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Splinter Cell Blacklist is one of the most anticipated games of the year. Unfortunately, players will have to wait a few extra months thanks to the recent delay from its original spring date to August 20th. Dedicated Tom Clancy video game enthusiasts have something extra to invest in for as Ubisoft announced earlier this week the Paladin Aircraft Collector's Edition for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (no Collector's edition for PC players that we know of yet).

With the Paladin edition, buyers will receive access to day one digital content, a Blacklist poster and a copy of Splinter Cell Echoes (an 88-page graphic novel). However, not to be retroactively outdone by remote control camera cars, night vision goggles or legless-armless-headless women, Ubisoft has included something special to sate a gamer's appetite for the excessive. The Splinter Cell Blacklist Paladin Edition ships with a functional remote control C-147B Paladin Aircraft modeled after Fisher's in-game mobile headquarters.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist Collector’s Edition will retail for $169.99 and include:

  • Tom Clacy's Splinter Cell Blacklist video game.
  • Remote Control C-147B Paladin Aircraft: Command the air with a customer 3-channel, dual engine aircraft modeled after the in-game Paladin mobile headquarters.
  • Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell® Echoes comic book: Limited 88-page graphic novel by Eisner-nominated comic book writer Nathan Emdondson and illustrator Marc Laming.
  • Limited edition Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist poster.
  • Exclusive Billionaire's Yacht co-op map.
  • Bonus Upper Echelon Pack with Dead Coast co-op map, Gold Sonar Goggles and Upper Echelon Suit.

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist Collector’s Edition is available for pre-order today exclusively at select retailers.

Looking beyond the Paladin, one of the more exciting pieces in the Collector's Edition for franchise fans is actually the graphic novel, Splinter Cell Echoes. The novel, written by comic book writer Nathan Edmondson, bridges the gap between Conviction and Blacklist.

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Do the offerings in the Collector's edition make it purchase worthy for you? Or has the game yet to prove itself to you as a worthy Splinter Cell installment?

After the controversial E3 demo this past year, many fans were concerned for the franchise's future, feeling that it had been shifted more towards the shooter genre and away from stealth. Blacklist director David Footman was quick to address this sentiment and promised the hardcore series fans a lot of diversity in missions and the ways players can carry them out. Stay tuned for our preview of the Splinter Cell Blacklist single-player campaign as we get hands-on with the redesigned Sam Fisher.

Splinter Cell Blacklist launches on August 20, 2013 for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but you can pre-order the Paladin Collector's Edition for $169.99 today and ensure your day one copy of the game.