TekPr0n

From the beginning of time, we as humans, wanted more from our environment. Whether we create a movie depicting us in a far of world shooting laser beams, or if we are moving figurines in a make believe war amongst fictional characters, we want more. Always wanting to change our environment is human nature and, if it is not possible because of technological limitations we will create an environment, such as a game, to let us play out what we would like to experience.

I don't know how many times I have visited the slopes to shred some sick rail on the top of an icy cabin, for free, because of a game. At the end of the day I didn't break any bones, no matter how many times I fell, and I could really pull some speed, without getting a “your snowboarding too fast” ticket. But why not play in both worlds, it would be great if when purchasing my snowboarding game I got a free one day voucher to a local slope…in real life. It would be an easy choice, especially if there were a couple different titles to choose from that day at the store. It brings the real world into our enhanced version.

Now, however, I see a new trend developing along these lines, and the capitol ship, pulling out this revised initiative is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. For the first time ever, I have seen a “functional” piece of gadgetry come from a game maker, in hopes that the perk will increase sales and of course,  as well as night time fun.

When I was in high-school a few friends and I would make a habit of, unsafely, playing paintball against each other at night time. As kids we always talked about trying to make it better. I mean there is only so much you can see at night, so typically we had to play in areas that were somewhat lit, sometimes meaning the local high school common areas were good spots to play, but didn't offer that covert feeling we wanted in the first place. Thinking back on that time, I would have easily paid out the $139.99 for the Prestige Edition of Modern Warfare 2, because, it includes working night vision goggles in this package.

OMFG, needed that technology a few years ago…

Of course, this is not the fist time that game developers and their associated marketing companies have included little nick knacks with their games. Usually if you get the collectors edition, the most you pull off as part of the game is a plastic figurine or a glossy graphic novel with the main characters in it, boring? Even the most elite collectors edition I can think of in the last year, Halo 3, only offered a life sized head that you can store your game in, as your ‘perk’. As for the most useful, I have found that the lockable safety deposit box that came with the Collectors Edition of Grand Theft Auto 4 was used the most after the initial un-boxing, I have to have someplace to keep my glossy graphic novels from other games ;).

I will be purchasing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, not only because I loved the first release but because who the hell doesn't want night vision goggles? Even if these are a bit clunky looking, actually gianormous compared to most, real NV goggles, its a no brainer. I have looked up the cost on night-vision goggles before, trying to find a cheap alternative, the best I could come up with was a set from ThinkGeek.com, these are $89.99, but look a bit more compact. ThinkGeek NV goggles If you take the cost of those goggles and the cost of a normal video game at ~$50.00 it seems to be a great deal though, actually saving a bit, if you were to purchase both independently.

Including night vision goggles in this game teeters on being something that is really not to specific to the game, more of an extra piece of something to sell more. You do use them in the game from time to time, but most items that are included in collectors editions are really specific to the characters or the content. Already I have seen comments on other sites of angry people, claiming they are throwing “will break in 24 hours” items, just to sell more. Duh. As for the overall content of the game I don't really think there is going to be a major improvements on the game. I watched the E3 coverage of the game and, it seemed, the same.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was one of the most popular games that Activision ever put out, so a game that is just as awesome, but includes goggles to wear during your walk with the dog at night, makes it a +1. In the future, I think we will be seeing more game editions like this being released.

Some of the ideas that cross my mind:

Skate3 released, with a free roll of grip tape for your real skateboard.

Fight Night 5 released with boxing gloves.

Guitar Hero World Tour 2 released with a cheap acoustic guitar, like the ones you see on infomercials.

There is a plethora of items you could release with games that would breach the gap between our fake world and the one we live in. Now that a lot of items that were thousands of dollars while I was in high-school are cheaper to produce,  that they can be included in our games, why not give someone the game and a real world counterpart?

Having mentioned this, I don't see the release of Rainbow Six’s next installment to offer a Silenced MP4, in the Collectors Edition, that would be unsafe ;) There is always room an NRA Edition but I couldn't tell you what the ESRB rating would be.

**There is no intention with in to state any of the above games are being released or even exist in this realm, they are fictional titles to potential games. Thanks for not putting me on a stake for imagining things.**