Assassin's Creed III Encyclopedia Edition -Xbox 360

We've enjoyed and played all of the games in the series. This package is a good value for the money. The extras are of high quality and as described and add some value to the product, enhance the playing experience, are educational, and will help round out the gamer experience for those who can't get enough. Gameplay so far is different but we are adapting to the slight changes and the storyline is interesting.My only concern, as with all of these games, is playing loose with real history and making light of serious people, events, and places in an irreverent, sometimes disrespectful way. They've done this to other cultures and now the US gets the treatment; I don't think THAT element will be popular and please be around to tell your kids the founding fathers were not all lazy drunks and Americans were not the ignorant caricatures you see in the game. The multicultural disclaimer that displays as the game loads does not cover or excuse this; there are things that are absolute truths in this world, not everything is subjective, and all cultures are NOT equal - principles familiar to all Americans - but NOT the designers of these games.This is a normal European perspective of us few Americans are aware of - perhaps this game will help enlighten our culture more about how the rest of the world sees us - but you really shouldn't screw with our history and disparage historical figures to suit a revisionist agenda. It's a game: even the pieces they 'take' from real history didn't always happen that way. It may sound egotistical and be hard for other cultures to agree, but the US has evolved and was founded on a unique set of principles, not seen in the world before or since - and that is what has made us great as a nation and as a people. Folks from the outside looking in don't get that, and don't understand the values we've fought and died for. The minutiae is done well;the broad strokes are a joke - ignore those if you know better, correct them to young gamers who don't - because it is important stuff, whether someone from another part of the world thinks so or not.

UPDATE:- Amazon has offered to give me an advance, or instant, refund (please read below for details regarding this). I just want to thank you for the offer, Amazon, and I do appreciate it. Although I had no true issue against your initial standard refund option, I do appreciate that you are attempting to make things right as fast as possible. It doesn't go unnoticed by me and I'm confident that this type of fast, quality customer service keeps many of us purchasing from you as opposed to the competition.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pleas Note: This review encompasses only my review of this specific Encyclopedia Edition's bundle/packaging/collectible quality. THIS REVIEW DOES NOT ENCOMPASS, IN ANY WAY, THE GAME'S PLAY QUALITY OR NARRATIVE.I'll keep this brief. This bundle consists of what seems to be a high-quality, hardcover book, a smaller softcover book, and a standard copy of the game --- all stacked on top of each other, in that order, and then encased in a thin layer of clear shrink-wrap. And ... that's it. From a marketing standpoint, this is the worst, official retail bundle that I've ever seen. The company grabbed the big book off of one shelf, the smaller book off of another shelf, and the game from another shelf, placed them on top of each other, sealed them with one chintzy piece of shrink-wrap, and then put it out for mass distribution.What bothers me more, though, is Amazon.com's shipping method of such a "bundle" that has been marketed with no protective packaging. Mine arrived just sliding from side to side in bit-too-big box with no padding. Yeah, Amazon.com's standard air-pac padding solution was in the box but it seemed to have a serious problem -- none of the cells were ever inflated. I check for punctures, etc. But, yeah ... the air-pac padding simply was never inflated by Amazon.So, my edition arrived tonight with a few tears in the bundle's cheap shrink-wrap and some pretty crushed-in corners on the expensive-looking hardcover book. At least UPS took care of the shipping box, though ... that was the only thing that arrived with no problems.And, this doesn't qualify for Amazon's instant refund? Really? It's being returned, and I'm fine with the standard post-return refund, but what's the deal with not being able to provide and instant refund, Amazon?Well, I guess I didn't keep this too brief. I apologize.Skip this bundle.Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, this is the only negative review/commentary I've ever had, whether it be verbal or oral, regarding Amazon.com.Amazon, I hope this a one-time event. You've got a great thing going with your company and overall customer experience so I hope that all future shipments from you are as high quality as just about every other order I've placed with you throughout the years.