Issue #30: 🟦+☑️
We've got our own blue checkmark, thank you very much. Also, this week: Music from “Sam & Max” to “Return to Monkey Island.”
The CEO Extends a Warm Embrace
My word, is anyone else feeling the increasing burden of collectibles and editions this autumn? My wallet is being stretched out like a rubber chicken thanks to Monkey Island and Broken Sword book Kickstarters, a giant Grim Fandango boxed edition… and now Sam & Max vinyl!
Every time I start to feel financially stable, another Kickstarter I forgot about gets funded and my contribution deducted. And that’s not even mentioning the numerous non-LucasArts art books I’ve been snapping up (Deathloop is a beautiful game).
Not to worry. What do we work for if not to adorn our shelves with books we may or may not read and boxes we’ll never open? Keeping my family warm during the winter? Come on.
Soundtrack Mania
“Quiet is the new loud,” as the poet said: There wasn’t a lot of news hitting the Mojosphere this week, but what hit, hit hard. Like a good hit at that.
That Sam & Max Save the World three-disc soundtrack, for example. The music in the game—or trilogy—is some of Telltale/Jared’s best, and the package Skunkape has on the docket looks like the perfect tribute. Look at that gatefold sleeve:
It’s rare I’d call $40 a steal, but I’ll make an exception here.
Meanwhile, it’s more than plausible a Return to Monkey Island soundtrack will happen sooner or later, but for now, you have BillyCheers fan versions to enjoy. I pluralize versions, as you get both individual tracks and mixed suites. Furthermore, with high-quality MP3s, you can make your own soundtrack. I’m a fan of the suites, but added some individual tracks. Land’s new version of the Mêlée Island forest cue, for example. The original Secret of Monkey Island version ranks as one of my favorites, and ReMI took the mysterious melody and intensified it.
Whoever is in charge: Please get an official soundtrack out there, and I’ll literally come to your office and throw money at you. (Not in the violent type of way. (This is not a threat.))
That Console Trailer
Speaking of lovely music: There’s a brand-spanking new trailer for the console version of ReMI filled with the triumphant review scores—Mojo’s quite quotable review was embarrassingly forgotten about—and “new” scenes. Not new for those who played the game, but I did notice a triggered scene I hadn’t seen in the game. (Involving a queen.)
And that theme?
To be clear, I love—love—the official in-game ReMI theme: The take on the original fits the game perfectly, and nostalgia aside, the build-up to the short end-stinger is 🧑🍳’s 😘. But the bombastic trailer theme? I equally love that it exists, and I love listening to it. That bam-bam-bam at the end lines up so beautifully with the close-ups. (Bam-bam-bam is a technical musical term.) What a time we live in.
Full News Roundup
09 Nov: The anchor is a LIE: Although it sounded pretty believable to me.
09 Nov: BillyCheers does the lord’s work, releases a fan-mixed Return to Monkey Island soundtrack: Devolver: Your move, part 2.
09 Nov: Disney looking to whip up a new Indiana Jones TV series: Variety is reporting Indiana Jones TV series in the works for Disney+
08 Nov: Vinyl Saves the World: Sam & Max style that is.
07 Nov: Quick and Easy releases Dinky Explorer, instantly regrets not calling it Grumpy Explorer: I mean, it had named itself!
Last Week’s Mojole Results
04 Nov: “pick#” – ... up. So so many verbs in the old LEC games.
05 Nov: “turn#” – ... on and off. Verbs!
06 Nov: “hint#” – ... line. Also, not something we like to give here at Mojole
07 Nov: “big##” – ... Whoop. Ron wasn't kidding: Big Whoop? Big whoop.
08 Nov: “lrg##” – Limited Run Games. They make collector's boxes.
09 Nov: “box##” – What the old LucasArts games came in. And also the new collector ones.
10 Nov: “boxes” – Hell, sometimes you need more than one box in your collection.
Play Mojole, the game that sweeps the nation!
Become a Mojoer! (sponsored content)
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Apparently, Substack Is All About the Chat
Look, Twitter is a parody of a parody of a parody right now, and it’s not going to get better as long as LeChimp is in charge. So, we’re dipping our feet into all kinds of waters, and apparently, we have a Substack chat feature. Will we actually use it? Who knows1?! But for the adventurous amongst you, here are the details of how to check it out. (Only for our exclusive iOS readers, of course.) Substack’s instructions:
Download the app by clicking this link or the button below. Chat is only on iOS for now, but chat is coming to the Android app soon.
Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.
That’s it! Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out Substack’s FAQ.
Well, we do, and chances are… not great. 🤷♂️