I have to admit that I did buy the special forces edition. However, if it had been for 20 pounds more (american keyboard - no pound sign), I would not have bought it. No way is that worth it. Especially not for a Digital purchase download version. I only bought because it's the retail version, and it was only 5 pounds (less than $10) more than the standard version. Plus, because I had enough points built up to take off the 5 pounds, I only paid the same price it would cost me for the standard version. You will however get 1 special unit if you preorder regardless of what version of the game you buy.
So the question is; Would I have still bought the Special Forces Edition if I couldn't take the 5 pounds back off. I'm not too worried about 5 pounds or equal to less than $10. But not a chance, if it had been "ANY" more expensive. I am ashamed to see the normal price for the game is 15 pounds more than the standard (about $20) which I do think is outrageous. If it had been that much more, then definately no way would I buy it. For that much more, I would require a lot more to justify the extra cost, and not for in-game content. Because while all of us do like extra content, they are by no means show stoppers. Case in point:
Need for Speed Carbon: Collectors Edition - Lots of extra cars, but only playable in quick races. Unusable in single player, nor online..... Useless
For that much more, at the bear minimum, you would need substantial things such as with the following games which had excellent extra stuff to justify the extra cost.
Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Collectors Edition - Making of DVD, Artwork Book, Commemorative Coin, Full Fold-Out Map of the game world = 10 pounds more
World In Conflict: Collectors Edition - Making of DVD, History Channel: Modern Marvels - The Berlin Wall DVD, Piece of the Berlin Wall, Good Quality Headset with microphone (for online play) that usually goes for 15 pounds on it's own in stores. = 10 pounds more
At the bear minimum, to justify the cost of $20 more for the Special Forces Edition, on top of the "extra" units, you would have to at least have a making of DVD and an artwork book. Or even maybe another DVD of a proper history show documenting the climate and events of the time period their game takes place in would suit this game perfectly in a Collectors Edition (especially considering how much they boast about trying to keep historically accurate with this game) either on top of the other 2 items I mentioned earlier or in place of the artwork book.
As you can see, I did buy the Special Forces Edition, but for the price of the standard. But at the same time, I agree whole heartedly with the majority of you. For 5 pounds more, sure (but only for the retail version). For $10, thats really pushing it. For $20, no chance in hell. They need to offer a whole hell of a lot more to justify that much of a price increase. They should take a page or two from the books of Bethesda Softworks (Oblivion) and Massive Entertainment (World in Conflict). Particularly Massive, because their collectors edition was brilliant with how much more they gave considering the being only 10 pounds more (Well worth it). Creative Assembly or Sega, it doesn't matter. Whoever it is, they need to re-think their pricing point and either drop it to a more acceptable level, or offer some butter to put on top of the bread.
EDIT: I found on another site that the retail version of the Special Forces Edition does come with an Art book and a full Campain Map on top of the extra units. Again, this may justify the $10 more, but I don't think it justifies $20. If some of you do think it justifies the extra money to get the Special Forces Edition. Get the Retail Version... Not the download version. At least then you can also have some extras and actually have a hard copy of the game.
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