Completely off the topic of food: Classic Video Game stores

Hi guys,

I know this is completely off the topic of food, but where else can I find a perfect set of information sources throughout the Chicagoland area...


So, my friends (who are trying to hoard places) tll me that there are video game stores that sell classic video games... Not the new Playstation, GameCube, XBox games that you find at EBGames, and GameStop. But the classic used ones like Nintendo NES, Sega Saturn, etc...

Anyone has any ideas? I heard that there was one in Rockford, and one in Naperville. Any help would be appreciated. Especially if I can get up there and buy everything that my friends had wanted... Mu..wah-ha-haha!

Have you tried on-line sources like ... Ebay, Amazon, Half.com ...

I collect old time radio and TV programs and there is not that much unterest in them for anyone to actually have a store. However, a lot of people sell niche products like those on the various websites as there is little overhead - the cost of a digital camera, postage, envelopes, and a little bit of elbow grease and time.

CrazyC,

eBay or flea markets are going to be your best bet.

Best,
Michael

Hey CrazyC,

I remember seeing something along these lines when G4 was the great TechTV (talk about once-great cable networks that are now pretty useless...). But it's hard to be sure that the storefronts they reported on a few years ago are still open.

Your best bet might be to go to Usenet (Google Groups is fine if you don't have a newsreader) and search rec.games.video.classic (a former hangout of mine).

If you're up for classic gaming on modern systems, note that on the console side the Dreamcast has a ton of emulators, and certain models of the PSP can also run many of them if you're more into the handheld scene -- also, there's a developing homebrew scene for the Nintendo DS, though you have to buy a custom memory card. The site www.dcemu.co.uk will get you started.

Edit: It actually took more searching Google than I expected, but the spot in Rockford turned up eventually. Try a few classic console names and then add the name of the city. I'm still not actually sure they have a storefront, but the number's there too -- if your friends are going there, he must at least be open by appointment.

If you want to rent, rather than buy, http://www.gamelender.com offers online rental of a ton of games for NES, SNES, Genesis, Dreamcast, and N64.

You can also find old NES/SNES games at maxwell street market, although whether they work or not is always in question. The people selling those might be able to find saturn games for you if you request 'em.