Limited Run Games is embroiled in yet another scandal, this time surrounding the recent physical releases of two games for the 3DO console.

Yeah, the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console from the early 1990s that nobody bought thanks partially due to its exorbitant $700 price tag. Limited Run Games oversaw the re-releases of “Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties” and “D,” two largely forgettable games from a bygone era.

These titles were repackaged and resold, exploiting the allure of physical game collecting with fear of missing out (FOMO) marketing tactics.

In any case, consumers who purchased physical copies of “Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties” and “D” were in for a surprise. They discovered that Limited Run Games had opted to use cheap, rewriteable CDs instead of genuine pressed discs for these games.

Typically, in authentic commercial distribution, software that’s released in disc format are pressed, meaning they’re created from a glass master copy. This process is known for producing higher-quality discs that can be properly read by the native hardware, ensuring a better experience for the end user.

Sharing on Twitter, a self proclaimed retro gaming enthusiast by the name of Todd Gill discovered that Limited Run are distributing its 3DO games on burned CD-R discs. This discover garnered support from a Reddit user who concurred, stating that LRG “opted to distribute burned copies instead of using genuine pressed discs.“

Essentially, Limited Run Games are making substantial profits by distributing games that could be seen as akin to pirated copies, using conventional CD-Rs that anyone can purchase. They’re essentially purchasing spindles of discs for a handful of dollars and then charge customers $70 for a fancy cardboard box, in economic terms this is a genius move.

It’s worth noting that while bootlegged pirated copies of games on DVDs or CDs were readily available for consoles a couple of decades ago, the 3DO console itself is particularly picky about the type of CDs it recognizes.

Considering the system is over 30 years old, it’s surprising that some units are still operational. However, if you’re one of the fortunate few who own a 3DO and have been misled into purchasing Limited Run’s versions of either D or Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties, you might find that the game won’t even play on native hardware due to compatibility issues.

Because the game is literally burned to a disc that costs mere cents per unit, as opposed to being printed to a genuine pressed disc, like a conventional physical copy aught to be.

We’ve got our own Limited Run Games at home, except with even more charm.

For many gamers and or collectors, the allure of these “limited releases” rests in the authenticity and nature of the products, which are often encompassed with intricate packaging design and or bonus content for a specific game.

LRG’s decision to cut corners and compromise on quality by using CD-R discs directly contradicts these expectations and disappoints the very consumers who support their business.

Additionally, burned CDs have a noticeably shorter shelf life compared to pressed CDs. Pressed CDs, manufactured through a stamping process, have data physically stamped onto their surface, ensuring better durability and longevity. In contrast, conventional burnable CDs, created by burning data onto a blank recordable disc, are vulnerable to degradation over time due to factors such as disc quality and burning process.

As a result, burned CDs may indeed have a shorter storage lifespan compared to pressed CDs. In my own experience of burning games and movies onto spools of DVDs over the years, it’s not uncommon to encounter a defective disc among the stack. Therefore, it’s plausible that any one of these limited re-releases might actually be defective but I find that unlikely.

Limited Run Games has earned a reputation for deceitfulness, particularly as modern gaming trends lean towards digital-only releases, causing physical media to decline in popularity. Those dedicated collectors or enthusiasts who rely on Limited Run Games for physical releases find themselves at the company’s mercy.

LRG consistently prioritizes profit over customer satisfaction, leaving these collectors vulnerable to their tactics.

Following rightful backlash from customers feeling deceived, Limited Run Games issued a press statement to IGN addressing the issue. Their response consisted of a simple “apology” intertwined with assurances of “caring about their audience.”

The audacity of their “apology” statement is striking, particularly their attempt to excuse themselves by stating that manufacturing games for hardware over 30 years old presents challenges. There are no insurmountable challenges; rather, the company chose to prioritize profits by opting for cheap conventional discs instead of investing the effort required for a quality product.

Regardless of the game or system, Limited Run Games effectively sold customers pirated discs, burned copies of the games in question which may not even be playable on native hardware. They’ve taken your money and provided you with an inferior copy, all to maximize profits.

Limited Run Games attributes this CD-R mishap to difficulties associated with reproducing the games traditionally, claiming that using cheap conventional burnable discs was the only solution.

As a consequence, Limited Run Games has ceased selling or shipping further copies of either game or any future 3DO titles for the foreseeable future. Customers who’ve been deceived are urged to request a refund or replacement disc by contacting support.

Limited Run Games is the very same company who oversaw the physical release of “Amazon’s Training Road” which more or less was an updated version of Ancient’s Gotta Protector’s: Amazon Running Diet, a game for the Nintendo Entertainment System that launched digitally six years prior. However for the physical rendition by Limited Run Games, they used the phrase “lovingly localized” as a guise of the games benign censorship.

For the lovely price of $60 you could have your very own pink NES cartridge of Ancient’s Gotta Protector’s: Amazon Running Diet complete with censorship that covers up the protagonists exposed skin.

Limited Run Games’ CEO, Josh Fairhust, defended the censored release by labeling it as a “meta-commentary” on the Japanese original. This explanation may come across as convoluted and intended to justify their actions. In reality, the changes made to the game aren’t merely “meta-commentary”; they involve wrapping the protagonist in clothes and even altering the game’s name.

The game, originally titled Amazon’s Running Diet, features Amazon, a character from Gotta Protectors, engaged in an endless run to lose weight. Her main objectives are to collect water for hydration and avoid cakes.

If unsuccessful, the consequences are watching Amazon fall on her ass as the planet then splits in half due to her excessive weight.

However, in what appears to be an attempt to cater to Western sensitivities around body image, the game was “lovingly localized.” In this version, titled Amazon’s Training Road, the focus shifts from weight loss to strength training. Instead of breaking the planet due to weight, the consequence is depicted as struggling under heavy armor.

Not only did they censor the protagonist, but they also gave the game the full 4Kids makeover. Essentially, they created an entirely new game for physical release, one that is neither sexist nor offensive to fat people. This further demonstrates that Limited Run Games never truly prioritized game preservation, instead, their primary concern seems to be preserving profits, as evidenced by their recent 3DO releases.

The company’s track record has consistently been marred by controversy, and this latest incident is no exception. Limited Run Games should be avoided at all costs, regardless of any allure they may present. Their apology falls flat, attempting to justify their cost-cutting measures with claims of “compatibility concerns.” In reality, they are ripping people off with burnt CD-Rs and have been ripping off their customers for years.