The X-Files merchandise

Merchandise related to the American TV show "The X-Files" includes VHS and DVD sets, compact discs, video games, t-shirts and a magazine devoted specifically to the show.

Music

Much of composer Mark Snow's music from the first three seasons of "The X-Files" was released on the album "The Truth and the Light - Music from the X-Files", which also included dialogue from the show.

Snow's main "X-Files" theme was released with other songs used in and inspired by the show (by such artists as Soul Coughing, Nick Cave, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and PM Dawn among others) on the 1996 soundtrack "Songs in the Key of X". For the release of the theme as a single a music video was created with clips from the show (this video was not included as bonus features on any DVD/VHS sets). The theme song was remixed by The Dust Brothers on the movie soundtrack "", which also included songs by the Foo Fighters, X, Björk, Filter, Sting & Aswad, and others.

Snow also released the score of "The X-Files" movie.

DVD releases

Complete season sets

The entire series is currently available on DVD by season.

limmer Versions

The entire series was re-released on DVD in late 2005-early 2006, in a "slimmer" package, sans some bonus materials that were featured in the original fold out versions. Seasons 6, 7 and 8 contain all of the bonus material found in the original versions. All other seasons are missing the additional special features.Fact|date=April 2008

Mythology sets

These DVD sets contain the episodes related to the conspiracy mythology, and avoids the stand-alone episodes. There are four volumes detailing different storylines. [cite web|url=http://imdb.com/title/tt0106179/dvd|title=IMDB page on X-Files DVD sets|accessdate=2006-10-24
accessyear=2006] [cite web|url=http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?z=y&EAN=024543169307&itm=1|title=Product listing for Mythology Vol. 1 at Barnes and Noble|accessdate=2006-10-24
accessyear=2006]
* Volume 1 - Abduction
* Volume 2 - Black Oil
* Volume 3 - Colonization
* Volume 4 - Super Soldiers

Complete Series Box Set

Fox released The X-Files: The Ultimate Collection DVD set in Region 1 on November 6th, 2007, which includes all 9 seasons and the first movie. The bonus features are the same as the previous sets, with the addition of the bonus features produced for the mythology box sets and special DVD-Rom games. It also includes a season one comic book and a theatrical poster of the first movie and totals 61 discs.

A Region 2 version, called The X-Files: The Complete Collector's Edition, was released on November 19th, 2007, and contained the series (1-9), series guide, the movie and the bonus features disk.

In Australia, they expect the complete series set on 26 November 2008. This set contains 61 DVDs. This includes all 9 seasons and the first and second movies. The set is likely to be called "The X Files: Uncover The Truth."

Frank Spotnitz stated on his blog that there are no current plans to release the show on Blu-Ray. [ [http://www.biglight.com/blog/2008/07/blu-ray-releases.html Big Light: BLU-RAY RELEASES ] ]

VHS releases

Before the DVD full season releases, "The X-Files" had its episodes released in VHS season sets in parts of the world, as well as selected single episodes put together. There was other material released on VHS, such as "The X Files - Forensic Evidence Box" and the "X Files Trivia Game".

"Wave" sets

The original VHS release of The X-Files in North America consisted of selected episodes from each of the first four seasons, which were released on a staggered basis beginning in 1996.

Each "wave" was three VHS tapes, each containing two episodes, for a total of six episodes per wave and two waves per season (for example, the home video release of Wave 1 drew from the first half of the first season: "Pilot"/"Deep Throat", "Conduit"/"Ice" and "Fallen Angel"/"Eve"). Each wave was also available in a boxed set. Ultimately 12 episodes (approximately half the total number aired) were selected by Chris Carter to represent each season, including nearly all "mythology arc" episodes and selected standalone episodes. Carter would briefly introduce each episode on the tape with an explanation of why it was chosen and anecdotes from the set. These same clips were later included on "The X-Files" full season DVDs. Wave 8 covering the last part of the fourth season was the last to be released. VHS "wave" tapes were not released for the fifth and later seasons, so there are no Carter "interviews" for selected episodes included on those DVDs.

The last wave (wave 8 of the VHS series) did not have collectible cards (one per video tape) as had been included in each of the previous 7 waves /releases.

Video games

"The X-Files" has inspired two and a half video games. In 1998, "" was released for the PC and Macintosh and a year later for the PlayStation. This game is set within the timeline of the second or third season and follows an Agent Craig Willmore in his search for the missing Mulder and Scully.

In 2000, Fox Interactive released "", a game-style database for the PC and Mac, which allowed users access to every case file.

Then, in 2004, "" was released for the PlayStation 2. This game is an original story set in the seventh season and allows the player control of both Mulder and Scully. Both games feature acting and voice work from members of the series' cast.

Magazine

"The X-Files" spawned an official periodical, released monthly by FOX. It included articles about the series, main and guest stars (with interviews), the creators, sets and future episodes.

Books

During the run of the hit TV series "The X-Files", many books based on it were released, written, including novels based on episodes, a series of comic books from Topps Comics, and many "official" and "unauthorized" non-fiction books.

Some of the novels, which were published in both hardcover and trade paperback editions, came out as audio books read by two of the series' stars, Gillian Anderson and Mitch Pileggi.

Comics

The X-Files has been the basis of a number of comics, notably a series from Topps Comics, with creators like Tony Isabella, Stefan Petrucha and Charlie Adlard. cite web |date=last modified 22 Dec 2006| url = http://www.geocities.com/Area51/8337/xfcomix.html| title = The X-Files Comics Checklist| format = HTML | publisher = Area51| accessdate = 2007-07-23 | last= Mark Martinez.] Most recently, Wildstorm has signed Frank Spotnitz to a three comic book deal, the first of which will be released two weeks before the premiere of "". [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16784 Spotnitz Wants to Believe in Wildstorm's "The X-Files Special"] , Comic Book Resources, June 12, 2008]

Posters

The X-files have spawned a number of popular posters from the series from likenesses of the cast to the I want to believe poster.

I want to Believe

The I want to believe poster hanging in Mulder's basement FBI X-Files office was actually changed after the first season. Viewers wanting the poster created quite a demand but the first season version was created by the X-files production team as a one off poster and it couldn't be mass-produced. In season 2 it was switched to another UFO poster that the X-files store could sell.cite web |date=2007 | url = http://www.famouspictures.org/mag/index.php?title=I_Want_To_Believe| title = Famous Pictures Magazine - I want to believe| format = HTML | publisher = Famous Pictures Magazine| accessdate = 2007-07-23 | last=Lucas, Dean ]

Online Service

In 1994, Delphi was the "official" online service of The X-Files. They hosted X-Files chats in a time before the popularity of the World Wide Web. [Personal correspondence, John Franson, 3 August 2008.]

References