XL Episode 27: The Limited Run Competitor Draft
Big Sammy Holdings and Matthew Castle Productions are back! This time, each company launches their own Limited Run-style physical games publishing service. 10 games, 10 novel items included with those games! Plus: enjoy a preamble about game collector culture and strange lads on Reddit showing off their dubious Switch purchases.
Vote for the winner on Discord, or simply enjoy the ridiculous pitches. Sorry for the slight delay on this one, it came in a bit hot, and thanks for your support, as ever.
This week’s music is from Encarta Mind Maze, composer unknown. Thanks to Michael ‘BanyaBat’ Butter for the edits!
Picks
| Category | Samuel | Matthew |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s game | FF7 (PS1) + model of Highwind and tiny figures | Xenogears + fidget spinners to distract you from the boring bits |
| 2000s game | GTA IV + Roman Belic soundboard (“cousin!”) | Silent Hill 2 + voucher for 10 hours of therapy |
| 2010s game | Disco Elysium + hardcover leatherbound A3 book collecting tedious reddit posts about the political stance of game and creators | The Last Window Secret of Cape West + actual priceless diamond |
| 2020s game | Cyberpunk 2077 + Johnny Silverhands glasses, “not his hand to wank you off” | Hitman World Of Assassination + replica tin of spaghetti sauce and Dr Pop |
| Indie game | Untitled Goose game + an actual goose | Return of the Obra Dinn + a model of 4th mate John Davies being clubbed to death by seaman Henry Brennan |
| Big box PC game | Dragon Age Origins + cloth map of Thedas or Theralden, replica of cursed offspring from grey warden and Morrigan | The Curse of Monkey Island + stress ball in the shape of Murray the talking skull |
| Cult classic | Eternal Darkness (GC) + book of Lovecraft stories, audiobook read by Dennis Dyack | The Centennial Case + in-game book written by Keigo Higashino |
| Never released in UK | Parasite Eve + cursed dog toy | Trauma Team + novelty flashlight shaped like endoscope |
| Game in CEXwatch | Conker’s Bad Fur Day (N64) + diorama of singing great mighty poo | Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney + bookends of the characters |
| WTF category | Minecraft (Win 95) + actual landmine | Encarta Mindmaze + jesters hat |
Results
Samuel 49% (23)
Matthew 51% (24)
(47 votes)