70 replies to this topic

[NamiraWilhelm]

saw the hints on facebook and wondered when we'd be seeing this

Cant wait for pics

[NamiraWilhelm]

Just spotted this on Amazon

[BeanieBat]

Right... well I'm off to cancel my pre-order with Amazon then! =P

[Vault101 survivor]

I'm all over this! Will they be signed & numbered?

Edited by Vault101 survivor, 08 October 2011 - 02:33 AM.

[Eyelidsz]

Can someone enlighten me on this artbook? Any word on whether it will contain more artwork than what we've already seen and will see (like in the ME3 collector's edition)?

Edited by GravityEyelids, 08 October 2011 - 02:45 AM.

[chemgear]

Oh, crap - here comes another purchase!

[DukeOfNukes]

GravityEyelids wrote...

Can someone enlighten me on this artbook? Any word on whether it will contain more artwork than what we've already seen and will see (like in the ME3 collector's edition)?

Good question...after the joke of an artbook we got for Mass Effect 2. Is this art book going to be MORE than just the ME1 book + ME2&3 CE books?

[Elmasmister]

Amazon´s pre-order canceled. I hope you have enough artbooks for everyone.

[ShepardOsiris]

Thanks for the news Ms Domino, appreciated as always. I've been following this artbook for months, been waiting for news of any special versions. I do have a few questions and concerns that I hope you can address when you know and can speak of them.

1. Packaging. There is no way to sugar coat this, and I hate to say it, but Treehouse's packaging, especially of books, is horrendously bad. I've ordered numerous books from Treehouse over the past couple years, and packaging has been nothing more than picking out a poorly sized box, and chucking in the book and sending it on it's way to rattle around until it reaches it's destination. At best, maybe someone threw in a small wad of coarse packaging paper to absorb some of the impacts, but in the process scratch up the books cover. I have seen no improvement in this area for the 2+ years now that Treehouse has been running the Biowarestore.

These finer books, especially limited print and collector's editions Hardcovers should be given a lot more care and properly handled. There is absolutely no good reason to not use acid free backing boards and acid free polybags for books of this size, as they are quite cheap in this size range. Combine that with some foam in the box or at least a more healthy dose of packing paper in the box, and problem solved. I have no issue if Treehouse feels the need to charge a premium of a few dollars and make it an optional add on to shipping, but this needs to be done. I'm tired of paying top dollar for a CE book from Treehouse only to have it arrived in less than stellar condition because of such a no brainer issue.

2. The rehash question really is a good one. I don't know how many of you bought the ME 2 artbook from the Biowarestore, or the ME 2 CE, but if you are not aware, the artbook on the store is simply a complete rehash of the artbook from the game's CE, only in a larger form and at a premium price tag considering it's not new content and it's only a handfull of pages. So that book has set a dangerous example.

If possible, can we get some kind of confirmation if there is any recycling of artwork in this new book from any of the old artbooks? If so, a rough percentage would be greatly appreciated. I'm a bit concerned because of the examples set in the past and also the fact that this book doesn't specifically advertise ME 3, it's just described as almost an added feature. Along the lines of "This book also contains SOME ME 3 artwork." Implying that a good deal of it is from ME 1 and 2. I don't think any of us are in the mood to get ripped off again with recycled artwork at a heavy premium.

3. Cost. I know Treehouse can't match a high turnover site like Amazon or TFAW with price, and I don't care about the money personally. However I don't like feeling like I'm being ripped off just so someone else can make a buck. Treehouse usually charges full retail or even above on items other stores carry for a lot less. The CE of the artbook is one thing, but if Treehouse is charging $40 for the standard edition and even $50 or $60 for the CE, plus shipping costs with the mentioned terrible packaging, that's a hard sell. Amazon selling the exact same book minus a slipcase for nearly half the price and no shipping costs and still knowing that they will take much better care of the book in packing, is hard to look away from. I hope someone over there keeps that in mind.

[TheRageWithin]

@ShepardOsiris

I think this needs a "Hear Hear", a "Damn Straight", a "Thank You Very Much" and a "Goodnight".

-TRW.

[AlphaJarmel]

I will pay serious money for high quality versions similar to the Uncharted and God of War counterparts.

So essentially make the Collector's Edition as nice as you can.

[Ronin-UK]

I love how all of these perfectly legitimate queries just go unanswered...and to be honest will probably never go answered, until we find out for ourselves after it's released.

Please can someone shed some light on this?

[weemiji]

I don't know if this answers anyone's questions, but the artbook itself is being published by Dark Horse (not Treehouse) and they make fantastic in-depth artbooks.  Not as high-quality as Ballistic Publishing, which did the Uncharted 2 artbook, but definitely better than Prima which made the ME1 artbook.  The page length and dimensions (148 pages, 9x12 inches) are exactly the same size as the Avatar: The Last Airbender artbook, which is also published by Dark Horse and one of the best artbooks that I own (and I own a TON) in terms of content and behind-the-scenes info.   For comparison, the dinky art "book" that came with the ME2 CE is 48 pages.  Here's a size comparson between the ME1, ME2, and Avatar artbooks: i.imgur.com/X3Zd9.jpg

Personally, going by Dark Horse's record I have faith that this won't be a half-assed rehash of old art.  There's bound to be some overlap, but unless they reprint the material from every artbook they've released (which is unlikely) it will probably have a good amount of new material.
As a HUGE artbook collector I've been waiting for this book for years, so it's a no brainer purchase for me 

Edited by weemiji, 11 October 2011 - 08:24 AM.

[TheKingBoar]

I guess the most important question is

a) how limited is this item, and
if it is limited like the lithographs, will we be given enough headway that we can pre-order on time?

Art books are awesome, and have a higher demand than the lithos I would think. Please make sure you make enough to have them limited but not turn them into the next ebay fad.

[Ultor84]

Color me interested, but I've got to see the value in these extras. Amazon is selling the standard edition at $26.39, plus free 2 day shipping as a prime member, so make your pitch THB. Give us your best shot :-)

[Vault101 survivor]

I have the Uncharted 2 Ballistic Folio Edition Art Book. It would be something special to have a similar quality Mass Effect art book, that's for sure.

[Vault101 survivor]

1500 is a high edition size in my opinion. It's not big deal though. But just to compare, the Ballistic Uncharted Folio art books were limited to only 200.

[tj987654321]

I was just curious as to when they will be put up for sale? Within the week?

I would hate to accidentally miss the collector's edition art book.

[Ghost GBR]

Thanks for the update!! Really excited about this, tempted by the CE, but as already mentioned 1500 is quite a lot, so may just stick with Amazon.

[Ultor84]

@Ms D
Shrink wrapping(possibly in conjunction with cardboard backing) and filling out with the remainder of the shipping box snuggly with something like air bags might work. I personally haven't had problems with books I've received from a certain massive etailer that often uses a similar method, but I yield the floor to others who may have horror stories..

[ThrakF]

In my opinion, shrink wrapping works out well for books, I've ordered various things off the internet, books included, and the shrink wrapped ones always got here in the best condition out of them all if I recall