I pre-ordered the Age of Conan Collector’s Edition a LONG time ago. I really can’t recall when I had ordered it (in January?) although I’d like to pass on that information as I know that some people are trying to figure out why they didn’t receive one. Eitherway, I ordered from Gamestop, and I received mine on May 16th, 2008 (the day prior to the Early Release going live). Although I just opened it up yesterday because I found out (in the EA) that my notebook just will not play this wonderful game!
Know, O Prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars–Nemedia, Ophir, Brythunia, Hyperborea, Zamora, with its dark-haired women and towers of spider-haunted mystery, Zingara with its chivalry, Koth that bordered the pastoral lands of Shem, Stygia with its shadow-guarded tombs, Hyrkania–whose riders wore steel and silk and gold.
But the proudest kingdom of the world was Aquilonia, reigning supreme in the dreaming west. Hither came Conan the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand–a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth–to tread the jeweled thrones of the earth under his sandaled feet.
- The Nemedian Chronicles
This opening is printed in quite a few areas within the CE, and so wanted to include it. You may also recall that this is excerpted in the introduction to Conan: The Barbarian.
Well, let’s start unwrapping this large box. To start out, here are pics of the front and back of the box:
By box is number 53,623 out of a production of 86,000. I reported previously that there were two production lines of CE boxes for a total of 111,000 units. I have no information if all these were English, or if released in multiple languages. I am also unaware at this time if this 86,000 units were the ‘first’ or ‘second’ batch created (I am guessing part of the first batch, why would they only make an initial batch of 25,000 copies?).
Opening the front cover, there is Conan on the right sitting on his throne in the pose as you see as you log into the game, and on the left is the following inscription:
WHAT DO I KNOW OF CULTURED WAYS, THE GILT, THE CRAFT, AND THE LIE? I, WHO WAS BORN IN A NAKED LAND AND BRED IN THE OPEN SKY.
THE SUBTLE TONGUE, THE SOPHIST GUILE, THEY WHO FAIL WHEN THE BROADSWORDS SING; RUSH IN AND DIE, DOGS-I WAS A MAN BEFORE I WAS A KING.
WHEN I WAS A FIGHTING-MAN, THE KETTLE DRUMS THEY BEAT, THE PEOPLE SCATTERED GOLD-DUST BEFORE MY HORSES FEET; BUT NOW I AM A GREAT KING, THE PEOPLE HOUND MY TRACK WITH POISON IN MY WINE-CUP, AND DAGGERS AT MY BACK
- THE ROAD OF KINGS
ROBERT E HOWARD
And, here a little closer up…
Next we find the art book, titled “The Art of Hyboria”.
I’ve seen this graphic on the cover like a thousand times now on… I may come back later and give more info on the Art book. There is actually quite a bit to peruse in here.
After the art book, we find a little pocket with various goodies. First is the faux-leather map. I think this thing is made of vinyl on the front coated over some sort of cloth; I’m not sure, but the smell of it has been giving me a headache ever since I took off the plastic wrapping. I sure hope that goes away…
With the stinky map folded out:
Next, we find the box with the install disks!
Opened up…
and closer up…
We find here the bonus materials as well, they are:
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Bonus Disk: When loaded, it runs a flash program with a listing of individual movies. One is an introduction from the game creator, Gaute Godager. This is likely original, so kinda cool; but most the movies on this disk have all been released elsewhere. The exception is a couple initial trailors, and there are developer diaries (which I really enjoyed), that I haven’t seen elsewhere. I am somewhat guessing, but I am thinking that the trailors and such on this disk are higher resolution than what I had previously seen, however.
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Soundtrack: This is a 25 track CD with in-game music. No special effects, all these are individual scores. I have really been getting into Video Game Soundtracks the last few years, and so this was a big reason why I wanted to get the Collector’s Edition. I’d easily pay the $14.99 or whatever for this individually; it is quite nice. We’ll see if it grows on me, at the moment I’d give this soundtrack an arbitrary 4 out of 5 stars overall; I’d put it up there with the Oblivion soundtrack.
OK, just a few more items. Next down in the unpacking phase, there is a small stack of stuff:
1. An ad from Creative for the Soundblaster XiFi XtremeGamer with a website to receive a $15.00 instant rebate at http://us.creative.com/ageofconan. One nice touch is a logo that says “NOT USED BY LOSERS“. Funny…
2. On the back of this ad, is another one from creative for the Creative Fatal1ty Gaming Headset, and a similar $10.00 instant rebate. The same logo is printed, and I am beginning to think Creative wants you to be like “Johnathan Wendel”.
3. An ad for some Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures books. Looks like you should be able to go to http://www.penguin.com/ageofconan to check these out.
4. One more ad, this for the AoC keyset from Ideazon with info regarding the in-game item: Enruned Kosalan Ring. Check out my review here of this sub-par product, btw.
5. Lastly, there are 5 cards stating “Guest Pass”, “Invite a friend into the world of Conan with this free 7-day guest pass”. Checking out the back, looks like you go to https://register.ageofconan.com/ (where you can access your account) and you can pull up free passes that you can jot down onto this card. I’ll have to check this out later.
The last thing in the box! The game manual. I browsed through this a little bit. Nothing tells me that this is likely to be any different than the game manual included with the Retail game.
This manual has all the usual stuff, how to install, basic and advanced gameplay, and then some background on races, classes, and gods of AoC.
On the back of the game manual, is the AoC CE Authentication Key. To be honest, I cannot recall now what the in-game item was that was associated with the CE. I am thinking that for pre-ordering from Gamestop I got the War Mammoth (and Mammoth Bags), and that it was the drinking cape that came with the CE. Which, is kinda lame because the drinking cape was also given to anyone who had signed up for the newsletter prior to launch. I feel a little jipped on that; wish it was something unique, but oh well!
Either way, here is my registration page with these (and some other) in-game items activated:
Well, that’s it!
BOTTOM LINE:
- The AoC CE came in a big box, which is cool in itself,
- There were a few nice items, that are a bit passeable, to include a stinky vinyl map and some rehashed AoC movies,
- But also some pretty cool stuff like the art book (which is nice, but will probably just sit around), the inclusion of developer diaries (I thoroughly enjoyed), and the soundtrack (my favorite item – and makes it all worth it to me).
- Lastly, I am dissapointed in the in-game item; wish it had been something unique.
