Big news: Sam & Max Save the World version 1.0.4 is now live on Steam. See the patch notes below for a list of fixes.
Even bigger news: All six of the original Sam & Max Season One episodes are now available as free DLC for Sam & Max Save the World customers! If you’re curious to see where Telltale’s Sam & Max games got their start or nostalgic for the version you played back in the day, now you can—low resolution, compressed audio, the works.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1488600
After you download the DLC, the next time you start Sam & Max Save the World you’ll see a launcher like this. The Bonus Features button will take you to a selection of video extras that accompanied the episodes’ original launch and were included on the special edition DVD that Telltale made available to Sam & Max Season One customers back in 2007. (For now it's just a YouTube page but an entire website is in progress.)
Pick the episode you want and hold on tight little buddy, because you’re going back in time!
Look at me, Sam! I’m episodic!
In 2004, a sequel to the LucasArts adventure game Sam & Max Hit the Road was cancelled mid-development. Several people who worked on that game left LucasArts to form Telltale Games with the revolutionary idea of releasing games episodically, like a TV show.
When the Sam & Max game rights reverted to series creator Steve Purcell in 2005, he licensed the characters to Telltale. The young studio put the concept of episodic gaming to the test with Sam & Max Season One, six episodes that released approximately once a month between October 2006 and April 2007.
Back then, digital distribution was in its infancy. Initially the episodes were only available for streaming on GameTap (a “Netflix for games” type service owned by Turner Broadcasting) and for purchase from Telltale’s website. (They later came to Steam in June 2007.) Graphics and audio were highly compressed to keep download sizes low, and the games were designed to work on low-end computers to appeal to a mainstream audience.
What's this? Are we dead?
To avoid cluttering up the Steam store, we do not plan to sell the original Sam & Max Season One separately. Moving forward, this DLC is the way to get the Season One episodes on Steam. GOG also offers a free version of Season One to Sam & Max Save the World customers as a downloadable "Extra."
Due to insurmountable technical hurdles, these versions will not be updated and we can’t provide tech support. (Difficulty fixing bugs in the old game engine is a main reason we remastered Sam & Max Save the World in the first place!) We’re making them available for historical preservation purposes only. That said, if you’re having trouble running the old episodes, check our troubleshooting guide, where we've collected everything we know about some common problems and suggest workarounds.
Patch notes for today’s Sam & Max Save The World update (version 1.0.4):
Game-wide:
- Fixed Max behavior sometimes running during cutscenes. We thought this was fixed in the previous patch, but it turns out it was two separate bugs. Max is hard to pin down!
- Fixed Max sometimes staying attached to Sam after they collide with each other
- Fixed the back wall of Sam & Max's office being hidden in some cutscenes
- Fixed a bug causing characters to occasionally blink into their walk forward animations when they're just changing position in a cinematic sequence
- Fixed Bosco's bathroom terror level lights not changing and sounds not playing in later episodes
- Fixed Bluster Blaster duct tape material in later episodes
- Disabled save game button during closing credits
Episode 1:
- Fixed driving "pull over" sequence sometimes running when no vehicle is being tailed
- Fixed French translation of Brady "organ" joke
Episode 2:
- Fixed Peepers' cue cards floating in mid air after he sings for the first time
- Disabled Specs dialog choices about Whizzer’s birthday after Whizzer is gone
Episode 3:
- Fixed Leonard pop when using an item on him after you've beaten him at poker
- Fixed Leonard's arms clipping into table when talking to him after you've beaten him at poker
Episode 4:
- Restored camera cuts and acting in street newspaper chores
- Restored original Max timing in store "watching and judging" chore
- Fixed incorrect texture when firing missile at Bosco’s
- Fixed DeSoto logo and missing flags on TVs in the War Room
Episode 5:
- Fixed Max clipping with the desk when entering the VR Office
- Disabled line skipping during COPS song
- Fixed Bank VR lock disappearing when it was still there
- Fixed Sam awkwardly sliding off screen when trying to talk to Sybil while she's wearing googles
Episode 6:
- Fixed Bug voice line in Moon Retreat. Sometimes you fix a Bug bug.
- Removed water cooler from office and added water stain, since Mr. Spatula is on the moon now
- Fixed shadow lingering on camera once DeSoto is off screen when exiting street
- Fixed TV camera light blinking after taping has ended in opening cutscene to match original animation
- Fixed satellite disappearing from view when interacting with it
- Fixed Sam standing up on wheel or in saw box when using gastrokinesis or spoon bend items on him
Thanks to Laserschwert for use of his Max to the Future image!