Stardock has said that they are working on a collector's edition for Rebellion, but have not given much details on it, except that it would be in boxed form direct from Stardock only, and that if they do decide to do it (they seem to be not sure as of yet) it will have something very big in it.
I know that this is exactly the thing I have been waiting for from Rebellion, and I am more excited for the collector's edition than I am for any of the added game play features. I was really disappointed when Stardock said that they had canceled a retail boxed edition, but I would be devastated if they did not release the collector's edition.
If they did release a collector's edition, I would be overjoyed and buy it as soon as possible. That would more than make up for the canceled retail edition, because I would always like a nice collector's edition more than a regular retail version. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to me that Stardock send Sins of a Solar Empire out with a bang (in terms of boxed awesomeness), especially as after Rebellion the next Sins of a Solar Empire will likely be a number 2, and that won't be for a long while.
That said, I have some recommendations for what to include to make this collector's edition fantastic. I was disappointed with the stuff in the regular Sins collector's edition, and saw no reason to buy it especially as I could get the sweetest part, the soundtrack CD, in the Game of the Year Edition. I don't see any need for a tech-tree poster this time (I personally think they are dumb).
These are just some shots of the (in my opinion) mildly disappointing Sins of a Solar Empire Collector's edition.
However, I feel that a new soundtrack CD is badly needed, as the additions made in the micro-expansions and now Rebellion will substantially increase the musical library of Sins. So much that it might take more than one CD to hold all of the game soundtrack. But this is exactly what I want in this collector's edition: I want the entire Sins of a Solar Empire soundtrack with all of its additions in CD form. I bought the Game of the Year edition for exactly this purpose, but now with the additions I feel it is that time when there should be a new soundtrack released. Because I do so enjoy the music of Sins of a Solar Empire.
As far as that big thing goes, what I would very much like would be a model of one of the titans or capital ships on a display stand with a little placard telling the name of the ship and "Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion" in an awesome font. What would make it even more awesome is of the ship was in its faction colors and insignia. And to top it all off, have a little hatch to open where batteries could be placed to make the ship light up.
Other things that would make the collector's edition of Rebellion great would be a big, thick manual in color containing little pictures of the ships for each faction and a little back story behind them, a great, thick paperboard box with cool screen shots and a little summary of how awesome Sins Rebellion is. I always put my favorite game boxes up on display in my room and I always read through the manual of the game when I am installing it or when I get very bored. A small, hardcover art book containing concept art of the ships and some small interviews with the concept artists would also be very nice to include.
I am very confident that Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion will be awesome, but I fear that Stardock will cancel the collector's edition merely because it would be a lot of work and a lot of money. To that I say I will pay whatever it takes to purchase one of these, even if it is $100. It better have the coolness to back its price up.
If anyone has any information about the collector's edition that I missed or has any ideas or things to say about it, feel free to post them here.
