Total Funds Raised £83,500

FUNDED!
PLEASE NOTE: Payment will be taken immediately for your order.

Campaign will end 1st August 6PM BST - Deluxe edition and extra perks will be unavailable after this time.

Countdown

260+ Pages (Softcover & Hardcover)
Limited Edition Hardcover
Campaign exclusive Deluxe edition
Individually Numbered Hardcover
Campaign exclusive “Dreams” poster made in collaboration with Media Molecule (Softcover & Hardcover)
245 x 200 mm
Custom OBI Strip & Branding
Perfect Bound
Litho Print
130 gsm Premium Silk Matt Paper Stock
Ships Q3 2022

Pre-Order Physical

Lock-on Digital Subscription

£18.00

Every 3 months

Every issue of lock-on delivered quarterly.

A premium gaming journal delivering thought-provoking stories, insightful features and carefully curated art from industry talent.
Welcome back, Dreamers. [lock-on] has been in the world for over a year now, brought to life thanks to our talented team of writers, artists, designers and of course our wonderful readers. We’re celebrating this anniversary with our BIGGEST issue ever. We said that for 003, but with over 260 pages of content, almost 50 articles by 45 authors and art from more than 30 artists and developers, 004 is seriously stacked.
Our softcover features a vibrant wrap-around piece for the very first time, created by Media Molecule artist Theo Hayne, especially for us. This is a celebration of all things Dreams and Mm, and will be accompanied by a slew of in-depth articles looking at the creation of Dreams, its community and much more. Prepare to be dazzled by the beautiful art Made In Dreams, as you’re introduced to community creations.
Our limited edition hardcover composition has been created by phenomenal artist Max58, Unofficially Inspired by the chart-topping and critically-acclaimed Elden Ring. In a nod to Volume 001, we’re once again unofficially exploring Soulsborne and the impact FromSoftware has had on both players and the industry. Articles & Features by the likes of Gareth Damian Martin (creator of Citizen Sleeper), Konstantinos Dimopoulos (writer of Virtual Cities), and Heavy Eyed (influential Soulsborne YouTuber) are accompanied by jaw-dropping works of Unofficial tribute art created just for [lock-on] by favourites such as Bani-chan, Luis Melo and many more.
You’ll also find interviews with the developers of games such as Hyper Light Drifter, Shovel Knight, System Shock, Journey and Eastward, alongside the likes of Stephanie Sterling, plus a whole lot more. You don’t want to miss Volume 004!
Our beautiful Tribute Hardcover has been created by renowned and beloved Soulsborne artist Max58. You’ll see his art throughout 004, along with art cards in our Premium and Deluxe tiers, plus exclusive art print, bookmark, stickers and zine included in our new Deluxe pledge.
Support the artist - a portion of Deluxe edition sales go directly to Max58.
Max58
David Blatt
Ma-Ko
shamfoo
Rodar d'Argnan
Bani-chan
Mateus Roberts
Emma RÍos
Ramón Perales Cano
Sajan Rai
Garin
Artyom Trakhanov
Luis Melo
Sapro
Graham Humphreys
Gustav Örn Samuelson
Beetlerots
Phill Summers
JOF!
Crisppyboat
Erin Vest
Luke Baker
John R Green
And More!
Abram Buehner
Alicia Haddick
Andreas Inderwildi
Audi Sorlie
Benjamin Hayhoe
Brandon Chinn
Cian Maher
Dale Hirstein
Dave Klein
David Carcasole
Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Ethan Hunt
Ewan Wilson
Gareth Damian Martin
Gary Alexander Stott
Grant Stoner
HeavyEyed
James M. Bentley
James Mielke
Jamie Sharpe
Janet Garcia
Jeff Northcott
Jen Simpkins
Jonathan Holmes
Jörg Tittel
Konstantinos Dimopoulos
Lara Jackson
Laurie Eggleston
Lor Gislason
Madeline Blondeau
Maria (Eurothug)
Michael Leopold Weber
Mohammed Taher
Morgan Ritson
Nate Ellingsworth
Nazih Fares
Nic Reuben
Nick Suttner
Rowen Cameron
Shaun Hughes
Stuart Gipp
Amanita Design
Craig D. Adams
DigixArt
Heart Machine
Keiji Yamagishi
Matt Nava
Media Molecule
Night Dive
Pixpil
Slow Bros
Stephanie Sterling
The Chinese Room
Toby Fox
Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Yoshihiko Arai, Ryo Ishida & Moe Ikeuchi (Bandai Namco Studios)
Yacht Club

Stretch Goals !

If you’ve not yet ordered your copy, or perhaps you’re on the fence, we have some great news. STRETCH GOALS ARE HERE! We have monetary and social stretch goals to add some more awesome stuff to your order, so check them out below and then share the campaign far and wide to help us reach them!

At £60,000 our Deluxe backers will receive an ADDITIONAL A3 rolled print, by the incredible artist Ma-Ko. That’s another gorgeous piece of FromSoftware tribute art added to your order.
At £70,000 our Premium backers will be given an additional A5 print at random, from a choice of the six available. So that’s four A5 prints for ALL Premium orders!
At £80,000 we’ll be adding a third A3 rolled print to our Deluxe orders, with this stunning piece from Max58.
At £90,000 we’ll be adding a second zine to Deluxe orders in the form of A Player’s Journey by the amazing Ste Pickford. Follow his journey through Limgrave in this 60+ page zine full of beautiful sketches and commentary.
At £100,000 we will also offer A Player’s Journey to all Premium backers for free! Please note, this zine will not be for sale, so the only way it will be available is if we reach these stretch goals!

A premium gaming journal delivering thought-provoking stories, insightful features and carefully curated art from industry talent.

Welcome back, Dreamers. [lock-on] has been in the world for over a year now, brought to life thanks to our talented team of writers, artists, designers and of course our wonderful readers. We’re celebrating this anniversary with our BIGGEST issue ever. We said that for 003, but with over 260 pages of content, almost 50 articles by 45 authors and art from more than 30 artists and developers, 004 is seriously stacked.

Our softcover features a vibrant wrap-around piece for the very first time, created by Media Molecule artist Theo Hayne, especially for us. This is a celebration of all things Dreams and Mm, and will be accompanied by a slew of in-depth articles looking at the creation of Dreams, its community and much more. Prepare to be dazzled by the beautiful art Made In Dreams, as you’re introduced to community creations.

Our limited edition hardcover composition has been created by phenomenal artist Max58, Unofficially Inspired by the chart-topping and critically-acclaimed Elden Ring. In a nod to Volume 001, we’re once again unofficially exploring Soulsborne and the impact FromSoftware has had on both players and the industry. Articles & Features by the likes of Gareth Damian Martin (creator of Citizen Sleeper), Konstantinos Dimopoulos (writer of Virtual Cities), and Heavy Eyed (influential Soulsborne YouTuber) are accompanied by jaw-dropping works of Unofficial tribute art created just for [lock-on] by favourites such as Bani-chan, Luis Melo and many more.

You’ll also find interviews with the developers of games such as Hyper Light Drifter, Shovel Knight, System Shock, Journey and Eastward, alongside the likes of Stephanie Sterling, plus a whole lot more. You don’t want to miss Volume 004!

Our beautiful Tribute Hardcover has been created by renowned and beloved Soulsborne artist max58. You’ll see his art throughout 004, along with art cards in our Premium and Deluxe tiers, plus exclusive art print, bookmark, stickers and zine included in our new Deluxe pledge.

Support the artist - a portion of Deluxe edition sales go directly to Max58.

Following our amazing Sable cover and feature in Volume 003, we knew we’d need something incredible to top it. Who better than one of the prestigious PlayStation Studios, Media Molecule! From the outset this successful UK developer have been at the forefront of creativity in gaming, with their award-winning LittleBigPlanet franchise and now the unbridled imagination afforded by their Dreams platform. [lock-on] have worked closely with the talented team at Mm to bring you a glimpse into both the studio and the awe-inspiring creations Made In Dreams. Jen Simpkins, Editorial Manager at Mm and former editor-in-chief of the esteemed Edge magazine, will introduce you to the world of Dreams, Janet Garcia (Kinda Funny, Minnmax) speaks to studio heads and designers alike in pursuit of the story of Dreams, while Jörg Tittel (writer & director, The Last Worker) explores the wide-ranging uses for the platform in the wider artistic world. And that’s not all we have in store. Join us, Dreamers!

Standard Edition

[lock-on] Volume 004 (Softcover)
Exclusive [versus] Season 3 deck*
Exclusive A3 folded Dreams poster*
*Only available during the initial funding period

Premium Edition

[lock-on] Volume 004 (Hardcover, limited & numbered)
Exclusive [versus] Season 3 deck*
Exclusive A3 folded Dreams poster*
3x A5 Art Cards by max58 (chosen at random from a selection of 6)*
Name In The Journal*
Digital Copy of Volume 004** 
Exclusive digital EP from Keiji Yamagishi, courtesy of Brave Wave**
*Only available during the initial funding period
**Code will be provided by email before the physical edition ships

Deluxe Edition

[lock-on] Volume 004 (Hardcover, limited & numbered)
Exclusive [versus] Season 3 deck*
Exclusive A3 folded Dreams poster*
6x A5 Art Cards by max58
Set of 5 die-cut stickers designed by max53*
Exclusive high-quality A3 rolled litho poster of the cover art*
‘trinkets and oddities’ zine by max53*
Exclusive physical [locked-on] newsletter including letter from the editor*
[versus] card tin (can hold approx. 40 un-sleeved cards)
Name In The Journal*
Three month Digital Subscription including all back issues** 
Exclusive digital EP from Keiji Yamagishi, courtesy of Brave Wave**
*Only available during the initial funding period
**Code will be provided by email before the physical edition ships

Retro-Active x [lock-on] EP by Keiji Yamagishi

We have partnered with the amazing Brave Wave to bring you an exclusive digital EP of game music from industry veterans. These collaborative tracks were hand-selected by Keiji Yamagishi, composer for games such as Ninja Gaiden and Dynasty Warriors, from his solo album The Retro-Active Experience.

Featured artists in order of appearance:

- Ryuichi Nitta (Ninja Gaiden 2 NES)

- Manami Matsumae (Mega Man 1 & Shovel Knight)

- Stemage (Metroid Metal band, Chicory)

- Takahiro Izutani (Metal Gear Solid 4, Bayonetta)

- Super Strikers (Brave Wave's in-house rock band)

*Available free with Premium tier and above

Unique long-form features with cultural, artistic, and sociopolitical themes
Fascinating case-studies into all facets of gaming / Thematic retrospectives with thoughtful critical analysis.
Exclusive interviews with leading industry professionals

THE STORY SO FAR

[lock-on] started out as a side project for a group of people who love great games and amazing art. When Volume 001 launched on Kickstarter back in March 2021 we had no idea so many people would want to read the journals we have created, but by the time we reached Volume 003 it was clear that our idea of making this publication solely limited run was not the way to go! After talking to our readers, we agreed to reprint Volume 001 and 002 with brand new covers, but the same great content inside. This means that people just discovering us can experience the story so far with a set of softcovers!

Our hardcovers will never be reprinted, so if you want to go Premium, make sure you pledge during the fundraising campaign to secure your copy! Softcovers will now have a limited first edition print run for fundraising and pre-order, and a second edition featuring a different cover image that will be printed to suit demand.

BUNDLES

Save some extra cash by buying one of our great-value bundles. Due to popular demand you can even experience The Story So Far with our softcover 001-004 set!

[Versus] Season 3

Come back soon for reveals !

ADD-ONS

If Volume 004 simply isn't enough of max58 for you, you're in luck. 'trinkets and oddities' is a 30+ page A5 zine featuring more Soulsborne art than you can shake a stick at. Don't miss out on this opportunity to own this beautiful artwork in physical form.

All profits from this item go directly to max58. (Included with Deluxe edition)

You asked, we listened! Finally, a way to store your [versus] cards in style. This black tin, emblazoned with our brackets icon, is big enough to hold approximately 40 un-sleeved cards — a full-size play deck!

Dimensions: L115 x W85 x H22(mm)

(Included with Deluxe edition)

Businessmen fiddling with calculators inspired Gunpei Yokoi to conceptualise the Game & Watch. A Handheld History is inspired by the forty-year portable gaming empire that spawned from those LCD screens. Brought to you in partnership with Retro Dodo—the internet’s leading retro gaming site—A Handheld History is an explorative jaunt through the systems and games that defined the legacy of portable systems. Less of a historical account and more of a poignant, introspective adventure across decades of gaming memories, this book will reconnect you to that long car trip full of Tetriminos, Mewtwos, and discarded AA batteries before speeding ahead to our contemporary days of OLED screens and blockbusters in your backpack.
Handheld gaming is a cornerstone tenet of the industry, one that has spawned communities who exchange Miis on the subway and Pokemon on the playground. Friendships were made in this pocket of the medium, and it ought to be celebrated loudly, proudly, and across hundreds of beautifully-assembled pages of art and essays. Featuring words from Jason Bradbury, Janet Garcia, Jeff Grubb, Mike Diver, Larry Bundy Jr., Ashens and many more incredible voices, this is an unmissable ode to the gaming device that you keep close to your heart—right in your jacket pocket.
Brandon Saltalamacchia // Jason Bradbury // The Retro Future // Kevin Kenson // Mike Diver // Bob Wulf // Janet Garcia // James Mielke // Ashens // Jeff Grub // Retro Game Corps // Larry Bundy Jr. // Brian Crecente // Anthony Wallace // TristaBytes // Faith Johnson // Alex Olney // Austin Voight // Sandeep Rai // Jason Brown // Ben Bulbeck // Laurie Eggleston // Ryan Stevens // Priscilla Wells // Diana Green // Jeff Zoldy // Jamie Sharp // Paulo Kawanishi // Abram Buehner // Shaun Hughes // Ryan Easby // Jess Elizabeth Reed // Jamie Fox // Jim Hargreaves // Scott Russell // Georgina Young // Mitchell Brownson // Nate Ellingsworth // Madeline Blondeau // Andrew Oyston

Handheld consoles play a hugely important part in the history of video games. Here we have collected writing, artwork and assets from across more than 30 pocket powerhouses and cute curiosities, from the Auto Race to the Steam Deck, and many others in-between. In partnership with Retro Dodo, Lost In Cult presents A Handheld History.

This 260+ page hardcover tome features a foreword from the former host of The Gadget Show, Jason Bradbury, and words from a host of industry talent such as Janet Garcia, Alex Olney, Brian Crecente, Ashens, Larry Bundy Jr, and many others. Console histories, game retrospectives and interesting personal essays will be accompanied by beautiful art and graphics — why not bundle a copy with 004?

004 Partners

Disclaimer

Here at Lost In Cult we 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 United States and relevant 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.
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 intended and all fan-made original content (written, inspired or derivative artwork) within the book was created by Lost In Cult LTD, the creators of this unlicensed book which is not endorsed by or in association with applicable company in question.
Lost in Cult as a brand and [lock-on] as a product are not affiliated, associated, authorised, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any of the software and hardware companies featured within. All related names, marks, emblems and images are registered trademarks of their respective owners.
[lock-on] is an independent and unofficial journal. All writing and artwork featured is used with permission or is considered fair use due to our access to official channels and is used to promote existing and legacy content for the companies featured. All rights belong to the original copyright holders.
Please be aware that images depicting [lock-on] Volume 004 and our [versus] cards on this campaign page are all a work in progress, and are subject to change.