I was up in Orlando (technically Kissimmee) this past weekend and visited a little mom-and-pop called Game World. After browsing the store and walking out with a few Genesis games including the clone-tastic Socket: Time Dominator, I have to ask the rest of the country... what the fuck is your problem?
Where are the retro shops? Are people allergic to them? I have a Console Game Exchange and a Play N Trade near my home, but you are lucky if they even dedicate a whole glass cabinet to Game Boy games. The big push is towards the current or previous-generation consoles, essentially pissing all over the past three decades of the hobby. Leave that shit to GameStop. When I go to a retro shop, I want to see walls brimming with gray paks and black cartridges. I expect the staff to understand that it's important to have the damn case for some of these games.
Game World blew my mind. It has everything. It respects the classics. Praise the Lord, the staff will shave a few bucks off a purchase for no reason other than, "Hey, I like you! Lemme give you a break today!" Is there anyone around here with the balls to open a retro shop and blow the fuckin' roof off? Do I need to take out a small business loan and start one up myself?
In other news, a few days ago our perpetual fail machine michiyoyoshiku announced that he was leaving for good. He threatens to leave Destructoid all the time. Just like before, he'll come crawling back eventually as much as we wish he would just stop. He's currently holed up at Blogger.com, making post after post describing how crappy Destructoid is, speaking to an audience that isn't there. He'll be back for the attention. As such, I am instituting:
MICHI WATCH '09!
Technically, this is the second day of the watch seeing as how he left on the sixth. If we are lucky, he'll stay true to his word. Maybe. I doubt it.
Unfortunately, it would appear that a number of clown college dropouts have decided to pick up the slack in michi's absence. I failed nine blogs today. I hypothesize that michi's posts were just so bad that everyone else's seemed brilliant in comparison.
We have a fairly long-running store by me called Noble Collectibles, which is a comic, tabletop, and gaming store, and they do decently with the retro stuff, but they tend to overprice like crazy. If you want some 1995 sports game, though, you can definitely find about seven copies there. They could do with a little competition, but I'm glad they're still around. All the others have gone.
I miss the days when I could walk into some independent video rental store and pick up something awesome like Xexyz for two dollars.
Not a store dedicated to retro games, but I think my Cash Converters gets the job done . . . ^_^ Also, I clicked on Michi's other blog thing, lol, ALL of his posts have ZERO comments, lawl! =D
I'm guessing since you said Orlando and Kissimmee, Daytona might be a bit outta the way, but the Daytona Flea Market has a few used game stores in it that offer games all the way back to the NES.
Retro games aren't extreme enough for today's crowd, man. People probably have fears of opening a store dedicated to the old school, and not getting a profit from it. But not Game World apparently, so those people have my respect.
Also, I hope you do open your own store, I would so buy something from you.
Oh, and some pretty fappin' recaps in here as well, nice.
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Follow
RSS
Contact
Also, Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters From Beverly Hills.
Good job baby cakes <3
I miss the days when I could walk into some independent video rental store and pick up something awesome like Xexyz for two dollars.
Thanks as always for the work!
FAP THEM 'CAPS!
Also, I hope you do open your own store, I would so buy something from you.
Oh, and some pretty fappin' recaps in here as well, nice.
So funny...it doesn't need a caption.