Part 1 DVDs

[cultnirvana.livejournal.com]

I was going to go for the Limited Edition of the Part 1 boxset, but the company I had my pre-order with (I'm in the UK and am importing the R1 set from a UK company) are holding back on sending out the Limited Edition until there is a re-release that doesn't have the DVD playback problems that have plagued so many copies. But they have the Standard Version of Part 1 on 7-day dispatch. So I was wondering:

- is it only the Limited Edition that has the DVD playback problems? (which seems to be what their dispatch notices are saying o_O)

- does the standard edition come in an art box? (Though I think it's a double DVD case from what I've found) Is it the same artbox as the Limited Edition? (if different, does anyone have any photos?)

- are the only extras the Limited Edition has over the stardard Part 1 the OST, the sound drama (I'm guessing this has been dubbed?) and the first volume of the manga?

- are all of the following included in the standard version of Part 1 - Picture Drama Episode, Audio Commentary, Textless Opening 1, Code Geass Collector's Booklet 1, CLAMP Character Sketch Booklet 1, Textless Ending 1, Code Geass Collector's Booklet II&III


I'm thinking of downgrading if the standard Part 1 version has no problems with DVD playback, and it'll knock £15 off the price. So recommendations are welcomed, especially from you guys who already have either version of Part 1.

Thanks to everyone who has commented so far for clearing up those issues for me. I am a sucker for extras, so I think I'll bide my time and hope that the store gets glitch-free copies of the Limited Edition soon!

Comments

[wabisuke.livejournal.com]

I got the Limited Edition and have had no problems w/ playback as of yet. But I've been watching the episodes out of order so perhaps I haven't gotten to them yet (bought from the Bandai booth at Otakon so maybe they were smart and made sure these ones were the good disks). The problem is with all disks of the early batches since they're all from the same batch regardless of it being SE or LE.

- standard first part editions comes in a double DVD case. It is not the same box as the limited edition which is an actual box (http://www.amazon.com/Code-Geass-Lelouch-Rebellion-Part/dp/B001AZ5IU6) that has a door flap that slides into the box. The standard is a standard sleeve (http://www.amazon.com/Code-Geass-Leouch-Rebellion-Part/dp/B001AZ5IUG/ref=pd_cp_d_1?pf_rd_p=413864101&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001AZ5IU6&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0DDK6A9W14EWP1A3WCB3) to hold two dvds.

- The extras are the first OST, Sound Episode 1 disk, the first volume of the manga, and a few booklet inserts (3) containing character designs, interviews, and history lessons about the world of Code Geass.

- I'm not sure about the physical items such as the booklets but I'm certain that the stuff that you would find on the LE disks are the same for the SE since those are all the same.

I personally think that the limited edition is pretty cool; The packaging is very nice (aside from the Sound Episode which I think they just used the Japanese design which looks like a L'arc~en~Ciel cover reject), I love the translated sound episodes (English; people might say boo on dubs but it's a lot of fun to actually listen to without having to check a translation or just to hear how it is in English), the booklets are intriguing, I now have a hard (and legit) copy of the OST, and manga that would have cost $10 US anyways. But then I'm a sucker for extra goods like this.

[thrumugnyr.livejournal.com]

I think the standart edition has no booklets (at least someone said so in an amazon review)^^

[gokumew2.livejournal.com]

That's right. The SE comes with NOTHING. Seriously. You get two DVD volumes packed in a slipcase box (and shrink-wrapped REALLY tight .@_@). That's it. No inserts whatsoever, which really disappointed me since Bandai's solicitation to retailers was that the SE also included the booklets and character sketches. With that said, I returned my unopened SE (I got two) and will be exchanging for an LE.

To answer cultnirvana's other question, I got the SE of Part 1 and on both discs, my extras menus did not work. It would just freeze if I try to open it. Didn't bother to check the rest of the content since I already found a defect.

[wabisuke.livejournal.com]

That sucks, especially since they marketed it falsely as that. They could have made the booklets a little bit nicer and sturdier then if that's the case because they came just in the box instead of packaged or using nice materials - something that could be stuck in the inside of a DVD case so I wasn't sure.

Everything on the menu worked for me so I assumed that it was limited to paused playback in the actual episodes. Hope that your LE comes soon.

[gokumew2.livejournal.com]

I know. I settled for the SE in the first place because TRSI said on their page that it would come with the booklets.

I guess I'm just unlucky then. But on the other hand, I'm kind of glad because I don't want to have to watch the entire DVDs just to find defects.

[cultnirvana.livejournal.com]

Mmmm. The booklets were one of the things I was really wanting. The CDs and manga are "would be nice" elements for me, but the booklets and art box are the things I'm really keen on. And I've seen a number of sites that say the SE comes with the booklets, so Bandai really screwed people over with that.

Yikes on both the discs not working properly. That's the worst report I've heard so far.

[gokumew2.livejournal.com]

Same. I don't care for the CD since it'd be in English and I don't really read manga in English either, so yeah....

[thrumugnyr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I bought the "To Terra Part 1" DVDs from Bandai. They are exactly the same as Code Geass Part 1 - and I was really dissappointed that there was no booklet, not even a sheet of paper with the contents on it in th DVDs. DVDs without booklets or even advertising stuff feel so cheap and empty. XD
I put the Booklets from the Limited Box in my DVDs now o.o'' They fit perfectly - so I don't really see a reason to not add them to the standart edition as well.

To add more info to the problems: My menus both worked fine (I guess it also depends a bit on the player). Just Disc two was killing my player in episode 9. The stupid thing is you have to watch the whole stuff to see if you have a functional DVD -_-

[cultnirvana.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think I'll have to wait on the Limited Edition. From what you and everyone is saying, it will be worth the extra £15/$30. I'm a big sucker for art boxes, and the packaging does look a lot better.

Yeah, I was hoping the dramas would be dubbed. I love subs, but enjoy dubs too, and think it would be a little weird to read a script while listening to the drama.

Thanks for all your help!

[gokumew2.livejournal.com]

Wait for Bandai to start shipping out good batches to retailers and then get it during the next Bandai studio sale at TRSI. It'd be just like $45 for the LE.

[cultnirvana.livejournal.com]

Aye, the company I've ordered it from are waiting on the good batches, thank god, as I was worrying about what to do if I got a bugged version. I almost cancelled it as it would have been a headache to get a replacement disc over here, having to annoy a mate over in the US or Canada for it and pay shipping costs and whatnot.

I'd be tempted to wait until it's reduced down in price, but if I can't find it for that price from a UK store (who rarely reduce down prices, the buggers), I'd have to wait at least until the new year (guess that isn't ages, but I'm bad at waiting) as at the moment anything over £18/$36 can get badly stung for import taxes >_______< Thankfully soon it goes up to £118, when I can import loads of special offer stuff without worries. Ah, how I can't wait.

[wabisuke.livejournal.com]

No prob! I think it's worth the extra amount if you're the collector type.
And you'll have a lot of fun with the dramas for sure. I agree on the strangeness of having to read a translated script for something you're supposed to be listening to w/o visual cues. It's really exciting for me since I have radio dramas dating back to my Pokemon days when it took me forever to find translations and now they're actually dubbing and releasing things like this. I'm weird, yes.

[cultnirvana.livejournal.com]

I've held off on checking out the sound dramas so that it's something nice and new when I get the DVDs (haven't seen anything of the dub). So, yeah, LE me thinks.

Pokemon dramas? I remember getting a big kick out of the Japanese lyrics from the Team Rocket songs back in the day I loved the show, so I think I'll have to have a look out for those, even if I'm reading a script along to them :D