Continuing the tradition of people getting really drunk and then waking up in the morning half-nak... err I mean getting drunk and then going garage saling instead of going to bed, I am proud to present...

"Loo coo coo coo coo coo coo!!!"
Craig: "Loo coo coo coo coo coo coo..."

Good day, eh. This is Great White North. I'm Ben Sloat, this is my cousin Craig. He's joining me live via Satellite from Shanghai.

This week didn't show near the promise of last week, so I was left thinking I was wasting my time, and more than once pondered not going out at all. That said, welcome to Week Six, falling on the weekend of July 24th, 2004.

BAM! Now that adds some kick. Where were these carts last week?

After a couple of mediocre garage sales, I stumbled upon a neighbourhood sale that wasn't supposed to be up and around yet. So I stopped at a few and found this little gem. Mortal Kombat 2 anyone? Earthworm Jim? Classic stuff. And you can't have a Genesis score without the obligatory sports games.

Craig: UUUGHH! More sports games. Maybe that is the whole reason why I never owned my own Genesis...

Since the hardwood floor wasn't voted off last week and because the bed covers are all snobby about the attention they aren't getting, the floor makes its triumphant return.

Looks like a good collection of various genres. You have your basic puzzler in Columns, then your platformers, the generic Aaah! Real Monsters and the slick Earthworm Jim. Then there's the sports genre, some NHL '97 and Summer Challenge (Olympics Game from Accolade), finishing with the best for last, the Arcade smash Mortal Kombat 2. Works for me.

Craig: Ben don't hit me but I have never played MK 2. I did have plenty of chances to get to try it just never interested me enough. Now Earthworm Jim is a great find I just love that game, it was an instant classic.

Hmm, a poor innocent little GameBoy Colour looking for a home, lets flip him over and see how much he's worth.

Craig: I just skipped right over the whole GameBoy Colour thing because I knew GBA was just around the corner.

Ummmm, no. Dennis the Menace probably never sold for that much new, much less when packed with a GBC.

Craig: This kid is crazy I could get the regular GBA with a games for that price (in China that is :D).

This was not boding well for the day, even with the early score of Genesis carts. $25? Perhaps if it had Dr. Mario or something. (snigger) Upon talking with the man running the sale, turned out he was selling the kids stuff and didn't really know the value of the thing. Tried to sound like he knew games though just to impress me.

Craig: Ahh! The typical parents selling their children's toys (goes and cries about his NES).

"You know that game where you are standing around buildings, then you go and cut down some grain and take it in. And that gets taken away, management type stuff."

Settlers, take me away...

Notice how they covertly hid this Tandy 1000 EX (circa 1981) under this poor defenseless Nintendo.

Craig: Tandy! My lost love where were you all this time! Well I'm not sure if I liked Tandy PCs THAT much but they were my first PCs.

I showed up at a general item garage sale and found all these computers and such piled over to the side. Eventually someone came over and told me the stuff wasn't for sale, that they run a computer recycling business out of the storage area there, so I couldn't poke through it too much. Imagine a wine box half full with various types of sticks of RAM. That and a rather thick manual and box for MSDOS pre-5.0.

Craig: That NES looks in rough shape, I wonder who would treat it so bad!

This garage sale brought to you by the letter B. B, for when A or C just won't do.

Here are some forgettable Playstation games. Not a fan of either really. Though A Bug's Life might have been interesting. Haven't read anything good or bad about it. Moving on.

Craig: You couldn't pay me in pizza to play either of these two titles.

Finally, someone witha realistic price on six year old hardware. Or in this case three year old. Same difference.

Now this is too good to be true. And what do we know about such things. Better talk to the owner.

I was taking pictures of this when he came charging up on me. Wanted to know why I was taking pictures and such. I talked with him about what I do and he asked about the website. First time I've been able to plug the site in this manner. I feel special or something.

Upon talking with the owner about the PSOne I found out various things. Firstly, "It's a little wonky." and secondly "We actually dropped it once which is why it became that way and why we're only charging this much money." At least he's being honest, can't fault him for that. Can't remember what game it came with. For some reason Wipeout Stage II comes to mind.

Craig: Doh! You don't try to sell something for any price and tell people you dropped it, but for five bucks we could use it for the next Canada Day! The controller and memory card got to be worth something.

Yes, that's my shoe again. You'd think I'd get better at keeping my various appendages out of the shot.

I guess this Jeff Rovin guy thinks he's some kind of superstar. Writing both fiction and non-fiction books. At least his hint book works with Bayou Billy. That's a must. I was mildly interested in the Mortal Kombat book but didn't bother picking it up, as I was flat broke after grabbing the Genesis carts.

Craig: I remember those 'how to win' books, never picked one of them up though and the only video game books I ever liked were Resident Evil. All seven books are awesome!

Hmmm, do I want a Tucker or a Caboose GameBoy? (don't get it? go to Red vs. Blue now you foolish human)

Now here are more reasonable prices for your run of the mill GameBoys. Too bad I'm broke. Did I mention the broke part. It'll come up again later. Trust me.

Craig: Now that's a deal for GBCs, I'd pick them up just for collection purposes (sounds like something a Pokemon fan would say).

You can't see it as the sun is in my shot, but that price tag says $10. $10!!!

I don't have $10 why do you torture me??

Craig: Forgot how ugly the GameGear was...

Ah well I didn't need Sonic 2 or Major Pro Baseball in my pocket anyways. *sobs*

This just about made and ruined my day all in one feel swoop. A GameGear complete with carrying case and a couple of games. For only $10. Did I mention the $10 I don't have part.

Craig: Ouch! Too bad I wasn't there to help pick it up for us... damn what a find at a great price too!

No, that's not my shoe up there. I'm not that agile. *chokes back another sob*

Wandering across the street like a sulking sack of crap, I found this little guy. If I didn't already have a couple of him I might have given him a home. Oh yeah and if I had had any money. *bursts out crying again*

I need to pause and regroup. I'll give you a topic. Earthworm Jim neither looks like an earthworm or anyone named Jim. Discuss.

Craig: What do you mean he's nothing like a worm?

Ben: I'd rather not talk about it! Big human shaped armor clad worms are evil! *sobs in his cereal*

Perhaps if junior will stop hovering for five minutes, he'll actually sell some of this crap.

Someone on this street had advertised an "XBOX games" sale but not much showing up over here. Although I can't really say anything bad about Unreal Championship, the whole series has been as classic as you can get. Solidly frustrating "where's my God mode" gameplay.

Craig: Meh! I'd never pick it up for 20 bucks, maybe two or three bucks is more my limit and the kid has to go and ruin the case but putting masking tape on it. >_<

He was still sitting there when I took this picture as well. Just won't move one inch. I wonder if he ended up selling anything.

This area showed a few more things but not much promising stuff. Again I can't say much about any of this as the titles are all quality games on their big brother counterparts's systems. Though I hear Perfect Dark is perfectly forgettable. See what I did there? Nice, eh?

Craig: It's so forgetable that when you told me about it I thought you were a bit looney, maybe drunk even. All the rest of those games are real chit for the GBA.

Lots of pain and humiliation here. From Max Payne to Rugby which is just painful to State of Emergency which played just as painfully. But I digress.

This greeted me not too much further down the street. Swimming in games this week. So much for my predictions of a slow week.

Craig: Max Payne was an awesome game but I love the GBA version a lot more.

Ben: Sir, may you burn in hell for dissin' the better version of Max Payne. GBA version?? I've seen it. Its no Max Payne.

This greeted me on the other side. Like a mirror image I am greeted with the same kind of pain. Old PC games.

Oh well, was worth checking out. Haven't played Dark Forces since I was in high school (which wasn't too long ago, shh... don't tell anyone) Will have to keep moving and see if I can find that Xbox garage sale.

Craig: NHL '98 should be only a dollar, Dark Forces looks at about the right price and that controller looks like its worth picking up.

Ben: I actually picked up a Gravis ($3) myself last year when I grabbed a copy of Neverwinter Nights for $2. It never worked right. Can't trust joysticks put out at garage sales period. Exclaimation point!

Hmm... DVD Ripper. Seems someone has become disenchanted with the whole"DVD backup" business.

If this keeps up I'll have found a copy of EA's NHL for every year of the franchise. Yes, that is a copy of Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit over there. No, I didn't buy any of this. Remember with the nada and the zilch and the zero with the money, heh?

Craig: That NFS looks like a deal but only if I could get it for a buck. More sports junk eh? I really wonder how much EA makes every year off of little kids who buy NHL and Madden.

Now this is what I call... a PSOne with no memory cards? At least the price is right.

Much like last week, this week shows me two Playstations. Just so happens this week that they're more reasonably priced. $15 is about what I'd pay for it. Maybe $20 if I was feeling generous. (Note to self: Self, never be generous.)

Craig: I liked the five buck one better but it still doesn't have the classic feel like the original PSX.

Ben: They sell the classic PSX in the local video game rental hole in the ground for $40! I kid you not.

Now it just doesn't get any more retro than this. Should buy a Xbox just so I can play Pac-Man. Novel idea, no?

Here I found about 8-12 Xbox games all for sale. While I know these are compilation games, $20 still seems steep for a trip down memory lane. Then again, I have been known to pay $30 for a Sega Genesis and two games. No I'm not insane, I'm a collector. It's my "Get out of Asylum" free card.

Craig: Prince for only $25? That's pretty good, and I really want a copy of Midway Arcade Treasures.

What is it with garage sales and StarChoice satellite dishes? Must be karma.

I guess this is a good way to end this week. Broke and out of funds, I look at someone else who let their need for digital picture and sound make them just as broke as I am. Such is life. Time to move on until next week.

Craig: Yeah, like I said last time StarChoice is not any choice heh heh heh.

Ahem. What's that? No beer this week? That's because you kiddies are in for a treat. Since the week following this one sucked enough that it was really short for pictures, you get to see two weeks for the price of one! I cannot tell a lie! Read on!

What better way to kick off a bonus week than finding something I should have bought but didn't.

While some may see this as useless even with the Great White North tie-in, I do in fact have a vinyl record player. So what's useless now? Me of course! The Mario curse strikes!! I went around checking out other garage sales and by the time I made my way back to this sale, it was gone. You just know I'll never find this album again. Ever.

Craig: NOO! You idiot! Why didn't you swipe this baby up???

Ben: Shuddup ya hoser. Take off, eh...

Some people may feel the answer to the meaning of life is '42'. I myself know the truth. The true meaning of life revolves around how many shots of $50 computers (doorstops) you can fit into one drunksaling outting/article.

This is one such computer. And I think its safe to say there's nothing worthwhile in that denim carrying case either. Well maybe there's some power cables or something. I was too disheartened to take a look myself.

Craig: Yup, another doorstop but I liked the last one better. This one looks like it has been in a fire. Look at those VHSs over there? Did you know in China you could never buy a VCR?! (shocking, I know)

Maybe I jumped the gun here. Perhaps the true meaning of life is buried in the digital picture and sound of a StarChoice satellite dish! Why is there a number 42 writen on the bottom of this dish?

I just can't seem to go out for a weekend of drunksaling without finding one of these things now. It verily threatens to become the new "kitchen sink" of garage sales. If not that then at least "wooden sled".

Craig: Hmm, I really wonder what pissed all these Stratford owners off to stop using their Star Choice, Ben any thoughts?

Ben: I actually have a StarChoice dish hanging off the front of MY house, left by the previous owner. No doubt in a fit of digital bliss they decided they didn't need it when they moved out? I can't really explain the whole phenomenon.

If you zoom in on the price, this beast went for the monster price of $109 at K-mart. Oh and there's no cartridge. Just a bonus offer for NHL '94. Hands up anyone that played this? *puts his hand up, since he owns two copies of this particular cart*

Craig: LOL no game, free game heh heh. Must of been one of those Japanese translation mistakes eh? The box is in almost mint condition too, wish I was there to pick it up.

Ben: When I picked up my own Genesis last year I got a mint condition Sonic 2 box. So quit yer bitchin'. *grin*

This person had high hopes. I've seen systems go for less than this. And bought games for about that price. So I figured a talking down was in order. Prepare to be schooled.

Craig: Definitly too high of a price for the 64 but the games could use a home...

Now there's back story to this, so let me draw it all out for you. Show you what I scored and how it all came down. So I get to this garage sale. There had been a threat of rain which had killed most of the interest in people hosting garage sales. And those that stayed had tents to put their stuff in. This one had a small tent. I'm talking crowded for 6 people. Without all the tables and boxes for books. On the left there were these...

I know what you're thinking. How did we get from N64 to Genesis?

I grabbed these first, including games like Stargate, Batman Returns, Dinosaurs for Hire (those of the older set might remember the comic book back in the day), Jammin' (some random basketball game), NHL '93 (I now have '93 thru '97) and a 32X version of Space Harrier. After also grabbing a few others I already had as well that I could sell on Ebay, I then wandered over to the N64 and found these games.

Craig: WOOAH! Space Harrier! How did you keep your cool when buying it for only seven bucks?

Ben: The Space Harrier only cost me $1.33 actually. $8 for all six Genesis carts. Shhhh, I'm telling a story. *grin*

Now this is more like it. Classic stuff for the N64. Zelda, Starfox and Perfect Dark. And now... the rest of the story.

Seeing these games, plus a few others (namely a couple of Star Wars games and a Diddy Kong Racing) I turn back to the other table to drop the Genesis duplicates. Then suddenly a woman swoops in outta nowhere on the N64. She fiddles with all the contents of the box. Then she walks away. I was worried she'd take the whole ball of wax but she just ended up taking Diddy. So I got away more or less unscathed. Though I probably would have grabbed the Diddy if she hadn't.

Craig: You're lucky that girl did not run off with the Space Harrier or PD. Both games are well worth the money IMO.

Root Beer works in a pinch right? Right??

Okay, I wussed out this week. It was a lousy day, and A&W was calling my name. Plus I now like visiting places Craig doesn't have over there in China. Just so I can rub it in a bit and perhaps speed his return to the Great White North.

Craig: Just looking at that A&W pictures makes me hungry, MMMM root beer (haven't had root beer for 2 years now.)

Anyways, I told you the second week was short and sweet. Overall many good scores to be found. If this keeps up I'll be a regular at the food bank as well as at the garage sales.

Find of the Week(s): Hands down, Nintendo carts. They are classic and hard to find here in my neck of the woods. It rates about five Genesis games for everyone one Nintendo I find. Week three not withstanding.

Score of the Week(s): I just about increased my Genesis collection by another 1/3 or so. Six one week and five the next is just too powerful to ignore.

Lesson for the Week: He who hesitates is lost. He who simply doesn't bother to buy stuff he'd probably use, is stupid.