This is one of the biggest days in gaming, ever. And everything went swimmingly. Kinda. Amazon delivered my Special Edition on launch day. I never really know what to expect, being free shipping and all, but this is impressive.

I got the Amazon exclusive license plate as well, neatly attached. It’s nicer than I expected too. It’s just like a real, genuine license plate. Although, I don’t know what I could’ve possibly expected. Like the real McCoy, it’s metal (aluminum?) with a powder coat finish, embossed letters, and full sized (I think). And it wouldn’t be Grand Theft Auto without a satirical slogan to boot: “Liberty City: Worst Place in America.”

Considering that it cost me a total of $0.00, it’s really a solid addition to the other items that actually come with the “Collector’s Edition”, all of which are practical real world items befitting of GTA’s seedy, grimy, underbelly of a city. Or, New York. A metal lockbox with keys (yes, it works), a keyring, and a duffel bag.

The license plate fits into that theme many times more convincingly than a t-shirt or poster, which some of the other retailers are offering. As of this writing, it is still available from Amazon, with purchase of the Special Edition of GTA4. It’s a heck of a package for $90, which only shows you how desensitized I am to game prices. Still you get a lot for the extra $30, including a soundtrack and a much-better-than-I-expected art book. Art books are so hot right now.

So how’s the game itself? Well, ladies and gents, my Xbox 360, on April 29: 2008– launch day, Grand Theft Auto IV— passed into the netherworld. I’m less upset than I am amused, really. It’s been terribly busy of late and I lack the luxury of fully delving into Liberty City anyway. If it had to happen, it might as well have been today, for kitsch factor. Was this payback for dumping Windows, Bill? Fair’s fair. But suppose this had happened to a kid version of me, just imagine what I would’ve done. You’re right, probably nothing. And I wouldn’t have even been able to blog it. That’s truly terrifying.

[[Artist Proof]] Xbox 360
“From One Launch Day to Another”
Nov, 2005- Apr, 2008

• Grand Theft Auto 4 Special Edition at Amazon
• Read my thoughts on Bioshock Collector’s Edition

Sideshow Collectibles or The Temple of Doom?

This morning’s streamlined pre-order did work as advertised. Well, kinda. I liked how the ‘wait’ page automatically refreshes at the appropriate time (10AM in this case). Things went downhill fairly quickly from there: I did manage to reach the cart page, login, and click the order button before experiencing the deep freeze. The page hung and eventually died. Subsequent attempts to reconnect would yield software and database error messages.

It’s 10:15 right now and I’m still trying.

Lots of people have poo-poo’d the “lame” exclusive, but it’s a change-o-head…. might not use it, but as long as they’re the same price, I’ll take the extra head free of charge. And perhaps I’m out of touch, but it’s refreshing to see the $279 pricepoint when Sideshow could’ve easily put this at $300 and no one would have even batted an eye. It’s not the end of the world if I don’t get one, mind you. I like this PF enough to buy it (Trevor killed it), but I wouldn’t be heartbroken in the least if I missed. What if it were something I was really dying for though? I haven’t really fully invested in a PPO in a long time, and this doesn’t instill much confidence in their system.

10:20… nada.

I got my Radiohead tickets for this August with less trouble.

I love you, Radiohead.

• Sideshow’s Indiana Jones Premium Format pre-order…. good luck!
• Don’t think two heads are better? Regular edition more easily obtainable

Weta was kind enough to send along the press release today for their continuation of the Narnia range with Prince Caspian, along with a partial listing of confirmed collectibles to come. Although the first range (and film) ultimately did not grasp me, it’s hard to argue with how utterly stunning some of the pieces were. There is no mention yet of more maquettes (which I think is a good thing), and the addition of helms is always welcome.

Statues
-Prince Caspian
-Warrior Satyr
-Reepicheep

Mini-Bust
-Minotaur bust

Helmets
-1/4 scale helmets based on Prince Caspian and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

• Read the full press release at WetaNZ.com
• Preview the Warrior Satyr