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Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-'s Limited Edition detailed
North American Guilty Gear fans can spend anywhere from $50 to $80 on the incoming Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- (pronunciation help here), depending on how many real-world trinkets they'd like and the console they intend to drain life meters on. As preorder pages from Amazon dictate, a Standard Edition copy of Xrd -SIGN- on PS3 will go for $50, with its PS4 counterpart running for $60. Xrd -SIGN-'s North American-exclusive Limited Edition will follow the same pattern, with the PS3 version costing $70 and the PS4 build pulling off an $80 combo on wallets. As for what makes the Limited Edition so special, a press release from publisher Aksys notes the bonuses of an outer box styled after the series' Backyard, complete with "gears and high-quality binding," a soundtrack arranged by series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari, and a roster-encompassing art book that also includes work for Gear XX Accent Core Plus and Guilty Gear 2 Overture. A keychain replica of Sol's belt buckle with the word "Free" carved in rounds out the offering. Though preorders are live, the press release only offers up a holiday season launch window, so we'll have to wait a little longer to learn when exactly it'll be time to rock. Regardless of which version you purchase however, Xrd -SIGN-'s crossplay compatibility means PS3 and PS4 owners will eventually all be fighting in the same community. [Image: Aksys Games]
New Art of Capcom collection to debut at San Diego Comic-Con
UDON Entertainment has unveiled the Art of Capcom: Complete Edition art book, a massive, 600-plus page hardcover tome dedicated to UDON's frequent collaborations with the House of Street Fighter. Not only will Art of Capcom: Complete Edition include all content found in UDON's two previous Art of Capcom books, it will also add an additional 75 pages, packed full of comic art, character sprites, tribute art and even toy designs. Unlike the 30th Anniversary Capcom Character Encyclopedia, which covered the full gamut of Capcom's offerings, UDON's work has long been focused on the publisher's many fighting games. As such, Art of Capcom: Complete Edition primarily showcases art from Street Fighter, Rival Schools, Darkstalkers, Tatsunoko Vs Capcom, Marvel Vs Capcom and even the almost totally forgotten Capcom Fighting Evolution. That said, you might see a few pieces devoted to Mega Man and Strider, just for good measure. Art of Capcom: Complete Edition will make its debut at the San Diego Comic-Con this July, where it will be available for purchase alongside an exclusive dustcover. Keep in mind, the book won't be released to the public for "months" after Comic-Con, so those clamoring for this massive collection of UDON art may want to book a flight to San Diego. [Image: UDON]
The Art of Naughty Dog from Dark Horse celebrates dev's 30 years
The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog has teamed up with publisher Dark Horse Comics to produce The Art of Naughty Dog, a compendium featuring rarely seen character designs, renders and concept artwork from the studio's back catalog. The Art of Naughty Dog will cover the studio's early days – back when it was founded as JAM (Jason and Andy Magic) Software – up to its recent work with The Last of Us and the Uncharted series. Artwork from the Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter franchises will be showcased throughout, and with any luck, the team's lesser-known efforts for the Sega Genesis and 3DO will also get their dues. Naughty Dog will host a launch event for the book later this year. A release date was not announced. [Image: Naughty Dog]
Wolfenstein art book launches in May, more from Bethesda to follow
Bethesda has partnered with print publisher Dark Horse Comics to produce a series of hardcover art books detailing the creation of Wolfenstein: The New Order, Dishonored, and The Evil Within. "The Art of Wolfenstein: The New Order," due in May, showcases concept art, characters designs, and developer commentary across 200 pages. "The Art of The Evil Within" will launch in August, while "Dishonored: The Dunwall Archives" will hit shelves in November. Series books retail for $39.99 each. "The Art of Wolfenstein: The New Order" is currently up for pre-order at Amazon for $25.88. [Image: Bethesda / Dark Horse Comics]
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Collector's Edition content revealed
With all the talk of Warlords of Draenor and Hearthstone around here, you might have forgotten about Blizzard's other expansion release next month. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls makes it debut on March 25, and the contents of the physical Collector's Edition were finally revealed earlier this week for all to see. Purchasers of the Collector's Edition will receive several digital items, including the Treasure Goblin Pet for World of Warcraft, StarCraft II character portraits and Malthael Decals, and a Spectral Hound minion with a set of aesthetic artifacts -- helms and weapons -- to be used with Diablo III's new transmogrification feature. Of course, this is all available with the Digital Deluxe version of the game as well, so why would you want a physical Collector's Edition? In addition to the digital goodies found in the Digital Deluxe edition, those purchasing the Collector's Edition will get a Behind-the-Scenes DVD and Blu-Ray two-disc set featuring interviews, round-table discussions and behind-the-scenes commentary on the game's development, the official Reaper of Souls soundtrack, The Art of Reaper of Souls -- a gorgeous hardcover book featuring early sketches, artwork, and 3D renders from the game, as well as a Malthael mouse pad. The Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Collector's Edition is available for pre-order on Amazon for $79.99, as well as at a variety of other retailers. As with all Collector's Editions, supplies are limited -- if you want the physical version and all the bonuses it has to offer, you may want to pre-order your copy sooner rather than later.
World of Warcraft Tribute by UDON now available
World of Warcraft Tribute, a 224-page monster of an art book by Blizzard Entertainment and UDON is now available for purchase. The book showcases Warcraft art by both Blizzard artists and Warcraft fans alike, featuring pieces by Samwise Didier and Arnold Tsang as well as a ton of other notable fan artists -- you may recall Blizzard's call for fan submissions earlier this year. Over 200 illustrations are featured in the deluxe softcover edition, all paying homage to World of Warcraft through gorgeous illustrations depicting some of the most notable characters and places in Azeroth. You can order your copy of this gorgeous book on either Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $32.30 USD -- it would also make a great holiday gift for Warcraft fans as well. In addition, Blizzard has made new desktop wallpapers from several of the illustrations available for free on the website -- don't forget to check those out as well!
World of Warcraft: Ultimate Visual Guide available for preorder
Today Blizzard announced a new book release in partnership with DK Publishing--the World of Warcraft: Ultimate Visual Guide. The guide features many pages of new and unreleased artwork, in-depth character profiles for famous WoW heroes and villains, location information, famous battles of Azeroth's history, lore references, and even a guide to the different types of magic found in the Azerothian universe. Oh, and there's a glimpse into the creative development process behind WoW, as well, something I don't think has ever before really been explored in a Blizzard publication. The pre-order pages on Amazon and Barnes & Noble cite the release date as September 30th, so mark your calenders. This guide is sure to interest any WoW lore fan or art enthusiast. A full preview is available on the official DK landing page.
World of Warcraft Tribute Art Book available for preorder
UDON Entertainment is publishing an art book made up of community-created artwork called World of Warcraft Tribute and it is now available for preorder. A year and a half ago, Blizzard asked for professional and fan artists to submit art inspired by Azeroth and this is the result. The book has 200 illustrations from international artists. Also included are commemorative pieces from Blizzard artists Arnold Tsang and Samwise Didier. There is a nine page preview over at UDON's website. If you wish to preorder, the preview includes links for preordering from both Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retail sites.
Dark Souls art book wreaks beautiful havoc in October
If you survived long enough to appreciate the twisted, melancholy beauty of Dark Souls, maybe prepare to buy Udon's art book. After releasing Dark Souls: Design Works in Japan last year, the comic book studio is bringing an English version to North America in October. The 128 pages of the 8.25"x11.75" hardcover book span the game's worlds, characters, weapons, and monsters, including concept art and sketches. Design Works also features interviews with director Hidetaka Miyazaki and various From Software artists. If you're looking for something to tide you over until March 2014, Dark Souls: Design Works has a list price of $40, although at the time of publishing Amazon is selling it for $29. %Gallery-190281%
Dragon's Crown pre-orders get this art book
Folks who pre-order Vanillaware and Atlus' forthcoming 2D hack-and-slash game, Dragon's Crown, will also receive a 64-page limited edition art book for their troubles. The paperback tome includes character and environmental artwork by Dragon's Crown designer/artist/Vanillaware president George Kamitani, in addition to pieces by other Japanese video game artists, such as Capcom alumnus Kinu Nishimura and Akira Yasuda. Atlus has also revealed the game's North American box art, which does a good job of obfuscating the art design's more controversial aspects. Dragon's Crown will drop for PlayStation 3 and Vita August 6, at $49.99 and $39.99 respectively.%Gallery-187956%
Touring the Art of Blizzard at Gallery Nucleus
Earlier this month, Blizzard celebrated the release of its newly published book The Art of Blizzard by opening the doors to a new art exhibition in Alhambra, California. The exhibit, hosted by the local Gallery Nucleus, kicked off with a well-attended Saturday night reception that drew in visitors more accustomed to Fel Reavers than fine art. Attendees covered the full range of demographics, wearing anything from Horde hoodies to shiny stilettos (since people in costume were let in for free, it's important to note that we're referring to the shoes, not the daggers). Massively and our sister site WoW Insider were on hand to take in the spectacle. So what did we see?%Gallery-176765%
Glitch art book shatters fundraising goal
Glitch may be down, but it's not out. The whimsical, non-violent MMO closed its doors on December 9th of last year, but fans of the game still hold its memory close to their hearts. That's exactly why former art director Brent Kobayashi (AKA Meowza, AKA Kukubee) decided to gather together everything that he and the Glitch art team designed over the years, including never-before-seen concept art and some worlds that didn't make it to the game. Through Indiegogo (one of the many alternatives to Kickstarter), Brent set up a project to raise $17,000 for production of a hardcover book showcasing the art of Glitch. But as happens with the internet, the initial goal was shattered with the current money raised at just over $105,000 with 34 hours left to go on the campaign. The good news is that this book will certainly become a reality. The better news is that you still have time to grab one for yourself! [Thanks to Sounder for the tip!]
The Art of Blizzard prepares for debut
Blizzard has never been short on absolutely amazing artists, which is why we're quite keen on getting a glimpse of the new Art of Blizzard book coming out this month. The Art of Blizzard is a huge 350-page coffee table book full of hundreds of pieces of concept art and behind-the-scenes looks from the studio's entire library. To celebrate the book's launch, Blizzard invites fans to travel to southern California for a reception and exhibition at Gallery Nucleus. The reception is on January 12th with the exhibition running until February 3rd, and players may be able to snag one of the early copies of the book there as long as supplies last. The studio is sending several of its artists to the gallery to meet fans and provide autographs.
Latest issue of ImagineFX features Blizzard art and more
Whether you're a fan of Blizzard's vast array of art from all of its franchises, or you're an artist wanting to know more about the process behind it all, this month's issue of ImagineFX magazine is definitely worth picking up. The December issue features workshops by Samwise Didier and Laurel D Austin, as well as exclusive art by Alex Ross, Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell, Craig Mullins, Alex Horley, and many more, all topped off with a cover image of Jaina Proudmoore by Glenn Rane. One of my top reasons for purchasing collector's editions of Blizzard games has always been the art books included in those editions. You don't really think about the sheer amount of artistry that goes into designing an expansion when you're simply wandering around in game -- but the art books provide that behind-the-scenes glimpse of development. Blizzard has some truly talented artists on staff, and the ImagineFX issue is another place to get a look at all the hard work that they do. You don't need a subscription to pick up ImagineFX, you can simply purchase a single issue on their website if you'd like. And for the sake of convenience, the magazine is available in both print and digital versions -- so there's no need to wait for shipping, either. Learn more about the issue on the official website, or go ahead and order your issue today.
Pre-orders open for 'The Art of Journey,' first 750 copies signed
The Art of Journey, thatgamecompany's compendium of concept and production artwork from its unbelievably gorgeous PSN game, can now be pre-ordered for $60 through Bluecanvas. The first 750 people to place their order will receive a copy of the book signed by Journey creative director Jenova Chen and art director Matt Nava.While some of the art book's pages are equipped with augmented reality capabilities, the new photos of the product below are not. You can, however, hold a book up to your nose while looking at these pictures, and it's kind of like Smell-O-Vision.%Gallery-164752%
Journey's art travels to bookshelves next month
The beautiful art of Journey – and we're talking about the PS3 game here, and not the band, although the cover design for Escape is a total classic – will be available in a coffee table-appropriate format next month.The Art of Journey, a hardcover book designed and written by art director Matt Nava, includes art from the game, and discusses the influences and ideas behind its development. It also includes in-game 3D models, visible AR-style by pointing a smartphone at a special code on the page. For more multimedia satisfaction, the book also includes a PSN voucher for a copy of the Journey soundtrack.
Fan art being accepted for Udon's Mega Man Tribute book
If you know your way around a pen, paintbrush or tablet, and are also filled with a surplus of fandom for the Mega Man franchise, Udon Entertainment could use your help. The company is publishing a collection of fan art featuring the Blue Bomber, and is currently accepting submissions.
More details on the Final Fantasy XIV collector's edition
We've been treated to a deluge of information about Final Fantasy XIV over the past couple of days, which coincides nicely with the fact that the collector's edition releases in just a little over a month. The obvious bonus to that special edition, of course, is the fact that it releases a week before the standard edition. But there's more inside the box than just an early game disc, and Eorzeapedia has had the chance to take a look closer at some of the contents. The Square-Enix security token included in the box certainly goes a long way to alleviating the price of entry, as it normally costs $10 alone and will work with both Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XI (indeed, having both on the same account can provide distinct advantages). Also worth noting are the special documents mailed to players for characters they create -- a physical commemoration of your character, with designs unique to each home nation. Combine that with the travel journal full of concept art, and there are plenty of bonuses even without the early release. (Not that said release isn't excellent.)
Rockstar squeezes its art into expensive book trilogy
To celebrate its swiftly-approaching tenth anniversary, Rockstar Games will compile all of the visual elements that have gone into designing its catalog of games into a three-book set sometime next month. The pages therein will contain everything from conceptual illustrations, models and wireframes to advertisements and box art. This beefy, aesthetically pleasing package comes with an asking price of $450. As attractive as these tomes would look propped against one another on our coffee table, we find it difficult to reconcile the fact that we could spend the same amount of money on a PS3 or 360 and copies of Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City. Heck, we'd even have enough cash left over for one of those novelty-sized party subs, which would increase our enjoyment of the aforementioned items tenfold.
The Daily Grind: What bonuses do you want from a collector's edition?
I did something with Final Fantasy XIV that I've never done before -- I purchased the collector's edition. Normally, my love of in-game pets and art books is counterbalanced by my love of saving $25, but an extra eight days of playtime is fairly non-negotiable for me. Everything else that comes with the collector's edition is a nice side perk, but nothing worthy of the extra expense in and of itself. Of course, there's no shortage of players who consider the additional cost of a collector's edition well worth some in-game vanity pets and an art book. For some, simply having something labeled as a collector's edition is justification enough, as it signals some sort of elite status as a player. What sort of things make you interested in a collector's edition of a game? Do you prefer in-game benefits to display to other players, or trinkets for fond reminiscence? Or are you mostly motivated by games that give you an early start or something similar?
