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Limited Run Games gets caught intentionally selling CD-R's then covering their tracks

VGEsoterica

Member
Back in early summer LRG shipped D's Diner Directors Cut Special Edition out...and they burned all five games onto CD-R and expected nobody would notice. They then tried to cover their tracks and stated they used CD-R's for "better compatibility" as no replication house could press 3DO discs correctly so that could be read.

Which was absolutely untrue as the only difference between 3DO discs and any other CD is sector size, and that is irrelevant to replication houses. It's just a disc as far as they are concerned and I've had a good dozen mastering projects done on CD / DVD / Blu-Ray and trust me...not an issue.

Until the ex co-founder came out in an interview and stated other higher ups at LRG wanted to sell CD-R's because "it was cheaper and they wouldn't play or notice it"

well it did get noticed and WTF what a cheap, low down dirty way to save a buck. Like Frank Shirley cancelling X-Mas bonuses in Christmas vacation

Just another example of a company using "gamers" as a means to extract profit in return for junk. They saved a few dollars and now look at all the bad press they bought themselves

 

Isa

Member
What happened to ethical integrity and taking pride in quality?
Compared to what came before most games these days release with the bare minimum of effort sadly, in regards to physical releases I mean. So many incredible pack-ins and at least a color manual. I hope one day the industry can focus on providing the consumer with a quality product again, even if in boutique form like what's been going on with the physical movie industry lately. I have so many killer sets and singles of films that come with so much with many of them still costing a fair amount less than a regular game release so I usually grab a few.
We're all eventually going to die. You can't take it with you.
True, but at least you can pass it on to friends, family, or trade/sell.
 
I don't understand what's the problem. Can someone explain to me?
allegedly, CD-Rs dont last as long as professionally produced (pressed) discs.

CD-Rs have the data burned into them. allegedly, the marks left by the burning process (marks = data) arent as deep or accurately shaped.

when you buy a real DVD, CD, video game... those are all pressed discs.
theyre never CD-Rs. when you get a bootleg copy from a friend, it's a CD-R. and also when you buy from LRG.

burning discs is cheaper to produce than pressing discs.
 
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VGEsoterica

Member
allegedly, CD-Rs dont last as long as professionally produced (pressed) discs.

CD-Rs have the data burned into them. allegedly, the marks left by the burning process (marks = data) arent as deep or accurately shaped.

when you buy a real DVD, CD, video game... those are all pressed discs.
theyre never CD-Rs. when you get a bootleg copy from a friend, it's a CD-R. and also when you buy from LRG.

burning discs is cheaper to produce than pressing discs.
They def don’t have the same longevity
 

Pejo

Gold Member
Every time there's an LRG thread, people point out how shitty they. Why are we still buying from them?
Mostly lack of ANY other options 99% of the time. They unfortunately cornered the market on niche physical releases of old beloved IPs.

It always warms my heart when a thread pops up and people are (rightfully) shitting on LRG. Fuck them.
 

nowhat

Member
They def don’t have the same longevity
I have a couple of cases of DVD-Rs (well, some may be DVD+Rs - remember that shit?). Pirating used to be a hot thing before streaming became the norm. Last I tried, most of them don't work anymore. Nowadays, I doubt any will. This is 100% scummy behavior and LRG should get all the hate they deserve.
 
I order a lot of my favorite physical games from LRG but this is disappointing; I would be not be pleased with a CD-R. I wonder, if it was difficult to get a batch of CDs made up for this promo, could have M-DISC been an option; would customers be OK with that? Nevermind, I see that MDISC is DVD/Bluray.
 
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baphomet

Member
I order a lot of my favorite physical games from LRG but this is disappointing; I would be not be pleased with a CD-R. I wonder, if it was difficult to get a batch of CDs made up for this promo, could have M-DISC been an option; would customers be OK with that?

It is never difficult to have a batch of CDs pressed.

M-Disc obviously wouldn't work in a 3DO.
 

Spukc

always chasing the next thrill
Every time there's an LRG thread, people point out how shitty they. Why are we still buying from them?
I don’t consider their shitty releases even legit for collectors. At best it’s those ali express repo prints from china for snes games.
 

NeoIkaruGAF

Gold Member
Every time there's an LRG thread, people point out how shitty they. Why are we still buying from them?
Because lots of people can’t resist collector’s items, and if you want a physical edition of some games, it’s LRG or nothing.
They knew very well the niche they were targeting with this company.
 

Duchess

Member
Every time there's an LRG thread, people point out how shitty they. Why are we still buying from them?
I've been holding out for a physical copy of Hi-Fi Rush that they're meant to be handling. I think I'm going to skip it now, and just get the digital edition.
 

Cyberpunkd

Member
Just another example of a company using "gamers" as a means to extract profit in return for junk. They saved a few dollars and now look at all the bad press they bought themselves
That is news how? The entire point of the company is to extract value from super niche physical copies because gamers are perfectly fine to be spending $100 on something that can be bought for $5 digitally.
 

clem84

Gold Member
I like their collector's editions. I've purchased many of their CEs over the years. Their Castlevania CEs are especially great. But yeah this is a fuck up. Hopefully a learning opportunity.
 
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Soodanim

Member
Until the ex co-founder came out in an interview and stated other higher ups at LRG wanted to sell CD-R's because "it was cheaper and they wouldn't play or notice it"
"None of these tech needs and enthusiasts will notice us cheaping out"

They were blinded by the chance at increased profit and couldn't see how retarded it was for them to think it was a guaranteed win.

The sad thing is that they have won, because people paid and no one has attempted legal action over their dishonest practices.

My only hope is that their comeuppance is that another company comes along to take the spotlight and conduct business with some integrity. Let's hope karma's feeling bitchy.
 

Robb

Gold Member
Wow, what a shit thing to do. People should be getting full refunds. That’s not the product they purchased.
 
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SkylineRKR

Member
They are cheapskates if they send CD-R. I remember seeing pressed PS1 discs around on black markets in the 90's, they were cheap as hell too. Absolutely better quality and the name was also engraved on the inside.

EDIT: I found them. They were HK Silvers from 'Players' with a Pacers (NBA) logo. I actually bought Bushido Blade 2 and a few others in this format, they didn't work on an unmodded system.
 
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tommib

Banned
I hope you don't take that personally, I have absolutely nothing against you. But the setup is just so perfect that I can't help myself. I consider myself something of a court jester.
I love you, man. I think you’re one of the best posters around and always super polite. And I love funny jokes about my gayness. I make them all the time. ;)
 
Everyone interested in retro gaming should subscribe to VGEso. Great channel:
 

Drew1440

Member
Wasn't it the case these CD-R games wouldn't even play on an original 3D0 console which is what the game was intended for? At that point they are selling faulty goods.

I don't understand what's the problem. Can someone explain to me?
This is worth a watch, he goes into details of CD-R and the different CD formats used.


I have noticed a lot of the newer CD-R's have issues playing back on older CD drives, even when burnt at the slower speeds. The drive has no problem reading my old CD-R's from 2008 so it's not the laser or drive at fault, possibly they've changed the material used in newer CD-R discs that causes issues with older drives.
 
I’ve heard many horror stories about that place. Usually along the lines of it being a corner-cutting shitshow with poor management.
 

Esca

Member
And they didn't even give them a jelly of the month subscribe. I've more resin to never but lrg fuck them
 
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