N64 games on CD in the 90s?

I just got reminded today of an odd sighting I remember seeing in the 90s. I want to say about 1997. In one of my local malls was a store called Software Etc and another called Game Peddler. Mainly sold games as you can imagine. Both of them had what looked liked CD cases with a printed manual. It looked maybe like a color printer job or slightly better. Pilotwings and Super Mario 64 and they were being sold. I don't recall exact prices. They seemed to be N64 games burned to a CD. Any idea how this was possible and why a business would sell them? These stores aside from being in the same mall. Were not affiliated and one was on the 2nd floor and the other in the basement next to the food court and arcade. I was in both so much I didn't think much of it at the time but looking back. It seems really odd to me.

If I remember right, those stores would sell used cartridges but didn't want to put actual cartridges on the shelf, so they would use CD cases with a printout of the cover. The customer would take the case to the register, where it would be replaced by a cartridge.

That, or it was a piracy store, and those cds were for the copier unit Dr. V64.

Software Etc. was a large chain (they merged with Babbages and eventually became GameStop). I really doubt they were selling pirated discs, unless some rogue employees took the risk and hoped corporate didn't stop by.

I also don't remember Software Etc. selling used games, but maybe they did?

Or they might have had a theft problem with console games (they mostly stocked PC games) and kept the new N64 games behind the counter.

I don't think they typically did sell used games. It must have depended on the game. I know even in 196 I was buying new box Game Gear games from them out front but maybe because of Game Gear? I didn't have a PS1 that era so didn't buy those or an N64 til 99. Game Peddler had stores in every mall in the valley. Only place in town I remember having Saturn games in the late 90s.

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Originally Posted by Gryson

Software Etc. was a large chain (they merged with Babbages and eventually became GameStop). I really doubt they were selling pirated discs, unless some rogue employees took the risk and hoped corporate didn't stop by.

I also don't remember Software Etc. selling used games, but maybe they did?

Or they might have had a theft problem with console games (they mostly stocked PC games) and kept the new N64 games behind the counter.

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Software Etc. did experiment with some used titles for a year, but that didn’t last long. They did use CD cases with an N64 game image, instead of putting out the long boxes, because they were carrying titles for 3DO, Jaguar, PlayStation, Saturn, Snes, Genesis and CDi in 1996. Shelf space was pretty limited.

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Originally Posted by roce

That, or it was a piracy store, and those cds were for the copier unit Dr. V64.

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I never knew that device existed and I find it hilarious that it did. Nintendo tries for two generations to get a CD ROM on one of their consoles and never succeeds, then a third party comes along and builds one. From what I gather it wouldn't even have load times except right at the beginning.

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Originally Posted by gamevet

Software Etc. did experiment with some used titles for a year, but that didn’t last long. They did use CD cases with an N64 game image, instead of putting out the long boxes, because they were carrying titles for 3DO, Jaguar, PlayStation, Saturn, Snes, Genesis and CDi in 1996. Shelf space was pretty limited.

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This makes more sense. Game Peddlers were also really small. Like the size of my bedroom. 10x18 maybe. Maybe a little larger but they were small. Only had them in malls that were indoor. They did sell used games and possibly did that for the same reason. Side note it's where I first heard of the Darius series. They had that 13 inch TV with the fold-out speakers and G Darius. Man I miss that store. Hell, I just miss malls.

Outta reps tho.