So, I went out today, checking some of my usual - and unusual - haunts for old video game crap. Here's what I found:
Mario Teaches Typing 2 - PC CDROM. It's a little scratched up - I want to give it a clean before I try running it. $4.
Super Mario Bros. The Move Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Holy Geesh... and you thought the movie was bad. $6.
Namco Museum 50th Anniversary Edition, GameCube. Why do I keep buying Namco Museums? I have two for the GameCube, one for the Wii (and I keep eyeing the other one every time I see it), one for the GBA and one for the DS... Anyway, $6
Scrabble "email games". It's apparently a version of Scrabble that you play via e-mail. Here are the system requirements:
Operating System: Windows 95/98
Processor: Pentium 90 MHz
Memory: 16 MB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 3 MB Free
CD-ROM Drive: 4x CD-ROM Drive
Monitor: 2 MB SVGA
Sound: Windows 95/98 Compatible
Modem: 28,800 Baud
Internet: internet connection
Email - Windows 95/98-based email account that uses
file attachmentsI was concerned about that last requirement until I realized that my computer doesn't have a 28,800 baud modem, so I'm out of luck.
Seriously, though, I haven't installed it just yet, but I don't think it's going to work. The user license says:
You are entitled to use this CD-ROM as many times as you like until October 1, 2000. In using this CD-ROM, you will need to use the Internet in order to access computer servers maintained by Hasbro Interactive or its agents. You acknowledge that Hasbro Interactive is not responsible for ensuring that such servers are operational at all times. Hasbro Interactive is committed to maintaining servers for this product until October 1, 2000. After such date, servers necessary for use of this product may no loner be maintained.
I can't say for sure when this game was released, though I did find
this article from March 1999 talking about it.
There's also the ominous warning in fine print on the Em@il Games boxes: "Hasbro is committed to maintaining servers for this product until October 1, 2000." But Hasbro's Megill says gamers shouldn't be put off by the legalese: "If anything, were going to expand our support [for Em@il games] rather than getting rid of it."
For anyone wondering, Hasbro Interactive ceased to exist Jan 29th, 2001.
$1.
And, last, but not least, I got my wife's Valentine's Day present - $4.