10 Video Game Special Editions That SUCKED

7. Call Of Duty: World At War

Call of Duty World At War
Activision

After the release and subsequent sales success of Modern Warfare 4, Call of Duty’s fans were excited about the future and many fans were ravenous to pre-order the next instalment. So, Activision decided to sweeten the day for World at War by offering a Collector’s Edition.

The big talking point for this package was the inclusion of a metal drinking flask that was described as an “authentic 8-ounce brushed stainless steel Call of Duty branded canteen”. The question players had to ask when their limited edition copy arrived was “how many authentic canteens are sealed shut”? Not only was the flask not usable for drinking, it was little more than a paperweight as its shape meant that it wouldn’t stand up and thus wasn’t something easily displayed.

There was one advantage with this collector’s edition however, which was it was “pay to win” before the phrase had even risen to dominance. Those who purchased the limited edition got early access to the powerful FG42 Machine Gun and had an exclusive free weekend of double EXP - meaning killing other players on release day was not only easier but you got better rewards for it.

If you were flush with cash these advantages sounded great but the unfortunate downside was that this special edition was essentially punishing players who didn’t pick it up.

Contributor

Coming from a content creation background that now spans over two decades, Psy cut her teeth on personal video production and community radio. Originally joining the team as a writer and presenter, she added video editing duties to her responsibilities over time and became the longest-standing editor of the irreverent gaming show Tues Your Own Adventure. Psy has worked on many previews and reviews, long-form editorials (either her own, or supporting as an editor), as a frequent quizmaster and more. Praised for the two-pronged attack of her hard work ethic and light-hearted editing style, Psy is otherwise known as a font of retro video game knowledge which has caused her to rack up many quiz wins. Outside of WhatCulture, Psy runs First Aid Spray Podcast - a long-running channel that focuses on Resident Evil in all of it's forms. You can follow her on BlueSky at http://psywhite.bsky.social and Instagram at http://instagram.com/therealpsywhite