20 Things Only 30-Something Gamers Will Understand
3. There Was Life Before Computer Exchange
It's hard for the kids of today to imagine but pre-1992 it was hard to trade, buy or sell second-hand games.
Yes, there were a some stores keen to help kids part with their hard-earned tin such as Future Zone (later Electronics Boutique and now GAME), Adam's World and a whole bunch of indie shops like The Games Cavern, KC Consoles, Select Consoles, Software Superstore and Chips. Let's not mention the dodgy Sunday market stalls eh?
By this time the second-hand games market began to blossom and you could even try-before-you-buy which was great for cartridge and disc games and tedious for cassettes but it meant Saturday afternoons could be spent browsing shelves with mates and going a few rounds on Streets of Rage before splashing the cash.
It was hard graft getting business done back then but it felt more rewarding for it.
Nothing against Computer Exchange who did well to capitalise on this trend. Stepping inside one of their early stores felt like being inside a Laser Quest with the lights turned on. Exactly what proper gamers wanted - something that matched their lo-fi reality, run by like-minded people who were too busy to do the dusting or making shiny signs because they're too busy gaming.
Now it's all quite mainstream but luddites live in hope that the bubble will burst and trading video games will once again go underground.