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Mark of the Ninja 'Special Edition' DLC drops on Aug. 16
The "Special Edition" DLC for Mark of the Ninja will launch on both Xbox Live Arcade and Steam on August 16. The package is priced at $5 and includes developer commentary, a new level, two new items and a new costume. Mark of the Ninja is a 2D stealth game that first launched on Xbox Live Arcade last September, followed by Steam in October. It's one of our favorites from 2012, and our review said it "shines a light on the stealth genre, revealing the qualities you knew were there but couldn't quite see."
Limited Amazon-exclusive Madden 25 special edition includes free Sunday Ticket subscription
Since Madden NFL 25 skipped 12 years is named to commemorate the series' 25th anniversary, it shouldn't be surprising that EA Sports recently unveiled a special Anniversary Edition. What is a little surprising are the contents of the special edition, which includes a free one-year subscription for DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket service, allowing fans to watch every out-of-market NFL game throughout the season. EA Sports tells us that the subscription is limited to the NFL Sunday Ticket computer, tablet and mobile service. Additionally, those who are able to receive DirecTV service in their area can get $10 off per month for the service, which starts at $225, as well as a free subscription to the higher-tier NFL Sunday Ticket MAX. The Anniversary Edition of Madden 25 is exclusive to Amazon, and limited to 50,000 copies on each of the game's platforms, Xbox 360 and PS3 (100,000 copies total). It will also include complimentary Madden Ultimate Team card packs every week of the NFL's 17-week regular season. Madden 25's Anniversary Edition is available to pre-order now on Amazon for $99.99.
Age of Wushu retail edition offers Jet Li training session
If you're up for dropping some money on the recently launched Age of Wushu, a new special retail edition is available both online and at Gamestop. This box version of the game goes for $20 and offers "more than $80 worth" of in-game goodies. These incentives include a special horse mount, in-game currency, 30 days of VIP access, reputation scrolls, fashion outfits, and boosts for experience and Chi. If that hasn't sold you yet, Snail Games is hoping that some one-on-one time with martial arts film star Jet Li will. Players can train with a digital Jet Li in a special instanced adventure that comes only with this edition. We direct the curious to the special retail edition trailer after the jump.
Saints Row 4 gets 'Commander in Chief' pre-order bonus
Publisher Deep Silver – new owner of the Volition-developed Saints Row series – has announced that Saints Row 4 is getting a special "Commander in Chief" edition, available for free to everyone who pre-orders the upcoming game.Earning the special edition content means you'll get a snazzy Uncle Sam outfit, a "Screaming Eagle" jet, and a "'Merica weapon," which boasts flamethrowers, "dub step guns," and rocket launchers.Saints Row 4 will see the Third Street Saints voted into presidential office on August 20 in North and Latin America, and August 23 in other regions.
Muramasa Rebirth out June 25, special edition revealed
On June 25 you can put Muramasa: The Demon Blade in and on your Vita. "The Blessing of Amitabha Edition" of Muramasa Rebirth adds a Vita skin and cover by Hori, a pouch for the console, and a framed lithograph of art by designer George Kamitani. Aksys hasn't announced a price for this version yet, but Amazon has it for $60.If you pre-order either the Blessing Edition or the regular old game at either Amazon or GameStop, you'll get an "Abridged Soundtrack" with five songs from the game, composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto.%Gallery-185152%
Mark of the Ninja 'Special Edition' DLC adds flashback level, new play style
Klei Entertainment is adding to its delightful 2D stealth game Mark of the Ninja with a "Special Edition" DLC meant to evoke a "Criterion Collection" release of the original. The DLC, due this summer for a mysteriously invisible price, adds a flashback level starring the tattoo artist Dosan, a new equippable play style including a "nonlethal takedown ability," a new stealth-focused item, and a "more direct" new item.As a "Criterion Collection" addition, Klei also recorded developer commentary, which can be accessed at "commentary nodes" throughout the game, in six different languages.If you successfully infiltrate PAX East, you'll be able to get a sneaking peek at the Special Edition at Klei's booth. It will be released on both Steam and XBLA.
Splinter Cell: Blacklist's EMEA special editions include watches, figurines, no planes
Right off the bat, we'll tell you that none of the Splinter Cell: Blacklist limited editions announced for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa come with a plane. What you lose in radio-controlled miniature vehicles, you gain in choice, as there are four different special editions.The 5th Freedom Edition is exclusive to GAME in the UK and GameStop in Ireland, and comes with a Sam Fisher figurine, Splinter Cell Echoes graphic novel, two co-op maps, and some in-game gear, all in a steelbook case (well, except for the in-game items that exist only in a digital state).The 5th Freedom Silver Edition, exclusive to Uplay, is like the other 5th Freedom, but with a fancier steelbook and a silver Sam Fisher.The Ultimatum Edition comes with a digital watch, a shorter selection of Splinter Cell Echoes, and a bit less unlockable gear, along with a really silly name. Finally, the Upper Echelon Day 1 Edition comes with a bunch of digital stuff: the maps, some gold goggles, the "legendary Upper Echelon Suit," and more. It's exclusive to GAME in the UK and Xtravision in Ireland.%Gallery-181340%
Samsung outs Garnet Red Edition Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 in the US, prices it at $220
Just as we saw with AT&T's Garnet Red Galaxy S III, Samsung has now introduced yet another device that's wrapped in a similar color scheme -- and, hey, with Valentine's Day just around the corner, what better time, right? The difference here, however, is the South Korean company's including a matching case as part of this special edition Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, with the newfangled bundle set to be available for $220 when it goes on sale this week. Additionally, Samsung's 7-inch Garnet Red Tab 2 will be shipping with Jelly Bean already onboard, while other internal specs won't be any different than the ones we became familiar with last year -- ones such as the 1,024 x 600 TFT display, 1GHz, dual-core TI OMAP CPU, 8GB of internal storage and, of course, that handy IR blaster. You'll have to snag one quick if you're interested, though, as Samsung has told us the blooming Tab 2 7.0 will -- much like other peculiar sets -- only be available for a limited time at shops like Amazon, Walmart, Office Depot, Tiger Direct, Fry's Electronics and Toys R Us.
The Last of Us special editions in US all about Survival, Post-Pandemics
The Last of Us doesn't want its special editions to feel lonely, so it has two for the US: the Survival Edition, available at retail and online for $80, and the Post-Pandemic Edition, which is GameStop-exclusive and runs $150.The Survival Edition, pictured above, includes a hardcover art book and issue one of The Last of Us: American Dreams, complete with an exclusive variant cover, both from Dark Horse. It comes with a steelbook case featuring Ellie and Joel, and includes the Sights and Sounds DLC pack. Sights and Sounds comes with the game's original soundtrack from Oscar-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla, a dynamic theme for PS3, and the Winter Joel and Winter Ellie PSN avatars.The Post-Pandemic Edition, shown below, is available only at GameStop, and it includes the steelbook case and American Dreams comic from the Survival Edition. The bulk of its price seems to come from a 12-inch statue of Joel and Ellie from Project Triforce, which has an estimated retail value of $200. Post-Pandemic comes with the Sights and Sounds DLC and the Survival multiplayer DLC pack (that's not confusing), which has bonus XP, a melee booster, in-game currency, customizable items, and bonus Ellie and Joel skins once the game is completed.These both differ from the UK special editions of The Last of Us, also announced today.
The Last of Us UK special editions come in Ellie, Joel flavors
The Last of Us gets the VIP treatment in the UK, where it has two, slightly different, retailer-exclusive special versions, the Ellie Edition and the Joel Edition. The Ellie Edition, pictured above, is available only at GAME, and includes a mini artbook, the first issue of Dark Horse's The Last of Us: American Dreams, the Survival multiplayer DLC pack, the Sights and Sounds DLC pack, a LittleBigPlanet Ellie skin, and the game package, collectable poster and Dualshock skin featuring Ellie's face.The Joel Edition contains exactly the same things, but with Joel's face and skin (ew) instead of Ellie's; take a look at that version below. The Survival DLC pack includes bonus XP, a melee booster, in-game currency and customizable character items for multiplayer, and bonus Joel and Ellie skins after the single-player game is completed. The Sights and Sounds pack features the official soundtrack from Oscar-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla, a dynamic theme for PS3 and the Winter Joel and Ellie PSN avatars.All pre-orders, from any retailer in the UK or US, get the Sights and Sounds DLC pack. Pre-orders from US GameStops and snag the Survival DLC, too.
Dead Island: Riptide's 'Rigor Mortis' edition has a case of zombies
Dead Island: Riptide's "Rigor Mortis Edition" has everything you need to survive a zombie invasion: a small suitcase, a zombie hula girl figurine, a bottle opener that looks like a hand, and a key. Everything! There's also a "digital strategy map" and bundled DLC for the game. The contents of the $80 collection were chosen by a fan survey.According to Deep Silver, the Rigor Mortis Edition is available for pre-order now in North and Latin America in "extremely limited" quantities. There are only so many tiny magnetic zombies out there to provide source material for those bottle openers, after all.
Tomb Raider 360 controller is rough, tumble, rumbles
You know how they make those designer jeans that look like you've owned 'em for 30 years, despite being brand new and insanely expensive? Well, this is like that, but for an Xbox 360.Launching in March, the official Tomb Raider Limited Edition Wireless Controller will cost $60 and come bundled with a code for exclusive character DLC; a hooded, goggled archer that can be seen in the video above. The controller itself features multiple layers of paint and laser etching, so not only does it look beat to hell but it'll feel that way too.As per usual with special edition Xbox 360 pads, it's also equipped with one of those nifty transforming D-pads, though whether the D-pad has been artificially aged like a too-expensive guitar replica is unknown.
Lollipop Chainsaw 'Premium' and 'Valentine' editions coming to Japan
We're not sure if y'all are aware of this, but Valentine's Day works way, way differently in Japan than it does here. Boys traditionally don't give Valentines to girls, for instance; women are the primary gift-givers, and generally speaking giving anything other than chocolate is atypical.There's also two new Lollipop Chainsaw special editions coming out exclusively in Japan this Valentine's Day, but that's less of a cultural difference and more of a marketing thing. The game's new "Premium Edition" will cost ¥3,980 (about $48) and will include codes to unlock costumes and additional character voices.Meanwhile, the ¥4,980 ($60ish) "Valentine Edition" includes a "Happy Valentine Disc," which contains a PC desktop Juliet clock, wallpapers and various gravure pictures of the game's official cosplay models. It also comes with a "Premium Movie Disc" full of trailers and cinematics, as well as a Lollipop Chainsaw manga and the Premium Edition's unlock codes.No word yet on a potential North American release of either version, but we have learned that the Japanese phrase "義理チョコ" (giri-choko) means "obligatory gift chocolate," which is probably more entertaining in the long run.
HTC One S 'special edition' comes draped in white, boasts 64GB of storage
HTC previously showed off a special edition One X geared toward fashionistas in New York City, and now it's time for a slightly lesser-specced member of the numero uno family to get a somewhat similar treatment -- we're talking about the One S. And while the most noticeable characteristic of this "special edition" slab is obviously its new white livery, HTC has also made internal improvements by loading the 4.3-inch device with 64GB of internal storage -- which should pair nicely alongside that 1.5GHz, dual-core S4 CPU and 1GB RAM. The only bad news is this unicorn type is expected to only be available in Taiwan, and mum's the word on when, or if, it'll ever make a trip outside the company's home turf.
Yakuza 5 and Fist of the North Star inspire ... interesting PS3 special editions
The first special-edition releases of the new toploading PS3 have been revealed for Japan, and they're ... uh ... different, and made in honor of two games that definitely won't have special-edition hardware elsewhere. The Yakuza 5 "Emblem Edition" (above) features gold emblems of the virtual crime families featured in the series around the edges of the 250GB system, and a gold controller to match, along with a special themed USB drive. It's due in Japan December 6.The Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 "Legend Edition" has character art in white along the periphery of the black system, with a controller that is supposed to feature a Big Dipper design, but which looks a lot like it's been pooped on by birds. It'll be released on December 20.
Apple's Jony Ive tapped to design one-off Leica M for charity auction
In case the newly announced Leica M simply isn't astronomically expensive enough -- or charity-minded enough, as it were -- Apple's senior VP of design Jony Ive is working with the German photography company on a one-off version set to be auctioned for charity. Given the M's baseline price of €6,200 (about $8,100), we're guessing the one-of-a-kind version designed by one of the world's most influential designers is going to fetch a pretty penny at auction. Like, "sell off one of your extra homes" kind of money. Leica head Dr. Andreas Kaufmann announced the collaboration last night during a Leica event at Photokina -- an event that Ive himself was reportedly set to appear at -- where he said that the auction will be done with U2 frontman (and longtime friend of Ive) Bono Vox. The latest Leica M debuts in early 2013, though we won't see the fruits of Ive and Leica's collaboration for some time as the camera's design has yet to begin.
Leica X2 gets à la carte, Paul Smith editions to help you stand out from plebeian photographers (update: hands-on)
Let's say you've been considering a Leica X2 for the mix of a big APS-C sensor and retro styling, but a $1,995, fixed-range compact camera just isn't exclusive enough. Leica has you covered with two extra-rare editions that rise above the pack. Provided you don't mind someone else designing for you, the Edition Paul Smith spices things up with a mix of black, green and orange that reflects the UK fashion designer's love of stripes and wilder colors. Is the small 1,500-unit batch of Paul Smith cameras still too common? There's now an à la carte X2 option to limit the production run to exactly one. After picking from black, silver or new titanium colors for the main body, you can choose from a set of leather trim colors and get custom engraving to hedge against the unlikely event that anyone confuses your X2 with someone else's. Prices aren't immediately available for the October launches of both cameras. Not that it matters much -- if you're willing to even consider a special edition Leica, you already know that it's within your price range. %Gallery-165713% Zach Honig contributed to this report.
HTC One X Cushnie et Ochs available on eBay, mobile-minded fashionistas ready their wallets (update: auction closed)
Remember that special edition One X for AT&T with the Cushnie et Ochs-approved exterior, and how HTC said it would never go on sale? Well, while HTC is sticking to its word, one of the 150 souls who grabbed one at MADE Fashion Week has decided to give the rest of us a crack at buying it via eBay auction. For folks interested in owning the half ebony, half ivory handset, the bidding currently starts at $360 -- though you can expect the phone to fetch a far greater price when the auction ends six days from now on September 17th. Update: Looks like you've missed your chance, as the eBay auction has now been ended. We're not sure whether the seller got an offer they couldn't refuse, or a strongly worded letter from HTC. Either way, show's over. [Thanks Dominic]
HTC shows off Cushnie et Ochs edition One X ahead of New York Fashion Week (update: not for sale!)
In the last HTC Frequencies media summit, the company didn't shy away from the possibility of exploring different color options for its flagship devices, but never did we expect it to come out with such a simple yet eye-catching combination of black and white on the same body. Courtesy of Frequencies II today, what we're looking at here is an HTC One X (on AT&T) with a bit of love from fashion label Cushnie et Ochs: the design simply consists of a two-part chassis instead of a unibody shell, so we could just about feel the seam along the center of the backside. Other than that, this is a surprisingly attractive device, especially with the preloaded wallpaper that matches the shell colors -- we like the effect of it moving along horizontally as we swipe between home screens. There's no word yet on availability, but keen fashionists should see this pop up at Milk Studios during the New York Fashion Week in a few days. Update: Bad news, folks: we've just had confirmation from HTC that this funky phone will not be available for purchase. Only certain celebrities will receive one as a gift. %Gallery-164368%
God of War: Ascension Euro dates announced, along with Special / Collector's Editions
God of War: Ascension will be available on March 13, 14 or 15, depending on whether you plan on buying it in greater Europe, Australia/New Zealand, or the UK/Ireland, respectively. Meanwhile, North American folk can still expect to rain bloody death down upon their enemies on March 12.Non-North American revenge aficionados looking for something a little more substantial than just the game itself will have both Special and Collector's editions to choose from, which each contain varying levels of goodies, both in-game and out. The Collector's Edition is identical to the North American version and includes a steelbook case, eight-inch Kratos figure, digital copy of the soundtrack, a PS3 theme and avatars, a double multiplayer XP boost and a voucher for all future DLC.Special Edition, on the other hand, includes everything listed above except for the statuette and the DLC pass. No pricing information or pictures of the packs have been released as of yet, thought details are expected in the "near future," according to the European PlayStation Blog.
