November 12, 2012

Tomb Raider Collector's Edition Details Announced

With the new Tomb Raider game still 4 months away, I've been reluctant to post information about the various special editions, especially since details have been sketchy so far and special editions have not yet been announced for some countries. People keep asking, though, so when Crystal Dynamics sent out official photos of the European and North American special editions today, I decided to go for it. Here's what we know so far, per Community Manager Meagan Marie:

Tomb Raider North American Collector's Edition

North American Collector's Edition
Click image to enlarge.

Includes the following, according to the Official Tomb Raider Blog:
  • Endurance Survival Kit Packaging: A survival tin salvaged from the ill-fated Endurance. The tin houses a copy of the game and the Lara Croft figure (below).
  • Play Arts Kai Lara Croft Figurine: Fully posable figurine with over 40 points of articulation. Comes with alternate set of three hands, bow and arrow, shotgun, handgun, and climbing axe. Approx 8" tall.
  • 15" x 19" Double Sided Island Map and Poster: Discover key landmarks from the mysterious island of Yamati, where Lara Croft and her fellow castaways were marooned after the Endurance shipwreck. On the reverse is a poster size image of the box art.
  • Lithographic Print: 5" x 7" heavy stock, matted print of a painting by Brenoch Adams.
  • Experience Shields: Three iron-on badges of the game's key icons: Animal Instincts, Climbing Axe, Fire Arrow.
  • CD Soundtrack: Tomb Raider Original Soundtrack 'Survivalist Cut': A collection of 10 tracks totaling over 60 minutes of music from the game.
  • Downloadable Weapons Pack: A selection of weapons to help Lara survive in-game against the island's inhabitants.

This Collector's Edition will be available in North America for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for $99.99. Tomb Raider will also be available in North America for the PC via digital download, with Collector's Edition details pending.

Several pre-order editions have also been announced by retailers including Amazon.com (their "Final Hours Edition"includes the Hunter skin for Lara, a digital art book, and a Kindle Fire edition of "The Final Hours of Tomb Raider" documentary), GameStop (includes an exclusive challenge tomb) and Best Buy (includes the Aviatrix skin for Lara plus a 48-page Tomb Raider comic written by Rhianna Pratchett).

UPDATE: Steam has also just announced a digital Survival Edition, which includes various downloadable rewards, including a free copy of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, challenge tomb and Endurance DLC packs, an art book, soundtrack and island map.

Tomb Raider European Survival Edition

Tomb Raider European Survival Edition
Click image to enlarge.

Includes the following, according to the Official Tomb Raider Blog:
  • Art Book: A 32-page mini art book compiled by Tomb Raider Art Director Brian Horton, depicting Lara's epic adventure through original concept art.
  • 15" x 19" Double Sided Island Map and Poster: Discover key landmarks from the mysterious island of Yamati, where Lara Croft and her fellow castaways were marooned after the Endurance shipwreck. On the reverse is a poster size image of the box art.
  • Waterproof Survival Pouch: A 4" x 6" waterproof re-sealable adventure pouch for storing belongings.
  • CD Soundtrack: Tomb Raider Original Soundtrack 'Survivalist Cut': A collection of 10 tracks totaling over 60 minutes of music from the game.
  • Downloadable Weapons Pack: A selection of weapons to help Lara survive in-game against the island's inhabitants.

Tomb Raider European Collector's Edition

Tomb Raider European Collector's Edition
Click image to enlarge.

The deluxe collector's edition includes everything from the Survival Edition (above), plus the following:
  • Endurance Survival Kit Packaging: A survival tin salvaged from the ill-fated Endurance. The tin houses a copy of the game and the Lara Croft figure (below).
  • Play Arts Kai Lara Croft Figurine: Fully posable figurine with over 40 points of articulation. Comes with alternate set of three hands, bow and arrow, shotgun, handgun, and climbing axe. Approx 8" tall.

The Survival and Collector's Editions will be available in Europe for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. I was not able to find pricing information at this time. I'm guessing it varies by country.

For more information and regular updates of pre-order and promotional offers worldwide, visit the official Tomb Raider site.

Again, for those living in tombs or shipwrecked on mysterious islands with limited internet access, the game will be released March 5, 2013.

30 comments:

  1. yeah the Survala's edition is awesome on STEAM (i post the it toyour facebook page your welcome for th eSTEAM info)

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  2. I so hope Tomb Raider will be available on the upcoming Steam on linux client (currently in beta testing for selected users). 2013 will be an interesting year for gaming and computer geeks.

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  3. Prefer more physical items over DLC. I miss the days when there was no such thing as DLC.

    Just you wait, one day they'll charge $100 for Collector's Editions that's nothing but DLC, and then offer it all free one year later. Namco/Bandai has already been experimenting with this form on Japanese consumers.

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  4. I agree with you in part, Anonymous. I do enjoy DLC but not as the only option and not when it's limited to certain platforms. For example, I loved the bonus levels for the classic Tomb Raiders and Underworld, but I think it's shameful that they still haven't released those for the other systems. And I can't believe they don't plan to offer the new game as a physical DVD for PC (at least in North America). I hope they'll change their minds about that. :(

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  5. I want to find the image in the litographic pic available in the NA edition.
    Where can we download it?

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  6. @XaniloM: I don't think I've seen it anywhere else, but I'll try and find out. Stay tuned....

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  7. Stella,

    I don't suppose there's any information on the possibility of a 3-D version?

    Having just got a 3-D TV, playing games (especially in 1st person) has suddenly gone up a long way in usability, even when just upscaled and not in original 3-D.

    TR Underworld is suddenly a almost a new game.

    I find that I can now do some of the moves much easier, because I can see the 'real' distance of jumps or enemies. Instead of only just making a jump, I find I can 'spot' it exactly.

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  8. @XaniloM: Just talked to Meagan from Crystal and she says that image is going to remain exclusive for a while. I guess they want collectors to have something special and I can understand that. :)

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  9. @Birchyboy: Haven't heard anything about that yet. I find 3D tech a little awkward, but a big part is that I already wear glasses, so glasses on top of glasses makes it harder to function. Maybe someday the technology will advance to the point where it's feasible for people with bad eyes like me to get prescription glasses to go with their 3D rig. Till then, I'll be living in flatland. ;)

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  10. @XaniloM

    I don't think you can download it - they want to sell you a 5"x7" lithograph!

    It's pretty easy to capture as a jpeg from the web page, and transform the perspective to square. Of course being copied from a web page, the quality will be as not as good as a lithograph.

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  11. Stella,

    There is already non-spectacles 3-D. Check the Wikipedia page on Autostereoscopy.

    However, I have a passive spectacles 3-D TV and the display is much better than autostereoscopic ones. My TV comes with clip-ons if you wear specs.

    PS - I'm impressed that you have a line to Megan at Crystal Dynamics ...

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  12. @birchyboy: That sounds cool. I'll have to look into it. Doubt I can afford a 3D TV anytime soon, but who knows.... ;)

    Meagan is fabulous. I'm sure she'd be happy to answer any fan's question, time permitting, but she's wonderful about responding to webmasters in the official fan site network, and she tries to keep us all in the loop with the latest info--provided the company allows her to talk about it. There's still a lot she can't say. ;)

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  13. When going to the Amazon link, unfortunately it looks like the PS3 version DOESN'T have the Final Hours content. It just says "Black Friday blah blah" but the 360 and PC have the offer. I hope this is an error...

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  14. Also wanted to add, I found you can buy the comic that's in the Best Buy edition separate (not until May) but I have not seen the art book anywhere. So maybe don't bother w/the BB one since you can get it as a separate purchase.

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  15. Another aside--found on gamerant.com--the following:
    Very much like GameStop’s tiered, time-based pre-order campaign for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Square Enix is rewarding customers who get their Tomb Raider pre-orders in early. Only the first round of bonuses for the three participating retailers – Amazon, Best Buy and GameStop – have been revealed so far, and they range from a Rhianna Pratchett penned comic book to Geoff Keighley’s The Final Hours of Tomb Raider documentary. The second wave of bonuses will be announced on December 18th, and the final batch of goodies will be unveiled in January.

    Who’s got the best offer right now? Check out the complete details on Tomb Raider’s first batch of pre-order exclusives below."

    So maybe best to wait if you're wanting one of those exclusives.

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  16. Thanks for the info, Danielle. I think I'm going to wait at least until after Christmas before placing any kind of pre-order. Hopefully it will be clearer who's offering what by then.

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  18. I'm a sad case.

    According to my Amazon account records, I placed an order on 21 Dec 2011.

    Addiction? Never.

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  19. I decided to pre order the European Collector's Edition. Thank you stella for the splendid effort.

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  20. I'm so confused. I want to preorder for PC, collectors edition, but can't yet. Why do PC gamers get stiffed so bad? I hope they make that available soon. I don't want to download the game, either.

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  21. Anonymous (Dec 20), where are you located? I ask because in case you missed that detail, there will not be a physical DVD version for the PC
    in North America. The Steam (download) pre-order page is already up, but I'm not sure which other retailers will have the download. I'm guessing Games for Windows Live, but possibly others as well. If you're in Europe or elsewhere, I guess sit tight. They're bound to announce more details before too long. :)

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    1. I'm in North America. That is disappointing. Effectively that would mean that either I somehow order the European version (I might be able to get a friend to, but that would be a pain), or I buy it digitally and not get the collectors edition bonuses that come with the PS3 and XBOX 360 versions? Is that right? And of course, I hate digital copies, because they are usually DRM managed (like through Steam - but I suppose lots of physical copies are too).

      I'm so unhappy.

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  22. Yes, that's right, unfortunately. :( I know a few people who are ordering the collector's edition from the U.K. It's expensive enough without the overseas shipping, but I guess hardcore collectors will do what they've gotta do. I have both PC and Xbox so decided to get the Xbox collector's edition and the Steam PC version. I'll be saving up for a while. ;) Another alternative would be to buy the PC download, buy the Xbox or PS3 collector's edition and then sell just the game. A thought anyway....

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  23. Another unfortunate aspect of that is the preorder contest. Preorder now and get the code to participate, but only if I want to buy the game twice (on 2 systems) and sell one, just to get the collectors edition that I should be allowed to get anyway; or, not preorder at all and send in for a code, wait longer to participate in the contest, and get no preorder bonuses (unless I win the contest, which is unlikely). So either way I get screwed. Is that my reward for legally purchasing every TR game on PC since the first one came out? Wow. =( I guess karma is a lie.

    I wish SE and CD understood what a horrible mistake they are making with this decision.

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  24. FWIW, the scavenger hunt does include a way to participate without buying anything. But I agree in principle. Not releasing a physical DVD is a mistake. I'm sure their research told them it was a good idea, but I hear from a lot of people who are upset about it. :(

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    1. Yup, I know. I'd have to send a card to them with some personal details to participate. I imagine that would take longer and I have no idea what effect it would have on my chances of winning. Probably not good.

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  25. I need a new gaming system. Does anyone know if Tomb Raider is better on Xbox or PS3? Thanks, Gemyjan

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  26. To Anonymous.. I would say even though I am a PS3 fan, that it looks better on Xbox.. but then I think that's probably because Xbox has taken over Tomb Raider, where ages ago it used to be Playstation.

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  27. I'm playing the anniversary edition and need to get out of the library! Having a heck of time shooting the target after the picture comes down, can't seem to turn around fast enough.

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  28. Can I buy the survivor editon or the scavenger hunt dlc somewhere?

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