Introduction
[lock-on] Vol. 006, the newest instalment of Lost In Cultβs gaming journal, is the biggest yet. Featuring over 400 pages of long-form essays, custom artwork, and concept galleries, this is the ultimate tribute to the past, present, and future of games culture. From indie to AAA, [lock-on] Vol. 006 leaves no story untold as we voyage through development retrospectives, thoughtful analysis and touching personal reflections.
Traverse Gaia and Hyrule alike as we journey through the worlds of Final Fantasy and The Legend of Zelda, their histories illuminated by those instrumental in giving them life. Slip through the fingers of reality as we explore the surrealist worlds of Oxenfree and Alan Wake, before we tumble out of that rabbit hole and into the cheery landscapes of Disney Illusion Island and Frog Detective.
Join us on this multidimensional odyssey and gain a deeper appreciation for the games you love β perhaps finding a new favourite along the way.
Β© 2023 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. LOGO & IMAGE ILLUSTRATION:Β©2020, 2022 YOSHITAKA AMANO
FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Works
[lock-on]
Specifications
400+ Pages
245 Γ 200 mm
Printed on Arctic Matte 130gsm Paper
Casebound Hardcover
(Limited to 2,000 Units)
Deluxe Edition
Funding Campaign Exclusive
Limited to 500 Units
First 400 Deluxe Backers get a FREE Campaign Exclusive 7β C-Smash VRS Vinyl
Release Date
Shipping Q3 2024
[lock-on] Vol. 006 Signed Edition
It is our privilege and honour to announce that the legendary Final Fantasy illustrator and [lock-on] Vol. 006 hardcover artist, Yoshitaka Amano, has signed a batch of numbered hardcover bookplates!
If you want to further elevate [lock-on] Vol. 006βs cultural voyage through the past, present, and future of games culture β there is no better way to do so than with this version signed by a true master.
Act fast, only 180 signed [lock-on] Vol. 006s are available! [lock-on] Vol. 006βs Signed Edition comes with the signed [lock-on] Vol. 006 hardcover journal and a folded A3 poster of Yoshitaka Amanoβs Final Fantasy cover illustration.
You can buy [lock-on] Vol. 006βs Signed Edition by itself or as part of a [lock-on] Vol. 006 Deluxe Edition bundle.
If you have already purchased a [lock-on] Vol. 006 Deluxe Edition, you can upgrade that purchase to a Signed Deluxe Edition bundle by choosing the Deluxe Edition upgrade store listing and inputting your current [lock-on] Vol. 006 Deluxe Edition order number at checkout. You can upgrade your [lock-on] Vol. 006 Premium Edition to a Signed Premium Edition as well, by choosing the Premium Edition upgrade store listing and inputting your current [lock-on] Vol. 006 Premium Edition order number at checkout.
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A short message from Yoshitaka Amano
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A Glimpse Inside 006
The Dungeon Master
Matt Mercer sits down with Zelda Universeβs Chelsea Reed to reflect on playing Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Presented in an βIwata Asksβ style conversational interview, enjoy unique insights into the Demon King himself and Mercerβs love of the Zelda series overall.
Artwork By Mongy
Bearers of the Crystal
Yoshitaka Amano, Hironobu Sakaguchi, and Nobou Uemastsu consider the legacy of Final Fantasy, revisiting the series' roots with James Mielke. Return to the era of 8-bit RPGs with its pioneers, gaining a deeper understanding of just how Square Enixβs genre-defining franchise came to be.
Artwork By Yoshitaka Amano
Look for the Light
Ashley Esqueda explores the intricacies of the upcoming Alan Wake 2, in conversation with the legendary Sam Lake. Dive deep into its creative process as we examine one of the mediumβs most anticipated releases, supported by a rich gallery of concept art from the game.
Conceptual Material Provided By Remedy Entertainment
All Ships Check In!!
Barrel roll through the Lylat System alongside Michael Leopold Weber as he dives into the Star Fox series with Giles Goddard, Rhodri Broadbent, and Dylan Cuthbert, complete with a forward from the masterful Takaya Imamura himself. Gain fresh insight into Nintendoβs premiere intergalactic rail shooter as we celebrate thirty years of Star Fox.
Artwork By Crisppyboat
Jewel of the Chozo
Return to Tallon IV with KiwiTalkz and several core members of the Metroid Prime development team: David βZoidβ Kirsch, Mark Pacini, Mike Wikan, Clark Wen, and Jack Mathews. Unpack the technical mastery of Retro Studiosβ crowning achievement, immersed once more in Samusβ trek towards the Impact Crater.
Artwork By Max58
Yesterday - 09:28:57
Travelling to Japan to speak with KeiichirΕ Toyama, the Lost In Cult team, alongside Bruno De Figueiredo and Eurothug4000, have compiled a multifaceted celebration of the horror classic, Siren. Presented alongside artwork from Shinsaku Fujita, become enraptured once more within this essential PS2 odyssey on its twentieth anniversary.
Artwork By Shinsaku Fujita
Release the Moon Ancestor
Decipher the alien vistas of Cocoon with Abram Buehner as he unravels the secrets of this intuitive puzzle masterpiece with insight from the development team. Joined by concept sketches from Cocoonβs inception, this is the definitive inquiry into Geometric Interactiveβs creative process.
Artwork Provided By Geometric Interactive
Contrabass Conversations
Take in a cacophony of candid indie dev realities alongside Jonathan Holmes in concert with Holy Wow Studios. Learn the story of Trombone Champ through this honest, behind-the-scenes examination of incredible success and its unexpected consequences.
Artwork By Sarula Bao
To Zanarkand
Kinda Funnyβs Tim Gettys celebrates the PS2 masterpiece Final Fantasy X through a nostalgic, retrospective lens. Journey through the gameβs narrative achievements and its personal resonance as Tim reconnects with its provocative storytelling and console-defining achievements.
Artwork By Molly Mendoza
Breaking New Ground
Zack Kotzer and JΓΆrg Tittel return to the early indie heyday with the massively influential team which comprises The Behemoth. Cataloguing their storied and markedly creative history across multiple features and art galleries, immerse yourself in this jaunt through the absurd and the imaginative, celebrating a development studio whose contributions to the medium are incalculable.
Artwork By Sam McKenzie and The Behemoth
Postcards from Edwards Island
Abram Buehner travels through time and to the foggy reaches of Americaβs Pacific Northwest with Night School Studios to revisit the hauntingly inspired landscapes of Oxenfree and Oxenfree II: Lost Signals. Joined by myriad members of the development team and those within Oxenfreeβs community touched by these narratives, enjoy an intimate and far-reaching remembrance of these prescient, personally resonant journeys β accompanied by concept art from both games.
Artwork Provided By Night School Studios
Atompunk
Join Ewan Wilson as he interviews Marek Markuszewski about The Invincibleβs stellar art direction in great detail β touching on everything from retro-futurist industrial design and diegetic UI to inspirations like vintage sci-fi novel covers and the alien panoramas of Chris Foss. Accompanied by a rich concept art gallery, this is the definitive journey into the minds that brought Regis III to life.
Artwork provided by Starward Industries
And So Much More!
At A Glance
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Jeff Minter (Akka Arrh)
Sam Lake (Alan Wake 2)
The Behemoth (Alien Hominid)
JΓΆrg Tittel (C-Smash VRS)
Matthias Linda (Chained Echoes)
Geometric Interactive (Cocoon)
Dlala Studios (Disney Illusion Island)
Ne Sais Quoi (Dordogne)
Yoshitaka Amano (Final Fantasy)
Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy)
Nobou Uematsu (Final Fantasy)
Grace Bruxner (Frog Detective)
Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Humanity)
Tha (Humanity)
Enhance (Humanity)
Jemapur (Humanity)
Don't Nod (Jusant)
Jasper Byrne (Lone Survivor)
David βZoidβ Kirsch (Metroid Prime)
Mike Wikan (Metroid Prime)
Mark Pacini (Metroid Prime)
Jack Mathews (Metroid Prime)
Terrifying Jellyfish (Nour)
Night School Studios (Oxenfree)
Wishfully Studios (Planet of Lana)
Yu Suzuki (SEGA's Arcade History)
KeiichirΕ Toyama (Siren)
Giles Goddard (Star Fox)
Dylan Cuthbert (Star Fox)
Rhodri Broadbent (Star Fox)
Takuma Endo (Tenchu)
Toshio Koike (Tenchu)
Tomohiro Tsuchida (Tenchu)
Color Gray Games (The Curse of the Golden Idol)
Cloak and Dagger Studios (The Excavation of Hob's Barrow)
Starward Industries (The Invincible)
Davey Wreden (The Stanley Parable)
William Pugh (The Stanley Parable)
Matt Mercer (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom)
Holy Wow Studios (Trombone Champ)
poncle (Vampire Survivors)
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Akka Arrh
Alan Wake 2
Alien Hominid
Alien Hominid: Invasion
Battleblock Theatre
Boktai (series)
Castle Crashers
Chained Echoes
Citizen Sleeper
Cocoon
Cosmic Smash
Disco Elysium
Disney Illusion Island
Dordogne
Final Fantasy I
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy XI
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII-2
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XVI
Frog Detective
Gravity Rush
Humanity
Jusant
Lightning Returns
Lil Gator Game
Lone Survivor
Metroid Prime
Nour: Play With Your Food
Oxenfree
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals
Persona 5
Pit People
Planet of Lana
Signalis
Siren
Siren 2
Star Fox
Tenchu
The Case of the Golden Idol
The Invincible
The Legend of Zelda II
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Wand of Gamelon
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
The Stanley Parable
Trombone Champ
Vampire Survivors
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Aaron Potter
Aidan Moher
Alex Raisbeck
Alexa Ray Corriea
Alice Flynn
Ashley Esqueda
Ben Starr
Brandon Chinn
Bruno De Figueiredo
Charles Angeloff
Chelsea Reed
Chris de Hoog
Christian Buckley
Colin Richards
Damien McFerran
Dansg08
Darmon Richter
Darryl James
Dave Cook
Eli Cymet
Emi Curtis
Emily Price
Emma Flint
Eurothug400
Ewan Wilson
Geoffrey Bunting
Hannah Griffin
Hayes Madsen
Hollie Bennett
hotcyder
James Mielke
Jamie Sharp
Jon Bailes
Jonathan Holmes
JΓΆrg Tittel
Joshua Callaghan
Kell Burkitt
KiwiTalks
Lex Luddy
Lor Gislason
Lowell Bell
Luca Fisher
Lucy James
Luke Pearson
Mariah Qaiser
Mat Ombler
Matteo Lupetti
Max Nichols
Meg Pelliccio
Michael Leopold Weber
Mohammed Taher
Rebecca Watts
Resonant Arc
Sandra Youkhana
Sebastian Deken
Simon Hurtado
Summer F
Thu Tran
Tim Gettys
Tom Chaplin
Zack Kotzer
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Alariko
Anabel Colazo Limon
appol
Big Sky Castle
Birries
Breruwko
Casey Nowak
Choo
Crisppyboat
Gage Lindsten
Gobert
Grant Chudler
Hanna K
Jake Terrell
Jan Buragay
Jane Mai
Jean DeMers
Jimmy Knives
Jules Naleb
Juliette Brocol
Jung Jongheon
Linnea Sterte
Loic Locatelli
Lyle Lynde
Marc Aspinall
Mason Dickerson
Max58
Molly Mendoza
Mongy
Mony Pich
Nick Edwards
Plastiboo
Robin Pouch
Sam Mckenzie
Sam Vanallemeersch
Sapro
Sara Kipin
Sarula Bao
Sary Oak
Shinsaku Fujita
Theo Stultz
Thu Tran
Tom Hunter
Valentin Seiche
Yapico
Yunjung (quisteen)
It is our pleasure to feature Starward Industries and 11 Bit Studiosβ upcoming sci-fi opus, The Invincible, on the softcover Standard Edition of [lock-on] Vol. 006. Aptly capturing the rich, retro-futuristic aesthetics of the game, this illustration pairs elegantly with our in-depth interview of Game Director Marek Markuszewski and the opulent concept gallery section inside.
Moving from sci-fi to fantasy, [lock-on]βs hardcover features an original illustration from the legendary Yoshitaka Amano. Among the greatest artists to ever work in the games space, Amano returns to the world of Final Fantasy for our tribute cover β perfectly accompanying our 80+ page tribute to the series within the journal.
Β© 2023 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. LOGO & IMAGE ILLUSTRATION:Β©2020, 2022 YOSHITAKA AMANO
FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Deluxe Extras
[lock-on] Vol. 006βs Deluxe Edition is our biggest yet, featuring a variety of bespoke goods concepted alongside visionary artists and development teams. Including Mars Attacks-style Alien Hominid trading cards, Castle Crashers papercrafts, a Lil Gator Game pin badge, a Frog Detective case files zine, a The Invincible art print, an original Oxenfree poster, a C-Smash VRS sticker, a Citizen Sleeper art print*, Planet of Lana stickers, a flat Yoshitaka Amano A4 cover print, and an Alan Wake 2 poster β there is something for absolutely everyone in this collection**.
*Citizen Sleeperβs art print design to be revealed during the campaign.
**The first 400 Deluxe Edition buyers will also receive a FREE C-Smash VRS 7β vinyl, featuring Ken Ishii and Danalogue.
Alien Hominid Trading Cards
Concepted in the style of cult favourite series Mars Attacks, this premium three-card blister pack* with cover art by Stephen Maurice Graham celebrates the zany mania of The Behemothβs iconic run βn gun series.
*every pack includes the same hand-illustrated three cards
*Artwork subject to change. This promotional extra is not sold separately.
The Invincible Art Print
Step into the austere world of retro-futurism with this bold art print from Starward Industries. Stare into the harsh environment of Regis III as you reflect upon the history contained within the composition.
*Artwork subject to change. This promotional extra is Not Sold separately.
Lil Gator Game Pin Badge
Get ready to expand your enamel pin collection! Designed by Patrick Crotty, this cute Gator pin captures the childlike whimsy of MegaWobbleβs Lil Gator Game beautifully.
*Artwork subject to change. This promotional extra is Not Sold separately.
Frog Detective Case Files Zine
Reimagining Frog Detectiveβs previously-digital blog cases in print with art from Lyle Lynde, this mini-zine gives new personality to the tales of Grace Bruxner and Thomas Bowkerβs irreverent mystery series.
*Artwork subject to change. This promotional extra is Not Sold separately.
Oxenfree Poster
Oxenfree II: Lost Signalsβ Lead Artist, Beverly Chen, has illustrated this wonderfully evocative and original Oxenfree poster, bringing you once more into conversation with Night School Studioβs rapturous journey into the paranormal.
*Artwork subject to change. This promotional extra is Not Sold separately.
Castle Crashers Papercraft
It is our pleasure to reprint these bespoke Castle Crashers papercrafts designed by LESQUA and initially distributed by The Behemoth. Donβt miss your latest chance to enjoy this joyful and intuitive project, reconnecting you with the world of mediaeval madness.
*Artwork subject to change. This promotional extra is Not Sold separately.
Alan Wake 2 Poster
Take home in-universe ephemera from the transfixing world of Alan Wake 2. Pulled straight from the game world, this official Coffee World poster is essential for all who love Remedy Entertainmentβs kaleidoscopic universe.
*Artwork subject to change. This promotional extra is Not Sold separately.
Yoshitaka Amano Mini-Print
Own a A4 mini-print of Yoshitaka Amanoβs new artwork. Asked to create an image that encapsulates his love of the Final Fantasy series, this hand-illustrated tribute to Square Enixβs role-playing titan is imbued with the masterβs touch and the iconography which encapsulates the wonder of Final Fantasy.
*Artwork subject to change. This promotional extra is Not Sold separately.
Β©2020, 2022 YOSHITAKA AMANO
FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Stickers
Get stuck into the world of high-end stickers with two designs: one for Wolf & Woodβs C-Smash VRS and the other for Wishfullyβs Planet of Lana. Elegantly rendering iconography from each game, these deserve pride of place on any laptop or water bottle.
*Artwork subject to change. This promotional extra is Not Sold separately.
C-Smash VRS 7β Vinyl
The first 400 backers of the [lock-on] Vol. 006 Deluxe Edition will receive a 7β vinyl sampler from the C-Smash VRS soundtrack, performed by Ken Ishii and Danalogue. Act fast, and enjoy these ethereal tunes alongside our long-form exploration of C-Smash VRS with the gameβs Writer and Director, JΓΆrg Tittel, in conversation with Damien McFerran.
*Artwork subject to change. This promotional extra is Not Sold separately.
The Story So Far
While [lock-on]* Vol. 006 can be fully enjoyed as a standalone journal, youβd be missing out by not checking out [lock-on] Vol. 001 - 005 as well! From Returnal, Ratchet & Clank, Cyberpunk 2077, and Earthbound to Elden Ring, Hollow Knight, Pikmin and Dreams β no corner of games culture is left unexplored by the full [lock-on] set.
Available in one convenient bundle priced at Β£99.99, this is cost-effective and comprehensive look at our favourite adventures across the medium.
*Examples of past volumes below.
Our Partner
Final Fantasy Union is a platform that was created by passionate fans to be the definitive resource for all things Final Fantasy. It has always been fuelled by a simple vision; to tell unique stories. This has related to exploring the various characters who have helped to enrich the stories we all know and love, and the unearthing of interesting morsels that relate to how and why specific games were created. The hope is that everything produced helps to celebrate each and every game in the franchise as much as possible.
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Through extensive research, we at Lost In Cult create historical, critical, and educational resource books dedicated to Video games, Movies, and pop culture.
We often work directly with a multitude of developers and Publishers in the relevant communities. But in the event we do not:
All projects fall under Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" which is a doctrine in the United States and Sections 30 & 64 of the Copy Designs Patents Act 1988, United Kingdom, copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as for purposes including commentary, news reporting, criticism, teaching, scholarship, and research. We also acknowledge βThe Code of Best Practices in Fair Use in the Visual Arts β( CAA 2015) with particular reference to factor 4; Analytical writing and in consideration of its limitations. Lost In Cult also asserts that all artwork is intended to be informative and illustrative and is sufficiently transformative from its intended use.
It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author's work such as our fan-made books.
Fair Use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
All rights and credit for the intellectual property and any copyrighted content used in a limited scope in this book go directly to the applicable company in question. No copyright infringement is intended and all fan-made original content (Written, Inspired, or Artwork) within the book was created by Lost In Cult LTD, the creators of these unlicensed books, which is not endorsed by or in association with the applicable company in question.