But not much more, really. Sega Europe has announced the Special Edition of Bayonetta for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and it's exactly the sort of thing you'd expect from a Special Edition. Inside a special slipcase purchasers will find an art book, a soundtrack CD containing all of six music tracks, and a copy of the game itself. Considering the actual soundtrack for the game contains 150 songs spread out over 5 discs, this really isn't all that much.

Oh well. Maybe the game is just so over-the-top and wild that a truly compelling Special Edition would have been too much?

Bayonetta Special Edition revealed [Sega Europe]

PlayStation.Blog announced the contest yesterday. Here's the deal - you need to play the Uncharted 2 Online Multiplayer Demo between now and Monday at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Pacific time. The drawing will be done at random - it's not based on time spent gaming or any other stats. You're entered by joining any open match from the demo's online lobby. Sony's giving away 10 per day, so that's 30 in all. Winning PSN IDs will be notified by email between Oct. 15 and Oct. 30 posted on PlayStation.Blog on Oct. 19.

And what do they win, Don Pardo? Well the Uncharted 2 Fortune Hunter edition includes a replica of the Phurba Dagger, featured in the game, with a display stand; an art book and collector case autographed by developer Naughty Dog, "plus a host of downloads." Oh, and the game itself, too. We've heard it's pretty good.

Want to Win UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves Fortune Hunter Edition? Start Playing Tonight! [PlayStation.Blog]

We first caught wind of this via GamerBytes, who managed to snag a picture of the German listing before it was removed from the Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle website. The listing was for The Secret Of Monkey Island - Special Edition, with the system listed as the Xbox 360 and the publisher Activision Blizzard Deutschland GmbH, the European publishing arm for LucasArts.

Adventure game website Adventure Gamers claims that independent sources have already confirmed the existence of the project to them, with a planned revelation during E3 2009 in two weeks.

So what could the special edition tag mean? Is this a completely overhauled HD remake, or just the original title stretched and filtered? Will it be an Xbox Live Arcade title, or a full on Xbox 360 retail release? Does the project even exist?

We've sent out requests for more information to both LucasArts and Microsoft, though if the game is planned as a big E3 reveal, chances we'll get official confirmation before then are slim.

If this turns out not to be a real project, someone needs to get on it immediately. There's a whole generation of gamers who have no idea what game we're talking about, and that needs to be rectified as soon as possible.

Update: As expected, LucasArts doesn't comment on rumors or speculation.

XBLA: The Secret Of Monkey Island Coming To Xbox 360 [GamerBytes]
LucasArts planning Secret of Monkey Island re-release [Adventure Gamers]

Discovered by a curious reader via a product listing at UK retailer Game's website, the Special Edition of Jumpgate: Evolution is packed with exactly the sort of things you'd expect to find in the special edition of a massively multiplayer online game. Galactic map? Check. Art book? Check. Official soundtrack? Check. It's one of the most by-the-book MMO special editions we've seen, right down to the 5 buddy postcards and the 2 in-game items, the experience enhancing Stella Ensign and Stella Citation.

No word yet on whether or not this £39.99 special edition will be coming to the states. I'm sure NetDevil will let us know if and when they're good and ready.

Jumpgate Special Edition [Game - Thanks CrowGoblin!]

Namco's put up the redemption site where you can claim the prize. It appears to be volume 2 of the "Tales 10th Anniversary Special Edition Music CD." That tiny-ass .jpg is all we have to go on.

The site only says it is "a limited run Tales 10th Anniversary Special Edition music CD. This CD includes music from a variety of Tales titles and will surly be a great addition to any fans music collection!" That applies to the Volume 1 which was included in the original special edition. So, no word on how many tracks are in this one. Enjoy!

Tales 10th Anniversary [Namco Bandai, thanks Legendary Armor]
Tales of Vesperia Special Edition (360) Bonus Confirmed [Abyssal Chronicles]

“Shaun has been riding for Target for nearly seven years, so this exclusive version of Shaun White Snowboarding was a natural fit for our relationship with him,” said Troy Michels, Target Lifestyle Marketing. “It’s great to see the Target brand brought to life alongside Shaun in the game and we’re confident that Target guests and gamers will be eager to see what has come from our collaboration in the Target edition of Shaun White Snowboarding.”

Lovely! I see no problem with this whatsoever. In fact, I would probably be more up to buying Splinter Cell: Conviction if they place an entire level inside a McDonald's Playland. "There were plastic balls everywhere and blood...so much blood." The very notion fills me with such glee. Glee!

Target To Offer Special Edition Of Ubisoft®’s Shaun White Snowboarding Video Game Exclusive Version of the Highly Anticipated Action Sports Game Hits Shelves This Winter

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Oct. 8, 2008

Snowboarding phenomenon and Target athlete Shaun White will be riding his way into Target stores this Winter with an exclusive edition of Ubisoft’s newest action sports title, Shaun White Snowboarding.

The special Target edition of the game, available on Xbox 360®, PLAYSTATION®3 and Wii™, will have exclusive extended content and features that consumers won’t be able to find anywhere else, including the Target Mountain – an entire mountain environment found only in the Target exclusive edition. Gamers will also be able to take advantage of exclusive jibs, additional scenes and more characters. Additionally, players will be able to cozy up in the game’s virtual version of the Target Chalet, the real-life mountainside home where Shaun and his fellow Target athletes hang out with friends and family at the annual Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado. Among other exclusive features, the Target Chalet is the only indoor environment anywhere in the game.

Target guests are now able to purchase a $5 pre-sell card to ensure they’ll be shredding the mountain as soon as the exclusive version hits shelves.

“Shaun has been riding for Target for nearly seven years, so this exclusive version of Shaun White Snowboarding was a natural fit for our relationship with him,” said Troy Michels, Target Lifestyle Marketing. “It’s great to see the Target brand brought to life alongside Shaun in the game and we’re confident that Target guests and gamers will be eager to see what has come from our collaboration in the Target edition of Shaun White Snowboarding.”

Shaun White is an Olympic Gold Medalist and has 42 professional wins, including seven Winter X Games gold medals. He was also the first athlete to win gold medals in Winter and Summer X Games in unique disciplines. White has collaborated with Ubisoft’s award-winning development team to create Shaun White Snowboarding. The game features open-world mountains across the globe, where players are free to define their own experiences, and express themselves through tricks, unique riding styles, and highly customizable avatars. Players can also hang out with their friends and have fun off the board by throwing snowballs, hiking to access secret spots, and filming their friends doing tricks.

“I’ve had a blast working with the Ubisoft developers, and we’ve created a game that’s really different from any other action sports game,” said White. “I think it really captures my style, and I can’t wait to see what Target guests think of the extra features we’ve made just for them.”

For more information about Shaun White Snowboarding, please visit www.shaunwhitegame.com.

Anyway, EA have decided to mark the occasion by releasing a boxed-set Special Edition of the 5 PC games in the series - Medal of Honor Allied Assault, Medal of Honor Spearhead, Medal of Honor Breakthrough, Medal of Honor Pacific Assault Director’s Edition, and Medal of Honor Airborne.

You will also take home a soundtrack CD, strategy guides, DVD documentaries and interviews with WWII veterans (doubtless overjoyed by having their memories turned into a video game) and other MoH bits and bobs for just $39.

It is out now in the US - no word yet on a rest-of-the-world release.

The game will still launch as a timed Xbox exclusive, but only as a game disc with instruments available separately. The cheaper bundle will not turn up until mid October, coinciding with the PlayStation 3, PS2 and Wii version launch.

The Special Edition bundle will retail for $189, but eager Xbox 360 gamers who want the full Rock Band 2 experience on day one can expect to shell out an extra sixty bucks if they buy everything separately.

You know, maybe this isn't a deliberate attempt to gouge money from a segment of the Rock Band fanbase. Maybe Harmonix are just trying to show Xbox gamers what it feels like to buy a more expensive import version of a game? Bah, either way.

Rock Band 2 Bundle on Xbox 360 Getting Delayed October Release? [Shacknews]

Oh, and Dan from Perimeter says you should bring in your trade-ins to put towards the price of the game. I'm pretty sure Dan is a robot. Me? I preordered the regular edition, though I'm not completely ruling out mugging someone in a swag-induced panic come launch night.

Ninja Reflex: Steamworks Edition [Steam]

The top half of the new Nintendo DS sports a smooth, glossy Crimson, reminiscent of a dangerous shade of lipstick or a cherry-red sports car. The bottom is a matte black — an Onyx yin that complements the Crimson yang.

Nintendo News: New Nintendo DS Color Comes Bundled with Brain Age 2 Nintendo has found a way for people to exercise both their fashion sense and their minds at the same time. The first new color scheme to hit the hot- selling Nintendo DS(TM) system in the United States in nearly a year will come bundled with Brain Age(TM) 2: More Training in Minutes a Day, all at an MSRP of $149.99. The bundle hits stores Aug. 21.

The top half of the new Nintendo DS sports a smooth, glossy Crimson,
reminiscent of a dangerous shade of lipstick or a cherry-red sports car. The
bottom is a matte black — an Onyx yin that complements the Crimson yang.

Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day is the sequel to the smash-hit
original that got baby boomers and seniors playing and redefined the concept
of what video games could be. This new title includes 15 fun new activities
designed to help users exercise their brains. It challenges players in areas
like math, memorization and even music.

The original Brain Age: Train Your Brain In Minutes A Day has sold 8.61
million worldwide, including more than 1.4 million in the United States alone,
while its sequel has already posted sales of 5.33 million in Japan.

Bonus unlockable levels

Bonus code to unlock two 'Cybertron' levels, one for each side in the game (Autobot and Decepticon)

Bonus Content Disc
Behind-the-Scenes Interviews and B-Roll from movie and game talent:
Peter Cullen (original Optimus Prime, Optimus Prime in game and film)
Frank Welker (original Megatron, Megatron in game)
"Making of" features with the game's development teams
Film content including movie trailers and TV spots.

Prequel Comic Book
Volume 1 of 4 official movie prequel comic books.
Designed by Transformers artist legend, Don Figueroa. Published by IDG comics.
Storyline: Tells the back-story of the battle between Autobots and Decepticons on Cybertron, as well as the importance of the All-Spark cube and how it was lost.

Limited Edition Packaging
Special packaging featuring classic Transformers icons and images of Cybertron.

Pretty nice little collections of extras. Definitely worth an extra ten spot in my book. The Cybertron Edition is only available at EBGameStop, so stop by today and make the game advisors fight each other to the death for your $5 deposit. Michael Fahey

Electronic Arts today announced Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars: Kane Edition, a numbered collector's edition of the PC game set to hit in March.

Kane Edition will come packed with a DVD featuring a behind the scenes documentary, deleted scenes and a blooper reel from the live action video shoots, a series of gameplay strategy videos from the game designers, five wallpapers and exclusive in-game content including five new multiplayer maps and three unique unit skins—one for each of the three factions in the game.

"The Command & Conquer fans are among the most dedicated in the world. It's very exciting to be able to create a special bonus edition of C&C 3 with our fans in mind," said Mike Verdu, Vice President and Executive Producer at EALA. "The exclusive maps, strategy tutorials, special unit skins and 'making of' video provide hours of enjoyment to anyone who loves Command & Conquer. The 'blooper reel' is just flat out funny. I can't wait for Command & Conquer fans to get their hands on this game."

I can't wait for C&C3, but I really couldn't care less about this special edition. Numbers? You can number something forever if you want. Brian Crecente

LOS ANGELES, Calif., December 22, 2006 - Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars : Kane Edition (C&C 3: Kane Edition) - a special, numbered collector's edition for the PC that will ship in March 2007 simultaneously with Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars (C&C 3). Filled with an enormous amount of exclusive content, C&C 3: Kane Edition will be the definitive collectible for any Command & Conquer or Real-time Strategy (RTS) game fan.

C&C 3: Kane Edition will include an exclusive bonus DVD featuring a behind the scenes documentary, deleted scenes and a blooper reel from the live action video shoots, a series of gameplay strategy videos from the game designers themselves, and more. C&C 3: Kane Edition will also feature exclusive in-game content including five new multiplayer maps and three unique unit skins—one for each of the three factions in the game. Fans will also enjoy five exclusive wallpapers.

"The Command & Conquer fans are among the most dedicated in the world. It's very exciting to be able to create a special bonus edition of C&C 3 with our fans in mind," said Mike Verdu, Vice President and Executive Producer at EALA. "The exclusive maps, strategy tutorials, special unit skins and 'making of' video provide hours of enjoyment to anyone who loves Command & Conquer. The 'blooper reel' is just flat out funny. I can't wait for Command & Conquer fans to get their hands on this game."

Command & Conquer, the groundbreaking series that put the RTS genre on the map, is returning in full force with C&C 3. This highly-anticipated next chapter takes the popular series back to its roots in the Tiberium Universe and features the fast, fluid gameplay that Command & Conquer is known for and an epic tale that will redefine storytelling in RTS games.

It is 2047 and the stakes could not be higher. Tiberium—a self-replicating alien substance that has infected the Earth—is spreading like a radioactive ice age. The Global Defense Initiative, a high-tech alliance of the world's most advanced nations, is fighting to contain Tiberium, but Kane, the megalomaniacal leader of The Brotherhood of Nod has other plans for Earth. Kane's secret society turned superpower is bent on using Tiberium to take control and transform humanity into his twisted vision of the future. All-out war rages over Tiberium and the fate of the planet rests in the balance.

The epic story of C&C 3, set in the Tiberium Universe, is seamlessly tied together with live action, high-definition video sequences featuring top Hollywood talent including Tricia Helfer, Josh Holloway, Michael Ironside, Billy Dee Williams, Grace Park, and more.

Currently in development at EA's Los Angeles studio, C&C 3 and C&C 3: Kane Edition will ship worldwide in March 2007 for Windows PC. C&C 3 has a suggested retail price (MSRP) of $49.99 and C&C 3: Kane Edition will be available at select retailers with a MSRP of $59.99. C&C 3 will also be available in 2007 for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system. These products are not yet rated by the ESRB, PEGI or USK. For more information, please visit www.CommandAndConquer.EA.com.

Therefore, Konamistyle is going to release two separate editions of their PlayStation Portable Metal Gear Solid game, Portable Ops, each with their own sexy themed PSP cases and special bonus trinkets.

The above pack includes: Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops UMD, camo PSP, three special pins, and special PSP carrying case with matching strap.

Any regular Ichiro can pick one of these up starting December 21 for 29,190 yen (about $250 USD). The super premium, mail order only version however...

This badboy will set you back a bit more, 39,690 yen (or $340 USD), but includes a genuine snakeskin PSP case ("The Skin of a Warrior") and strap ("The Tail of a Killer") and even fancier packaging.

Of course, losers who hate being special can still buy the regular game for 4980 yen, but who in their right mind would do such a thing? Michael McWhertor

With EGM and 1UP using their gamer cred to snag some sweet upcoming Halo 3 exclusives, it looks like Master Chief wannabes with some extra disposable cash will get not only the game, but an extra fun piece of plastic to see MC even when out of the game.

There are three versions of the third Halo journey, one of which is the...

Legendary Edition of Halo 3: A four-disc set, featuring a video of cut-scenes from the Halo games with DVD-style director's commentary, among other extras like documentaries and and a look at the way Halo fans have extended the fiction, in addition to the actual game. Oh, and there's a cat-head sized SPARTAN helmet that you'll put over the four discs as a display piece.

Cat head size? Um. I think I smell a future Kotaku photo contest! Michael McWhertor

Halo 3 Legendary Edition: A Helmet for Your Cat [1UP]

I hope you read that right. This isn't a very special "episode" of Gears of War. Marcus Fenix isn't going to weigh the moral decisions of "going all the way" with his boyfriend, a la Tootie from that Facts of Life episode that's indelibly burned into my noodle. This is simply all the stuff you'll get when you buy the tin can version of Gears of War.

For the shockingly high price of $70, you'll get Destroyed Beauty, the Gears of War hardbound art book as well as a bonus special features DVD, which includes "an inside look at the making of Gears of War, the "Art of Gears of War" trailer and "Gears of War: The Race to E3". It'll all come in a lovely metal case with alternate artwork, like all good "collector's editions" do.

Cheapskates can obviously wait for the DVD contents to be uploaded to your BitTorrent host of choice while checking out the already scanned in artwork that's been up since E3. Or you can just wait for the flood of "limited" editions to come roaring back into stores a few months after release. Or you can just buy the damn thing, you bum! Michael McWhertor

Destroyed Beauty: The Art of Gears of War