OXCGN:
"We all love a collection- well, those of us that can see some value in something that will eventually become desirable outside the immediate scope of current interest.
Collectables in gaming have been around for some time, but they weren’t always available to the general gamer as they are now, but were more for the gaming media as “game junket” as it was once called.
They were special packs put together specifically for the media by the publishers designed to ”sell” the upcoming game and have them think favourably of said game."