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{{anewgamenav|noplay=true|gamecat=|gamecattype=}}
{{anewgamenav|noplay=true|gamecat=|gamecattype=}}
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{{redirects|SBCG4AP}} {{for|toon [[New Stuff]] refers to as "SBCG4AP"|SBCG4AP Advertisement}}
[[Image:SBCG4AP Pop Up.PNG|thumb|200px|"Time to tear up another day. The Strong Bad freakin' way!"]]
[[Image:SBCG4AP Pop Up.PNG|thumb|200px|"Time to tear up another day. The Strong Bad freakin' way!"]]
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''From the [[Videlectrix]] game catalog listing:''
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<blockquote>''"YOU ARE Strong Bad in this point-and-click-em-up adventure from Videlectrix and Telltale Games (they bought us lunch even!) of the WiiWare for the Wii in your house"''</blockquote>
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<blockquote>YOU ARE Strong Bad in this point-and-click-em-up adventure from Videlectrix and Telltale Games (they bought us lunch even!) of the WiiWare for the Wii in your house.</blockquote>
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:{{--}} [[Videlectrix]]
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''From the [[Telltale Games]] [http://web.archive.org/web/20121027135817/http://www.telltalegames.com/strongbad/ website]:''
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<blockquote>Charming. Suave. Muscular. Awesome. These are just a few of the words that Strong Bad would use to describe himself. In a world gone mad, only one man can be trusted to save the day... for himself. A man with a mask. And boxing gloves. And an attitude. A man called Strong Bad.</blockquote>
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'''''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People''''' (abbreviated as '''''SBCG4AP''''') is a five-episode series of point-and-click {{w|adventure games}} developed by [[Telltale Games]] and first released in 2008. The game was available for the PC, [[Nintendo#Wii|WiiWare]], Mac, and PlayStation platforms.
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'''''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People''''' (''SBCG4AP'') is an episodic series of games developed by [[Telltale Games]] for the PC, [[Nintendo#Wii|WiiWare]], Mac, and PlayStation Network platforms. The series was announced by a [https://web.archive.org/web/20120304080437/http://www.telltalegames.com/company/pressreleases/id-65press release] on April 10, 2008, followed shortly by an [[SBCG4AP Advertisement|advertisement]] on [[homestarrunner.com]] and [[SBCG4AP Gameplay Trailer|a trailer]] and screenshots on the Telltale Games website.  Advertisements added to homestarrunner.com were listed in the [[New Stuff]] menu, but not in any other page of the [[TV Time Toons Menu]].  The series trailer was added to the [[Wikipedia:Nintendo Channel|Nintendo Channel]] on August 4, 2008.
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''SBCG4AP'' marked several [[firsts]]: the first commercially-sold [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]] game, the first standalone offline game, and the first time [[The Brothers Chaps]] had licensed Homestar to a third party. The game was produced in full collaboration with [[The Brothers Chaps]]: co-branded with fictional company [[Videlectrix]], the Chaps collaborated on writing and provided voice acting and music. The 3D animation in the game was rendered by Telltale's animators with attention to preserve the look and feel of the 2D [[Flash]] cartoons.
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The game was produced in full collaboration with [[The Brothers Chaps]] and [[Videlectrix]], with [[Matt Chapman]], [[Mike Chapman]], and [[Missy Palmer]] providing the voice acting. The 3D animation in the game was rendered by Telltale's animators with attention to preservation of the look and feel of the 2D [[Flash]] cartoons.
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{{toclimit|2}}
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==Gameplay==
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[[File:SBCG4AP gameplay Strong Bad's Basement.png|thumb|220px|Strong Bad talks to [[Homestar Runner]] in a scene from "[[Homestar Ruiner]]". Dialogue options allow the player to [[Homestar Ruiner Responses (House of Strong)|choose whether to talk about]] Homestar or the telebision.]]
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''From a Telltale Games [https://web.archive.org/web/20120304080437/http://www.telltalegames.com/company/pressreleases/id-65 press release]:''
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<blockquote> Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People is a story-driven series with a comic spin that's undeniably Strong Bad. The player uncovers each episode's comedic plot through character interaction, dialogue-based puzzles, and the use (and abuse) of inventory items. In addition, each episode will be crammed with time-wasters to keep players poking around in the world, including Strong Bad emails to check, prank phone calls to place, and mini-games styled after the arcade games on the Homestarrunner.com website. </blockquote>
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The [[X 'em up|point-and-click-em-up]] adventure games star [[Strong Bad]], exploring a 3D fixed-camera rendition of [[Free Country, USA]]. Strong Bad can talk to other characters, choosing to be friendly or insulting to them. Gameplay centers around puzzle solving: collecting items, interacting with the environment, convincing other characters to help, or completing other tasks to progress the story. Finally, once an episode is finished, an "extended play" mode is unlocked, allowing players to explore the environment further.
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== History ==
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The first two episodes are kicked off by Strong Bad responding to emails (created [https://web.archive.org/web/20090309183544/http://www.gamecyte.com/hands-on-strong-bads-cool-game-for-attractive-people by the game's writers], not sent by a fan in the manner of [[Strong Bad Emails]]) on the [[Lappy]]. Every episode also features (similarly fictitious) emails that the player can read and respond to at their leisure. Although the episode's storylines are largely standalone, there is minor continuity across them as the ending of one may lead into the beginning of the next or reference will be made to something from a prior episode.
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Telltale Games was founded by former [[LucasArts]] employees who had worked on the company's {{w|LucasArts adventure games|adventure games}}. The company focused on releasing adventure games in an {{w|Episodic video game|episodic format}}, licensing niche IPs with strong fanbases like [[Sam & Max]] (which previously had been licensed to LucasArts). The partnership with Telltale was the first time The Brothers Chaps had licensed out their work. Having previously received video game licensing offers from companies like [[Sega]], the Brothers [[Kotaku Interview - 13 Jun 2008|felt]] Telltale made for a compelling partnership given their LucasArts pedigree and understanding of the property.
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Much of the game is focused around exploration, with optional dialogues or activities not strictly related to advancing the plot. Many of these side quests and bonus activities can raise the player's "Awesomeness Meter" to unlock rewards. Collecting objects to use in creating [[Teen Girl Squad]] comics or playing unique mini-games on the [[FunMachine]] are common examples. Costumes are hidden throughout the games, sometimes used in the narrative; players can dress up Strong Bad in these outfits and take pictures in the [[Snap Shak]]. The [[Snappy]] feature allows taking photos throughout the game. The WiiConnect24 online system could be used to share messages and pictures with Wii friends, using unique Wii Message Board graphics to do so.
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A hint of [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner's]] "first large scale game in the works" was mentioned by [[Matt Chapman]] in [[Zoinks! Magazine Interview|a 2006 interview]]. On [[www.homestarrunner.com|the website]], the first teaser for the collaboration with Telltale was the short [[Strong Bad Gameways]] released (via an Easter egg in [[shapeshifter]]) on April 1, 2008. The game ''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' was officially announced via a press release on April 10, 2008; with the first chapter scheduled for June. According to a [[IGN Interview - 14 Apr 2008|later interview]], the game had been discussed for over a year. It was finalized when [[Nintendo]] announced the WiiWare system, and development officially began in January 2008.
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The main menu of the games used a layout similar to [[homestarrunner.com|the website's]] [[main pages]].
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[[Adventure Gamers Interview - 12 Dec 2008|Another 2008 interview]] described the process in more detail: after an email from Joel Dreskin, The Brothers Chaps went out to San Rafael for their first meeting with Telltale, where they discussed many of the ideas that would end up in the final episodes. After a couple conference calls regarding the story and puzzles, the writer of each episode would send a first-pass script for The Brothers Chaps to tweak. The dialogue would sometimes be rewritten during recording to keep the improvisational feel of the toons.
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The initial trailer on Telltale Games' website gave a release date of June 2008, although they had to move the release date to July to give them time to make it the best they could. The game then had to be delayed again until August, as while the game had been submitted to Nintendo, it had not been approved in time. The game's [[#Episodes|five episodes]] were released on a monthly basis, from August 11, 2008 to December 15, 2008.
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The game was promoted through several [[Interviews and Public Appearances|interviews with the Brothers Chaps]], as well as [[#Reviews and articles|reviews and feature articles]] in gaming publications. On April 11, the gaming website IGN [http://wii.ign.com/articles/865/865974p1.html covered] the Nintendo Summit and several demonstrations of WiiWare, including SBCG4AP. In the July issue of ''{{w|Nintendo Power}}'',  the game was [[Nintendo Power Interview - July 2008|featured in an article]], including an "interview" with Strong Bad on pages 22 and 23.
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==Gameplay==
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Episodes begin with a start menu using a layout similar to the [[homestarrunner.com|website's]] [[main pages]].  Using a point-and-click interface, players have Strong Bad talk to various characters using an icon system or highlight objects to interact with.  In addition to the main plot, you can participate in numerous side quests, such as looking for additional costumes, objects to use in creating [[Teen Girl Squad]] comics, or play mini-games on the [[FunMachine]].  By participating in these side quests, this will raise the player's "Awesomeness Meter".  It was [https://web.archive.org/web/20090309183544/http://www.gamecyte.com/hands-on-strong-bads-cool-game-for-attractive-people confirmed in a preview] that the emails within the game were not actually sent by fans, but they will help serve to advance the plot or give a player a hint if they are stuck. Using the WiiConnect24 online system, players will be able to send messages and pictures taken with the [[Snappy]] or at the [[Snap Shak]] via the [[Lappy 486]] in the game.  Finally, once an episode is finished, an "extended play" mode is unlocked, allowing players to explore the environment further.
=== Episodes ===
=== Episodes ===
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The game is divided into five episodes, each taking around 2-4 hours to play through. The episodes were initially released individually, in monthly intervals. The games could be purchased individually or for a reduced price as a full-season bundle; some time after the finale, the game was only sold as a single-purchase full season.
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The game is divided into five episodes; initially released in monthly intervals, the game was later distributed as a "season" only available for purchase all at once.
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Each episode was downloadable through the {{w|Wii Shop Channel}} for 1000 Wii Points ($10.00) on WiiWare, with the PC version available through Telltale's website for $8.95 an episode. As of January 13, 2011, the five episodes were sold as a season bundle on [[Wikipedia:Steam (content delivery)|Steam]], playable on both PC and Mac. The full season was also made available for purchase on the PlayStation 3 via PlayStation Network for $14.99 on December 21, 2010, and on the PlayStation 4 via a PlayStation Now subscription in March of 2016.
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{{seealso|Telltale Games#Closure and Relaunch}}
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The Wii Shop Channel closed on January 30, 2019, removing the ability to purchase the WiiWare version of the game. The game was delisted from Steam on May 30, 2023, following an announcement from Telltale that they could "no longer sell or support the game series". Both Wii and Steam versions of the game can be redownloaded if previously purchased. The PS3 version of the game is still available for purchase.
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SBCG4AP was distributed through digital storefronts, with [[SBCG4AP Collector's DVD|the physical PC release]] only sold as a collector's item six months after the conclusion of the series.
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In [[Destructoid Interview - 16 Jan 2024|a 2024 interview]], when asked about the potential future availability of the game, The Brothers Chaps remarked that "part of us likes that it's become one of those titles you kinda had to be there for, but it would [[prolly]] also be okay if it got remastered one day."
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* The WiiWare version was sold through the {{w|Wii Shop Channel}} for 1000 Wii Points ($10.00).
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* The PC version was available through Telltale's website for $8.95 an episode.
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** Beginning January 13, 2011, the five episodes were sold as a season bundle on {{w|Steam (service)|Steam}}, playable on both PC and Mac.
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* Beginning December 21, 2010, the full season was available for purchase on the PlayStation 3 via {{w|PlayStation Network}} for $14.99.
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** The PS version was made available on the PlayStation 4 via a {{w|PlayStation Now}} (later PlayStation Plus) subscription in March of 2016.
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
|-
| style="text-align:center" | [[Image:HomestarRuinerLogo.png|150px]]<br>[[Homestar Ruiner]]
| style="text-align:center" | [[Image:HomestarRuinerLogo.png|150px]]<br>[[Homestar Ruiner]]
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| [[File:Sbcg4ap101 float.PNG|150px]]
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| [[Image:SBCG4AP gameplay Strong Bad's Basement.png|150px]]
| When Strong Bad's plans to beat the snot out of Homestar backfire, he ends up with an unwanted houseguest cramping his style. Now he needs to get life back to normal, by any means possible.
| When Strong Bad's plans to beat the snot out of Homestar backfire, he ends up with an unwanted houseguest cramping his style. Now he needs to get life back to normal, by any means possible.
| [[Image:HomestarRuinerIcon.png|100px]]
| [[Image:HomestarRuinerIcon.png|100px]]
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| December 15, 2008
| December 15, 2008
|}
|}
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== History ==
 
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{{seealso|Telltale Games}}
 
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Telltale Games was founded in 2004 by former [[LucasArts]] employees who had worked on the company's {{w|LucasArts adventure games|adventure games}}. The company focused on releasing adventure games in an {{w|Episodic video game|episodic format}}, initially licensing niche IPs with strong fanbases like [[Sam & Max]] (which previously had been licensed to LucasArts).
 
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===Development===
 
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The partnership with Telltale was the first time The Brothers Chaps had licensed out their work. The Brothers [[Kotaku Interview - 13 Jun 2008|felt Telltale made for a compelling partnership]], given their LucasArts pedigree and understanding of the property. According to a [[IGN Interview - 14 Apr 2008|2008 interview]], the game had been discussed for over a year.  It was finalized when [[Nintendo]] announced the WiiWare system, and development officially began in January 2008.
 
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[[Adventure Gamers Interview - 12 Dec 2008|A 2008 interview]] described the development process in detail: after an email from Joel Dreskin, The Brothers Chaps went out to San Rafael for their first meeting with Telltale, where they discussed many of the ideas that would end up in the final episodes. After a couple conference calls regarding the story and puzzles, the writer of each episode would send a first-pass script for The Brothers Chaps to tweak. The dialogue would sometimes be rewritten during recording to keep the improvisational feel of the toons; [[Matt Chapman]], [[Mike Chapman]], and [[Missy Palmer]] provided the voice acting, recording in [[Office of The Brothers Chaps#The Sound Room|their usual studio]] and sending the files to Telltale.
 
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===Promotion and Release===
 
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The first teaser for ''SBCG4AP'' was the short [[Strong Bad Gameways]], released (via an Easter egg in [[shapeshifter]]) on April 1, 2008. ''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' was officially announced by a [https://web.archive.org/web/20120304080437/http://www.telltalegames.com/company/pressreleases/id-65press release] on April 10, 2008, followed shortly by [[SBCG4AP Advertisement|an advertisement]] on [[homestarrunner.com]] and [[SBCG4AP Gameplay Trailer|a trailer]] and screenshots on the Telltale Games website. The series trailer was added to the [[Wikipedia:Nintendo Channel|Nintendo Channel]] on August 4, 2008.
 
-
 
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The game was promoted through several [[Interviews and Public Appearances|interviews with the Brothers Chaps]], as well as [[#Reviews and articles|reviews and feature articles]] in gaming publications. On April 11, the gaming website IGN [http://wii.ign.com/articles/865/865974p1.html covered] the Nintendo Summit and several demonstrations of WiiWare, including SBCG4AP. In the July issue of ''{{w|Nintendo Power}}'',  the game was [[Nintendo Power Interview - July 2008|featured in an article]], including an "interview" with Strong Bad on pages 22 and 23.
 
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The initial trailer on Telltale Games' website gave a release date of June 2008; following delays to July and then August, the first episode was released August 11, 2008. The remainder of the [[#Episodes|five episodes]] were released as scheduled, on a monthly basis concluding December 15, 2008.
 
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===Legacy===
 
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[[File:Disk6Intro.PNG|thumb|"Oh crap, I'm late for [[strongbad_email.exe Disc Six|the DVD]]!"]]
 
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The main menu animation of [[strongbad_email.exe Disc Six]] (released between the [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective|fourth]] and [[8-Bit is Enough|fifth]] episodes) utilized the CG models from the games. The intro was choreographed by Telltale employees Jake Rodkin and Nick Herman, and Telltale Games was thanked in the credits of the DVD.
 
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On November 22, 2010, Telltale Games released ''[[Poker Night at the Inventory]]''. This poker game pitted the player against several preexisting fictional characters; Strong Bad appeared as one of the opponents, and the game featured several musical and visual elements from Homestar Runner. [[Dangeresque Too]]'s [[Cool shades|sunglasses]] could be unlocked in ''Poker Night'' and then used in the game ''{{w|Team Fortress 2}}''.
 
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Although the five episodes were referred to as "Season One", there was never any commitment to or concrete planning done for a second season of ''SBCG4AP''. Extenuating circumstances surrounding both parties in the following years made a second season even less likely: Homestar Runner went on [[Hiatuses|a major hiatus]] beginning late 2009; from 2010 onwards, Telltale Games began to focus on much larger and more mainstream properties (such as 2011's breakout success ''{{w|The Walking Dead (video game)|The Walking Dead}}'') rather than smaller themes like Homestar Runner.
 
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====Modern Availability====
 
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Telltale Games abruptly announced a "majority studio closure" on September 21, 2018; in the following months, as assets were liquidated and the company moved into {{w|general assignment}}, many games were delisted from digital storefronts, [https://www.gog.com/forum/general/all_remaining_telltale_games_being_delisted_from_the_catalogue/page1 including ''SBCG4AP'' on May 27, 2019]. {{w|Telltale Games (2018–present)|LCG Entertainment, Inc. acquired many assets and revived the brand}} in 2019, which lead to relisting of many of the former company's games. Despite this effort, ''SBCG4AP'' is largely unavailable at present:
 
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=====Wii=====
 
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The {{w|Wii Shop Channel}} closed on January 30, 2019, removing the ability to purchase the WiiWare version of the game. Users who previously purchased the games can still re-download them. Like all WiiWare games, they can be transferred to Nintendo's subsequent console, the {{w|Wii U}}, and played via backwards compatibility; no such feature exists for Nintendo's current-generation console, the {{w|Nintendo Switch}}.
 
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=====PC/Mac=====
 
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''SBCG4AAP'' was [https://www.gog.com/news/three_telltale_games_arrive_on_gogcom relisted] on GOG and Steam on December 7, 2020. Several years later, following [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/8340/view/3674419898842965390 an announcement from Telltale] that they could "no longer sell or support the game series", the game was again delisted on May 30, 2023. Owners can still redownload the game from the storefront it was originally purchased on.
 
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=====PlayStation=====
 
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The PS3 version of the game is still available for purchase on the PlayStation Store, if accessed through a PlayStation 3 console. The game can also be streamed via PlayStation Plus Premium on modern PS consoles.
 
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=====Future releases=====
 
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In [[Destructoid Interview - 16 Jan 2024|a 2024 interview]], when asked about the potential future availability of the game, The Brothers Chaps noncommittally remarked that "part of us likes that it's become one of those titles you kinda had to be there for, but it would [[prolly]] also be okay if it got remastered one day."
 
==Characters==
==Characters==
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==External Links==
==External Links==
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*''{{w|Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People}}'' at Wikipedia
 
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*[[IMDb:tt1223894|''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'']] at IMDb
 
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===Reviews and articles===
===Reviews and articles===
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[[Image:SBCG4AP_DVD_Promo.png|thumb|8.6 stars, guys!]]
 
*[http://wii.ign.com/articles/866/866485p1.html IGN preview of the demo]
*[http://wii.ign.com/articles/866/866485p1.html IGN preview of the demo]
*[http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,881 Adventure Gamers preview]
*[http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,881 Adventure Gamers preview]
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*[http://wii.ign.com/articles/884/884993p1.html IGN preview of the near final first episode]
*[http://wii.ign.com/articles/884/884993p1.html IGN preview of the near final first episode]
*[http://wii.ign.com/articles/894/894056p1.html IGN teaser of second episode from Comic-Con]
*[http://wii.ign.com/articles/894/894056p1.html IGN teaser of second episode from Comic-Con]
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*[[Wikipedia:Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People|''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'']] at Wikipedia
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*[[IMDb:tt1223894|''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'']] at IMDb
===Awards===
===Awards===
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*[http://forum.hrwiki.org/viewforum.php?f=30 The Homestar Runner Wiki's ''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' subforum]
*[http://forum.hrwiki.org/viewforum.php?f=30 The Homestar Runner Wiki's ''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' subforum]
*[https://community.telltale.com/categories/strongbad-game Telltale Games Forums: ''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' sub-forum]
*[https://community.telltale.com/categories/strongbad-game Telltale Games Forums: ''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' sub-forum]
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**[https://community.telltale.com/discussion/82928/strong-bad-unofficial-faq-please-read-before-posting Unofficial FAQ]
 
{{SBCG4AP}}
{{SBCG4AP}}
{{VidelectrixGames|cat=no}}
{{VidelectrixGames|cat=no}}

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