Editing Sam & Max (section)

==Cultural impact and reception==
[[File:Sam & Max Comic-Con 07.jpg|thumb|right|Sam and Max [[cosplay]] at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] in 2007]]

The ''Sam & Max'' franchise has been highly successful critically, and is considered an iconic and influential aspect of the [[video game industry]] in the 1990s and the [[adventure game]] genre. In 2007, Steve Purcell wrote that he was somewhat surprised at the success of his creation, noting that the series had gained a large fan gathering despite the small size of the franchise. As the series contains only a small number of comics, video games and a short TV series, Purcell commented that there was "certainly not enough material to build that relentless traction of an endlessly renewed [[situation comedy|sitcom]] or a syndicated comic that has existed since the [[Korean War|Korean Conflict]]".<ref>{{cite book |last=Purcell |first=Steve |title=Sam & Max: Surfin' the Highway|edition=Anniversary |date=January 2008 |publisher=[[Telltale Games]] |location=United States |isbn=978-0-9792576-2-9|pages=4–5 |chapter=Foreword}}</ref> The comics were well received by critics, many praising the humor and style of the stories and characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justadventure.com/Press_Releases/SamMaxAnnivComic_Jan6_08.shtm |title=Anniversary edition of Sam & Max Surfin' the Highway comic collection now on sale |publisher=Just Adventure |date=2008-02-06 |access-date=2008-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219202350/http://www.justadventure.com/Press_Releases/SamMaxAnnivComic_Jan6_08.shtm |archive-date=2008-12-19 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/675/675146p1.html|title=Sam & Max Comic Debuts Online|website=[[IGN]]|first=David|last=Adams|date=2005-11-12|access-date=2008-12-06}}</ref><ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/news/2007/11/samandmax|title=''Sam & Max'' Games Revive a Long-Dead Comic|first=Chris|last=Kohler|date=2007-11-27|magazine=[[Wired News]]|access-date=2008-12-06}}</ref> However, later commentators have noted that the comic book series did not gain much popularity or recognition until after the release of ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' in 1993;<ref name="IGN 100">{{cite web|url=http://uk.top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_74.html |title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' |publisher=[[IGN]] |work=Top 100 Games |year=2007 |access-date=2008-11-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929221611/http://uk.top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_74.html |archive-date=2008-09-29}}</ref> the later episodic video games are seen to have revived interest in the comics again, resulting in the creation of the webcomic "The Big Sleep" and publication of an anniversary edition of ''Surfin' The Highway''.<ref name="Wired"/>

Upon its release in 1993, ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' was met with near universal acclaim. Critics praised the title for its humor, voice acting, graphics, music and gameplay.<ref name="Edge">{{cite magazine |date=February 1994 |title=Sam & Max Hit the Road |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |issue=5 |pages=58–59 |issn=1350-1593}}</ref><ref name="GR">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/562679.asp|title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' Reviews|publisher=[[GameRankings]]|access-date=2008-08-05}}</ref> It has since come to be regarded as a classic graphic adventure game,<ref name="AdvGamers">{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,78|title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road''|publisher=[[Adventure Gamers]]|first=Joonas|last=Linkola|date=2004-03-05|access-date=2008-08-05}}</ref> one of the most critically successful projects by LucasArts to date.<ref name="ACG">{{cite web|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/207/|title=''Sam & Max Hit the Road''|first=David|last=Olgarsson|publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming|date=2006-08-15|access-date=2008-08-13}}</ref> ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' is regularly featured in lists of top games,<ref name="IGN 100"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fhm.com/reviews/console-games/sam-and-max-hit-the-road-20090617#pagetitle|title=FHM's 100 Greatest Games of All Time|work=[[FHM]]|publisher=Bauer Media Group|first=David|last=Clack|date=2009-06-17|access-date=2013-05-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727102301/http://www.fhm.com/reviews/console-games/sam-and-max-hit-the-road-20090617#pagetitle|archive-date=2013-07-27}}</ref> and was nominated for the 1994 [[Annie Award]] for "Best Animated CD-ROM", although the award instead went to LucasArts' ''[[Star Wars: Rebel Assault]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://annieawards.org/22ndwinners.html |title=Legacy: 22nd Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1994) |publisher=[[Annie Award]] |access-date=2008-08-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512011102/http://annieawards.org/22ndwinners.html |archive-date=2008-05-12}}</ref> The abrupt cancellation of the sequel to ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' in 2004 garnered substantial criticism of LucasArts. In addition to a petition of 32,000 signatures objecting to the termination of development on ''Sam & Max: Freelance Police'',<ref name="Freelance Police Telltale"/> both Steve Purcell and the media were critical of LucasArts' decision. Purcell stated that he failed to understand quite why the game was cancelled, as he believed the development of the game was proceeding without hindrance,<ref name="Mojo profile">{{cite web|url=http://mixnmojo.com/features/sitefeatures/The-Kinda-Sorta-But-Not-Really-Secret-History-of-Sam-and-Max-Freelance-Police|publisher=The International House of Mojo|title= The Kinda, Sorta, But Not Really Secret History of Sam & Max: Freelance Police |access-date=2008-11-17}}</ref> while the media put forward the view that LucasArts was moving to consolidate its position with low business risk ''[[Star Wars]]'' video games instead of pursuing the adventure games that had brought them success in earlier years.<ref name="Freelance Police Missing"/> The cancellation of ''Freelance Police'' is often cited as the culmination in a perceived decline in the overall adventure game genre,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3134600|title=The Essential 50 Part 33: ''Myst''|website=[[1UP.com]]|first=Jeremy|last=Parish|access-date=2008-11-17}}</ref> and LucasArts later dismissed many of the designers involved with developing their adventure games, effectively ending their [[LucasArts adventure games|adventure game era]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.spong.com/article/7451/LucasArts_Feels_the_Force_of_New_Presidents_Rationalisations|title = LucasArts Feels the Force of New President's Rationalisations |publisher=Spong|date=2004-07-16|access-date=2008-11-17}}</ref>

Although ''Sam & Max Save the World'' did not receive the critical acclaim that ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' acquired, it still received a favorable response from critics across its release in 2006 and 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/938652.asp?q=Season%20One|title=''Sam & Max: Season One'' Reviews|publisher=[[GameRankings]]|access-date=2008-12-07}}</ref> Critics praised the game's humor, graphics and gameplay,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r32068.htm |title=''Sam & Max: Season One'' Review |publisher=GameZone |first=Anise |last=Hollingshead |date=2007-08-27 |access-date=2008-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005130402/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r32068.htm |archive-date=2008-10-05 |url-status=dead}}</ref> although concerns were voiced over the low difficulty of the puzzles and the effectiveness of the story.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,771/|title=Review: ''Sam & Max: Season One''|publisher=[[Adventure Gamers]]|date=2007-08-30|first=Evans|last=Dickens|access-date=2008-12-07}}</ref> ''Save the World'' is considered by journalists in the video game industry to be the first successful application of [[Episodic video game|episodic gaming]], as Telltale Games had managed to release a steady stream content with only small time gaps.<ref name="episodic"/> Previous attempts by [[Valve Corporation|Valve]] with the [[Half-Life (series)|''Half-Life'' series]], [[Ritual Entertainment]] with ''[[SiN Episodes]]'' and Telltale Games themselves with ''[[Bone: Out from Boneville|Bone]]'' were for a variety of reasons not considered successful implementations of the distribution model.<ref name="episodic">{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/samandmaxseason1/news.html?sid=6189014&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;2|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102210645/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/samandmaxseason1/news.html?sid=6189014&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;2|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-02|title=Q&A: Telltale tells why ''Sam & Max'' works|website=[[GameSpot]]|first=Brendan|last=Sinclair|date=2008-04-10|access-date=2008-12-07}}</ref> ''Beyond Time and Space'' was considered similar to ''Save the World'' and reviewers equally praised and faulted the game on this, although overall ''Beyond Time and Space'' received a good reception from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/942289.asp?q=Season%20Two|title=''Sam & Max: Season Two'' Reviews|publisher=[[GameRankings]]|access-date=2008-12-07}}</ref>

The success of the franchise has spawned a selection of merchandise, including posters and prints, items of clothing and [[sketchbook]]s of Purcell's work during various stages of the series' development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/store/|title=The Telltale Store|publisher=[[Telltale Games]]|access-date=2008-12-07|archive-date=2008-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211122833/http://www.telltalegames.com/store/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Collectable statues of the characters have also been created.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/849/849219p1.html|title=''Sam & Max'' Statues Hit The Road|website=[[IGN]]|first=Richard|last=George|date=2008-02-01|access-date=2008-12-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930083622/http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/849/849219p1.html|archive-date=2011-09-30}}</ref> However, perhaps due to references in Purcell's sketchbooks<ref>{{cite book |last=Purcell |first=Steve |title=The Age of S&M: A Sam & Max Sketchbook |year=2006 |publisher=[[Telltale Games]] |location=United States |page=60}}</ref> and demand from both fans and journalists alike,<ref>{{cite web |last=Meer |first=Alec |date=2008-09-30 |title=I Want Sam & Max Toys |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/09/30/i-want-sam-max-toys/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509002553/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/09/30/i-want-sam-max-toys/ |archive-date=May 9, 2010 |access-date=2008-12-07 |journal=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]}}</ref> a [[plush toy]] of Max has been created and sold, albeit limited edition, as a collaboration between internet shop Hashtag Collectibles and Steve Purcell.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hashtagcollectibles.com/products/sam-and-max-stuffed-toy|title=Max plushie|website=Hashtag Collectibles|access-date=2019-03-28}}</ref> A limited edition plush toy of Sam has also been created and sold in late 2023 on Uncute's website,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam plushie |url=https://www.uncute.com/products/sam-plushie |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Uncute |language=en}}</ref>  and Max being brought back along with him for a limited time once again, alongside Max themed slippers in 2024. Boss Fight Studios produced a new line of [[action figure]]s based on the Freelance Police for 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/bossfightstudio/posts/1612172418910602 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/305261242935066/1612172418910602 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Boss Fight Studio|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-22}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the prototypes were first revealed at New York Toy Fair.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/boss-fight-studios-reveal-new-sam-max-figures/|title=Boss Fight Studios Reveal new Sam & Max Figures!|date=2019-02-17|website=Action Figure Insider|language=en|access-date=2019-02-22}}</ref>