Forum Overview :: Gamerasutra

EB and Software Etc. in the mall, Babbages attached to the B&N by across the street 03/16/2026, 8:26pm PDT The kids working at Software Etc in '97 were my age or younger--early 20s. One had extensive ink and made questionable facial hair decisions. He was the go-to for anything related to adventure/horror/rpg/strategy. The other kid was...average. Average height, average build, average personality, average face. But he was autistically encyclopedic about sports and racing games. The manager was the old man with a tie and square-rim glasses. Ancient, wizened. Probably 28-32. He saw me looking at the shoebox sized packaging for Fallout. Asked me if I'd played Wasteland. I bought EVERYTHING from that store except: Pre-ordered my Dreamcast at the B&N/Babbages because of whatever bundle they were offering. I think it included Shenmue. Which, at the time, made you feel the way Dragon Slayer made you feel back when Dragon Slayer made you feel like you had just stepped bodily into the goddamn AD&motherfuckingD cartoon, ready to fire that laser bow and hilariously miscast some spells. I also first saw the Tribes 2 and Homeworld demoed there since I couldn't leave the bookstore without stopping by the software store for just a sec.

The Gamestop near my home town finally shut down by sad?? 03/16/2026, 10:54am PDT     So many great times. YES by GenX Gamer here 03/16/2026, 12:00pm PDT     I remember going to Babbages to buy Starflight 2, & years later Phantasy Star 4 by Mischief Maker 03/16/2026, 4:24pm PDT     EB and Software Etc. in the mall, Babbages attached to the B&N by across the street 03/16/2026, 8:26pm PDT     Egghead Software! by E. L. Koba 03/17/2026, 10:58am PDT         Lol Wing Commander II by laudablepuss 03/17/2026, 3:02pm PDT             Re: Lol Wing Commander II by E. L. Koba Yesterday, 4:16pm PDT     I'll always have a soft spot for Fry's electronics by blackwater 03/18/2026, 12:34pm PDT         Their customer service was great. by What are you comparing them to? 03/18/2026, 2:42pm PDT             OK, they might have had better service than Gamestop or Radioshack by blackwater 03/18/2026, 3:16pm PDT                 I want ALL the ISA slots. by ISA Boy 03/18/2026, 10:37pm PDT                     This guy is in search (of) a boy. Let us laugh at him. NT by Gary 03/19/2026, 6:49am PDT                     33 megahertz BUTTS NT by laudablepuss 03/19/2026, 9:34am PDT                         66 MHZ by Mysterio 03/19/2026, 9:49pm PDT