Just to let you know, this has very little to do with my collection. I just want to show you what I have bought that was never online, because the fact is that I rarely get retro gaming stuff that isn't on the internet. Usually it is because of travel, because the fact is that I'm 16 and the places I go are mostly biking distance unless my parents want to go to the same place too. As well as the difficulty of actually finding games themselves. Continue reading to find out more...



[img width=480 height=640]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/collections/gamepopper101/DSC00063.JPG[/img]

This was the storage shelf I showed in my blog entry "New Storage". Out of the 38 gaming stuff (including the Master System Converter) on this shelf alone, 12 were not bought from the internet, 6 were acquired from biking distance away. However this picture is now outdated, so now out of the 40 games on my shelf, 13 were not bought on the internet, 7 acquired from biking distance. That's around 32%, to you that may be a good percentage but I bet you know people on this site with huge collections (frood42, also from UK, comes to mind), with more than 80% (or 90%) not gotten from the internet.

That is the problem with me, I barely know places that sell retro games. My Local Gamestation used to quite frequently (I saw a Mega CD for the first time in that shop around 2 years before I bought mine) but if you know the gaming news, because of sales they have trimmed a bit on that one. My Local Blockbuster had a basket tray full of Mega Drive, Game Gear, SNES and Atari 2600 games until they were cleared out a year ago. So really, I don't have that much benefit most avid collectors have.

But when the opportunity arrives, I do get great offers (well, most of the time) and that's what I'll show you.

• Micro Machines 2 and Olympic Summer Games: these two I bougt for 2 each at my Local Blockbuster when they still had a retro section. I could've gotten more but there was no warning when the stock was cleared, they had Shaq Fu there but I wasn't interested. ()
• Sega Megadrive Boxed Console with Ecco the Dolphin:
  [img width=500 height=375]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3276753451_ebc32d1fa8.jpg?v=0[/img]
  I have mentioned this before, but the only people who I've told the story how I got these two for free were my parents and my best friend Seb who was there at the time, until now.
  
  The story goes was that me and my friend were at a small retro gaming event called Retro Fusion '08 in August. We were there both days but on the Sunday, after a raffle, one of the winners didn't like his prize and got a bundle of music CDs instead. We were about to be picked up by my mom until I brought up the subject about the MAME cabinets they had, and I would like one in the future. She encouraged me to go back in to talk to the host of the event (Chris) who provided one for the raffle to find where I could get one. I went up to Chris, who had the Megadrive on a table behind him, and the conversation went like this.
  
  Tim: "Excuse me, Chris. I was wondering.."
  Chris: "Do you want this?(pointing to the Megadrive)"
  Tim: "(Confused) Um...How much is it?"
  Chris: "No no no. Do you WANT it?"
  Tim: (Frozen at this point because I didn't follow what he was asking)
  Chris: "Look (he picked up the Megadrive and placed it in my arms and was then looking through a pile of games, then put Ecco the Dolphin on top of the Megadrive) Here you go."
  Tim: "(after regaining my composure) um...Thanks!"
  Chris: "You're welcome"
  If you find that hard to believe, I don't blame you, when I spotted Seb walking towards me (I think he was looking for something) I said to him "I think I'm dreaming", I said the exact same thing to my Mom who was waiting next to the car. Apparently the Megadrive was the prize that one of the raffle winners didn't like and got the CDs instead, and Chris didn't need it. So glad I didn't leave immediately.
• Junk Shop purchases: All 1: Just recently I went to a Junk Shop twice, my parents go there to grab some bargains when they get the chance and I thought I might have a look. On the first time, I got four CIB Master System games
  [img width=375 height=500]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3351/3519006718_ef5b2331ff.jpg?v=0[/img]
  I just found these in random places on one of the shelves, when I found out that all games costed 1 each I thought "Lucky". Sonic 1 Master System was there but there was no game, just box and manual.
  
  The second time was a lot better in my opinion.
  [img width=500 height=375]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3518989142_5f4ec583c7.jpg?v=0[/img]
  If you have heard of this game then I would be surprised because I had no clue this game existed. When I spotted this, an 18 year old was looking at it before chucking it into a pile of board games (yeah, how dare he! lol). This was a way better offer, since a sticker indicated that this was purchased for 5 and there was a receipt inside dating back to 1994 stating that this game was bought new for 40!
  
  [img width=500 height=375]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3518177727_8f43b83c61.jpg?v=0[/img]
  I found this in the same pile and again, I had no clue about this game. This had a sticker with 17.50 and when I looked on eBay the same game was being sold for 40 (I think) however that one also had a map I believe.
  
  [img width=500 height=375]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3518177485_3905c73562.jpg?v=0[/img]
  Now this one I have heard about. You have no idea how hard it is to find a Mega Drive game there which is CIB, because this was the only one that had the cart! Not to mention this was hidden in a box full of VHS tapes!
• [img width=375 height=500]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3388/3338492884_8dcdf7ab83.jpg?v=0[/img]
  All these I have shown in a previous blog, they were from another gaming event called Byte Back.
  
  Gunstar Heroes 15: I have no idea how rare this game is. I thought I was being ripped off until I found copies on ebay in the same CIB condition for over 30.
  
  Sonic Spinball 3: My only problem with this one was that some idiot put the price stickers ON THE INSIDE COVER OF THE BOX. That was so annoying, I tried to remove it and clean of the sticky mess but I think I discoloured the corner of the box. it was also clever to use a black marker pen to cross out the barcode instead of covering it!
  
  Sonic 2 2: I'm amazed at the condition, another friend of mine has the same game but his manual is in such bad shape so HA!
  
  Micromachines 96 3: Same as Sonic 2, amazingly great condition!
• Lethal Enforcers 25:
  [img width=500 height=375]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3383/3338492550_daa60cd594.jpg?v=0[/img]
  Yeah, this was my bad one. Seeing as how this one came without a manual and I could get it complete in better condition for 15 online.

I do know there is a regular Car Boot Sale that happens at a Rugby Club every Sunday starting at 6am. My parents never have the time so they can't take me, I could go by myself but here's the thing. How old were you when you first woke up before 6am on a weekend?

I guess I'll try when the holidays come and if I have any luck I'll mention it in another entry.

I apologies for making you read this long but you can see what luck can happen if you don't use the internet as your only option.

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