame.
* ''[[Pinball/StarTrekStern Star Trek]]'' is available in a basic "Starfleet Pro" model, as well as "Vengeance Premium" and "Enterprise Limited Edition" tables. The more advanced models include different backbox translites, more elaborate metalwork and cabinet molding, metal trails instead of plastic ramps, more elaborate LED lighting, color-changing playfield inserts, a vertical up-kicker and a kickback, and a Starfield laser projector.
* Along with the standard version of ''Pinball/FullThrottle'', a "Limited Edition" is available, with extras such as an autographed alternate translite, a shaker motor, an all-red or red/black cabinet (buyer's choice), and fiber optic lighting. Only 250 Limited Edition tables are made, though Creator/HeighwayPinball has plans to sell most of the components separately so "standard" owners can upgrade their tables.
* Customized versions of Creator/SegaPinball's ''Pinball/{{Baywatch}}'' were given to Creator/DavidHasselhoff and the series' producers. These machines included some voice clips not present in commercial tables, including R-rated language and various {{Inside Joke}}s.
* In addition to the basic table, ''[[Pinball/XMenStern X-Men]]'' was available in Wolverine Blue and Magneto Red Limited Editions, featuring custom translite art, color-coordinated metalwork, a magnetic spinning disc and a swing-out Ice Slide. 250 tables of each version were made.
* The Limited Edition of ''Pinball/TheWalkingDead'' adds a fold-out crossbow launcher, an illuminated fish tank with zombie heads, rust-colored metalwork, and a mirrored backglass translite to the basic package.
* Averted with the ''Pinball/BlackKnight'' Limited Edition; it was essentially a second run of the game, with the only differences from the original being a new sticker on the apron and various changes to the wiring and mechanics.
* Creator/WilliamsElectronics' ''[[Pinball/{{Fire}} Fire!]]'' was available in a "Champagne Edition" of 273 tables. These featured a varnished oak cabinet, brushed brass and gold fittings, and rotating "fire" light cylinders in the backbox.
[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 edition had their 3 core rulebooks released in an expensive, black leather bound edition. The books included an official foreword, a red ribbon booklayer and the sides of the pages were colored golden.
** Starting in late 2012, Wizards of the Coast has been releasing special new premium reprint versions of several 3.5e sourcebook - yet another copy of the core rules, plus books like the Spell Compendium and Magic Item Compendium. This about 5 years after they had discontinued 3.5 in favor of 4th Edition... and with 5th Edition ("D&D Next") already visible on the horizon. Yes, the new versions have updated rules errata, but there's a certain... blatant cash-grabby feel about the whole thing (especially given there was a significant chunk of hold-outs who refused to move forward to 4th Edition, or stepped sideways to Pathfinder), especially with that "premium" setting the price point at no less than $50 a pop.
[[folder:Video Games]]
* In general, popular inclusions for a video game's Limited Special Collectors Ultimate Edition now in this era include some combination of a "making of" disc, a soundtrack or soundtrack sampler, a metal disc case, an art collection (either a book or stand-alone files), [[RevenueEnhancingDevices content that is otherwise available via download]], and a figurine of a character from the game.
* For those who wanted to know about the page image: Ladies and gentlemen, I present The ''DukeNukemForever'' [[http://www.slashgear.com/duke-nukem-forever-collectors-edition-revealed-11132924/ Balls of Steel Edition!]]
* The {{Nintendo 64}} had its fair share of games that did this.
** ''VideoGame/ChoroQ 64'' came with an assemblable toy car.
** ''[[Disney/{{Tarzan}} Disney's Tarzan]]'' came with a Tarzan figurine.
** ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'' has a "Collector's Edition Yellow Game Pak". You get a yellow cartridge rather than a regular gray cartridge. (This game has no regular edition; every cartridge of ''Donkey Kong 64'' is yellow!)
** ''VideoGame/ExtremeG'' has a "Special Edition" in Germany that came with a music CD.
** ''VideoGame/{{Gauntlet}} Legends'' came with a Warrior miniature.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''
*** It has a "Collector's Edition" in America and Australia that came with a Gold Cartridge.
*** It has a "Limited Edition" in Germany that came with a Strategy Guide and a shirt (possibly unlicensed).
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask''
*** It has a "Collectors Edition" in America that came with a cartridge that had a holographic label.
*** It has a "Limited Edition Adventure Set" in Europe limited to 1000 pieces that came with a shirt, a watch, a 2 CD soundtrack, a poster, a sticker and 2 pin badges.
** ''[[VideoGame/{{Superman64}} The New Superman Aventures]]'' has a "Collector's Edition" that came with a tie-in comic book.
** ''[[VideoGame/{{Rampage}} Rampage 2: Universal Tour]]''
*** It came with a Rampage Baby, one of three possible plush keychains of George, Lizzie, and Ralph.
*** It came with a shirt.
** ''World Driver Championship'' came with a shirt.
* EA brings us the ''VideoGame/DeadSpace2'' Collectors Edition. It comes with a replica plasma cutter, a special code, the soundtrack and the game (and one other thing). The Replica Plasma Cutter is awesome and actually holdable (and the trigger can be pulled). It's only $80.
* The console version of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' has a Collector's Edition that comes with the game, an art book, an {{OVA}} and the box itself was a diorama featuring C. Viper and Ryu.
* ''{{Painkiller}}'' actually inverts this with their "''Special''" Edition, a budget pack version featuring only 12 of the original game's 20 or so levels, some missing music files and lack of multiplayer. All for $5. They also play it straight, though, with their "''Black''" Edition, which contains the usual extras (a poster and some behind-the-scenes featurettes).
* ''{{Halo 3}}'' came in three editions: the normal edition for $60, the limited edition for $70, and the "legendary" edition for $130, complete with a Master Chief helmet.
** ''Halo Reach'' also has limited and legendary editions. The Legendary Edition features a statue of the [[TheSquad protagonists]] and in-game [[PromotionalPowerlessPieceOfGarbage swag]].To prevent another Halo 3, they're preorder exclusives.
* The Limited Edition for ''JadeEmpire'' came with an extra character model, a different staff model and a making-of video. It cost the same as the regular edition, however. The PC port also came in a "Special Edition" tin, having roughly the same extras as the Limited Edition, but with an art book.
* ''GearsOfWar''. The second game had a Limited Edition that included an art book, an extra DVD with "making of" designs and such, a code to download a golden Lancer for use in multiplayer, and a physical picture that plays an emotional role to the character Dom in the game.
** Aside from the usual limited edition extras, Gears 2 could also be ordered with a FULL-SIZED PLASTIC LANCER RIFLE. Subverted in that you could [[http://www.amazon.com/Gears-Amazon-com-Exclusive-Lancer-Xbox-360/dp/B001CLYL24 buy the rifle separately.]]
* While "Ultimate" in ''VideoGame/UltimateSpiderMan'' refers to [[ComicBook/{{UltimateSpiderMan}} a comic book series]] (which the game is a {{Spinoff}} of and {{Canon}} in the comic book continuity, being plotted by the same writer as a part of the series), there was still a Limited Edition released, with, among other things, a mini-sized Limited Special Collectors Ultimate Edition reprint of the comic introducing Venom.
* Sony and Microsoft liked this strategy so much that they applied it to their systems themselves: both the {{Xbox 360}} and PlayStation3 come in a "basic" version and a more expensive "premium" version.
** To be perfectly honest, this practice dates back to the very earliest of game consoles: it was called a bundle (games, controllers, carrying cases, [[BlatantLies robots]]...). The only difference is that now it covers more important features like hard drives.
** Microsoft have applied it to Windows as well in the form of [[MicrosoftWindows Windows]] Vista "Ultimate", which isn't a game in any normal sense of the word, but certainly fits the description of costing rather more for very few extras, including every feature from every other version, even the Enterprise edition, which is the high-end version for ''business'' users and that version is generally only available to businesses. Windows 7 Ultimate contains a similar range of features to what its predecessor had.
* ''CityOfHeroes'' and ''City of Villains'' have one of these every so often; one example is the "Good vs. Evil Edition", which comes with both games, the [[ExpandedUniverse comic books]] and {{Strategy Guide}}s in digital form, exclusive costumes, and the Jump Jet and Pocket D VIP powers for all your characters. For most of these, you can buy the extra game content as a separate thing on the website.
* WorkingDesigns used to make a living doing this. ''[[VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete]]'' for instance, was not strictly a special edition since there was no VanillaEdition, but it came with a soundtrack, little character stands, a cloth map of the game's world, and even a wearable replica of the game's endgame MacGuffin. Those who pre-ordered the game also got a Ghaleon punching puppet.
** Another deluxe game set from WorkingDesigns, ''{{Growlanser}} Generations'', came with a keychain, a wearable replica of the two game's jewelry-based weapon system, and a steel men's watch. They never skimped on quality.
* ''VideoGame/TheBattleForMiddleEarth 2'' was released in this way. One of the extras is a palette swap of a regular unit.
* The ''VideoGame/BaldursGate 2'' Collector's Edition was released with an extra, bonus merchant available in game, with a second bonus merchant available to those who pre-ordered from the Interplay store or certain retailers. Files enabling both merchants for all players soon became available on the internet, and were eventually included in a patch.
* ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}'' has a special "Collector's Edition" which includes a special case, a "making of" DVD and a Big Daddy figurine. Interestingly both the decision of having a Collector's Edition in the first place as well as what it contained, was decided by fan feedback.
** ''VideoGame/BioShock2'' got this treatment too. With a Vanilla (Game only), "Rapture" (Game with 90-page Art Book, though was only released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand) and Special (Game, 164-page hardcover artbook, Soundtrack CD, Vinyl LP of the first games soundtrack and 3 mini-posters) flavors. The Rapture and Special editions where limited to a single production run too.
* The special three-disc edition of ''MetalGearSolid3: Subsistence'' came with a disc with the game on, a disc with an online game and [[EmbeddedPrecursor revised versions of the first two MSX2 games on it]], and a standard DVD with all the cutscenes and gameplay segments laced together into a ridiculously long spy movie.
** All of the ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' games in Japan (not counting the UpdatedRerelease[=s=]) were sold in a standard barebones edition containing only the game itself, and a "Premium Packaged" filled with additional content such as art books and bonus discs.
* Square loves this. Starting with ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', every major game (AKA: The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' and ''KingdomHearts'' series) has had an "International Version", with new content and, in the games with voice acting, the English voices. Now, this wasn't so bad with [=FF7=], it was merely the added content that was in the U.S release. But by ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' it was several new bosses, a new version of the Sphere Grid, and improved gameplay all around. However, as bad as the ''Final Fantasy'' add-ons are, they're not nearly as bad as the ''KingdomHearts'' ones, called Final Mix. These games not only add a few new bosses, they also add new abilities and a higher, better difficulty level. As if that's not enough, they then put new cutscenes in the games. ''Important'' cutscenes that set up the later games in the series. Oh, and despite being called "International Versions", they weren't released outside of Japan...at least, not until [[UpdatedRerelease HD remasters]] started coming out. America and Europe is getting both ''Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD [=ReMIX=]'' which contains the ''Final Mix'' content for the first ''Kingdom Hearts'', and ''Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster'', which contains the ''International'' content for ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2''.
** Squaresoft (pre-Enix merger) also released Millennium Collection versions of several of their games. These typically included packins that almost seem inspired by (Nippon Ichi's merchandising company) Rosenqueen, ranging from figurines to t-shirts to postcards to teacups to radios and many other oddities.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' had a Special Edition in a metal case for Gamestop/EB Games which included a special DVD with extra artwork and a "History of Final Fantasy", among others. Quite amusingly, for a period of time, the special edition went for less than the standard edition in the same store.
*** Not to mention XII had a special edition, only in japan, which included the "Zodiac Job System". Basically, each sign of the zodiac was its own job class, which could be assigned to characters- effectively eliminating the biggest problem with the game, the fact that each character is nearly identical to each other character, and they all have access to all the same skills and stat boosts.
** Additionally, with ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII Final Mix+'' came with an entirely new game that was a PS2 remake of ''Kingdom Hearts ChainOfMemories'' including improved graphics and several new cards. It was later ported to the US, but this took years of complaining by overseas fans and even then it was never given to anyone but North America, forcing all other countries to still import it. Fans in the US who bought Final Mix+ were also disappointed because they expected that it would never come to the US and didn't feel like buying the exact same game again.
* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'''s Limited Edition scored you the "Blessed of Waukeen" feat, granting a + 1 on all saves and the ability to buy special weapons and armor from certain merchants (the feat's name is a {{Lampshade|Hanging}}: Waukeen is the god of merchants and wealth in the game world). Oh, and a "cloth" map of the Sword Coast, along with a pair of pewter rings, one reading "Lawful Good" the other "Chaotic Evil".
** Then there was the Gold Edition, which bundled the Limited Edition (sans {{Feelies}}, but including "Blessed of Waukeen" and the special shops) with ''Mask of the Betrayer''. After ''Storm of Zehir'' came out, they added it to the Gold box and created the Platinum Edition; it is this version that is available on {{Steam}}.
* Blizzard has expansion packs for all their games (except possibly ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'', the first one) and is fond of releasing them in "Battle Chests", bundles which include the original game, the expansion, (usually) a strategy guide, and (in the case of their {{RTS}} games) teching charts. Some the later ones even include the entire series; one ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' Battle Chest included ''Diablo'', ''Diablo II'', ''Lord of Destruction'', the strategy guide...
** ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' and its expansions have the collector editions. They include artbooks, mousepads, sound tracks, trading cards and ingame collector pets.
** The $100 Collector's Edition for ''{{Starcraft}} II'' comes with the game, a behind-the-scenes-and-cinematic DVD, a 100-page hardcover artbook, a comic book, a soundtrack CD, guest passes for ''{{Starcraft}} II'' and ''VideoGame/WorldofWarcraft'', a [=WoW=] {{feelie}} in the form of a creature, a dogtag-shaped USB[=/=]keychain that contains the original game and the expansion, ''and'' a Hardcover Collector's Edition [[GuideDangIt Strategy Guide]] too that comes with a MP map clipboard. Needless to say, Blizzard's Collector's Editions tend to be quite generous.
* The Creator/TomClancy franchise games (''VideoGame/RainbowSix'', ''VideoGame/GhostRecon'' and ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'') have been all released in collector's editions. They contain the original games and their expansions, clothing (a hat, shirt and belt), a messenger bag, and an "exclusive" extra (SC mousepad, RS book, GR making-of DVD), housed in a metal case.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' was released in a "Limited Edition Adventure Set" that contained the game, the soundtrack, a special watch, a t-shirt, two pins mimicking badges from the game, wallpaper and a certificate of authenticity. The set itself only had a print run of ''1000 units''!
** There is also the Zelda: Collector's edition, which had the two NES Zeldas and the N64 Zeldas. There were three ways to get it: buy a [=GameCube=] which it came with, register a [=GameCube=] you already have along with two games, or subscribe to Nintendo Power, the last of which also got you the Player's Guide.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' is like this now. The origianl Gold cartridge is the cool one to have, since the gray cart and any other versions (Master Quest, Collector's Edition, Virtual Concsole) have the removals of the Fire Temple Chanting and the moon and star emblem.
** Although content was not removed from them, the original releases of the first two ''Zelda'' games in the U.S. are similarly treated as such, as Nintendo used gold plastic for the cartridge in those releases, as opposed to the grey plastic that was standard and used in rereleases.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' in the UK had a limited run for Gamestop where they shipped it with a poster. It even said which number of the how many it was.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' had a box version which contains a gold and Hylian-themed Wii Remote Plus, with first releases of both the vanilla and boxed version containing a 25th Anniversary audio CD.
* When ''VideoGame/MOTHER3'' was first released, it came in both the standard game-only edition, as well as a Deluxe Box: it contained the game, a limited edition red Game Boy Micro with ''MOTHER 3''-related decals, and a [[{{Defictionalization}} replica of the Franklin Badge.]] Unfortunately, since this is ''MOTHER 3'' we're talking about, [[NoExportForYou guess who doesn't get to release it!]]
* The Limited Collectors Edition of ''VideoGame/{{Doom}} 3'' on the Xbox came in a metal DVD case with developer interviews, a making-of documentary, concept art and [[EmbeddedPrecursor the full versions of]] ''Ultimate Doom'' and ''Doom II''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' has the special edition with a lunchbox and a Vault Tech Bobblehead.
** Taken to new heights with pre-orders for ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas''. Along with the standard Collectors Edition - which contains poker chips from Fallout: New Vegas casinos, a deck of cards, a graphic novel, and a making-of documentary DVD - Bethesda is offering a total of four different Equipment Packs, each of which contain unique items that are otherwise unavailable in the game world. The catch? Each pack is offered at a different retail outlet, which means if you want them all you'd need to ''pre-order the same game at four different stores''.
*** New Vegas followed the similar-Mass Effect 2 store-exclusive [=DLCs=] and these equipment packs are available on XBox Live/PSN for a few dollars (Courier's Stash).
* ''VideoGame/SimCity 4'' had both the [[ExpansionPack Rush Hour expansion]] and the original game packaged in the ''Sim City 4 Deluxe Edition'', which was cheaper to get than each one individually. it was re-released a few years later in the VideoGame/SimCity Box, which is also the only way to get the Destinations expansion to VideoGame/SimCity Societies (aside from digital download).
* The ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights: Diamond'' release contained the first [=NWN=] game, its expansions and three premium modules (think mini-campaigns), all in a single {{DVD}}. Prior to that was the Platinum edition, which was the same minus the premium modules, and before that was the Gold edition, which had only the original game and the first expansion.
* ''VideoGame/TheSims'' had a Deluxe Edition of their game that featured one of their top-selling expansion packs along with many extra features that would allow you to create more unique sims and even more stuff to put in your homes.
* The Premium Box of ''Dengeki Gakuen RPG: Cross of Venus'' includes limited edition Nendoroids (pint-sized, pseudo-bobbleheaded figurines) of [[ShakuganNoShana Shana]], [[LightNovel/KinosJourney Kino]], [[ToAruMajutsuNoIndex Index]] and [[LightNovel/{{Toradora}} Taiga]]. And they are [[IncrediblyLamePun toradorable]]. Due to those, it also happens to be the single biggest box for a NintendoDS game.
* ''GranTurismo 5'' is a great impersonation to this trope: there is the Collector's Edition, which includes the game, a GT keychain, a die-cast model of a tuned Nissan GT-R, a book which acts like a mini strategy guide, and a voucher for 5 supercars, which can be a DiscOneNuke if used right at the beginning of the game.
** If you thought this Collector's Edition was big and epic, you haven't seen anything: behold... '''[[http://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-5-signature-edition-collectors-edition-announced-for-international-release/ THE SIGNATURE EDITION!!!]]''' ...Which is [[NoExportForYou only available in Europe, Asia and Australia]]. BIG BUMMER for die-hard American GT fans.
* ''Videogame/ModernWarfare 2'' has the Hardened Edition, which has an art book and a redemption code for a downloadable Xbox 360/Playstation 3 version of the first ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' game, and the Prestige Edition, which retails for 150$ and includes functional NightVisionGoggles and a head stand along with the above.
** Treyarch has gone one further. Those who bought the Prestige Edition of ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' got a fully functional RC car with a camera mounted on it, modeled after the RC-XD killstreak reward.
** ''Modern Warfare 3'' dialed it back, having only a Hardened edition which included bonuses such as a free one-year membership to Call of Duty ELITE and the in-universe "Soap's Journal".
** The second tier edition returned for ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps2''. Called the Care Package Edition, it included a remote-controlled drone and came in packaging resembling, well, the care package in multiplayer.
* The ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' series has done this twice (currently) with the first two installments of the series.
** ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCalamityTrigger'' had its deluxe edition released a month before its regular edition, and came with a DVD of tips and a two-disc soundtrack. It also cost the same as a standard new release, taking much of the sting out of the "pay extra for feelies" issue.
** ''[[VideoGame/BlazBlueContinuumShift BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND]]'' has a Limited Edition that comes with a 2012 calendar with artworks of the characters on each month, a small artbook with story illustrations and character artworks, and a soundtrack CD featuring some of the music of ''Continuum Shift''.
* Big Fish Games has released several downloadable games as "Collector's Editions". One constant seems to be an integrated strategy guide (which sold several people on the VideoGame/MysteryCaseFiles: Dire Grove CE all by itself), and there's also usually wallpapers, a soundtrack or concept art, and additional gameplay. The CE's also come out a few weeks earlier than the vanilla version.
* Later home version releases of ''{{Beatmania}} IIDX'' have been released with multiple editions. There is always the option to buy just the game, but there is usually at least a Special Edition with some extras such as posters, stickers, calendars, etc. and a Complete Set with all the Special Edition extras plus others such as music [=CDs=], [=DVDs=] containing music videos and material related to the series, etc. The Complete Set-only extras are often also available for purchase separately, but the Complete Set is usually cheaper than buying the Special Edition plus the additional extras separately.
* Subverted with ''{{DJMAX}} Trilogy''; the only edition of it available comes with soundtrack [=CDs=] and postcards with official art on them. However, a [[http://femusic.egloos.com/127782#47905 blog post]] by former Pentavision sound producer Forte Escape shows that the game was originally going to play this trope straight with a "Pulsar" edition, and at the same time invert it with a "Lite" edition.
* ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}''
** ''Uncharted 2'' had the Fortune Hunters Edition, which came in a huge box, had all the Naughty Dog signatures, a replica of the Phurba dagger from the game, an art book, a strategy guide, and some extra skins and golden guns for the multiplayer. The catch? Only two hundred were made, and you could only get them through contests. Good luck buying it normally, someone tried to sell one on [=eBay=] for ''3000 dollars!''
** ''Uncharted 3'' had a Collector's Edition, available to everyone. It came in special packaging that looked like a traveling chest, and contained a steelbook case, wearable replicas of Drake's buckle and ring necklace, and a Drake statue.
* ''Music/TheBeatles RockBand'' initially had a $250 "Limited Edition Premium Bundle," which in addition to the game, had playable replicas of PaulMcCartney's Hofner bass and Ringo Starr's Ludwig drums, a microphone with a stand, and eight postcards.
* RecordOfAgarestWar had, for the North American 360 release, the standard version, and the "''Really Naughty Limited Edition''", which added in the OST, a pillowcase, and (this is likely the 'Really Naughty' part) a oppai mousepad (it's only 'naughty' instead of 'perverted' due to the fact that the character on the pad is wearing clothes).
* The first two ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' games both had several documentary features; the second had an extra disc devoted to it. Further, whereas most video game covers are thin paper blank on one side, these were slightly thicker and had poster images on the back, so you could slip them out of the case and tack 'em on your wall.
** ''God Of War 3'', on the other hand, could be one of the crowning examples of this trope for video games. Aside from the barebones release, there was a U.S. "Ultimate Edition" release, which consisted of the game and a glossy art book packaged in a replica of Pandora's Box. Somehow, that release was topped immediately by a ''very special edition'' that was only released to [[http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2010/03/19/god-of-war-iii-out-now-media-kit-unveiled/ journalists in Region 2]], which housed the game, art cards, a poster, a behind-the-scenes DVD, a metal Kratos coin and a brochure in a box that looked bloodied and partially destroyed!
* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'''s initial release had special in-game items specific to the particular vendor you purchased the game from, in addition to the Digital Deluxe Edition ''and'' the Collector's Edition. Then, five months after release, a good chunk of these special items have been made available for purchase by anyone. A fair chunk of the playerbase was... annoyed. It has also fueled speculation that other items -- such as the in-game ship that is the reward for recruiting five friends to play the game for two months -- may be added to the game's store as well.
** And as it turns out... the speculation was right. The Galaxy-X from "All Good Things..." was added to the game's store not long after the above entry was added.
* ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'', now with bonus "Behind the Scenes" disk, five inch vinyl Mickey figurine, Oswald-themed Wii Remote shell, and Mickey and Oswald Wii skins.
* ''VideoGame/DeadRising 2'': Zombrex Edition. Packaged in a classy metal case and includes a 'making of' DVD and a Zombrex syringe pen along wtih the game itself.
** Even bigger was the [[http://www.siliconera.com/2010/08/27/capcom-reveal-dead-rising-2-high-stakes-edition/ High Stakes edition]] which was exclusive to Capcom's Online store which comes with the game ,a Fortune City map, a deluxe Dead Rising themed Poker set, a redeemable ticket for in game content and one lucky set would include a special golden version of the ticket to redeem for a life size Zombie statue.
* ''WorldInConflict'''s Collectors Edition came with, among other things, an ''authentic piece of the Berlin Wall''.
* Limited edition copies of "Michael Jackson The Experience" for the Wii came with a replica of Michael's trademark sparkly glove.
* NoMoreHeroes2 got the Hopper Edition in Japan. It had the game, a DVD with a short called No More Heroes 1.5, a soundtrack, and a fan book. Also, preordering would net you some erotica.
** The first game came with a roll of ''NMH'' toilet paper with a preorder. One instance where NoExportForYou did not result in many complaints.
* All ''Franchise/MassEffect'' games as of the third have had special editions, but special note must go to [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 the second game's]] [[StealthPun Collectors' Edition]] and Digital Deluxe Edition, which come with special armor and weapons based off the main enemies, an art book, comic, soundtrack, and bonus featurettes. Note the apostrophe.[[note]] For those who haven't played the game, the main {{Mooks}} are a species known as [[TheCollector the Collectors]].[[/note]]
** The Collectors Edition of the [[VideoGame/MassEffect3 third game]] comes with a tin case, a hardcover art book, a soundtrack, a comic, an N7 fabric patch and a lithograph of the Normandy. The game ''itself'' includes alternate outfits, an exclusive weapons pack, a RobotDog for your off-mission time, and a secret character with their own mission.
* [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Star Wars:]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic The Old Republic]]: Two different ones: First, ''The Collector's Edition'' includes in-game items (plus a pet exclusive to this version), a Statuette of Darth Malgus, and other items, [[CrackisCheaper costs $150]] (was sold-out, but sales have resumed). Second, the ''Digital Deluxe Edition'' costs a more reasonable $80, and has just a couple of in game items.
* At least the European version of ShadowOfTheColossus had an full-art cardboard case and included couple of postcards.
* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] with [[VideoGame/TheWitcher2AssassinsOfKings The Witcher 2]]. The Premium Edition includes a Making Of DVD, soundtrack CD, a game guide, a map of the game world, two pieces of papercraft and a physical version of an in-game pamphlet and a coin. The catch? That's the base version for your standard 50 bucks, and there's no plans for a VanillaEdition. The digitally distributed version also has a digital version of all the above minus the coin (and there's no digital vanilla edition yet). Played straight with the Collector's Edition, which throws in a 200 page art book, a set of five dice with a bag, a guide to cheating in dice and card games, a special set of playing cards, another coin, another bit of papercraft, a set of stickers and marble imitation sculpture of Geralt's head on top of the Premium Edition.
** The [[UpdatedRerelease Enhanced Edition]] carries on the tradition of giving you free stuff for the base price: all copies of the game, regardless of whether it's for PC or 360, includes a soundtrack CD, game guide and a world map, on top of a bunch of gameplay improvements (with is a free patch for all non-Enhanced PC copies of the game). The Dark Edition, the limited edition this time round, throws in the making-of DVD, three stickers, an art book, and a medallion of the wolf logo on top of the standard Enhanced Edition contents.
* The [[http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2011/05/limited_edition_catherine_copi.php "Love is Over" Deluxe Edition]] of {{Catherine}} comes with your standard art book and soundtrack (the same preorder bonus as the Vanilla Edition), but also includes a t-shirt, a pillowcase, and a pair of boxers, all packaged in a pizza box. They are all story-relevant.
* The [[http://nintendoeverything.com/67054/ boxart]] for ''BitTrip COMPLETE'' claims that it "includes limited edition soundtrack CD with 18 full songs".
* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' had a special edition which came with a "Making of" DVD, special digipak packaging for the game, Crime Alley DLC, and a replica of the game's Batarang.
** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' had a special ''BatmanBlackAndWhite'' statue of Bats in his game look, DLC codes for Catwoman and a Blu-Ray copy of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanYearOne''.
* The Collector's Edition of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' packaged the game with a fancy slipcase, the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Casino Night]] Pinball DLC, the "''20 Years of Sonic Art''" book, the "''20th Anniversary Sonic Soundtrack''", the "History of Sonic: Birth of an Icon" documentary, a commerorative Gold Ring, & a statue with Sonic in both his classic & modern incarnations. This was for the Xbox 360 & Playstation 3 release of the game, limited to 12,000 copies, and [[NoExportForYou only released in Europe & Austrailia]].
** The Special Edition comes with a crystal cube featuring Modern Sonic with the Classic Sonic TV as the indentation, but was [[NoExportForYou only released in Japan]].
* The Limited Collector's Edition for ''ForzaMotorsport 4'' gives you 5 exclusive cars, the 10 car "Muscle Pack" (normally 560 MS points, or about $7) for free, a metal case (with an [[NintendoHard impossible to release disc holder]]), and a art book with some of the cars from the game's Autovista mode. In-game, you get a crown next to your name (you're a "VIP"), and auctions started by VIPs are listed before non-VIP players. VIP players also get some exclusive events to win rare "Unicorn" cars, which are exclusive performance versions of some cars (i.e. the stock Mazda RX-7 is in-game, but the RX-7 Spirit-R is an exclusive unicorn car) that cannot be acquired normally. VIP players occasionally receive "gift cars" from the developers, usually Unicorn Cars or existing cars with exclusive vinyl paintjobs - though players are often quick to replicate the paintjob on a separate car to sell on the storefront.
* The ''Videogame/{{X}}-Superbox'', which came out about a year after ''X3 Terran Conflict''. The Superbox contains every single ''Videogame/{{X}}-Universe'' game made up until that point (and when ''Terran Conflict'''s expansion pack came out a few months after the Superbox came out, Superbox owners got the normally $9.99 expansion pack for free), has a CD full of ship and space station concept art, the [[AllThereInTheManual X-Encyclopedia]] which explains some of the technology and the history of the ''X-Universe'', very high-quality versions of the game's soundtrack, and three fan made soundtracks. Free content that anyone can get is also put in the package as well, for convenience - script packages to make your life easier in the game, and PDF versions of fan fiction from the game's forums.
** ''Videogame/XRebirth'' has two Collectors Editions - a physical collectors edition which contains a full-color, print version of the X-Encyclopedia, an art book, the two soundtrack volumes, a "Making Of" video, playing cards, a poster, etc. The cheaper Digital Collectors Edition has most of the content of the physical, albeit in digital form, and without the posters and such
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' reportedly has a [[http://www.siliconera.com/2012/04/10/get-leons-leather-jacket-with-1300-resident-evil-6-premium-edition/ $1300 Premium Edition]], with the main draw being [[AndYourRewardIsClothes Leon's leather jacket]]. There's also another that has various other RE games, and yet another that has the usual collection of Feelies.
* The WiiU installment of ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' came in two versions; a US$50 version with the game only, and a US$99 version that came packaged with an adapter for NintendoGamecube controllers, a favorite in TournamentPlay, along with a special ''Smash''-themed controller to go with it.
* ''VideoGame/{{Glider}}: Special Edition'' came on a [[http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/449 glowing NES cartridge]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}'' has two deluxe editions above the standard preorder, that include the usual trove of goodies. The cheaper one includes a Marcus bobblehead, and the pricier version also includes a scale replica of the red chests from the first game.
* Strategy guides aren't immune from this either. ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' has a regular version of its guide and then a hardcover one with a fancier cover with images of the legendary dragons of the games on it.
** Prince of Persia (the Xbox360/PS3 reboot) has a hardcover guide that even came with some (abet smallish) high quality concept art prints tucked away in a envelope on inside of the front cover.
** And you can add the ''Zelda'' series to that, as almost all of the series' recent games, starting with ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' have had both regular guides and special hardcover ones with very nice gold-embossed covers and {{Feelies}} such as cloth maps, lithographs and so on. And Prima Games is also putting together a treasure chest box set with a collectible bookmark, a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Eiji Aonuma, and an exclusive guide for ''Ocarina of Time 3D'' exclusive to the set. The MSRP? $180, naturally.
* ''[[VideoGame/VirtualOn Virtual-ON: FORCE]]'' for Xbox 360 received a special MEMORIAL BOX 15 limited edition to commemorate the series' 15th Anniversary, and needless to say Sega went all out with this one. This package includes a artbook that also chronicles the series, a 6-CD soundtrack of the entire series spanning from ''Operation Moongate'' all the way to ''MARZ'', and two bouncy rubber balls resembling the eyes of Tangram. It was also believed to include a special [[DownloadableContent DLC]] code that gives you the ability to [[BreastExpansion enhance the breast size]] of [[{{Fembot}} Fei-Yen and Angelan]]. [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer No, we're not making this up.]] This premium package however will cost a small fortune, especially since it's [[NoExportForYou an import-only game]] but it is region-free.
* ''[[VideoGame/{{Otomedius}} Otomedius Excellent]]'' has a special edition that comes with a CD soundtrack for the game (despite what it says, it mainly has music from the first game), an artbook featuring various artworks of the characters by Mine Yoshizaki (the series' artist and the creator of ''Manga/SgtFrog''), and a fairly large double-sided pillow case that features Anoa on one side and many of the girls of St. Gradius from the game on the other.
* ''Videogame/DeadSpace3'' has the "Dev Team Edition," pitched as the dev team's love-letter to the fans[[note]]With the series' publisher declaring the franchise would end without a completely unreasonable number of sales, this may have been a genuinely personal 'last hurrah' on the dev team's part[[/note]] with 5000 produced. It included a 14oz water bottle in the form of the series' health pack, a 6" tall Red Marker, an art book, a ''second'' art book made as a mock electronic datapad showing off various high-profile characters and Necromorphs, several SCAF recruitment posters, a notepad belonging to an important character, and several 'Peng' postcards. The box it comes in is modeled as a SCAF supply container and is labeled with its production number. Hilariously, this box ''did not include the game,'' though this was because it was only possible to order from one online vender, so players who had already pre-ordered the game from somewhere else could order the box alone, minus the game's price. Others could have the game included in the form of a standard boxed copy mailed separately.
* ''VideoGame/NiNoKuni'''s [=PS3=] release had the Wizard's Edition, which came with a physical copy of the spellbook used in-game, a plush of Drippy, the sidekick, a soundtrack CD, and some bonus familiars. A promotion led to some art cards and a special coin being added too.
* Parodied by the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' mod titled ''[=NUTS2=] - 2nd and/or 1st Anniversary Gold Plated Plutonic Aloy Coated Eight volume Nuclear Donkey Edition of Nuts.wad'' (or, as the subtitle on the title screen says, "basically the same old shit".)
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'' has a whopping four different special editions!
** The "Commander in Chief Edition", available to everyone who pre-ordered the game, gives you a few in-game items themed to the USA.
** The "Super Dangerous Wub Wub Edition" includes the bonus items, and also includes a replica dubstep gun, dubstep doomsday button, and a Johnny Gat memorial statue.
** The "Emperor Zinyak's Game of the Generation Edition" comes with all that, and a light-up rotating display case for the game and a velvet pouch.
** [[UpToEleven The most absurd, ridiculous, and exorbitant out of all of them]], the [[http://gamerant.com/saints-row-4-wad-edition-1-million-dollars/ Wad Wad edition]]. It includes the Commander-In-Chief edition of the game, a full-scale replica of the dubstep gun (''even larger than the one included in the Wub Wub edition!''), a Lamborghini, a Prius (with a year's worth of insurance), a year's Super Car membership, a personal shopper, a day of spy training, a "hostage rescue experience", a capsule wardrobe, first-class flights to Dubai and Washington, DC (with week long stays at the Burj-Al-Arab and the Jefferson Hotel, respectively), and ''a flight in space from Virgin Galactic.'' There is exactly one copy of this edition, and it costs one million dollars.
* ''VideoGame/{{Infamous2}}'' had the Hero Edition. It came with a replica sling pack that Cole uses in the game, a Cole statue, a mini-comic by DC Comics, the soundtrack, and a voucher for various in-game perks.
* ''Videogame/DeadIslandRiptide'' had the Zombie Bait edition that included among other things codes for DLC, cards, a graphic tin case for the game [[BreadEggsMilkSquick and a statue of a mutilated woman in a bikini.]] For once many felt the MoralGuardians were right on the money for their disapproval.
* Subverted again with ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV.'' '''All''' first print copies were limited editions, and nice ones at that, with a soundtrack, deluxe slipcase and a 176-page strategy guide/artbook, making the $50 asking price ($10 more than the usual 3DS game) well worth it for series.
* {{Atlus}} in general are fond of subverting this. Like the above example, many of their games have included bonuses in their first prints: [[VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey Etrian Odyssey IV and Untold: The Millennium Girl]] both included soundtrack [=CDs=] and small art collections, while ''SoulHackers'', ''ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'', and ''Conception 2'' all including soundtrack [=CDs=], among many, many other games of theirs.
* Every first edition copy of ''VideoGame/JoJosBizarreAdventureAllStarBattle'' come with a notepad designed to look like Hayato Kawajiri under the effects of Heaven's Door and a code to download Yoshikage Kira as a playable character. There's also the Gold Experience Box, which comes with a gold placard of Giorno/Gold Experience, a statue of Jotaro/Star Platinum, and a soundtrack CD that resembles the Star Platinum Stand disc created by Whitesnake.
* The Grand Wizard Edition of ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth'' includes not only the PreorderBonus, but also a six-inch figurine of Eric Cartman in his wizard garb and a drawing of the game world map.
* ''VideoGame/WatchDogs'' is taking this to an extreme by offering the following: the usual standard version, the Special Edition, the Vigilante Edition, The Uplay Edition (normal and Deluxe flavors), the Limited Edition, the Desdec Edition, and the Gold Edition. And the game still allows for a purchase of a [[DownloadableContent season pass]].
* ''VideoGame/InfamousSecondSon''[='=]s Collector's Edition includes [[OfficialCosplayGear Delsin's beanie and pins from his vest]], a patch, and in-game missions and outfits.
* While the ''MetroidPrime Trilogy'' set for the Wii was already a limited edition (the normal set comes with an art book), the official Nintendo stores [[http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm54/silvernite8/random%20stuff/MetroidPrimeTrilogyPre-orderBonusGa.jpg made sure to add even more feelies]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'' also falls into this with the [[http://www.homeworldremastered.com HOMEWORLD]] [[TheRemake REMASTERED]] [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment COLLECTION COLLECTOR'S EDITION]]. It actually ''is'' all of these things, but that doesn't make the title any less unwieldy.
* The {{Humble Bundle}}s sometimes have a high-price tier that gives a physical version.
** Humble Indie Bundle 12 has the "Humble Indie Bundle 12 Entertainment System". It's a box that comes with a special magazine, T-shirt, HIB and ''VideoGame/PapersPlease'' themed pins, vinyl record, and floppy disk.
** Humble [=InDIE=] Bundle 13 has the "Humble Indie Bundle 13 Box O' Treats". It comes with a special hoodie, collectible cards based on the bundle's games, a cassette tape with music, and Humble Bundle themed patches.
* ''Videogame/TheatrhythmFinalFantasy: Curtain Call''[='=]s limited edition comes with a special 3DS pouch, 2 [=CDs=] with best of and remixed songs, and physical [=CollectaCards=]. First-run copies of the game came with a smaller version that had just the remix CD.
* ''VideoGame/{{Destiny}}'' has two special editions. The Limited Edition comes with a steelbook case, Field Guide, postcards, antique star chart, some in-game goodies, and an expansion pass. The Ghost Edition comes with all that, a replica Ghost, and even more physical goodies like stickers and photos.
* ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'' has the "The Wild Cards Premium Edition". It comes with a special 3DS XL case, art book, soundtrack CD, and physical representations of the tarot cards used in-game.
* ''VideoGame/HatofulBoyfriend'' has the "Summer of Dove Collector's Edition", which includes the original game, the digital soundtrack, a exclusive comic from the original developer, wallpapers of Oko-san and the St. Pigeonations yearbook.
* The ''VideoGame/SpoilerAlert'' collectors' edition contains a level editor, the original soundtrack, the original Game Jam version of the game (previously released on the ''[=GameMaker=]: Studio'' workshop on Steam), exclusive high-res desktop and concept art, screensavers, deleted graphics and more. As a side note, the collectors' edition was released ''before'' the standard edition.
* Soundtrack example: The "{{VideoGame/Portal 2}}: Songs to Test By (Collectors Edition)" album contains all songs from both Portal games. (The soundtracks for both games are available for free on Steam, but only for owners of the games, and each game has its separate soundtrack, unlike on this album.)
* ''{{Shadowgirls}}'' [[TheMerch Season 1]] has two hardcover versions [[http://th3rdworld.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29&products_id=199 available]]: Regular and Artist Edition. The latter comes with a sketch card and a page of original artwork.
* ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'': [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2000-08-12 widescreen edition]] ("Catch all the crucial details that were cut out--which is why so many episodes made no sense!"). And [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2000-09-03 Sinfest DVD]] ("[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: parental ADVISORY: explicit shit ]]
* A parody occurs in webcomics that use a "Gold Foil Embossed Collector's Edition" as a {{Filler Strip|s}}. These editions reissue Comic #1 by reducing the colors to a few shades of yellow. Examples include ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'' ([[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2004/01/31/8-bit-theater-1-gold-foil-embossed-collection-edition/ link]]) and ''Webcomic/SquareRootOfMinusGarfield'' ([[http://www.mezzacotta.net/garfield/?comic=35 link]]).
* ''Webcomic/{{Oglaf}}'': There are two editions of "Book One". The regular edition, and a [[http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=OG-BOOK01&Category_Code=OG signed edition]] with a hand-drawn bookplate inside the front cover featuring the character of your choice. The signed edition costs $10 extra and actually is so popular that extra character options have been added over time and often end up sold out.
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Within a span of several years, Creator/WarnerBros released the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Golden Collection'' series, spread across six volumes and covering over ''400'' classic cartoons, hours upon hours upon hours worth of commentaries, documentaries, interviews and historical bonus content in general. However, for the kiddies, a VanillaEdition series of these [=DVDs=] were released called ''Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection'', which were essentially bare bone collections featuring the more well known, family friendly Looney Tunes shorts.
* While initially getting a couple VanillaEdition [=DVDs=], ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' eventually a massive boxset covering the '''entire series''' as well as loads of extras and even gathering all of the commercial bumpers.
* Both of Creator/ShoutFactory's releases of the [[Creator/SunbowEntertainment Sunbow]] series of both ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' have this. There's the season sets which come with the episodes and some extras. Then, there's the complete series collection which comes with all the episodes, the extras included in the season sets, and extra extras that are exclusive only to the complete series collection.
** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie'' has a particularly annoying take on this, with the ''menu'' of the single-disc edition constantly advertising the two-disc special edition.
* What will you find in the long-and-consciously-titled ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' Deluxe Holiday Collection: Ultimate Collector's Edition? ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas'', ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'', and ''A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving'' in HD Blu-Ray, three "bonus" cartoons, three short documentaries, standard [=DVDs=] of the specials, window clings, and a snowglobe-shaped lenticular lucite of the gang ice-skating.
* There's an ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' set that's shaped like Zim's house, has a GIR figure in the roof, and comes with a disc of special features. There were two versions of the set: one containing the whole series, and one with just the box, figure, and extras disc, for those who had already purchased the individual [=DVDs=].
* The 30th anniversary of the ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'' toys brought forth a 22-disc DVD box set containing the complete series of ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' and [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2002 its reboot]], 10 fan-selected episodes from ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfHeMan'', documentaries, commentaries, a soundtrack CD, and a gold-colored replica of He-Man's sword. The box has a sculpted facade of Castle Grayskull.
* Three words: ''TheRealGhostbusters''. All five seasons, each in their own steelbook case, but the Time-Life edition had the firehouse box with lenticular ghosts in the windows...and the rare "promo pilot," an AnimatedMusicVideo set to a cover of the Ray Parker, Jr. theme tune, and which looked a little more like the movie than the finished series.
* Very common on {{Kickstarter}} projects. For the unfamiliar, it's a site that crowdsources venture capital for various projects - in other words, anyone can donate to a project they'd like to see happen. You can pledge a token amount of money just to have contributed, while certain minimum pledges are effectively a pre-order for the product to be developed (provided the project is for a product, anyway). Higher pledge tiers work out like various levels of limited edition for the project in question, so while you might pledge $20 to get, say, a digital copy of a video game to be made once funded, you could drop $50 for a physical copy of the game with some extra feelies like buttons or decals. Or $100 for the physical copy in a very nice case with buttons, decals, and limited game art. Or... well, you get the picture. High-tier pledges (usually hundreds if not thousands of dollars) are often very limited in quantity, and have infamously included things like "the game designer for a tabletop RPG comes to your home, cooks dinner, and runs the game for you and your friends."