With Halloween here, we just want to say thank you for being part of this amazing community. Your passion and energy really bring the spooky season to life.
We hope you enjoy the Halloween events and create some fun memories with friends in-game.
Stay safe and have a blast!
Check out the Ragnarok Online Halloween events: https://renewal.playragnarok.com/news/newslist.aspx#n4431
And don’t miss DragonSaga’s festivities too: https://www.playdragonsaga.com/news/newsdetail.aspx?id=4661
Remember when a collector’s edition meant a box packed with amazing statues and cool physical extras?
Now, they often feel like a cash grab with nothing more than digital code in a steelbook. We asked the team to share their most unforgettable collector’s editions (CEs) and other memorable collectible items. These are the amazing triumphs from back in the day that made us feel proud (and appreciated) to be a gamer.
Andrew S, Production
As a huge fan of the Metal Gear Solid franchise, I just had to get the Collector’s Edition of the series’ final entry, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. It came with the usual industry-standard goodies you’d expect like a steelbook case, a map, and some exclusive DLC costumes and weapon skins for both single-player and multiplayer. But the main reason I wanted it was for the scale replica of Punished “Venom” Snake’s (yes, that’s his codename) bionic arm! Sadly, it turned out to be only about 10 inches tall. I really wish it were bigger.
Even though I was happy with my purchase overall, one thing left me completely bewildered was the behind-the-scenes disc that came with it. I love seeing how games are made, but this one revealed something that slightly soured my experience with MGSV. One of the biggest criticisms of the game was how abruptly it ends. The behind-the-scenes footage showed that a proper ending did exist at one point, featuring storyboards, concept art, and unfinished cutscenes of what was clearly meant to be the true finale. It’s frustrating knowing that the series never got the full, masterful ending Hideo Kojima intended.
Maybe if the arm had been full-sized, I wouldn’t be so bitter about it.
Kevin D, Client Success
My most memorable collector’s edition is the Titanfall Collector’s Edition, treasured for its remarkable contents. The highlight is a stunning 18-inch statue, featuring built-in LED lights that illuminate its intricate details. Alongside the statue, it includes a hardcover art book with over 100 pages of breathtaking artwork and a massive, detailed schematic poster. While the collector edition lacked exclusive in-game items, this didn’t bother me, as I find physical collectibles far more thrilling than digital bonuses. I’ll always remember picking it up at my local GameStop, utterly astonished by the enormous packaging.
Justin J, Product Strategy
My most memorable personal game collection is from MapleStory. It wasn’t a well-known collection, and it might differ from what my colleagues would typically consider a collection, but MapleStory had its own unique charm in that regard. I collected guidebooks, TCG cards, stickers, and more.
In the early years after MapleStory launched, computers and blogs weren’t as advanced or widespread as they are now. We relied heavily on printed materials—books and magazines—so it became a trend to release small guidebooks containing information about monsters, maps, and job traits.
Then came the sticker craze. When you bought a one-dollar bread snack at the market, it often came with a MapleStory sticker inside, and it became a fun challenge to collect them all. Lastly, there was the TCG series. Although it was an attempt to follow the success of Digimon and Pokémon, it didn’t perform very well commercially. Still, for nostalgic collectors, it became another beloved part of MapleStory’s legacy.
Mace T, Product Strategy
The Kingdom Hearts Final Mix Platinum Limited Edition was pure nostalgia gold. It felt like a proper gift to fans. You got the Sora block figure, stickers, a calendar with Tetsuya Nomura’s art, and three badges. That was all in addition to the game, and everything came in a high-quality, sturdy box. It was the complete opposite of today’s CEs, which are often guilty of removing items actually worth collecting and swapping them with digital perks that leave you feeling like you paid for early DLC, at best.
Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix set a high bar and let the fans know they were here to stay!
Some Other Notable Collector’s Editions
Assassin’s Creed II: Ezio statue, art book, bonus DVD, extra missions.
Gears of War 3: Marcus statue, steelbook, art book.
Fallout: New Vegas: Vault Boy bobblehead, survival guide, map, poker chips.
Grand Theft Auto IV: Steelbook, duffle bag, map, lockbox.
Red Dead Redemption: Steelbook, art book, collectible pins.
Warcraft III: Faction stickers, art book, soundtrack, special packaging.
Nier Replicant White Snow Edition: Art book, soundtrack, premium packaging.
Ni No Kuni PS3: Plushie, spell book, art cards, commemorative coin.
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition: Art book, steelbook, vinyl soundtrack, posters.
The best Collector’s Editions clearly focused on quality, size, and a genuine connection to the game. Comparing those awesome physical items to the focus on in-game bonuses in modern CEs shows a huge difference!
Thanks to the team for sharing their favorites and thank you for reading!
What were some of your favorite collector’s editions?
Share your thoughts on our social media.
See you next time!
Look, we know Columbus Day is complicated. Instead of getting into all that, we’re using today to celebrate a different kind of discovery—the games that changed everything. We’re talking about the titles that didn’t just follow trends, they created them or, at least, changed them. From genre-defining classics to the games that rewrote the rulebook, these are the trailblazers we think are worth remembering or trying for yourself.
Growing up, MapleStory was my OG MMORPG. It completely changed the way I looked at PC games. Before that, I was mostly playing simple HTML flash games, but MapleStory introduced me to a whole new world. It wasn’t the first MMORPG, and it wasn’t the most popular either, but it was the one that reshaped my perspective. The way you could interact with other players, take on quests, earn currency, upgrade weapons, and unlock new skills with each level felt groundbreaking at the time. During that MMORPG boom, countless companies were jumping into the genre, but MapleStory carved out a permanent pillar in the market—and in my memories.
Do you remember Piano Tiles when the first touchscreen phones came out? Games like it had always existed in different forms, but on mobile it just clicked. It was simple, rhythmic, and perfectly suited for touch controls. To me, that game represented the potential of mobile gaming: quick to pick up, intuitive to play, and designed around the unique strengths of the platform. In many ways, it set the tone for the explosion of mobile games that followed.
Consoles have always felt like one of the fastest-moving areas of gaming technology. They evolved from simple black-and-white 2D screens to stunning 3D full HD graphics with smooth motion, lightweight designs, portability, and online connectivity. When I think of consoles, Mario immediately comes to mind.First released in 1990, Super Mario World, offered fast-paced, stage-by-stage gameplay with fun characters and colorful backgrounds. Over the years, the Mario IP has expanded beyond games into animations, movies, and countless genres—yet it remains beloved and instantly recognizable.
In the spirit of Columbus Day, and in celebration of World Mental Health Day. To me, the game that pioneered a subgenre and brings mental ease to my stressful mind is the Civilization series. Though it wasn’t the first 4X game (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate), it’s the one that truly popularized that subgenre of strategy games.
In a way, it mirrors Columbus himself, without the “terrible human being” part. The Civilization series has inspired many games, such as Humankind, Europa, Age of Wonders, and Stellaris. This series merges my two loves of video games and world history. It’s such an amazing experience to start from a group of tribe people and slowly turn it into an empire that could stand the test of time, while also learning historical trivia along the way.
Mace T. (Creative Project Manager)
Since I’ve really been into mobile games lately I decided to focus on that massive gaming platform that gamers, strangely, forget about when it comes to innovation and creativity.
Episode: Choose Your Story (2014) brought interactive fiction to the masses, creating the template that countless story apps now follow. If ‘choose your own adventure’ and soap operas had a baby it would probably be something like Episode!
With its “cliffhanger, then choose” structure and user-generated content, Episode transformed visual novels from niche Japanese games into a global phenomenon. Proof that some mobile players really craved narrative control.
If you’re into hardcore drama with straightforward, simple controls then give the Episode series a serious look.
Monopoly GO! (2023) reinvented the world’s most famous board game by transforming it into a daily social ritual of competition and cooperation.
With real-time heists, friend-based revenge mechanics, collaborative events, and collectible stickers, it proved that 90-year-old game could be fresh again. After some questionable versions throughout the years, this Monopoly is super simple and super addictive. Events are dynamic and, thankfully, escape the typical “log in, collect rewards, and close the app” boring routine so common in mobile these days. Team up with friends or raid their banks while your pockets get fatter.
The fun is just a few dice rolls away.
Pro tip: don’t forget to grab your free dice from the Tycoon Club.
Wittle Defender (2025) is the perfect fusion of tower defense and roguelike genres with card battler elements that creates some serious strategic depth. From the studio behind Archero, it offers nearly hands-free auto-battle gameplay where victory depends on your squad composition and choosing the perfect skill synergy rather than your reflexes and low ping times.
I find these low-action games more rewarding now as it seems the RPG genre (my favorite overall) seems to be gravitating more into action-game territory which I find less interesting.
With no perfect blocking, expertly timed dodging or avoiding the circles of doom to master, Wittle Defenders, becomes the blueprint for cross-genre mobile gaming that rewards your ability to think long-term in short bite-sized time blocks.
Honorable Mentions:
Shadow of Destiny (2001)
Age of Empires II (1999)
Crazy Taxi (1999)
Ragnarok Landverse (2025)
Thanks for reading! We hope this look at the boundary-breaking games of our past and present gave you some food for thought and maybe a few new titles to check out.
Have a great day!
We recently attended the Tokyo Game Show (TGS), and it was hands down the best video game convention we’ve ever experienced!
The scale, the energy, and the thoughtful approach to crowd management gave us an unforgettable window into Japan and Asia’s thriving gaming scene.
The Massive Scale
The booths at TGS are in a league of their own. Major companies command enormous floor spaces that make it obvious they’re investing heavily in the show.
What really struck us was seeing how many publishers who dominate in Asia—particularly from China and Korea—are using TGS as their launchpad to Western markets. We discovered brands that we’d never heard of with sprawling, polished booths showcasing games like Crimson Desert. These companies are clearly serious about establishing their flagship titles on the global stage.
Focus on Player Engagement
The biggest difference from other conventions, like Pax West which happened recently, is that we noticed at TGS was how exhibitors thought about attendees.
Rather than treating demos as one-and-done experiences, booths built activities around their games—scavenger hunts, social media challenges, photo opportunities.
This approach was really clever. By getting players to participate beyond just picking up a controller, exhibitors were converting casual interest into social media follows and word-of-mouth buzz.
Fair warning though – booth staff can be pretty assertive about pulling you in to check out their games. They’re not shy about pitching!
Smart Crowd Management
A favorite innovation at the show was how TGS solved the line problem. For popular demos, they used a ticketing system where you’d reserve a spot and get a return time—no standing around for an hour. Kind of like Disneyland’s old Fast Pass System. This completely transformed the convention experience. Instead of being stuck in queue hell, you could wander the floor, check out other games, and come back when your slot was ready. It’s such a visitor-friendly system that we were surprised more conventions haven’t adopted it. You end up seeing far more of the show!
Standout Games and What’s Coming
TGS offered a solid preview of where gaming is headed:
AAA Showcases: Battlefield 6 had a massive, tournament-style setup that felt like an esports arena—it was impressive to see that level of commitment to a single game.
The Genshin Impact Influence: There’s a clear trend of games borrowing Genshin’s anime-inspired art style and open-world formula, especially from Chinese developers. Some are adding interesting twists, like mixing melee combat with gunplay in creative ways.
Indie Gems: A favorite discovery was an indie that mashed up roguelike RPG mechanics with blackjack—you literally use your card hand to determine your attacks. It sounds wild, but it worked surprisingly well.
If you’re serious about gaming and want to understand where the industry is moving—especially with Asia’s explosive growth—TGS should be on your radar.
The energy is infectious, the crowd management is brilliant, and the quality of games on display makes it worth the trip!
Here’s the photo dump for your viewing pleasure:
—with Assistant PM Justin J, Associate Producer Andrew S, and Project Manager Mace T.
Remember when we’d type in those magic button combinations or discover that perfect glitch that would turn our game upside down? Sometimes a friend whispered the code to us at school, sometimes we found it buried in a game magazine, and sometimes we stumbled onto it by pure luck. Cheat codes and exploits were like secret knowledge that transformed us from ordinary players into unstoppable forces with unlimited everything.
Here are some of our favorites. How many of these do you remember?
With precise timing on certain bosses, you could lock them into inaction. One of the most famous examples is the stage 1 camel tank boss, which could be frozen at the right moment, turning a normally dangerous fight into easy target practice. Pure satisfaction.
Hidden characters were gaming gold, and Tengai delivered with characters that actually played differently. Finding these unlock methods felt like discovering buried treasure.
Every KOF game had its own crazy unlock sequence. KOF ’95, 2002, NeoWaves – each one made you jump through different hoops to get the secret fighters. Worth every complicated input.
Hover over Ryu for 3 seconds, then T. Hawk, Guile, Cammy, back to Ryu (3 seconds each), then pick anyone while hitting Start + all punch buttons. That dark silhouette meant you’d unlocked the ultimate boss character.
The MissingNo. glitch was a game-changer. Hit up Cinnabar Island’s coast after talking to the old man in Viridian, and boom – infinite rare candies. Your Pokémon would be level 100 in no time.
HESOYAM for health and money. AEZAKMI to stop wanted levels from ever appearing. JUMPJET for instant fighter jet. GTA codes didn’t just help you win – they let you play god.
/gamemode creative was basically becoming a digital god. /give @p diamond 64 and you’re rich. /tp and you’re anywhere instantly. Built right into the game but still felt like cheating.
Blizzard made their cheats memorable. “show me the money” gave you 10,000 minerals and gas. “power overwhelming” made you invincible. Even the cheat codes were fun to type.
Nine letters that solved all your virtual financial problems. 50,000 Simoleons instantly appeared, making your Sim richer than you’d ever be in real life.
World 3-1, jump on that Koopa shell at just the right spot near the stairs, and watch those 1-UPs pile up. The sound of gaining life after life never got old.
Growlancer let you duplicate equipment, turning hours of grinding into minutes of button pressing.
Mortal Kombat on Genesis had the blood code: A, B, A, C, A, B, B. Nintendo players were stuck with the kid-friendly version while Genesis owners got the real deal.
SimCity (SNES) had the famous secret “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” cheat, activated by holding X, Y, B, A on the title screen to unlock special disaster options, adding chaos or unlimited money for creative city building.
Contra’s iconic Konami Code (Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start) gave players 30 extra lives in the original NES version, making the brutally tough game much more manageable.
Cheat codes were more than shortcuts – they were rebellion against the rules. They created communities where players shared secrets and turned games into personal playgrounds. Sure, modern games have DLC and microtransactions instead, but nothing beat the thrill of entering that special code and watching everything change in an instant.
Those codes made us feel like hackers who had cracked the system and were finally in control of the game. Sometimes the best fun did come from cheating.
Don’t tell Mom…
Thanks for visiting us and reading about some of our favorites!
See you next time!!
