Despite low popularity and sales, there is a sizable amount of physical and digital merchandise made for Lost Kingdoms. Almost all of the works listed here were Japan-only, and much of the physical merchandise were only produced for a specific event such as preorder bonuses, contest rewards, and game show products.
Digital downloads, such as wallpapers and e-postcards, can still be found on multiple archives of From Software's old website. Some have not been preserved, and are listed here if evidence shows they had existed earlier. Promotional material found on the same page as these digital goods, such as trailers and logos, are also listed here to be comprehensive.
Lost Kingdoms (Rune) Merchandise
Tokyo Game Show 2001
According to the Japanese King's Field fansite, 3 OCEANS in eARTh, promotional cards were given out at TGS Autumn 2001. While there may have been more cards, the ones recorded on the site were cards of the Lich, Mandragora, and Katia. From Software also gave out a promotional drinking glass etched with the logo of RUNE and Murakumo, the company's first games on the Gamecube and Xbox respectively.
RUNE Triple Premium Campaign
From Software held a bonus for RUNE available for customers who either preordered the game or purchased a copy while bonus supplies lasted. The three items offered are a Creature's Guide guidebook, control guide sheet, and sticker labels made for Gamecube memory cards.[1]
A full scan of the Creature's Guide, provided by Kaii, can be found here. As the title suggests, it is a small booklet that acts as a catalogue of all the cards in the game, though some card illustrations are kept hidden.
From Collections Project
The "From Collections" Project was introduced in 2002, it was an incentive for users to register with From Software using the registration cards included in their games. If users filled in the card and sent it back they would recieve a registration card and miniature replica versions of the games they registered with. The miniature versions would be exact copies of the games with the FROMSOFTWARE logo engraved in the case and a sticker inside.[2]
Nintendo DREAM Vol. 69
Nintendo DREAM, a Japanese gaming magazine focused on Nintendo, had a large focus on Lost Kingdoms (Rune) in their 69th volume. It included a sheet of Lost Kingdoms focused stickers.
A full scan of the article can be found here.
Dengeki Gamecube Issue 06
Dengeki released a Japanese gaming magazine focused on the Gamecube called "Dengeki Gamecube". There was a large focus on Lost Kingdoms (Rune) in their 6th issue.
RUNE Official Perfect Guide
Published by Enterbrain under the Famitsu brand, the RUNE Official Perfect Guide is a Japanese strategy book for Lost Kingdoms. It is separated into three sections of gameplay, stages, and creatures. Furthermore, the guide contains various promotional illustrations that have rarely been used outside of the book.
More scanned pages of the book can be found here.
Lost Kingdoms (Prima's Official Strategy Guide)
Published by Prima Games, the Lost Kingdoms (Prima's Official Strategy Guide) is an English strategy guide listed for sale in North America and Europe. The guide was advertised both on the website and in the instruction manual for Lost Kingdoms. A two-frame gif of the advertisement can still be found on the website's archives.
RUNE Website Downloads
Free wallpapers, trailers and other digital downloads were available in the official RUNE section on From Software's website. A PSD file of the Japanese RUNE logo separated into layers is archived, and can still be downloaded. A screensaver and video trailers have not been archived, though the trailers are most likely online. While not all the screensaver sizes have been archived, the thumbnails are still intact.
Note the beta Magic Stone counter.
From Software e-Postcards
From Software previously had a small section on its website to send e-postcards to an email address. While some of the art on the site are reused from the RUNE website downloads, some are uniquely only used in this section.
From Software i-mode Ringtones
On From Software's old mobile website, there was a section for downloadable ringtones featuring music from their games. While these ringtones are formatted specifically for Japanese DoCoMo phones, they can be played on a computer through the .mld Authoring Tool released by Yamaha. Both Lost Kingdoms and Lost Kingdoms II had ringtones on the site, and both have been converted and uploaded.
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Lost Kingdoms II (Rune II) Merchandise
Tokyo Game Show 2002
One of the games From Software promoted at Tokyo Game Show 2002 was Rune II. Although media outlets reported that "Original Goods" would be distributed[3], the only known items handed out were electric hand fans with a Rune II decal[4] and From Software catalogues.
RUNE 2 can be seen in the back.
Preorder Bonuses
Much like the first Lost Kingdoms, there were preorder bonuses for Lost Kingdoms II. These include a Red and Blue fairy plush, as well as a small "Key of Guidance and Wisdom" strategy guide.[5]
Nintendo DREAM Vol. 90
Nintendo DREAM, a Japanese gaming magazine focused on Nintendo, had a large focus on Lost Kingdoms II in their 90th volume.
A full scan of the article can be found here.
Nintendo DREAM Demo Disk
A demo version of the game was included with the magazine, sporting a unique outfit for Tara. A small control sheet and cover for the disk was also provided to be cut out and inserted into an empty Gamecube game box.
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Nintendo DREAM Stickers
A stickersheet of Tara, the fairies, and some cards was also included with the magazine. Gamecube memory card stickers and a sticker of promotional artwork is also included.
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Nintendo DREAM Contest Rewards
Along with the article, Nintendo DREAM hosted an illustration contest to design a character or monster to be put into Lost Kingdoms II. Aside from contest rewards such as a camera or Walkman, one could also win a plush set of a Red Fairy and Blue Fairy. Telephone cards depicting Tara in her demo-only outfit could also be won. Elsewhere in the magazine, a signed copy of Lost Kingdoms was offered as a monthly sweepstakes reward.
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RUNE 2 Official Perfect Guide
Published by Enterbrain under the Famitsu brand, the RUNE 2 Official Perfect Guide is a strategy book for Lost Kingdoms II. It is separated into three sections of gameplay, stages, and creature/card data. Aside from being a strategy guide, the book also contains a short dialogue between Leod the 8th and three Kendarie soldiers.
Famitsu Goods
On the obi of the RUNE 2 Official Perfect Guide, a promotion for Lost Kingdoms II goods is present. The three items include the fairy plushes, a battery powered hand fan, and a poster.
RUNE 2 V Jump Official Strategy Book
Published by Shueisha under the V Jump brand, the RUNE 2 V Jump Official Strategy Book is a strategy book for Lost Kingdoms II, similar to the Official Perfect Guide. It is separated into three sections of gameplay, stages, and card and combo data, however some parts of the game are omitted. Aside from strategies, the book includes short comics, chibi-styled art of Tara, and two strange mascots in the form of Cardman 1 and 2.
A full scan of the book can be found here.
V Jump October 2002 Issue
V Jump hosted an illustration contest running from August 21st to September 4th. Inside the October 2002 V Jump issue there was a section with an empty card where participants could design their own card with a chance for it to be added to the game.[6]
Lost Kingdoms II Official Strategy Guide
Published by BradyGames, the Lost Kingdoms II Official Strategy Guide is an English strategy guide listed for sale in North America and Europe. The guide uniquely contains several 3D renders of Tara.
A full scan of the book can be found here.
Lost Kingdoms II Official Mini Guide
Published by BradyGames, there was also an Official Lost Kingdoms II Mini Guide which was sold in stores at the release of Lost Kingdoms II. It contains pages documenting cards found at the start of the game and a coupon for the main guide.
RUNE 2 Website Downloads
Free wallpapers and trailers were available in the official RUNE 2 section on From Software's website. Most everything is intact, including all the promotional videos available on the site.
From Software e-Postcards
From Software previously had a small section on its website to send e-postcards to an email address. There are two RUNE II themed e-postcards, with the one archived e-postcard reusing an illustration from the RUNE II website downloads. The other e-postcard, titled rune2.jpg is not saved.
Tara Grimface Christmas Cake
In the December of 2002, From Software sent Christmas cakes adorned with a drawing of Tara in a Santa outfit to several Japanese gaming news sites.[7]
Rune 2 Desktop Theme
There are various From Software game themes available from the From Software website[8], one of which being Rune 2 which you can download yourself here.