Overview
[lock-on] Volume 005, the newest instalment in our series of quarterly journals, is the most robust yet. Every section is entirely tailored to its subject. Die-cut pages and dynamic layouts breathe more life into our cultural exploration of games than even the elaborate spreads of Volume 004.
Our evolved design principles are matched by more robust narratives, accentuated by industry names who offer perspective to our prose. From Naughty Dog’s Matthew Gallant to Half Mermaid’s Sam Barlow, more than twenty of the included essays explore the medium alongside the visionaries who shape it.
Featuring concept art galleries and long-form interviews, 005 offers an intimate look behind the curtain of game development while also reimagining its output through expressive visual lenses. The harmony of textual analysis, evocative artwork, and exclusive materials will resonate with all curious games enthusiasts.
[lock-on] Volume 005 offers myriad entry points into its over 260-page journey across 2022’s biggest games and the industry’s illustrious past.
Volume
005
Works
[lock-on]
Specification
260+ pages
245 × 200 mm
Printed on Arctic Matt 130gsm
Casebound hardcover
Casebound Ltd 1000/1000
Deluxe Edition
Funding campaign exclusive
Release Date
Shipping Q2 2023
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A Glimpse Inside Volume 005
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Turtle Power
Holes torn by tossed Foot Clan Soldiers adorn our TMNT retrospective written by Dave Cook, featuring the legendary Kevin Eastman alongside contributions from Dotemu and Digital Eclipse’s Chris Kohler. Supported by kinetic artwork from Sam McKenzie, this essay will take you through each mutation of the iconic series.
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Scorn
Indulge in the nuances of Scorn’s aesthetic through an exclusive conversation with Ebb Software as guided by Ewan Wilson. Revel in the body horror brilliance as you become enveloped in its grandeur across a robust gallery of conceptual material and sketches which became the foundation for Scorn’s macabre wonderland.
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A Day In September
Palimpsest reminders of civilisation peek through nature which has reclaimed the landscape in George Outhwaite’s evocative The Last of Us paintings. Each piece is set alongside a thematic exploration of Naughty Dog’s seminal post-apocalypse. Nic Reuben, Jon Bailes, and Steven Scaife all find meaning within TLOU’s haunted beauty, while Abram Buehner explores Part I’s emotional charges in conversation with Naughty Dog’s Matthew Gallant and Shaun Escayg.
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Guy Walks Into A Bar
Rowen Cameron adventures through the history of Monkey Island, guided by the perspectives of Ron Gilbert, Tim Schafer, Dave Grossman and Dominic Amato. Their retrospective navigation is elevated by Stephen Graham’s timeless visual style and a gallery of high-quality packaging scans from The Video Game History Foundation and Arkotype.
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Immortal
The match-cut mastery of Half Mermaid’s expert blend of cinema and games is unravelled by Jamie Sharp and Sam Barlow, who together dive into the literary and filmic inspirations which brought Immortality to life. Supported by a gallery of never-before-seen production imagery, the mystery of Marissa Marcel is joyfully reflected upon.
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Bit Trip
There’s no doubt that the Blue Bomber helped define the 8-bit generation, and this iconic status is due in part to Mega Man’s soundtracks. Mohammed Taher, Director of Brave Wave Music, sits down with Manami Matsumae, the composer of Mega Man 1, to revisit those chiptune classics. Accompanied by artwork from Nuri Durr, this time capsule will reinvigorate your fondness for the NES era.
