VIDYA GAMEZ!!!!!!!

First off I'll say this, props to Funktastic, ChillyBilly and everybody else who collects or religiously collects games. One day I will (hopefully) be like you; gods of memorabilia.

Now in England, where I live anyway, it is very hard to come across anything retro related. So far within 50 miles I've found 2 (yes count em 2) niche shops that can serve my purposes. These are CEX (Computer Entertainment, you may have heard of them) and a random shop that's f****king shutting down in 6 weeks and I only found it today (called Games Booth). I honestly wish I had stores like you guys in the US for games.

But boy oh boy did I get a good deal today. As I've made a list of what I'm wanting to buy back, I've been looking around for deals and little niche shops like I said. These two delivered greatly. For just £25 I got;

N64
Doom 64 (£2) - ($3)
Super Mario 64 (£4) - ($6-7)
Lylat Wars (never played, I can't wait!!) (£2) - ($3)



SNES
Mario All Stars (5, flipping, pounds = win) (£5-$8)
For anyone who doesn't know, this is Super Mario Brothers 1,2,3 and Lost Levels.

PS2
Max Payne (£1.50)
Jak and Daxter: The Precursors Legacy (£2.50)
Jak and Daxter 2: Renegade (£3.50)

Sonic Gem's Collection (£5)
This is Sonic CD, Sonic The Fighters, Sonic R, Sonic 2 (already have that on the Mega Collection), Sonic Spinball, Triple Trouble, Sonic Drift 2, Tails Skypatrol and Tails Adventures.

Along with the Sonic Mega Collection I already own; Sonic 1,2 and 3, Sonic and Knuckles, Sonic 3D Flickies Island, Dr Robotniks Mean Bean Machine, Game Gear's Sonic 1 (there's a difference), Sonic Chaos, Sonic Drift 1, Sonic Labyrinth, Game Gear's Mean Bean (different), Sonic Blast. That's just pure awesome sauce on a disc for me :]

All that, for TWENTY FIVE POUNDS ($40). Amazing. That is well worth my money. 19 games, at just over a pound on average.

A How To

When I go into games stores or any stores for that matter, I tend to be polite, ask the right questions etc. Before ChillyBilly mentioned his great game collecting blog I followed these mental guidelines anyway. If anyway doesn't, get started and follow his advice :)

It seriously pays off. On Sunday, my Dreamcast arrived (hallelujah indeed), hand delivered from the seller (what a nice, courteous man he was) and I've been looking for Trickstyle, Shenmue 1 & 2, Toy Commander, Crazy Taxi, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing and Sonic Adventures 1 & 2 in stores.



As the guy I am I was nice to the clerks (proper gamers themselves) and;

1) I got lowered prices
2) The man in CEX directed me to TWO shops that sell Dreamcast games, because I asked politely, and he could tell I knew my shit :) I also asked if I could replace the damaged Jak 2 case and he said "of course you can mate", now that's proper service and treatment of customers :)

*Sad face*

The only, only, only downside of the day was having to pass up buying Shadow of The Colossus. The lovely designed exterior was ripped on the front as well as having a tear on the spine. But inside was perfect. It was £25 (the same as all the games put together (which seems a lot, I don't know)).

UK dwellers

On a side note, if anyone in the UK can offer places that are great for retro games, old systems, anything that isn't just your normal Game/Gamestation. The equivalent of Goodwill, Target from the US, but in the UK. Needs to be a shop, not online (as obviously Amazon/eBay can satisfy that part)

So on that note, I have only dipped my toe into the start of the massive sea that is collecting games, and I want MOAR!!!!


Jim Sterling's past still haunts him to this very day