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Bring back the case files

EeKEeK
edited February 2008 in Sam & Max
Not sure if this is the right place, but the fact is I'm mad at you, Telltale. Really mad. Why? Because of this.

I'm gonna quote Banjo, who said it best:
I have to agree with giant_frying_pan, Eek and several others here.

Until now, I'd been impressed with TellTale and was more than happy to give them my money! I'd bought the whole of season one, and never had a problem downloading, activating and such. As someone who sorely misses the days of physical game box content, I was keen to get the whole season on disc too (I wouldn't have gone the download route without the promise of a "free" disc at the end), however being in Australia meant I wasn't going to order one and pay $10 shipping until I wanted to get more from the store. I knew Surfing the Highway was coming out and planned to get that and the disc, and the soundtrack and case file all at once.

Come Christmas time, I decided STH wasn't coming out soon, but I could live without it (or wait until the end of season two), and would just get the S1 disc, OST and case file... but then of course the S1 disc option vanished from the store!!!

Sooooo... I waited until now, dropped by to find the S1 disc was back and I could get one (still no STH, but like I said, I could deal with that), but NOW there were no CASE FILES!!!

I know it's just a few bits of cardboard, but it's stuff like this that keeps collectors, fans and gamers able to easily argue against all those leeches that say "just pirate it"... whatever else you think of piracy, one thing you'll NEVER get is all the neat manuals, bonus stuff, box and extras.

Frankly, I am very annoyed about this. When I wander into my local game store and see S&M S1 on the shelf, I start to wonder what the advantage was of going the whole 'download and then get a disc' option in the first place, beyond getting it "early", after the hassle of actually GETTING a disc ended up costing me the case file.

Maybe it's just because I feel "limited editions" of games and such are so frequent now, and usually include what I think you should get for paying full price for a game anyway. Or maybe it's because I feel the idea of "limited bonus" stuff like the case file is something us full-season purchasers should have been entitled to buy (heck, a little email about it being taken off the market would have been nice, if nothing else).

I will still buy S&M episodes, but I have to say that aside from getting the season discs, I can't see myself being eager to make any more store purchases, as I am now anticipating STH to be another "limited run" item, that I won't be able to wait for S2 to end before buying.

So, yeah, you let us down. Your loyal, ninja trained and very vindictive fans. A mistake you could have avoided.

Now I suppose you're gonna have to produce more of those lovely case files, if you don't want to get shuriken'ed. C'mon, it can't be that difficult. You could order monkeys to assemble them! Monkeys can do that, right? Right?!

Comments

  • xChri5xxChri5x
    edited January 2008
    They ran out and it's too big of a thing to make some more. It happens.
  • splash1splash1
    edited January 2008
    don't worry they'll bring em back, or they'll make a Season 2 Case File who knows you can only hope and wait for it :)
  • DangerzoneDangerzone
    edited January 2008
    since they are rather complicated and take a lot of hand time to make... i think it was a good decision on their part to just make a large batch and wait for them to run out, rather than just keep them as a permanent item in the store.. and i know they may do *something* for season 2... yes

    But maybe not a casefile

    i have also noticed how my S1 casefile smells like a hotel room... anyone from telltale care to explain this ;)
  • wispwisp
    edited January 2008
    a good or a bad hotel room?
  • EmilyEmily Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    It's not something we did to piss people off. When they ran low, we had to take them out of the store. It was simply too complicated a product for us to restock -- and I say this as someone who spent about 40 hours of my free time assembling the case files by hand in the evenings last summer. My boyfriend almost broke up with me over it. :p (It's also worth noting that we didn't make any money off these things. They were purely a cool thing we did for our fans.)

    I am sorry that some people missed out. I wish there was an easy way for us to fix it, but there isn't. If we do one for Season Two, we will hopefully be able to order more and have them last a bit longer, but case files will probably always be limited edition items.
  • doom saberdoom saber
    edited January 2008
    Where these all made in-house as in you guys made these at the office/personal PC or were some of these made by other companies that handles custom print napkins and such?

    I can imagine it being hard either way since I don't imagine a printting company making buttons, napkins and magnets. I mean, I can see you guys ordering magnets at one company and napkins at another.
  • JakeJake Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    We did the designs in house and then found different vendors for most of the different manufacturing required. The Moon postcards were printed by a place in San Francisco, the Alien Love Triangle Times was printed by a local independent newspaper press in San Rafael, we found the 3D glasses manufacturer as well as the pin, napkin, and magnet manufacturers online. The "Sam & Max case file" stamp is something I designed based off of one of Steve's illustrations of Max, and we had it manufactured at a shop that made stamps which was conveniently located just blocks from our old office. The envelopes we found from a bulk stationary provider. Once all of the different elements got shipped back to the office, we (mostly Nick) hand-stamped all the envelopes, and then we (mostly Emily) hand-stuffed all the case file evidence into them. It wasn't an easy task. We did them entirely because we wanted to, and thought that you guys would like them. We'd do another one an instant (and hopefully will, for season two), but we're not going to go through the ordeal of a reprint of the exact same case file -- for a collection of useless junk its assembly was really more akin to some crazy boutique collectible. The case files were never designed to make us much money -- it was more for fun / a labor of love than anything -- the $5 we charged for them barely covered the cost of manufacturing and shipping them to you, so it's not as if they are some huge cash cow either. Despite the amount of work involved, it was an awesome thing to make and I hope to do another, but I wouldn't want to repeat it for an exact repeat of the same old thing.
  • EmilyEmily Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    (Also we somehow ended up about 200 magnets short -- not sure if we received 200 less than we ordered, or if some got lost in the office move -- but as a result we had to make 200 fewer case files than we wanted to.)
  • JakeJake Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    There's probably still a box of magnets somewhere, in an unopened box in a dank corner of the office. :(
  • TelltaleToolTelltaleTool
    edited January 2008
    That's funny, I must have 200 of the things all over my fridge at home. Weird coincidence.
  • NickTTGNickTTG Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    how else was i supposed to cover my fridge?
  • NickTTGNickTTG Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    tabacco wrote: »
    That's funny, I must have 200 of the things all over my fridge at home. Weird coincidence.

    you son of a bitch....
  • JakeJake Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    youre like twins!!!
  • mumbojumbo21mumbojumbo21
    edited January 2008
    Since this thread is already here. The S&M Soundtrack page still features the case file as a product recommendation.

    I hope the second season brings something else than another case file. Each season should bring their own unique merchandise.
  • EmilyEmily Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    mumbojumbo21 wrote: »
    Since this thread is already here. The S&M Soundtrack page still features the case file as a product recommendation.

    Fixed, thanks. The cross sells were supposed to disappear when the product was turned off, but apparently they didn't, and we didn't notice.
  • KedriKedri
    edited January 2008
    From what I hear, the trinkets in old computer games ran out of print quickly, too. Isn't that so nostalgiac?
  • doom saberdoom saber
    edited January 2008
    Jake wrote: »
    We did the designs in house and then found different vendors for most of the different manufacturing required. The Moon postcards were printed by a place in San Francisco, the Alien Love Triangle Times was printed by a local independent newspaper press in San Rafael, we found the 3D glasses manufacturer as well as the pin, napkin, and magnet manufacturers online. The "Sam & Max case file" stamp is something I designed based off of one of Steve's illustrations of Max, and we had it manufactured at a shop that made stamps which was conveniently located just blocks from our old office. The envelopes we found from a bulk stationary provider. Once all of the different elements got shipped back to the office, we (mostly Nick) hand-stamped all the envelopes, and then we (mostly Emily) hand-stuffed all the case file evidence into them. It wasn't an easy task. We did them entirely because we wanted to, and thought that you guys would like them. We'd do another one an instant (and hopefully will, for season two), but we're not going to go through the ordeal of a reprint of the exact same case file -- for a collection of useless junk its assembly was really more akin to some crazy boutique collectible. The case files were never designed to make us much money -- it was more for fun / a labor of love than anything -- the $5 we charged for them barely covered the cost of manufacturing and shipping them to you, so it's not as if they are some huge cash cow either. Despite the amount of work involved, it was an awesome thing to make and I hope to do another, but I wouldn't want to repeat it for an exact repeat of the same old thing.

    Wow. That is a lot of work! I completely understand why you guys don't want to release the same thing over and over again. I think some ppl have the misconception that it is an easier thing to do since they think stuff like that are all done by a factory in China or where ever.

    For those who missed out, one can try to check ebay or see if someone has an extra that would sell them at cost
  • xChri5xxChri5x
    edited January 2008
    With this post I'm surpised no one has put any up on ebay for $100
  • wispwisp
    edited January 2008
    Jake wrote: »
    There's probably still a box of magnets somewhere, in an unopened box in a dank corner of the office. :(
    you have to see the possitive in that: someone had to stuff 200 envelopes less than what was originally planned..

    ..wouldn't there be the possibility to reorder the individual parts from the different manufacturers and sell sort of loose case files? of course only if there is still demand. okay, someone had to stamp the envelopes, but this could easily be solved by ordering some copies of the stamp and selling them as well. how much would such a thing cost, because i just realised i totally want one?

    anyway, i really appreciate all the work you put into those case files and i don't want to see you take that burden another time...until the end of the year.

    even if there won't be more season 1 case files, think about the stamp..no really...it's a heck of an idea. maybe have it slightly altered to make it more multi-purposed..
  • xChri5xxChri5x
    edited January 2008
    A stamp would be awesome.

    Maybe ya'll can stuff the extra magnets in free with orders?
    I got a free keychain when I ordered some stuff from the homestar store.
  • KedriKedri
    edited January 2008
    xChri5x wrote: »
    With this post I'm surpised no one has put any up on ebay for $100

    Give it time.
  • EmilyEmily Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    Mass producing the stamp is unlikely. Steve is pretty open to our ideas about how we want to market our Sam & Max games, but I think selling people a tool that would encourage them to turn whatever they want into a piece of Sam & Max evidence would be crossing the line. (But to answer the question, I think it cost us $25.)

    We already gave away most of the extra goggles and postcards at E for All last fall. The buttons are long gone, too. And I'm planning to use up the Boscotech napkins the next time we have a party. :D
  • RandulfRandulf
    edited January 2008
    Not really interested in the case file, but I think a larger (2 inch) "One Rabbit, One Law" button will be neat.
  • wispwisp
    edited January 2008
    Emily wrote: »
    Steve is pretty open to our ideas about how we want to market our Sam & Max games, but I think selling people a tool that would encourage them to turn whatever they want into a piece of Sam & Max evidence would be crossing the line.
    aww...that's excactly what i had in mind...:(

    no, seriously, i always thought you had the envelopes printed, but the idea with the stamp gives it even more individuality. anyway, 25$ is probably a bit much for just a gimmick, but if you're looking for a neat contest price or high-class con giveaway this might be it..
  • doom saberdoom saber
    edited January 2008
    I don't know if 25 is a lot, considering it is a custom and that is how much Telltalgames paid for. Also, if one is really interested in the stamp, one could always totheir local stamp making shop and order a stamp a custom-made stamp is is similar to the one TTG used.
  • doom saberdoom saber
    edited January 2008
    Emily wrote: »
    Mass producing the stamp is unlikely. Steve is pretty open to our ideas about how we want to market our Sam & Max games, but I think selling people a tool that would encourage them to turn whatever they want into a piece of Sam & Max evidence would be crossing the line. (But to answer the question, I think it cost us $25.)

    Especially at college campuses across the country. At UC Davis, there are quite a few grafitti with pop culture references (like the V for Vandetta symbol.) as well as some political and religious pictures that are spray (painted with a stencil) that are on random building buildings and sidewalks. With that said, I can imagine someone abusing the stamp (with the use of paint) by stamping various public places with it.
  • mumbojumbo21mumbojumbo21
    edited January 2008
    I'll sell my case file for thirty American dollars including shipping anywhere! ;) :p

    I would love to own a shield (a copper's badge) with Freelance Police in large lettering. Some posters such as the signs Bosco have would be great as well. I really like the "Special: Buy One, Get One" sign for instance. :D

    Officially printed sheet music would be fantastic as well.:D
  • JakeJake Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    wisp wrote: »
    aww...that's excactly what i had in mind...:(

    no, seriously, i always thought you had the envelopes printed, but the idea with the stamp gives it even more individuality.

    Actually the stamping process was two-pass. We'd stamp once with the Sam & Max Case File stamp, and then we got a little changeable-date stamp like the kind they used to use in libraries before everyone got computerized, and we stamped the date of episode 6's release in red on a little dotted line built into the design of the larger "Case File" stamp. There are no two case files that are identical, because they were all hand-stamped by Max before filing them away in the cabinet.
  • InvaderJim42InvaderJim42
    edited January 2008
    Emily wrote: »
    And I'm planning to use up the Boscotech napkins the next time we have a party. :D

    That might not be a healthy idea!
  • EmilyEmily Telltale Alumni
    edited January 2008
    Jake wrote: »
    they were all hand-stamped by Max before filing them away in the cabinet.

    Which is why their cabinet is overflowing... 2,000+ case files for the hypnosis case alone!
  • EeKEeK
    edited February 2008
    Emily wrote: »
    It's not something we did to piss people off. When they ran low, we had to take them out of the store. It was simply too complicated a product for us to restock -- and I say this as someone who spent about 40 hours of my free time assembling the case files by hand in the evenings last summer. My boyfriend almost broke up with me over it. :p (It's also worth noting that we didn't make any money off these things. They were purely a cool thing we did for our fans.)

    I am sorry that some people missed out. I wish there was an easy way for us to fix it, but there isn't. If we do one for Season Two, we will hopefully be able to order more and have them last a bit longer, but case files will probably always be limited edition items.

    Emily, I completely understand and still love you guys for what you've done and are still doing for Sam & Max e adventure game fans in general. I was just a little disappointed that your blog post came in too late. :(
    Emily wrote: »
    (Also we somehow ended up about 200 magnets short -- not sure if we received 200 less than we ordered, or if some got lost in the office move -- but as a result we had to make 200 fewer case files than we wanted to.)
    Emily wrote: »
    We already gave away most of the extra goggles and postcards at E for All last fall. The buttons are long gone, too. And I'm planning to use up the Boscotech napkins the next time we have a party. :D

    Aw, shoot. And here I was, hoping that I could order a magnet-less case file. :/
    mumbojumbo21 wrote: »
    I'll sell my case file for thirty American dollars including shipping anywhere! ;) :p

    I'd buy it... if that money would end up with the fine folks at TT. They deserve it, after all.

    P.S.: I'll pay you half that value, if it's in mint condition. What do you say? :p
  • InvaderJim42InvaderJim42
    edited February 2008
    I'll sell mine for one hundred trillion American (or Canadian) dollars!
  • Murray the ChaoMurray the Chao
    edited February 2008
    What about one hundred trillion food stamps?
  • InvaderJim42InvaderJim42
    edited February 2008
    Murray the Chao wrote: »
    What about one hundred trillion food stamps?

    Yes, I'll accept that as well as Ted E. Bear's Mafia-free Playland and Casino Tokens.
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