Which 16-bit games did you buy at retail?

[Armoured Priest]

I would rather it not be true believe me. But after a few days I broke down and bought it. I just couldn't resist a new Phantasy Star. I believe the only other Genesis game that expensive was Virtua racing which I wasn't gonna buy when I had the superior 32 X version. I can remember 6 months or so later seeing it marked down to 80.00. But alas I have no picture proof of the receipt. I bought it at Toys R Us. I could always take a picture of my game I supose. It was advertised in game magazines back in the day of being 100 dollars if that's any proof. In my opinion it was worth it.

I suppose in the interest of full disclosure, technically my copy of Phantasy Star IV was 'used.' There was a small, independent rental place in the small city where I was living. They got in Phantasy Star IV, I rented it twice and then talked them into letting me purchase the rental copy. They allowed it because I was the only person who had ever rented it in a 2 month period (it just sat there the rest of the time). So I got it for a minor discount. They charged $80, and the two rental fees of 4 dollars for two days twice. So, $88 + tax. At this point, at this rental place, Genesis games weren't really renting any more. They got rid of their Genesis games a few months later. Because I was the only person to play this copy of the game, I consider it bought as new in my mind.

[NostalgicMachine]

Jesus, some old timers up in this!

I was 9 years old in 1995. To the best of my knowledge, I didn't buy any games during the 16-bit era; anything I had was either a Birthday, Christmas or a "good grades" gift. I only really started buying games at retail once the 32/64-bit era started. I guess I did save up some money to get Pokemon Blue when it was released, but that's about the only one I can think of off the top of my head.

I turned 7 in January 1995

I'm with you on this one; the only time I purchased games at retail was with birthday money, otherwise they were gifts.

I remember getting Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers for my seventh birthday, along with Power Rangers. I also remember buying The Lion King with my birthday money at SEARS. For Christmas '95, I received Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat 3 for the Genesis (already had II).

So I guess my snags of the time were:

Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
Power Rangers
The Lion King
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat 3

I couldn't even BEGIN to tell you how many different Genesis games I was renting at the time, though!

[sheath]

I started mowing a rather large lawn when I was eleven and used that money to buy my gaming stuff. I still couldn't afford more than a few games a year and depended on my birthday and Christmas for another two games.

For the Genesis I ended up owning:
Altered Beast
Revenge of Shinobi
Golden Axe
Forgotten Worlds
Last Battle
World Championship Soccer
Shadow Dancer
Strider
Super Monaco GP
Target Earth
Thunder Force III
Whip Rush
Golden Axe II
Hard Drivin'
Phantasy Star III
Populous
Shining in the Darkness
Streets of Rage
ToeJam & Earl
Kid Chameleon
Sonic 2
Taz-Mania
TMNT: Hyperstone Heist

From here I pretty much started renting Genesis games and favoring the Sega CD, but I pretty much played almost everything by borrowing it or renting it. Prior to that I did briefly own a TG16 along with:

TG16:
Bonk's Adventure
Keith Courage
Legendary Axe
Ninja Spirit
Pac-Land


Sega CD:
Black Hole Assault
Night Trap
Sewer Shark
Sherlock Holmes
Sol Feace
Batman Returns
Final Fight CD
Sonic CD
Lunar 2 Eternal Blue

I rented all of the other games I wanted to play for Sega CD too until more of the ones I wanted were heavily discounted. Then the 32X came along, but it isn't 16-bit so I won't digress.

[SEGA.GENESIS1989]

I was a wee little tike just entering highschool when I got my console! I've gotta admit ... I always experienced a sense of euphoria when I walked up to the counter and declared my willingness to purchase a game from "Game Boutique"! Game Boutique? Who was the retard that came up with that name for a game store! :P

Anyways ... these were the first titles I ever bought for the system ...

Altered Beast
Revenge of Shinobi
Golden Axe
Forgotten Worlds
Last Battle
World Championship Soccer
Mystic Defender
Budokan
Castle of Illusion
Strider
Tommy Lasorda Baseball
NFL '95

After I bought NFL '95 I was scolded to no end! And my spending spree ended with these 12 titles!

[sketch]

None; I didn't have money when the Genesis was current. I bought it when it was dying off and bought all my games used at Hollywood Video and Funcoland

The only retail games I bought in the early 90s were Lynx games...

[gamevet]

Game Boutique?

We had Electronics Boutique in the States.

[NeoZeedeater]

Electronics Boutique didn't come to Canada until around 1994 or 1995, I think. Most Gamestops in Canada still use the EB name today. Since Gamestop didn't exist here prior to the merger, I guess it was easier to keep the EB name.

I just remembered I also bought Sonic Spinball new at Toys R Us. That was such a disappointing purchase my mind was probably blanking it out.

[Thierry Henry]

None. Console gaming really didn't take off in a big way here until well into the life-span of the original Playstation. So the sporadic console support that we received prior to that played a big part in me not purchasing any 16 bit games at that time. The other factor was that I was mostly all into PC gaming back then. 16 bit console gaming hardly made a dent in my thoughts during that time.

[SEGA.GENESIS1989]

Electronics Boutique didn't come to Canada until around 1994 or 1995, I think. Most Gamestops in Canada still use the EB name today. Since Gamestop didn't exist here prior to the merger, I guess it was easier to keep the EB name.

I just remembered I also bought Sonic Spinball new at Toys R Us. That was such a disappointing purchase my mind was probably blanking it out.

Well this information was a bit of a revelation for me. I always picked up my games from the same location but assumed that it was always a Electronics Boutique store. I guess my memory is a bit faulty these days. After reading your comment, I was left scratching my head. I suppose I may be incorrect.

What I do know is that it was the only location I knew that sold a large selection of video games and that was in close promity to my home. I'd hop onto the bus and 15 minutes later I was in front of that mall! What I am sure of is that all my games were picked up from the same location! Something in the deep recesses of my memory does recall that the signage did change at one point (At least I think it did! ). As a goofy teenager, I don't think the name of the store mattered to me much! What mattered to me was that I could see a whole slew of games pn the shelves!

I definitely did pick up NFL '95 from the store when it was known as the Game Boutique! Now that I think about it, another title I obtained brand new was Ultimate Mortal Kombat! I'm looking at the box now and it was definitely purchased at a Game Boutique location! Looking at the store sticker, that sucker cost me $84.99! Shit! (That brings the total number of games to 13!)

Anyways, this information leaves me wondering what was the initial name of the game store prior to converting over to a Electronics Boutique franchise. I wonder if my fellow Torontonians will remember the location? Does anyone recall the name of the videogame store that was two stores down from the the food court? Was it possibly another albeit lesser known video game store franchise?

Here's hoping someone out there can help this old foggy out!

[Kollision]

None. Games were too expensive those days (for me at least).
I only started buying games with the PS2.

[NostalgicMachine]

Now that I think about it, another title I obtained brand new was Ultimate Mortal Kombat! I'm looking at the box now and it was definitely purchased at a Game Boutique location! Looking at the store sticker, that sucker cost me $84.99! Shit!

I remember Donkey Kong Country costing about $70 when it dropped, but holy SHIT!

[NeoZeedeater]

Well this information was a bit of a revelation for me. I always picked up my games from the same location but assumed that it was always a Electronics Boutique store. I guess my memory is a bit faulty these days. After reading your comment, I was left scratching my head. I suppose I may be incorrect.

According to wikipedia - "EB began its international expansion with the opening of three stores in Toronto in 1993."

I live in the Vancouver area and remember EB coming here shortly before the Saturn launch.

[SEGA.GENESIS1989]

NostalgicMachine, I was a little bit curious to see what I originally paid for NFL '95 ... Like UMK, I kept the originally packing intact around the card board box. Turning the box over, I discovered several sales stickers! Guess not many people were interested in NFL Football! :P

Lo and behold ... I was not entirely a reckless kid back in the day ... The sale price sticker says ... $5 bucks! Well, I can honestly say that I played the shit out of that one game and got my 5 dollars worth! :P

According to wikipedia - "EB began its international expansion with the opening of three stores in Toronto in 1993."

I live in the Vancouver area and remember EB coming here shortly before the Saturn launch.

I began purchasing games from that location right after I got the console on Christmas '89! I am pretty sure that your comment is accurate. But it still leaves me wondering what the location was originally called!

[MrSega]

Sega Genesis:
In 1993.


Sonic 2.
Mortal Kombat.
SF II: Special Championship Edition.
Eternal Champions.

In 1995.

Sega Channel.
X-MEN 2.



JVC X' Eye/SEGA CD/Mega CD


Both during Christmas 1993.
Prize Fighter.


Final Fight CD.



Super NES. Got for Christmas 1991.

Super Mario World.

TMNT IV. In January 1993.

Super Mario Kart. December 1992 for my 10th birthday.

Gradius III. May of 1993.

Mortal Kombat. September of '93.

[Tripredacus]

I bought a Sega Genesis with my first ever paycheck in 1997. It came with the Sega Classics 3 game pack (Sonic 1, 2 and MBM), Sonic 3 and Subterrania. I don't remember if I had bought any retail games for it. I remember more what Saturn games I bought at retail instead.