Collectible Games - The Beginnings of Harvest Moon

In this blog I will be talking about the first four Harvest Moon games: Havest Moon (duh), Harvest Moon GB, Harvest Moon 64, and Harvest Moon GBC. While most information can be found on each Wikipedia page, as usual I like to go a step beyond. I will explain basic gameplay, release dates, how rare the games are, and other random trivia. I ran into some additional development information that is also not on the English wikipedia pages for those who like a bit of trivia.

For more information on the series as a whole please check out my first blog.

Harvest Moon (North American SNES cover)

Harvest Moon/Bokujou Monogatari
The original Harvest Moon is known in Japan as Bokujou Monogatari (牧場物語), which means Farm Story/Tale. It was released there in August 1996, North America in 1997, and Europe the following January of 1998.
Although I explained at length in my previous blog that Harvest Moon was developed by Pack-in-Video/Victor Interactive (later Marvelous Entertainment), the first game was actually developed by Amccus. The only thing I could find out about them was that they produced one other game called Monstania. I am assuming that this company had something to do with Pack-in-Video, which was bought by Victor Interactive in 1996...although I know nothing for sure. Since no credit has ever been given to anyone else but Pack-in-Video/Victor Interactive for the creation of the series, this is the only guess I have.

Those of you who have played Harvest Moon games before already know the formula for the gameplay. However, for those who have not played the games I will quickly summarize. In this game you are a boy given a farm...because all small children should be given large plots of land and living animals to take care of. It is an adorable game. Do not question it. Anyways, the farm is failing and it is your job to fix it up! Your character has between 6am and 6pm to allocate time to different tasks on the farm. These tasks include planting and watering crops, buying seeds, talking to other villagers/NPCs, and feeding animals. There are even weather patterns and seasons to worry about. You sell what your animals and crops produce in town for an income. This money is used to upgrade different things around your farm, including your tools. You can also get married...I will resist rural jokes about underage marriage because it is an adorable game. 

I have seen many complaints about the gameplay not evolving as the series goes on, but I would like to inject my opinion here. It is a farm simulator. An adorable farm simulator. Simulators do not make major changes to their gameplay and that is pretty typical of the genre. Changes, however, ARE made from game to game, and they often mean a good deal to fans of the series. The makers know keeping a fanbase is like walking a very fine line. That is all I will say on the matter. 

Harvest Moon GB(GBC)/Bokujou Monogatari GB(GBC)
This is the second Harvest Moon game and the first for a handheld. It was produced by developed by Pack-in-Video/Victor Interactive and released in 1997/1998 (Japan/the rest of the world). A GameBoy Color version was released in 1998 as well. It was called Harvest Moon GBC. 

Because of the limitations of the GameBoy, crops are the main source of income. There are, however, two types of livestock: cows and chickens. In addition, you can choose a cat or dog for a pet and you get a horse for shipping items and farm work. Just like in the original, you can also upgrade your tools.
Unlike the original Harvest Moon for the SNES and the upcoming Harvest Moon 64, you can actually choose your gender. 

Harvest Moon 64/Bokujou Monogatari 2
While this game was known as Harvest Moon 64 in North America because almost every N64 game had to have that "64" attached to it, it was known as Bokujou Monogatari 2 in Japan and therefore the sequel to the original. The game was released in 1999. According to Wikipedia, it was developed by Toy Box Studios and Victor Interactive. When I clicked on the link to Toy Box Studios it sent me to Marvelous' page...
So I got a bit confused. The researcher in me got angry at the English Wikipedia page and suddenly I didn't want to waste the five years I spent learning Japanese in college. To Japanese websites I went! 
That cleared pretty much everything up. I have links up at the bottom of the page for any Japanese readers. I couldn't find any direct relation or mention of Toy Box Studios on the Japanese websites but I found a ton of copyright material for Marvelous. So I believe that clears that up pretty well. The two companies clearly worked closely on the game with both having hands in the development process. Pack-in-Video (owned by Victor Interactive) was the publisher in Japan while Natsume published and localized the game for the North American audience, as per the usual. 

The the persistent Harvest Moon development confusion out of the way, now to the gameplay.  Once again, the player is given a farm, this time by your in-game grandfather. Although feeling very much like the first game in that you need to raise crops and animals to turn a profit, there are some more RPG elements this time around. Not only is there a limited amount of time in the day to work, but your character has limited stamina. It reminds me a bit of HP in RPGs and forces the player to make more critical choices. There are also side quests this time around as well as the chance to raise a family for the first time. Once again, you have your pick of the ladies in town. However, they all have their own personalities so there needs to be a bit of strategy in the wooing process. Besides all of this there are more crops, tools, and animals.

Harvest Moon 2 GBC/Bokujou Monogatri GB2
This cute little handheld Harvest Moon was released in 1999 for Japan, 2000 for North America, and 2001 for PAL regions. Its development process was easier to track down. It was developed and produced by Pack-in-Video (Victor Interactive) in Japan with Natsume localizing it in the states.

I have not actually played this one, but if you watch let's plays it seems to be less sim like and focuses more on RPG elements such as story and getting to know towns people. The gameplay seems a bit more linear as well. Just like the previous handheld Harvest Moon, you do get the choice of gender, which is nice. The storyline is a nice change of pace too. You are given a farm to fix up and if you fail to do so the place will get turned into an amusement park by the mayor. As with all the games, you are given a limited amount of time to repair the farm. 

Rarity:
Harvest Moon - The American version goes for hundreds. If you have a PAL SNES you can find it for $50. I sadly could not find the Japanese version of the game, which is a real shame because I have a Super Famicom.
Harvest Moon GB(GBC) - This one was far more reasonable! I found the American/Japanese/PAL versions all ranging from $6-30 depending on condition. If you want new...it will cost a bit more ($1000-2000) but that is typical. Keep in mind that nearly no kid kept the boxes for GB/GBC games, so that really jacks up the prices of a new game. 
Harvest Moon 64 - This goes for about $50 used. If you get the Japanese version it is about $20-30 and that included the box. As a side note, it is almost always cheaper to get the Japanese version of an older game (with exceptions). New, the game runs about $150-300 for the North American release.
Harvest Moon GBC - This game was about $20 used and $150-300 new. However, once again if you are willing to buy the Japanese version and have a Japanese GB you can buy it nearly new with a box for about $20.

That about wraps that up! This blog ended up being far longer than I thought it would but I had a ton of fun researching for it. :) Check the bottom of the page tomorrow for my full list of sources. I wanted to get this up at the promised time, but my sources are out of order and the HTML doesn't want to accept the Japanese...so I need to fiddle with the page a bit.
Thanks for reading!

Collectible Consoles - The PS3 Part VI: The 3rd Generation

At first I was going to try to break this blog up more, but changed my mind as that would just be too confusing and would drag this out longer. So I am putting all the generation 3 bundles I could find information on here. If I missed anything, please let me know in the comments! Once again, most of these were pretty impossible to find, but I will update this blog if that changes. I will not mention rarity unless I actually found one available for purchase, with a few exceptions aside.

I will try to, kind of, go in order of release...but since there were not many release dates for these they may be slightly out of order by a couple of months. Nothing major.

40GB Model (CECH G/H/Jxx models) 

Metal Gear Solid 4 Special Edition - Gun Metal Black Version

Please check out my previous blog on the PS3 for more info on this bundle. I will quickly go over it one more time. It came with the pretty Gun Metal Black finished PS3, MGS4 Limited Edition, a documentaries DVD, and a soundtrack. This is super easy to find on Ebay and Amazon usually...although it may cost an arm and a leg.

Spider-Man 3 Blu-Ray Bundle

This bundle was released for North America only. One thing to note about movie bundles is that they are close to impossible to find new or even used. This is mainly due to the fact that Sony was pretty much selling every PS3 as a bundle during this time and that people never thought an unopened one would be worth much. So...long story short, I could not find this. The same goes for the other movie bundles. Which is a real shame because who doesn't want Spider-Man 3 packaged with an older PS3?! I kid, I kid.

The Blockbuster Bundle

This bundle is an odd one. I read several articles (which can be found in my sources) that stated that not only was this a Blockbuster exclusive, but that only a select few ever carried it. To make matters even more confusing, I found that some bundles had the 40gb and while others had the 80gb. While Tranformers: The Game was always included, it would seem that the movies differed. I found two different movies, although there may be more. The first was Spider-Man 3 (they were trying to get rid of that movie...) and the other was Click. This bundle also came with a remote and a 12 week rental card. I sadly could not find this on any shopping website, and believe me, I hunted for it. If someone finds this, for the love of all that is holy, let me know! I am super curious at this point.

Dynasty Warriors 6 Bundle

Check out my the PS3 Part II  blog for more information on the Ceramic White PS3. This bundle was a Japan only release that came with a 40gb PS3, Dynasty Warriors 6, nine metallic tags, stickers, and a book featuring characters and maps.

Devil May Cry 4 Bundles

These two bundles were released in Japan on January 31 2008 in both Piano Black and Ceramic White. Besides coming bundled with Devil May Cry 4, they also included a bonus Blu-Ray disc with extra content. 

This is the Ryuu ga Gotoku Kenzan/Yakuza bundle packaged with a Satin Silver 40gb PS3. This bundle was released in Japan alongside the game on March 6 2008. Besides the game, it came packaged with the dragon sticker set pictured on the right.

Both of these Starter Pack bundles were sold in Europe, although the one with NFS: Pro Street seems to have been exclusive to just France, at least for a time. Each includes an extra controller, a 40gb PS3, and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, although the one with Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction had a wider European release.

European Movie Pack Bundle

This movie pack was released for Europe on March 19 2008. It contains a 40gb PS3 along with the movies 300, James Bond: Casino Royale...and Spider-Man 3...yeah. They were trying to get rid of it.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue European Bundle (40gb)

This is the first of several GT5: Prologue bundles. This particular one was released for Europe with a 40gb PS3 on March 28 2008. There is also an 80gb bundle that is not to be confused with this one. It wasn't released until 2009.

GTAIV European Bundle (40gb)

This European only bundle was released alongside the game with a 40gb PS3 on April 28 2008. On a personal note, I worked the midnight release for this game and I have to say it was crazy enough without a bundled system. There was a fight and angry customers that suddenly wanted the collector's edition once they realized it was a thing (read: that night). I had to drive to the other side of town to get more collector's editions, even though people hadn't pre-ordered them, just to keep the anger at bay. Kind of glad this was European only. I would have been doing system runs that night too if it had been here!
(You guys and gals are going to get stories from time to time. Hope you don't mind!)

80GB Model (CECH K/L/Mxx models)

MGS4 and Killzone 2 Best Buy Bundle (80gb)

This U.S./Best Buy exclusive 80gb bundle came with both Metal Gear Solid 4 and Killzone 2, although the latter was download only. Even if you find this now, keep in mind there are no guarantees on being able to download Killzone 2.

LittleBigPlanet Bundle

This bundle was made available for Europe on November 5 2008. I have actually found a good bit of these for sale. They seem to have come in the standard Piano Black as well as Satin Silver. The Satin Silver was technically part of another bundle that was a wider release that came with another controller. They tend to go for about $700 lightly used.
NOTE: I do not have a picture of the Satin Silver here because I did not want to take pictures from Ebay. So far I have been using Sony's pictures while giving them full credit and rights in the sources.

  

Both the Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty (with an extra controller) and Infamous bundle were only found rumored on Spanish website. I couldn't find them anywhere else, except for other pages that were quoting that website as a source. So I'm not sure how widely released these were. If someone knows, please email or comment.

Killzone 2 Bundle (Australia)

This Australia only bundle was released on February 27 2009. Yeah...not much else to say here. Love the box art!

Pro Evolution Soccer/Winning Eleven 2009 Bundle

This Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, or World Soccer Winning Eleven in Japan, bundle was released with the game and two controllers along with a 80gb PS3.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue European Bundle (80gb)

As mentioned earlier, Europe got two exclusive Gran Turismo 5: Prologue bundles. One was the 40gb bundle mentioned earlier in the red packaging. This one includes an 80gb PS3 and an extra controller. It was released on September 10 2009. 

Resident Evil/Biohazard 5 Bundle

As covered in Part II of  this blog series, this bundle comes with the special Resident Evil/Biohazard (as it is known in Japan) version of the PS3 "fat" 80gb. You can find details on its rarity there as well. Because it is a special PS3, it is easier to find the entire bundle unopened or lightly used. Just be warned that it will cost a pretty penny. The bundle also came with the game and an extra controller. It was released on March 5 2009. 

Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan 3/Yakuza 3 Bundle

This Yakuza 3 (Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan 3 in Japan) bundle was also previsouly mentioned in Part II. Details on rarity and whatnot can be found there. Glad they replaced the sticker with a full on paint job! 

Motorstorm: Pacific Rift Bundle

Although Wikipedia says that this bundle was a UK only release, I am fairly sure that this was actually a wider European release from the articles I found. In addition, I managed to find it for sale on German Amazon (more fun than calling it Amazon.de) for 200 Euros. However, it was very unclear if it was this original bundle or one created by a third party as the pictures were very unclear. If I managed to find another, I will update this post. 

  

I love Gran Turismo, but for the sake of my sanity, I am grouping these last two together. This is mainly because they were both a bit difficult to find information on, therefore I would like to contain my frustrations in one place. Alrighty then...

The bundle on the left was a UK only release that also came packaged with Midnight Club: Los Angeles. An article I came across also mentioned another bundle just like this one, except with GTAIV in place of Midnight Club. It was supposedly released for Europe. I could not find an official picture though.

The one on the right...well I had to get the picture from forums, so I have no idea where the credit lies because I do not know who took it. I would say Fumitsu because they leaked the bundle release originally. However, they stamp their pictures on the bottom left corner so I am unsure. Picture aside, this seems to be part of a series of bundles released for Japan that were packaged with 80gb PS3s and GT5: Prologue. Besides the Piano Black pictured here, one article states that some bundles came with Ceramic White and Satin Silver as well. I just couldn't find pictures.

In all, there were five Movie Pack bundles released for the UK only, besides the one mentioned earlier with the three movies in it. I will not be talking much about these four bundles because there honestly isn't much to say. The only one I will comment on is the bottom left bundle. That is a movie called Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis for those that are wondering. Apperently it was a popular French comedy around 2009. Now for the fifth bundle...

Terminator Salvation Bundle/Movie Pack

You will notice this Movie Pack bundle comes with a game! It also doesn't say Movie Pack! Yeah. The reason I grouped it together with the others is because it was announced and released alongside the other Movie Packs in the UK. It was released in June 2009 and included an 80gb PS3, Terminator Salvation, and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. 

Wall-E/LittleBigPlanet Bundle

Right along with the theme of movie bundles is this adorableness. This was a North American/Best Buy exclusive that included Wall-E and LittleBigPlanet along with an 80gb PS3. This actually wasn't listed on Wikipedia and I just happened upon it on...EBAY. Yes. I actually found a bundle. It was going for $274.99 used and was in decent condition. I also found the old SKU on Ebay's website. That history degree really paid off for the research skills!

This gives me a bit of faith that bundles can still be found intact... if you have your hearts set on a bundle, just keep your eyes peeled for long enough. One will pop up somewhere.

160GB Models (CECH P/Qxx) 

Uncharted Bundle (160gb)

Wow! Another North American bundle! We really didn't get many looking back on it. Anyways, I also found this one used on Amazon for $150. Like I said before, keeping your eyes open for these things for long enough will eventually pay off. Especially the newer the model/bundle is. 

Advent Children Bundle with Cloud Black PS3

I have mentioned this beautiful bundle before in Part II of this series. One day, when I am not poor...I will own you! (Have I mentioned my love for Final Fantasy?) 

Next up are the Slim and Super Slim models of the PS3 and their related bundles. I will TRY to fit all the Slim bundles into one blog. I make no guarantees though, because there are a ton of them. The Super Slim should fit into a single blog like this though. This blog series should be over by Part IX at the latest.
As a general update: For next week I will most likely skip the Collecting Tips blog so I can make sure that all of the Slim bundles go up in one week instead of spreading it out over two.

Once again, thanks for reading!

Sources: (In order. There are a ton and Blogger hates HTML. I am working on making this easier to look at.) 
1)http://www.nineoverten.com/2008/09/27/special-edition-sony-ps3-going-on-sale/#.VaNm6KSLtyU
2)http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Gear-Solid-Patriots-Playstation-3/dp/B001B3UOR4
3)http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/10/18/40gb-ps3-coming-nov-2-price-reduced-for-80gb-model/
4)http://www.amazon.com/Ps3-40gb-Movie-Game-Bundle-Pc/dp/B001COU31E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1436773348&sr=8-2&keywords=spiderman+3+ps3+40gb
5)http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/27/blockbuster-selling-high-end-ps3-bundles/
6)http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/10/japans-40gb-explained-dynasty-warrior-6-bundle-go/
7)http://www.siliconera.com/2007/10/09/dynasty-warriors-6-and-the-special-edition-ps3-package/
8)http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/20/japans-devil-may-cry-4-ps3-bundle/
9)http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3-devil-may-cry-4-bundle-to-hit-japan/
10)http://www.siliconera.com/2008/02/05/sleek-silver-playstation-3-bundled-with-ryu-ga-gotoku-kenzan/
11)http://www.amazon.fr/Console-Playstation-Starter-Uncharted-Manettes/dp/B0013HBI3W
12)http://www.exophase.com/3165/europe-gets-new-playstation-3-starter-pack/
13)http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/europe-getting-40gb-ps3-bundles-packing-gran-turismo-blu-ray-mo/
14)http://spong.com/article/14916/New-Gran-Turismo-5-Prologue-PS3-Bundle-Inbound
15)http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps3-mgs4-killzone-2-bundle-now-available/1100-6213036/
16)http://kotaku.com/5305883/ps3-bundle-includes-mgs4-killzone-2-update/all
17)http://wayback.archive.org/web/20100714005557/http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/productpage.asp?productcode=PX3000&title=ps3_80gb_console_with_littlebigplanet
18)http://techcrunch.com/2009/05/12/ratchet-and-clank-infamous-ps3-bundles-headed-to-europe/
19)http://blogocio.eleconomista.es/pack-infamous-y-ratchet-clank-quest-for-booty-este-mes-no-16410/
20)http://blogocio.eleconomista.es/pack-infamous-y-ratchet-clank-quest-for-booty-este-mes-no-16410/
21)http://kotaku.com/5149230/australia-gets-killzone-2-console-bundle/all
22)http://www.videogamer.com/ps3/killzone_2/news/sce_confirms_killzone_2_ps3_bundle.html
23)http://kotaku.com/5069017/japans-latest-ps3-bundle
24)http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/08/sony-brings-new-ps3-bundles-to-japan
25)http://www.sonyinsider.com/2008/10/09/sony-japan-introduces-new-ps3-bundles/
26)https://www.gtplanet.net/europe-gets-new-ps3-gt5-prologue-bundle/
27)http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/08/europe-gets-gran-turismo-blu-ray-ps3-bundles/
28)http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1221083_1124.html
29)http://kotaku.com/5124199/limited-dragon-playstation-3-console-is-for-japanese-eyes-only
30)http://www.amazon.co.uk/COMPUTER-ENTERTAINMENT-Console-MotorStorm-Pacific/dp/B001EO7DNI
31)http://www.amazon.de/Playstation-Konsole-Wireless-Controller-Motorstorm/dp/B001ELK9QO
32)http://www.amazon.co.uk/COMPUTER-Console-Turismo-Prologue-Midnight/dp/B001U3ZLI2
33)http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=nl&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http://ps3life.nl/nieuws/2844-sony-lanceert-een-ps3-verjaardagsbundel-in-maart/&prev=hp
34)http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-PLAYSTATION-Console-Batman-Blu-ray/dp/B001JJCFDG
35)http://wayback.archive.org/web/20100302005940/http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/productpage.asp?productcode=PX2000&title=sony_playstation_3_80gb_console_with_i_am_legend_blu-ray
36)http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-PLAYSTATION-Console-Legend-Blu-ray/dp/B001JJCFEK
37)http://wayback.archive.org/web/20100220000455/http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/productpage.asp?productcode=PX1007&title=sony_playstation_3_80gb_with_terminator_+_blue_ray_pack
38)http://www.amazon.co.uk/Playstation-80-Console-Terminator-Salvation/dp/B002CGRULC
39)http://wayback.archive.org/web/20100220000455/http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/productpage.asp?productcode=PX1007&title=sony_playstation_3_80gb_with_terminator_+_blue_ray_pack
40)http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-PLAYSTATION-Console-300-Blu-ray/dp/B001JJCFE0
41)http://wayback.archive.org/web/20100312112424/http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/productpage.asp?productcode=PX2001&title=ps3_80gb_console_with_300_blu-ray
42)http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/27/two-new-european-80gb-ps3-bundles/
43)http://www.gamekyo.com/news28812_two-new-packs-playstation-3.html
44)http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLAYSTATION-3-CONSOLE-80-GB-SONY-PS3-BUNDLE-EXTRA-CONTROLLER-REMOTE-GAME-W-BOX-/321792223311?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aec4fa84f
45) http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/best-buy-selling-80gb-ps3-with-littlebigplanet-and-wall-e/
46) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-playstation-3-80gb-with-littlebigplanet-and-wall-e/9367883.p?id=1218092611397&skuId=9367883
47)http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-160GB-Uncharted-Drakes-Fortune-3/dp/B001ELI4S
48)http://www.destructoid.com/final-fantasy-vii-advent-children-ps3-bundle-is-real-118513.phtml

Collecting Tips - Starting a Collection

I actually saw this question come up a while back on some gaming forums. It is not the first time either, so I thought I would address it here.

The just of it is this: Many people want to start a collection but are unsure of where to put it or how to take care of it. Others are worried about the money that you have to sink in and even others are worried about which consoles to start with. I will try to answer all of these questions. If you have more, leave them in the comments! I was a moderator for a while on a major gaming website and worked for a major gaming retailer before that. I have heard all kinds of questions and know some pretty obscure stuff...remembering it for the blog can be the hard part.

1) If you are living in a small space, like an apartment, think of renting a climate controlled storage unit. This is just a good idea in general. Even with renter's insurance (which you NEED. It is very cheap and very worth it) there are some things you just cannot replace. If you find yourself running out of room, put your discs in CD cases and leave the boxes/jewel cases in storage.

2) Taking care of a gaming collection is pretty easy. Keep it out of direct sunlight and make sure that the humidity in the room is not too high. In addition, you want to make sure that the temperature never gets to hot (or cold) if possible. I live in the deep south and have no central A/C or heat. I know you guys are thinking it doesn't get cold here...think again. I live in a sun room with little insulation. Things have iced over in the night before. I have had to make sure that my collection is in a normal "room temperature" climate so that nothing gets warped or brittle. For most, this will not be a huge issue, but I know there are people like me out there so I wanted to go ahead and address it. This is another good reason to have that storage space!

3) Money. Check out my last blog on the matter!

4) Where to start: Start collecting wherever you like! If you only own one console right now, start looking up games for it that have gone down in price, but you know you would love to play. There are also tons of awesome collectibles on Ebay. I have recently started collecting the Gameboy comics. There were only about 4-5 issues made, but they are easily found for about $6 each including shipping. They are cheap, fun things to add to a collection.
If you have more money to spend, I highly recommend finding another console you think you would enjoy and buying it. Research its library of games first of course, and start collecting! Basically just know what your interests and favorite genres are and do some research.

The next two blogs for the week will focus on the 3rd Gen PS3 bundles and early Harvest Moon games.
Once again, thanks for reading!

Collectible Consoles - The PS3 Part V: The Bundles (Gen.1 and 2)

Please make sure to check out the previous blogs on the PlayStation 3 for more background information. All the links can be found at the top of the page under the Collectible Consoles tab. Also, click here for part one in the series for help with model numbers and what not.

For this first blog on the PS3 bundles I have a bit of bad news...the early generations are damn near impossible to find. However, I'm putting up the information anyways because I spent a good bit of time researching this stuff and it is not going to waste! Besides, maybe one of these things will pop up one day and someone will look back on this blog and think "Oh my God! That is stupid rare!! I should buy it while I can!" I'm trying to be optimistic.

Generation 1
There were only a handful of bundles released for the the first generation and they were released only in Japan. Therefor, the only way to find these bundles is to look for their Japanese names or to actually look them up on Japanese websites. Even for someone like me who knows Japanese, it doesn't make much of a difference because most of the time these websites will not ship to the US. If you have close family or friends in Japan and you really want one of these, maybe see if they will buy and ship it to you.
The only other way to find one of these is to stalk Ebay and Craigslist. For a long while.

"Everybody's Golf" Bundle - 20GB and 60GB

This is called the Everybody's Golf bundle and was released the same day that the game came out (July 26 2007). The model numbers are either CECHAxx or CECHBxx. This was released with the 20GB and the 60GB. This is earliest PS3 released.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Bundle - 60GB

This 60GB CECHAxx bundle was released alongside the game on March 1 2007. This was known as Gundam Musou in Japan, so that is how I will refer to the items here. This is also how you should look them up on Ebay if the English name doesn't pull up anything. Along with the console and game, it came with a "Gundam Musou Technical File", a "Gundam Musou Character File", and 8 art cards. The good news is, I found the bundle...the bad news is it was through a private seller on Amazon.jp that would not export to the US. However, it is not too difficult to find the collectibles on Ebay from time to time, as stated. You may not be able to find the bundle, but most of the goodies that came with it are floating around out there.

Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War Bundle - Regular 60GB

Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War Bundle: The Premium Box 60GB
(Pictured here sold separately from the console)

The last bundle of the first generation had two versions to it. Let's go over similarities first though. Both had a 60GB CECHAxx and released alongside the Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War game on August 30 2007.
Now the differences: The regular bundle included all of this and a soundtrack CD. The Premium Box included all that the regular box had plus a themed calender and a hardbound battle guide.
I could NOT find either of these still in the box. However, like the Gundam bundle, the extra goodies that came with the bundle can be found on different websites.

Generation 2
While Generation 2 are not Japanese only bundles, they are just as difficult to find, as warned above. Keep an eye out though. Some of these DO pop up from time to time...just have a ton of money on hand.

Motorstorm/Resistance Bundle (Starter Pack PAL Bundle) - 60GB 

This was released in the UK and in Europe during a very small window of time, during July to August 2007. It came with two controllers, Motorstorm, Resistance: Fall of Man, and a CECHCxx (PAL) 60GB PS3. Because of its short release window, it is going to be very difficult to find one still in its box.

Heavenly Sword/Formula 1 Bundle (Starter Pack PAL Bundle #2) - 60GB

Just like the bundle above, this came with two controllers, a CECHCxx PAL 60GB PS3, and two games. This time the package included Heavenly Sword and Formula 1: Championship Edition. However, this was released September 19 2007 in France only. For how long, I am unsure. It was equally as difficult to find as the other starter pack.

Motorstorm Bundle - 80GB

This is a CECHExx model 80GB PS3 released with Motorstorm. This bundle is near and dear to my heart because this was my first PS3. I got it for my 18th birthday even though I had been saving up for one. That was a glorious day that. That PS3 no longer plays discs due to an over loved disc drive, but it still works for downloaded games and whatnot.
Anyways...enough of my fond memories. I have some good news. This bundle can actually be found! Not easily and not cheaply, but it can be found. It goes for about $500+ used and $800+ new.

MGS4 (NON Gun Metal Black) Bundle - 80GB

CECHExx/80GB PS3 released for North America only alongside MGS4. This one can also be found online...but it goes for a bit more than the Motorstorm bundle. Used, it is about the same. New, however, it can go for as much as $1500. People love them some MGS...and this isn't even the Gun Metal Black version!

...Formula 1 Bundle...?? 

Formula 1: Championship Edition Bundle (France Only):
I'm going to let you guys in on a secret. I am researching these bundles by using a combo of Wikipedia, Google, Amazon, Craigslist, and Ebay. I am trying everything to see what is out there. One major source you see there that I am fact checking is Wikipedia. Listed on there is a Formula 1 Bundle for France. However, the historian in me was very much alarmed to find no sources. That's okay though. Sources or no, I always double and triple check anything on Wikipedia. I like a good tip off to a bundle. However, I have found NOTHING. I honestly think someone missed the earlier mentioned Heavenly Sword/Formula 1 bundle (France only) and listed it again sans Heavenly Sword. If someone can find proof of this thing's existence, I would be VERY grateful!

That is all for now! I am attempting to keep these short, but will release the second part of the bundles (Generation 3) sometime this week. I want to get the PS3 knocked out so I can start the GameCube as promised! I am already starting to research it a bit, so it is coming. I promise! In the meantime, enjoy all the amazing PS3 bundles.

Thanks for reading!

Sources (in order):
1)http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2007/06/20/103,1182324435,73707,0,0.html
2)http://www.amazon.co.jp/ガンダム無双-PLAYSTATION-3-60GB-【メーカー生産終

了】/dp/B000N8S28Q

3)http://www.qj.net/qjnet/playstation-3/bladestorm-the-hundred-years-war-ps3-bundle-to-be-released-in-japan.html
4)http://www.siliconera.com/2007/08/20/inside-bladestorm’s-premium-package/
5)http://web.archive.org/web/20111129094111/http://kotaku.com/278009/bbc-confirms-european-ps3-bundle-deal/
6)http://uk.playstation.com/ps3/news/articles/details/item71370/New-PlayStation-3-Starter-Pack-announced-for-Europe/
7)http://engadget.com/2007/09/06/heavenly-sword-formula-1-bundle-confirmed-for-france/
8)http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/02/26/destination-playstation-news-mgs-ps3-bundle-kratos-psp-and-dualshock3-release-date-by/
9)http://www.dailytech.com/Sony+Announces+80GB+PlayStation+3+Bundle+Confirms+Price+Cut/article7964.htm
10) IMAGES BELONG TO SONY ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC. All rights reserved.
11) Last Image: Getty Images

General Update

Next week, as promised, I will be bringing you blogs on the many PS3 bundles and what they included. Much like I had to do this week, I am probably going to have to break this up into several blogs. However, they will all come out next week.

As to what will be covered: I will mainly be going over what was included in the bundle with a focus on the collectibles. I will point out the storage size and the model number of the PS3 as well. I will try not to re-cover anything I have already gone over, as I don't want to bore people to tears.

New schedule:
I have decided to add to my schedule and will attempt to stick to it as best I can. If I cannot, I will post an update stating when to expect new blog posts to be up. I shouldn't be off by more than a day or two because I generally work pretty far in advance. As a note: Some weeks I may have insomnia, as is pretty common for me or I might just be really inspired, and I might release more blogs than usual.

Tuesdays: Collector Tips 
This new series will focus on various tips for saving money while collecting, clearing out your backlog, maintaining a collection, how to preserve certain items, where to shop for good deals, etc.

Wednesday: Collectible Consoles
My next console I will be researching will be the Nintendo GameCube. However, first I have to finish the PS3 and its bundles. You may see an intro to the GameCube next week to get prepared though.

Thursday: Collectible Games 
This will focus on either a rare game or just a game series in particular. The first series I will be looking at, by request, is Harvest Moon. It is a favorite of mine, so I am looking forward to this!

Thanks to those that are reading! You guys are making this so much more worth it and I feel even more inspired to do one of my favorite things: research!

Collectible Consoles - The PS3 (Part IV - The Super Slim)

Previous entries:
Part I (PS3 Background Info/Model Numbers)
Part II (Generations 1-3)
Part III (The Slim/Gen. 4)

This blog is going to be a bit more short than the previous two because there are fewer colors and models for the 5th generation. Sony has moved its focus away from the PS3 and onto the PS4, so it is to be expected. It is important to note, however, that the 5th generation is still in production. It is not out of the realm of possibility that Sony would release another special edition before ceasing production, like they did with the PS1 and PS2. If they do, I will post a separate blog as well as coming back to edit this one.

Charcoal Black and Classic White 

The Charcoal Black model, just like the previous generation, spans the entire 5th generation and does not deviate in color or other details. Finding one is very simple as they are still being produced and sold at retail price. While the Charcoal Black has been around since the beginning, the Classic White was not made until the 250GB came out and was also later released as a 500GB system. What is a mystery about the white model is that it was supposed to be Japan only...except model numbers are not matching up. In fact, I am finding model numbers that do not match up to any model numbers I, Wikipedia, or Sony America have listed. I am quite confused honestly. However, I promise to solve this! I will update this with an edit and new blog when I do.
As for the Classic White's rarity...it is a bit more difficult to get a hold of than the Charcoal black, but far from impossible. You may pay a tad bit more.

Azure (Azurite) Blue - 250 GB CECH-42xxB (possibly 40xxB)

Once again, model numbers are slightly off regarding what is listed on various sites and on Sony's site. That seems to be a common thing with this generation. This is beyond confusing and I cannot wait to figure it out! Anyways. To start with, this 250GB was a Japan exclusive until July 2013 when it was released for the US as a GameStop exclusive. This console is pretty easy to find and can be found for its retail price new on various sites.

God of War Ascension Legacy Garnet Red - 500GB CECH-40xxC...?

The model numbers! This was released as a 500GB which means it should be region locked for region 02 (Europe) but this was made for North America...okay. I give up for the time being. I will figure this out at a later time.
This was a released in March 2013 and bundled with all six God of War games. Personally, I would love to own one of these because my undergrad university's colors were Garnet and Black...maybe when I have money one day. If you are not dirt poor like me, this can be really cheap. Used it can run for about $200 and new about $400.

Yakuza 5 (Ryu ga Gotoku 5) Black and Gold - 250GB 

As I do further research, I am feeling unsure about the model numbers for the Japanese only PS3s...Sony has ones I have never seen before listed. This model is HSN-0023 according to the Japanese website. So, there may be another model number list coming soon. Either way, it makes no difference as this is not region locked. This was released as part of a pretty awesome and hilarious bundle during December of 2012 and I will be discussing it next week as part of my bundle blog(s).
If you are looking to purchase this console, a quick note. Type in the Japanese name of the game or you will not find results. There are usually a couple for sale on Ebay and they go for about $400-500. However, these are usually new and have been unopened so it isn't too bad of a deal.

Shin Hokuto Musou (Fist of the North Star) Legend Edition - 250GB 

Also released during December 2012 was this Shin Hokuto Musou PS3, or Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 for us Americans (because THAT is how that translated...). It was released as a bundle pack with the game and is a 250GB PS3. If you are looking to purchase this, do just as recommended for the previous PS3: type in the Japanese name. This model goes for about $450-600, depending on the condition.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was released in February 2013 in Japan. For the release of this game a special 250GB PS3 and bundle was created. This bundle was released for Japan and Latin America (with the exception of Argentina). If you want to buy it outside of those countries it will cost you a bit more of course, but it is nothing extreme. Like the others on this list it goes for about $450-600 depending on the condition.

Keep in mind when collecting the 5th generation that many of these are still being produced. If you want to start collecting PS3s, this is where I would begin because not only are they more easy to find but they are going to be much cheaper than the previous generations.

Next week, I'm am on to bundles. I will post an update blog on that soon. In addition, I will most likely release not PS3 related blogs within the next two weeks, so keep an eye out.
Thanks for reading!

Sources: 
All images belong to Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
1)http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/08/26/azurite-blue-ps3-coming-exclusively-to-gamestop-priced-at-249-99-and-dated-for-october-8th/
2)http://www.jp.playstation.com/ps3/hardware/hsn0023.html
3)http://www.jp.playstation.com/ps3/hardware/cejh10024.html
4)http://blog.latam.playstation.com/2013/02/11/presentamos-el-paquete-de-ps3-con-metal-gear-rising-revengeance/
5)http://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-of-war-ascension-ps3-bundle-includes-all-six-games/1100-6403196/