video games

The many versions of Scott Pilgrim: The Game from Limited Run

Posted on by Kyle Bell

Paola got me into the classic movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) a few years back. It’s a superhero epic centered around an average 20-something from Toronto in a rock band. It has themes pulled from video games and Japanese manga and anime.

Around the same the movie was released they came out with a 16-bit style video game following the movie and the graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O’Malley that inspired it. It was available for a while digitally then it wasn’t, then it was again.

Earlier this year, Limited Run rereleased the game as a physical cartridge with a few different editions and covers. The three editions are:

  • The Game
  • The Game: Complete Edition
  • The Game: K.O. Edition
The three editions of the Scott Pilgrim game from Limited Run’s site

This game was Limited Run’s most successful release to date and like many people we missed the original order window for the special editions. Luckily for us the Complete Edition shipped last week and we were able to find a copy at a local shop.

Best Buy also has a cartridge-only version of the release above, also labeled Complete Edition and also from Limited Run, but the cover is different and its only extras are two trading cards. I believe it’s reversible to get the cover above but we never opened our copy as we were able to get one of the special editions.

One of the most confusing parts of searching online was the proliferation of versions and cover art. It turns out there aren’t that many variations, but the product itself has many elements. So to help others, here are photos of the various covers, alternate covers, and included items:

Complete Edition cardboard wrap cover
Complete Edition cardboard wrap back cover
Interior of Sega Genesis-style case holding Switch game
Side by side of Genesis case, Complete Edition Switch case, Best Buy edition Switch case (L-R)
Exterior of Sega Genesis-style case
Ephemera packaged in Genesis-style case behind Switch game
Flip side alternate label for Sega Genesis-style case
Contents of Switch case
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DIY: Super Nintendo nostalgia on your TV

Posted on by Kyle Bell

I’m going to put this in Brewing, as in your own homebrew Super Nintendo, since it’s the best category I have for now.

When we were in Montreal, we stumbled on this cafe that had a Super Nintendo with Super Mario for customers. It was the coolest idea, video games while you enjoy your coffee. I suppose the area was for kids, given the low ceilings and bright colors. We enjoyed ourselves regardless, and I resolved to work up something similar.

Now, back in New York, I started looking into getting a SNES for our apartment. Turns out they can be had for $40-80 used on eBay, with an extra $20-25 or so per game. Watch out because some of these are remade hardware and not original. For $100 or so you can get yourself set up with some still functional nostalgia. However, given that you can get a Gamecube or other more modern system for even less, you’re paying for the nostalgia factor.

Materials

I found the low-budget route: OpenEmu, a free open source emulator for Mac, has support for SNES, Genesis, original Nintendo, and more. Just add a controller and connect to your TV.

Here’s the route I went:

Total cost: $32

Setup

OpenEmu runs from a folder without much of an installation process. You don’t actually need a controller or TV, a laptop monitor with keyboard controls will work to start. Here are the steps:

  1. Download OpenEmu
  2. Hold the control key and then double-click to override the security settings for unrecognized applications
  3. Google SNES ROMs and download. Watch out for popups and spam. Drag-and-drop the ROMs to load them into OpenEmu
  4. Plug in controller
  5. Go to Preferences > Contols to select the USB gamepad and map it to the proper keys. OpenEmu will lead you through this process
  6. Link your computer to TV using the HDMI cable (or preferred option)
  7. Play

Next steps

There’s a SNES mini console being re-released by Nintendo at the end of September 2017. It will come with two controllers and 20+ games for $80. It’s a good place to start if you’re looking for a list of must-try games for your new system.

Now that I have the SNES all set up with Mario, Kirby, and the rest, I’m going to head back to Google and find Sonic the Hedgehog. If you’d like to step even further back in time to play Pitfall! or Centipede, there is support for the Atari 2600 / 7800.

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