Anyone knows the differences between original release and EA Classics re-release?

[Npt99]

Hi to all!

I'm looking to buy the pack Command & Conquer The First Decade.

I'm interested in the original release, from 2006 (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/originalem.jpg/), and not the EA Classics posterior release, from 2008 (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/eaclassics.jpg/).

Can anybody help in pointing out what are the differences between these releases?

I'm looking not only for a full disclosure of the contents of each release, but also for a fully detailed description (including code numbers/barcode numbers/special designations) that are specific to each release.

Specifically, what I'm looking for is some kind of information that I can present to a retailer and, with that, they can compare their records and check if it matches what they have in stock or not...

I've tried contacting 2 different online game shops, and both asked me the same thing... since apparently not one of them could provide with an 100% guarantee that what they would be selling would be the original release, and not the EA Classics one, unless I could specify more details.

I know there's some on e-bay for sale, but I would prefer buying in retail (cheaper price).

Thanks in advance!

[CyborgBanana]

The website 'Amazon.com' are selling original copies of 'The First Decade,' just buy it from there. I'd doubt any retailers are selling TFD to be honest...

[Nyerguds]

The original has a cardboard box... the other one seems to be just the DVD box. I sort of doubt that Classics version will have the poster, since it doesn't fit inside the DVD box as far as I know.

[Npt99]

The original has a cardboard box... the other one seems to be just the DVD box. I sort of doubt that Classics version will have the poster, since it doesn't fit inside the DVD box as far as I know.

Sorry, I should have clarified I was referring to releases in the UK...

From what I could find, at least based on some picture I found, the original release seems to come in a bigger kind of box, but sill similar to the DVD box dimensions (just "fatter", so to speak). The EA Classics re-release is a normal DVD box. I've yet to find a picture of the EA Classics opened box, but I'm assuming it is similar to a re-release I find available in my country, in which the brand is designated as "EA Value Games", and comes with only the 2 DVDs and the manual.

EDIT:

OK, I was checking e-bay (unfortunately didn't find any prices suited to the prince-range I would be willing to spend) and now I'm confused regarding the original edition...

I've found out these 2 photos:

First picture: http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/8988/pic2be.th.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/pic2be.jpg/).

Second picture: http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/1513/pic1o.th.jpg (http://img857.imageshack.us/i/pic1o.jpg/).

Based on these 2 photos, which version was in fact the original one? Does the first picture match the original release and the second picture a posterior release that came with the poster, predating the EA Classics release? Or is this just a picture of the same release without the bigger box?

[Npt99]

The website 'Amazon.com' are selling original copies of 'The First Decade,' just buy it from there. I'd doubt any retailers are selling TFD to be honest...

There are retailers where I live that are selling a re-release of it, similar to the EA Classics re-release, I'm assuming... However, if I could buy the original release for the same price as I can buy the re-release, that would be great, and that's why I'm struggling with this...

EDIT:

I checked Amazon.co.uk (Amazon.com shipping would be too expensive), and I found out that they seem to have the original release (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Conquer-First-Decade-DVD/dp/B000E543LI/ref=sr_1_1) and the EA Classics release (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Conquer-First-Decade-Classics/dp/B0035LBM08/ref=sr_1_2). I've asked them to confirm if the first link is in fact the first release... let's see what they say...

[CyborgBanana]

There are retailers where I live that are selling a re-release of it, similar to the EA Classics re-release, I'm assuming... However, if I could buy the original release for the same price as I can buy the re-release, that would be great, and that's why I'm struggling with this...

EDIT:

I checked Amazon.co.uk (Amazon.com shipping would be too expensive), and I found out that they seem to have the original release (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Conquer-First-Decade-DVD/dp/B000E543LI/ref=sr_1_1) and the EA Classics release (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Conquer-First-Decade-Classics/dp/B0035LBM08/ref=sr_1_2). I've asked them to confirm if the first link is in fact the first release... let's see what they say...

Well I got my copy of TFD from them, so it probably is.

[Npt99]

Well I got my copy of TFD from them, so it probably is.

In this case, is your copy the original release? What do you make of my questions in my previous reply, concerning the 2 images I found out in e-bay?

[stephanovich]

First picture: http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/8988/pic2be.th.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/pic2be.jpg/)

That's the one I have and it is the only one they've been selling here.

[Npt99]

That's the one I have and it is the only one they've been selling here.

Hum, sorry for sounding so dumb, but,.. here is where, specifically? :confused:

By the way, excellent looking cake you have there! :)

[stephanovich]

Says Denmark under my avatar ;)

[Nyerguds]

Those 2 pics show the same thing, only the second is missing the cardboard box.

The poster might look misleading, but it's simply the other side on the second pic.

[Elearen]

Sorry, I should have clarified I was referring to releases in the UK...

From what I could find, at least based on some picture I found, the original release seems to come in a bigger kind of box, but sill similar to the DVD box dimensions (just "fatter", so to speak). The EA Classics re-release is a normal DVD box. I've yet to find a picture of the EA Classics opened box, but I'm assuming it is similar to a re-release I find available in my country, in which the brand is designated as "EA Value Games", and comes with only the 2 DVDs and the manual.

EDIT:

OK, I was checking e-bay (unfortunately didn't find any prices suited to the prince-range I would be willing to spend) and now I'm confused regarding the original edition...

I've found out these 2 photos:

First picture: http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/8988/pic2be.th.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/pic2be.jpg/).

Second picture: http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/1513/pic1o.th.jpg (http://img857.imageshack.us/i/pic1o.jpg/).

Based on these 2 photos, which version was in fact the original one? Does the first picture match the original release and the second picture a posterior release that came with the poster, predating the EA Classics release? Or is this just a picture of the same release without the bigger box?


They're both the same package.
The poster is double sided.

As for the EA classics version, I would assume that the poster isn't included, but everything else is exactly the same.

[Npt99]

Says Denmark under my avatar ;)

Yes, sorry, should have specifically asked about where did you buy it, through Amazon or another online shop, or was it a local retailer shop? Did you buy it recently?

[Npt99]

They're both the same package.
The poster is double sided.

As for the EA classics version, I would assume that the poster isn't included, but everything else is exactly the same.

Thanks for the input, Elearen and Nyerguds (I should have said that I already knew the poster was double sided)! Then it was just a case of a seller not putting up for sale the bigger box (and not a possible second release of the game).

I'm also assuming that the UK EA Classics release is equal to the UK original one (minus the bigger box and poster).

What I would like to know was if there was some code number/barcode number/special designation or something else, that is specific to each release, so that I could present it to an online seller like Amazon (or other online shops like Game.co.uk, for instance) and they could check their records and confirm if in fact they are selling the original release or the EA Classics one.

For me this would be just a case of confirming if box of the game they have in stock is equal to the original one or the EA Classics one, but, alas, this doesn't seem possible to achieve :confused:, at least not with the 2 online shops I've tried to ask about it (Game and Gamestation), both asked me to contact EA asking for more information.

I tried that, and although the people from the EA support chat were nice and tried their best to be helpful, they couldn't tell me anything new about this and asked me to try my luck here in the forums... :(

[stephanovich]

Yes, sorry, should have specifically asked about where did you buy it, through Amazon or another online shop, or was it a local retailer shop? Did you buy it recently?

Local retailer..........Game I think, but back in oh I don't know.......2006 perhaps.

[Npt99]

Hi again!

My attempts to find out more information about these releases aren't going well... tried again contacting EA support (this time through email) but didn't have much luck...

I'm trying now another approach, this time, I'm asking the people who own one of the releases: can anybody tell me the barcode of the original UK release and the barcode of the EA Classics re-release?

So far, I've discovered in Mobygames a barcode, which I'm assuming it is the UK barcode for the original release: 5030930049539 (at least, both boxshots I found, http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/command-conquer-the-first-decade/cover-art/gameCoverId,58171/ and http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/command-conquer-the-first-decade/cover-art/gameCoverId,108479/, both show the same barcodes, even though apparently they refer to countries Poland and United Kingdom or Finland and United Kingdom).

I found out a possible barcode for the EA classics re-release (found it in an online store that specifically said it was selling the EA Classics re-release), it is 5030930078775.

So, can anybody with the UK original release confirm if it's barcode is in fact 5030930049539? and can anybody with the UK EA Classics re-release confirm if it's barcode is in fact 5030930078775?

I also found out another number, located on top of the barcode: WWE07705031IS. Which seems to differ from the one found in this other image http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/command-conquer-the-first-decade/cover-art/gameCoverId,108476/, which is WWE07705031BA. Anybody has a clue on what this number is? From my previous contact with EA, they have provided me with at appears to be the SKU number of the original release, wwe07705031d, which has a format similar to these other numbers... Anyone has some more input on this?

Thanks in advance!