A Children of the Nile special collectors edition - what could be in ;)? [Archive]

Echnaton

08-06-2004, 05:51 PM

What could be in ;)? What would you like to see?

My ideas:

- box comes in pyramid/ankh/sarkophag design
- includes soundtrack (although we got plenty mp3 for download ;))
- a little egyptian model figure (a Cotn Anubis, a model of a god, a little ape etc., a nice little female dancer :D)
- artworks, signed by the team
- a T-shirt
- a poster
- a keychain

Well, I dont claim all of them (altough it would be nice ;))

Bizkit

08-06-2004, 06:10 PM

The pyramid design might be difficult to store for shop owners. I'd go for the sarcophagus, even though it's a bit spooky.

Everything else on your list.. They would be nice to have.
The figurine could be different in each box. Like.. "Oh no. Not the monkey."
The keychain could be shaped like that Egyptian Eye in Keith's avatar (can't remember it's actual name). There could be mouse-pads, pens, bumper stickers ("Protected by Isis"), etc.

I wouldn't want to be part of the team when having to sign 5000 pieces of artwork for the fans. :D
Unfortunately, I don't think all of them could be included in the Collectors' Edition.. It would cost too much. Anyway, it's a good idea.

Echnaton

08-06-2004, 06:20 PM

Yep, of course not all in a collections edition :). I just want to collect ideas and maybe make a vote at the end.

EDIT: This could be a idea for a simple, less creative t-shirt ;) and a sandwatch-keychain

Azeem

08-06-2004, 07:25 PM

I'd definitely like a little Egyptian figurine. I got a nice little Minotaur figurine from the "Age of Mythology: Collector's Edition" and he continues to guard my desk with vigilance. :)

Miut

08-06-2004, 08:14 PM

Time Life, every now and then, would send me an appropriate figurine with the books I was collecting - usually World Histry ones - I never collected them all, just the ones I wanted, the early history ones - Egypt, Greece, and maybe Incas, Aztecs, then Barbarians.
Over time I got a small collection of Ptolomeic coins, a hollow and etched brass puyramid paperweight, a small version of the famous statue of the scribe sitting with folded legs and a papyrus open on his lap with writing stick in hand, a stereotypical pharonic head wearing a nemes, and a Nefertiti bust, all in black resin.

The scribe and the pharonic head are among my favorites.
Gave Nefertiti away to a friend who liked her as it was actually a bad repro and nothing like the Berlin bust. She was thrilled.

Keith

08-06-2004, 09:42 PM

Included with the game? No. Maybe some of these goods in a online shop, once the game is released and returning some revenue to the publisher and developers. I would like a music CD foremost of any of the choice above, but I would not expect to see it in the game. T-shirts are always popular.

A set of CotN bobblehead dolls? ;) Pharaoh, a few of the major gods,....., etc.

http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/horus2.gif
Keith Heitmann (mailto:dheitm8612@aol.com) a.k.a Nuthin-in-khamun
Listen to the music of the CityBuilders while online:
Caesar III Music Player (http://www.geocities.com/kheitmann1/C3Player.htm)•Pharaoh Music Jukebox (http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/java/pharaoh.htm)•Zeus Music Jukebox (http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/java/Zeus.htm)•Emperor's Music Box (http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/java/erotmk.htm)•Children of the Nile Musicbox (http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/java/cotn/cotn.htm)•
Children of the Nile & Quiz (http://panzerblitz.proboards9.com/index.cgi#test)

Miut

08-07-2004, 02:21 AM

The things I see folk with stuck on their car antennas? LOL! Now that would be fun,
I do agree with you, Keith, that it is far more sensible to think of such things as figurines aetc as buyable items from TM, not as give-aways..and I've seen the odd Collector's Edition with a T shirt in the box too. ;)

Echnaton

08-07-2004, 03:32 AM

Ok, then you can split it :). If you have no collector's edition, then maybe a preorder gift and the rest of the goods in a shop.

angelisis

08-07-2004, 04:09 AM

i'd go the t-shirts or bumber sticker but i would like a calander or posters of some of the scenes from the game. the one with the eagle flying toward the pyramid...aaahhh pretty :D

angelisis

Miut

08-08-2004, 03:20 AM

Reality is - let's face it, unless you are a major league gaming firm, with your own consoles as well, then you might just give some of these things away in a Collactor's Edition.

The cost would still be quite high, and honestly, sure there would be as few folk with the cash to spend, but not that many, especially if you already have a copy of the game.
Me, I'd rather be able to buy good quality small but real repros of ancient Egyptian statues etc, and a Tilted Mill CoTN T shirt, maybe calenders and so on from then as regular items than ask them to provide Special Collector's Editions with goodies in them that could cost them, as a firm, too much.

Heck, they are only just starting out as a firm! Give them time to get their product on sale and some money coming in to keep the wolves from their doors first, guys and gals. ;)

http://www.sff.net/people/lisanne/Viking/images/Miut.gif

Alex_pharaoh

08-08-2004, 07:48 AM

For me it would be a bit funny to have those things in the special collector editions. I would like to have perhaps a copy of the Book of the Dead, or a golden statue of Amon. Lol...

Seriously now, I would love to have a nice small statue or collectable doll of the gods. I would especially love a nice Horus, Amon, Isis and Seth in my room.

wodinoneeye

08-13-2004, 09:22 AM

Keychain with eye of RA or Anubis or whatever -- not as pagan looking as an Ankh.

Pewter/potmetal -- you could have 10000 of them made in china
in about a month delivery time for about 20 cents each.

Ineti

08-13-2004, 01:41 PM

Time Life<snip>
Over time I got a small collection of Ptolomeic coins, a hollow and etched brass puyramid paperweight, a small version of the famous statue of the scribe sitting with folded legs and a papyrus open on his lap with writing stick in hand, a stereotypical pharonic head wearing a nemes, and a Nefertiti bust, all in black resin.

Ah, yeah, I love those gifts Time-Life handed out. I have the little brass pyramid, a round nickel paperweight with a Akhnaten scene on it, and a white bust of Nefertiti.

A keychain with the CotN logo would be cool.

Little von

08-13-2004, 01:49 PM

A set of CotN bobblehead dolls? ;) Pharaoh, a few of the major gods,....., etc.

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/lol3.gif

I'd love that!

Hathornefer

08-14-2004, 09:11 AM

Keith

08-14-2004, 06:05 PM

How about being really novel and having a properly printed manual in it rather than just a PDF file.

You could then include a COTN pen in the pack for scribbling notes - and flashing around wherever you see fit.

I quite fancy the box being sandpaper lined to make it look desert like - yes I know sandpaper is abrasive - but its a fun gimmic and would stop things rattling about in the box (if the manual didnt) ;)

Hath
x
Yeah, that's been mentioned at least once or twice in other discussions. While it would be nice, I fear the day of the exceptional printed manual has passed and the day of the PDF is at hand.

Cironir

08-14-2004, 06:36 PM

Ascaron, who is not a major player outside of Germany, did send a soundtrack CD to those who pre-ordered Sared. That'd by my preference for a special edition of CotN, too. The music released so far is really immersive, and I'd love to listen to those tunes away from my PC, too. :)

Celebithil Dae

08-14-2004, 10:40 PM

how about bobble heads of the Devs... just a thought :p

id like a lil figurine thingy!

Hathornefer

08-14-2004, 11:36 PM

Yeah, that's been mentioned at least once or twice in other discussions. While it would be nice, I fear the day of the exceptional printed manual has passed and the day of the PDF is at hand.

*Waves hello to Keith*

Just because it is not now - but has been,
does not mean that it can not be again.

Lets face it - in most parts of life we are reinventing things how they were decades ago as a form of progress. Wash my mouth out with soap for saying so - but even the IT industry can correct its failings :p The PDF is a great tool (I use it myself) but everything has its place - and in the imaginary collectors edition I want to stand up for the printed manual ;)

*Big grin*

Hath
x

wodinoneeye

08-15-2004, 02:31 AM

How about being really novel and having a properly printed manual in it rather than just a PDF file.

You could then include a COTN pen in the pack for scribbling notes - and flashing around wherever you see fit.

I quite fancy the box being sandpaper lined to make it look desert like - yes I know sandpaper is abrasive - but its a fun gimmic and would stop things rattling about in the box (if the manual didnt) ;)

Hath
x

Why not then a little baggie of authentic egyptian sand ???

Actually an assortment of Faience thingees might be neat (one per box --collect them all!!!)

Bizkit

08-15-2004, 02:39 AM

Eddy

08-15-2004, 04:46 AM

If Tilted Mill will pony up the funds, I would make the sacrifice of visiting Egypt to collect the sand.

wodinoneeye

08-15-2004, 06:01 AM

Egyptian sand? Not a bad idea. I always put a little bit of sand and some shells in a jar when I go to the seaside, be it in Romania or somewhere else. But who's going to retrieve kilos of sand from Egypt? I hope it will be from the Valley of the Kings :p

Could be mailed (might even be cheaper to have it baggied there).

Im sure there are plenty of entrepreneurs (Egyptian Tourism Bureau might even help find someone) there.

Authentic Nile silt !!! (sterilized of course - sand should be too)

A piece of real papyrus paper (with some Hieroglyph on it -- ack!! a papyrus trading card!! -- COLLECT THEM ALL....)

Keith

08-15-2004, 07:19 AM

*Waves hello to Keith*

Just because it is not now - but has been,
does not mean that it can not be again.

Lets face it - in most parts of life we are reinventing things how they were decades ago as a form of progress. Wash my mouth out with soap for saying so - but even the IT industry can correct its failings :p The PDF is a great tool (I use it myself) but everything has its place - and in the imaginary collectors edition I want to stand up for the printed manual ;)

*Big grin*

Hath
x
It all boils down to a matter of money. Printed manuals take lots of time to prepare, proofread, print, assemble, proofread again, reprint, etc., etc. All that costs money. As a new startup company I don't think they have that sort of money even if they wanted to do it.

PDFs are quicker and easier to make and correct and are far less expensive. They also don't take up any room in the box.

If we are lucky we might see a small pamphlet type manual ala Emperor, with a more detailed PDF manual.

wodinoneeye

08-16-2004, 05:37 AM

It all boils down to a matter of money. Printed manuals take lots of time to prepare, proofread, print, assemble, proofread again, reprint, etc., etc. All that costs money. As a new startup company I don't think they have that sort of money even if they wanted to do it.

PDFs are quicker and easier to make and correct and are far less expensive. They also don't take up any room in the box.

If we are lucky we might see a small pamphlet type manual ala Emperor, with a more detailed PDF manual.

Gotta have at least a quick startup card.

On disk docs often cant be looked at while game is in progress (if no windowed mode) and printing a book amount to paper is bothersome.

Hopefully the 'in game' help text will be integrated adaquately.

Little von

08-16-2004, 08:40 AM

I'm not sure I can fit my laptop on the back of the throne in my "imperial reading room." Printed manuals always stacked up nicely there. ;)

They are also a lot easier and less intrusive to access during game play than PDF's.

Eddy

08-16-2004, 10:49 AM

You would put the Children of the Nile manual in such an ignoble location?

I am horrified at your sacrilege!

I personally am having an addition built onto my home that will be a shrine to my copy.

Cironir

08-16-2004, 11:47 AM

PDFs are quicker and easier to make and correct and are far less expensive. They also don't take up any room in the box.

I find it hard to read longer, complex documents on the screen, especially if it's a graphical format and not plain text. I like to sit somewhere and spend time going through the printed manual of a new game -- it just adds to the whole experience and puts me in the right mood. It's also impractical to have to alt-tab out of the game whenever you want/need to look something up. The only real alternative to a printed manual for me would be a well-done context-sensitive/hypertext help system in the game itself (Civ3) and sophisticated tutorials. :)

Ken Parker

08-16-2004, 12:35 PM

The printed manual will explain the core concepts that you need to get started, along with a quick-start guide. Most of the manual will consist of charts, diagrams, and similar look-up items that you might want next to you while you play. The game CD will include a .PDF version of this document. The manual is meant to be a reference, not an instruction book.

Detailed help appears in-game. Every selectable object in the game has its own help panel, and these link to help entries explaining all of the game's concepts and nuances. The entire help system is carefully indexed and includes a table of contents. Anybody who wants to read the entire body of help text in an organized fashion can do so, in-game, from the TOC. However, help is being written and presented contextually on the premise that most players want specific information when they need it.

The manual and the help system are intended to be complementary, with help doing the informational heavy lifting.

Miut

08-16-2004, 02:13 PM

Thanks, Ken. Nice to know we have something as a quick reference. I bought Pharaoh late on when it was discounted in a special edition, ame when my son got me the multi-pack with Cleopatra in it - no printed anythings in either.

I did print out all the Pharaoh manual eventually as I needed it - and even at 2 manual pages Lanscape per page it is huge! I keep it in a ring binder folder.

http://www.sff.net/people/lisanne/Viking/images/Miut.gif

Hathornefer

08-16-2004, 02:15 PM

Thank you Ken :D What you say is pretty much as I would expect from a decent game like CotN.

That doesnt stop me hankering for the days of big manuals (I used to edit a whole load - I acknowledge I am biased :rolleyes: ) Home printing and binding is never as good as the glossy versions we used to have in the good old days.

Hath
x

Cironir

08-16-2004, 02:24 PM

Thanks, Ken! This is excellent news, and pretty much exactly what I had hoped for. :)

imhotep3147

08-25-2004, 12:09 AM

A note on collectors edition contents. I like the idea of a sarcophagus (sp?) box.....it could be faux stone with little carvings on it. I would like to see perhaps an info cd that includes interviews with TM employees, ideas they have for upcoming games.....perhaps in depth look at the development of CotN (being their first release and all). Also a MUST in any collector's edition bonus game content that you cannot get anywhere else!!!!!!!

I bought the Civ3 collectors edition which came in the nice collectors tin with all these extra cds containing gobs of info. I actually enjoyed some of it.
:D

Keith

08-25-2004, 01:36 AM

It would never make it to the stores. Retails stores don't want products with huge or oddly-shaped boxes any longer. Shelf space is money to them and they don't want something eating up all the space. That's why most games come in smaller boxes or DVD style plastic cases today.
http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/horus2.gif
Keith Heitmann (mailto:dheitm8612@aol.com) a.k.a Nuthin-in-khamun
Listen to the music of the CityBuilders while online:
Caesar III Music Player (http://www.geocities.com/kheitmann1/C3Player.htm)•Pharaoh Music Jukebox (http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/java/pharaoh.htm)•Zeus Music Jukebox (http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/java/Zeus.htm)•Emperor's Music Box (http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/java/erotmk.htm)•Children of the Nile Musicbox (http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/java/cotn/cotn.htm)Updated!•
Children of the Nile & Quiz (http://panzerblitz.proboards9.com/index.cgi#test)

Little von

08-25-2004, 12:02 PM

Why not make a special, "internet only" edition, then? It never needs to actually be on any RL store shelf or ever even seen in RL except by the people who purchase it from the net outlets.

I bet Amazon/E-Bay/any other 100% online retailer would LOVE to get a product like that to promote..., one that is ONLY available on the net.

Virtual storefronts have virtual limits, only, to their shelf space, window fronts, doorways and inventory storage areas. It is what online retailing is all about. The .com boom has busted..., now it is time for the .com reality to take off. ;)

TM can keep making their little game boxes to accommodate RL, retail outlet owners' shelves. The "special edition" could be made even more special by making it an internet exclusive. There are MANY packaging options available that will still work for the UPS/FedEx/USPO minimum shipping charge, yet accommodate a larger package and more weight at absolutely not one penny more in the individual game's shipping cost than what is being stocked on store shelves..

Wait a minute...., my brain is thumping now..., I have kept my notes from my biz.... heck, you can even use my accounts. They are all set up already for global, mass distribution.

TM, why don't you make it even MORE exclusive and just sell the thing yourselves here on this site, directly? I'd be glad to handle all of the packaging and distribution for you from my warehouse here in Laredo, TX, or I could set something up with/near whomever is actually manufacturing the CD's themselves, if you wanted. I have worked all over the USA-Mexico & Canada in the past. Why not keep more of the profits from your original work in TM's collective pockets, eh? - Just a thought. ;)

Yep, a CotN "special edition" available only on the net and exclusively from TM themselves directly through their web site... this one, would be cool.