A 25-Year-Old PC Game Registration Postcard Just Unlocked a Secret Tokyo Party

In late 1999, players who bought the Japanese PC title Cookie's Bustle: Mysterious Bombo World were prompted to mail back a physical product registration postcard. More than two decades later, those records were used to convene an exclusive gathering in Tokyo.

As reported by Kotaku, fans who submitted registration cards following the game's release received surprise invitations to a private event held on Friday, October 2, 2026. The gathering was billed as a "25th secret event" and hosted by Japanese tech firm QualityTime Consulting.

A 25-Year Hiatus

Cookie's Bustle was released in December 1999 by developer and publisher Rodik for Windows and Mac OS. The point-and-click adventure followed Cookie Blair, a young girl from New Jersey convinced she is a bear, who journeys to an alien-founded South Pacific island to compete in sports. The game was discontinued in 2001.

Invitations sent by the "Official Cookie's Bustle Team" referenced that hiatus:

"We hope that your adventure with Cookie was wonderful... For certain reasons, Cookie’s Bustle was discontinued in 2001, and Cookie, along with Gray the rabbit, went into a long hibernation. And as the end of that deep slumber approaches, you, our most valued customer, will be the first to receive the news."

Although 27 years have passed since the game's 1999 launch, the event's 25th branding aligns with the 25 years since its 2001 discontinuation.

Inside the Tokyo Gathering

Attendees received Cookie-shaped pastries and exclusive merchandise, alongside an appearance by an actor in a Cookie bear costume. Musician Yuki and violinist Ayasa performed live selections from the soundtrack. Yuki noted on social media that she played guitar at the "Cookie's Bustle time capsule event."

Attendees were asked not to photograph the event, but posts from participants and performers appeared online over the weekend of October 3–4. Kotaku reported that attendees received no announcements regarding a remaster, remake, or sequel during the gathering.

From Copyright Disputes to Celebration

The reunion follows years of legal tension. Starting in 2022, Brandon White, operating as Graceware SL, issued copyright and DMCA strikes against online media related to the game. In March 2026, the Video Game History Foundation, working with UK trade association Ukie, challenged Graceware's fraudulent claims, stopping the takedowns.

Key questions remain unresolved, including how organizers preserved the 1999 customer database across 27 years, and the relationship between QualityTime Consulting—founded in 2006—and original creator Keisuke Harigai or Rodik. With organizers stating that the game's hibernation is nearing an end, whether a commercial revival will materialize remains unconfirmed.