While the Western world continues to wait for clarification of the 'fall' release date for the Zone of the Enders HD Collection, Konami's mechsperts have nailed down an October 25 release date for Japan, along with a special edition that'll have U.S. PlayStation 3 players pondering preorder.
It's times like these that the import-savvy Westerner has an important decision to make. What are the chances that the special edition of the Zone of the Enders HD Collection will make it stateside. Will they be missing out if they don't score the special version, with its two books — one covering ZOE in general, the other specifically covering the ReBoot — its soundtrack remix album, and its special Anubis cover drawn by Shinkawa? Should they shell out 8,980 yen for that version, or 9,980 yen for the version packaged with the Z.O.E. 2167 Idolo blu-ray?
Perhaps some new screenshots demonstrating how much better the two PlayStation 2 games look in high definition will help them make a decision? Perhaps not. Perhaps they just make it harder.
Fans of Z.O.E. can head over to the official Konami Japan page and begin making their plans now. I might import one to keep, and wait on the Western release to play. Or just blow all my money on the toys instead. Dammit. Lucky Xbox 360 players, with their region locking.