There was a PC Gamer Magazine dated June-July 2000 that had at least 10 FULL FREE GAMES from the mid 80s- early-mid 90s period. Among those were Wing Commander, Ultima Underworld and Secret of Monkey Island. There really was something special about games then.
I loved the hell out of Epic Megagames back in the day. I'll never forget when my friend's brother brought copies of One Must Fall and Jazz Jackrabbit home from college after playing the shareware ones to death. It was like Christmas. I was so insanely happy. More catalogs!
Outlaws is the game that drove me to build an 8 machine LAN setup in my father-in-law's basement. Their whole family used to play LAN games of Outlaws together growing up, and he wanted to relive it. Such a solid shooter, especially for it's time.
I remember downloading Rise of the Triad demo because I didn't have the cash for the full game. Looking back, the long distance charge for the modem call cost more than if I had bought the game.
This video is like an anti-alarm clock. It'll put you to sleep, but in a great way. It just feels so safe and warm to listen to LGR drone on about PC game catalogues that if you're drowsy it's like having a sedative pleasantly drip into your ears. Nice video, helped me reach new levels of relaxation that I never knew I wanted to reach in the first place. Such a nice, slow listen that reminded me of old catalogues and like a classic lullaby lulled me to sleep. So, so comfortably numb, great work.
We totally need more LGR and game catalogs. It's just fun looking back at old things, especially for those who remember it. You're totally worth watching each day, if you had a daily video. Just makes the day complete, new LGR video and get some general insight from you.
Not a loser thing - I freaking loved catalogs as a kid. In fact, before Skymall went out of business my BFF Patrick and I subscribed to the catalog so we could read them together and laugh at all the insane stuff. This was freshman year of college...
Man so many of these games bring me back! Played so many of these through the piles of shareware discs I'd swap with friends. I loved going through the catalogues and just getting excited over games just from seeing the pictures and reading the descriptions lol. Good times!
This video was just 3 months before my little dog died. :( I know we must have watched it. I used to LOVE these pack in catalogs. I dreamed a lot back then. Reading the story and the info and seeing those pics gave me something to enjoy until I could get the games.
Awesome. I had most of these games and catalogues as a child, they're still at my parents' house. I must go and get them. Jazz Jackrabbit was my absolute favourite.
Epic first began in the bedroom of Tim Sweeney in Baltimore, Maryland. They then incorporated as Potomac Computer Systems in Rockville, Maryland in 1991. Followed shortly by the rename to Epic Megagames where they stayed HQ'd in Maryland until 1999 :)
ahhh man .. already reminded me of 2 games I used to own that I forgot existed! Wacky Wheels and One Must Fall 2097.. I used to play both of these on my PC back in the day with my friends. Thanks for the memories!
I love these videos. Kinda like i met up with a good friend from way back in the day and were just reminiscing about the old days when games were great.
watching this video 5 years later lol, and seeing that ad in the jazz jackrabbit catalog, reminded me that in 1997 i worked on the dutch helpdeks division of compuserve they were based in Amsterdam and as en employee, you got a free unlimited membership,the most calls we got were about customers who had cancelled their membership, then gone back on line to see if it was cancelled and that reactivated their account
Great video. Yes, there were great stuff in these boxes. The catalogs from Sierra were really cool, too. It's interesting how much effort the publishers put in these boxes and catalogs. Today you get a disc or just a download. The old good times...
This was a fun trip down someone elses memory lane, I played the Lucas Arts games but never owned any of them till I was older and had a credit card. I recall looking in some old books for Sega Genesis games, really wish I kept those old books
A refreshingly different video. I like your PC gaming vids since I missed out on the whole PC gaming era from 1981-1995, when I got my first PC. Little Big Adventure was what convinced me that the Amiga was done with. I've got lots of older PC games now, thanks to eBay and the like, but I'm sure there are dozens of gems still out there.
This reminds me of the old Nintendo posters. I'd look at all the screenshots and try to imagine what playing the games would be like. I've always been lame :I
Reading through all those catalogues is probably one of the reasons you have such a successful youtube channel today - 68,000 subs and rising. Awesome =)
What a great look back on these old gaming catalogs. That shiny Simcity 2000 box is packed with so much stuff!! Buying a new game was rare in my home so I would look through these catalogs and wish I could have every game too. I think I have an Accolade catalog from Test Drive 1 (or GrandPrix) at my parents house, I should try and dig that up. The worst was being tortured by those glorious Amiga screenshots that made EGA (nevermind CGA) seem ancient.
Star wars behind the magic wasn't a game, It was basically what you get on the blu ray special edition movies nowadays... making off's, bloopers, special features, things like that.
Holy crap this vid is amazing! Thanks for this trip down memory lane - the nostalgia factor is off the charts here. I would love to see more catalogues from Interplay, Infocom and maybe EA (from when they didn't suck). But yes, the vid did make me kind of sad to see such classics nearly forgotten.
Normally got two new games per year back then: one on my birthday, one at Christmas. The rest was all shareware and/or copied from friends. No allowance either, so yeah :)
It was a good video man! nice to know these things... I tell you (off topic), you are one of the few people i love to hear on lets plays... Always a pleasure o see ur videos mate. kee pit up ;)
Wow you haven't reviewed Tyrian yet? ohhhh I look forward to seeing that review when you do get around to it?! I still have Tyrian 2000 on CD somewhere...-.- I played Tyrian soooo much.... loved the multiplayer co op! Had a friend use the mouse, and I used the keyboard controlled ship! ;D
Castle of the Winds! I had that game. I wasn't a PC gamer, I'd never played an RPG, and I had no idea what D&D was, so that game totally entranced me even though it was pretty primitive by the time I was playing it.
I actually had one out to show in this video, along with many others, but figured I'd cut it off since it was nearing almost half an hour. If there's enough interest, I may just follow this one up!
I love looking at these and seeing all the planned games that didn't end up with a release. For me, it's almost the best part of picking up an old game CiB; the catalogs always have stuff in them that flew under the radar, or never came out. :)
I remember loving Brix and Electro Man, but I don't even know if I had the full games or just the shareware. What I do remember however, is calling the Epic hotline to order ZZT! Taught me object-oriented programming, game logic and basic AI, and now I work in videogames. :) Thank you, Potomac Computer Systems!
Oooh, Hocus Pokus brings back memories.... We had a shareware version on a disk, and my brother and I used to alternate between levels... playing it together.... gawd, I miss those days...
I too loved the lucasarts catalogue, funny years later in 98/99 the behind the magic title, or a re-release with phantom menace stuff on it, with me in it! (special effects animatronics) so weird to see and such a thrill.
Wow that last catallog brought up so many memories, lucasarts games were a big part of my childhood I actually have the lucas collection volume 3 hehehe, I always wondered why you dont have reviews of their products. Love your vids. Greetings from Argentina :)
I used to do this a lot back in the day! i'm 28 now, I remember looking through all the PC game magazines / catalogues that my dad would bring home! :D my fav was PC Gamer magazine (well that was a magazine we got here in New Zealand) if I remember correctly, one issue came with the Shareware version of Quake.... good times....
I was that kid calling Nintendo Power hotline sneaking it at night while playing Links Awakening on the Gameboy. I knew the hotlines button combination for the sections i was at pretty well, but they would act as if they had backlogs and would play advertisements in between transfers milking those $$$'s, and then you had to write the notes down because there was no way you could follow the instructions as they spoke. Needless to say my parents were not happy with my completion of the game.. rofl.
I actually had a Froggman catalog ready to show here, but cut off the video before I could so as not to have it running too long. If I do another one of these I'll definitely be showing that, as I think the renamed games they sold are fascinating.
Cool, I know it was sold in stores in Europe, but wasn't sure about the US. And yes, mine's the original release! Comes with the aviator sunglasses and infamous easter egg.
I was so lucky as kid because the first computer what my parents bought for me was filled with games and some of them were even full games. Commander Keen 4,5 and Monster Bash was my favorite games. Also Skyroads was awesome. :D
I loved watching this. I used to do the same thing with NES hint/cheat books. I would read through all the cheats and tips and then dream about actually getting to play them :D
This was suppose to be background noise while I did some work but I ended up watching this instead of doing the work I wanted. Would love more of these if your willing to do them.
I was that poor too! I used to LOVE getting a new game and looking at all the advertisement crap inside the box. Aaahhh those were the days; t'was a simpler time in the 90's. They just don't make computer game boxes filled with delicious goodness like they used to. Now you're lucky if you even get a manual that's more than 5 pages long let alone printed previews of upcoming games form the developer or publisher.
I was referring to the fact that the Atari 2600 game compilation shown there was released in the 90's. Those games were still being sold just ten years ago at that point, so calling them "retro" back then was a bit odd.
yeah, you do need to review Tyrian. one of the best pc games ever, period. best music, best gameplay, even the graphics were great. it even had a secret game within the game!
I, too, called Nintendo's Helpline. But I used those long-distance discount lines (like 1010220), to cheapen what was basically audio Let's Plays of PokeMon and FF6. Made it cheaper, but still got in trouble.
Oh, I had Battletech Multiplayer! It played like a Mech Warrior 2, but the only area you could play in was a little arena. Never played with friends only the PC, but it wasn't good. It boiled down to just finding the other guy, blowing out the knees, winning. Two giant mechs, standing still, laser to the knee.
Yes please clint, more catalogues = more nostalgia for me! I remember playing and owning many of those games, including raptor on floppy disk lol I still love that game!
I don't care what you make videos of, just keep making videos. I'm not joking, I could literally listen to you recite the dictionary for three hours and still find it enjoyable.
I remember my first PC game back in the day flipping through the Frogman software catalog thinking Rooms of Doom (which was a re-titled version of Dangerous Dave and the Haunted Mansion) being the coolest looking game I ever saw.
"Yeah! Curse of Monkey Island™ Balls Yeah!" Pretty much sums up my feelings about all the Monkey Island™ games. Friend of mine told me about them about two years ago and I've been hooked since :D
I used to do this with Sega Power. I could afford the magazine but couldn't afford the games so would read the reviews over and over. Night Trap was one of them. Street Fighter for the Mega Drive was another. But that I was saving for. When I eventually got it, it was a massive anti-climax. Despite now being able to play the game for free, it just wasn't the same as going to the arcade to play it (although I could only play it at the local video rental shop as there were no arcades near me).
His voice is great. Soothes me to sleep.
Me too
There was a PC Gamer Magazine dated June-July 2000 that had at least 10 FULL FREE GAMES from the mid 80s- early-mid 90s period. Among those were Wing Commander, Ultima Underworld and Secret of Monkey Island.
There really was something special about games then.
Im Caj I had stacks of PC Gamer CDs. I kept those discs until the games no longer worked.
Gosh, listening to someone reminisce about old games is so relaxing to me.
I find it exciting
Hell, dreaming about the games in the catalogs was sometimes better than the game! I loved looking at them too.
I loved the hell out of Epic Megagames back in the day. I'll never forget when my friend's brother brought copies of One Must Fall and Jazz Jackrabbit home from college after playing the shareware ones to death. It was like Christmas. I was so insanely happy.
More catalogs!
Outlaws is the game that drove me to build an 8 machine LAN setup in my father-in-law's basement. Their whole family used to play LAN games of Outlaws together growing up, and he wanted to relive it.
Such a solid shooter, especially for it's time.
man your voice is a perfect hangover treatment. glad you're on TH-cam. Love your videos.
I remember downloading Rise of the Triad demo because I didn't have the cash for the full game. Looking back, the long distance charge for the modem call cost more than if I had bought the game.
This video is like an anti-alarm clock. It'll put you to sleep, but in a great way. It just feels so safe and warm to listen to LGR drone on about PC game catalogues that if you're drowsy it's like having a sedative pleasantly drip into your ears. Nice video, helped me reach new levels of relaxation that I never knew I wanted to reach in the first place. Such a nice, slow listen that reminded me of old catalogues and like a classic lullaby lulled me to sleep. So, so comfortably numb, great work.
We totally need more LGR and game catalogs. It's just fun looking back at old things, especially for those who remember it. You're totally worth watching each day, if you had a daily video.
Just makes the day complete, new LGR video and get some general insight from you.
Not a loser thing - I freaking loved catalogs as a kid. In fact, before Skymall went out of business my BFF Patrick and I subscribed to the catalog so we could read them together and laugh at all the insane stuff. This was freshman year of college...
Man so many of these games bring me back! Played so many of these through the piles of shareware discs I'd swap with friends. I loved going through the catalogues and just getting excited over games just from seeing the pictures and reading the descriptions lol. Good times!
This video was just 3 months before my little dog died. :( I know we must have watched it.
I used to LOVE these pack in catalogs. I dreamed a lot back then. Reading the story and the info and seeing those pics gave me something to enjoy until I could get the games.
To be fair, all of your videos are relaxing. Nostalgia is relaxing enough, but your voice is pleasing to the ear as well.
Awesome. I had most of these games and catalogues as a child, they're still at my parents' house. I must go and get them. Jazz Jackrabbit was my absolute favourite.
Epic first began in the bedroom of Tim Sweeney in Baltimore, Maryland. They then incorporated as Potomac Computer Systems in Rockville, Maryland in 1991. Followed shortly by the rename to Epic Megagames where they stayed HQ'd in Maryland until 1999 :)
Thanks! Certainly have no plans on stopping.
I used to call the 800 numbers of game publishers just to bug them for a catalog. Had absolutely no money to spend. Still awesome somehow, though.
ahhh man .. already reminded me of 2 games I used to own that I forgot existed! Wacky Wheels and One Must Fall 2097.. I used to play both of these on my PC back in the day with my friends. Thanks for the memories!
Wow I really love this laid back set up for this video. It's very interesting hearing your opinion about all that stuff :)
I love these videos. Kinda like i met up with a good friend from way back in the day and were just reminiscing about the old days when games were great.
I love it when you make videos about old stuff, obscure hardware and software more than anything.
This video is great!
A most refreshing review one does not experience these days in the age of digital. I remember all these.
watching this video 5 years later lol, and seeing that ad in the jazz jackrabbit catalog, reminded me that in 1997 i worked on the dutch helpdeks division of compuserve they were based in Amsterdam and as en employee, you got a free unlimited membership,the most calls we got were about customers who had cancelled their membership, then gone back on line to see if it was cancelled and that reactivated their account
This is the kind of video I really enjoy from you. Really chill.
I love everything you do, and this is no exception! Keep the catalogs coming!
Great video. Yes, there were great stuff in these boxes. The catalogs from Sierra were really cool, too. It's interesting how much effort the publishers put in these boxes and catalogs. Today you get a disc or just a download. The old good times...
This was a fun trip down someone elses memory lane, I played the Lucas Arts games but never owned any of them till I was older and had a credit card.
I recall looking in some old books for Sega Genesis games, really wish I kept those old books
These and looking over like CompUSA and Circuit City kinds of ads are like the best videos.
Great video, it really shows how passionate you are about all this.
A refreshingly different video. I like your PC gaming vids since I missed out on the whole PC gaming era from 1981-1995, when I got my first PC. Little Big Adventure was what convinced me that the Amiga was done with. I've got lots of older PC games now, thanks to eBay and the like, but I'm sure there are dozens of gems still out there.
This reminds me of the old Nintendo posters. I'd look at all the screenshots and try to imagine what playing the games would be like. I've always been lame :I
Keep doing it up, very relaxing and its fun to remember all the games we used to play during the nineties
I've seen nearly all the content you've uploaded. Lots of history in your playlist, for sure!
Anything you do is awesome , Just a pleasure to hear your voice!
Reading through all those catalogues is probably one of the reasons you have such a successful youtube channel today - 68,000 subs and rising. Awesome =)
Thanks man. Never sure how these types of things are going to go over.
Love these old catalogs. Still have many of them myself. Old mail order price lists are interesting, too!
Damn, all your videos are informative as heck.
I remember looking at game catalogs from Imagic, Atari, and Activision for the Atari 2600, BITD.
What a great look back on these old gaming catalogs. That shiny Simcity 2000 box is packed with so much stuff!! Buying a new game was rare in my home so I would look through these catalogs and wish I could have every game too.
I think I have an Accolade catalog from Test Drive 1 (or GrandPrix) at my parents house, I should try and dig that up. The worst was being tortured by those glorious Amiga screenshots that made EGA (nevermind CGA) seem ancient.
Star wars behind the magic wasn't a game, It was basically what you get on the blu ray special edition movies nowadays... making off's, bloopers, special features, things like that.
Reading catalogues back then (before the internet) and dreaming over all those games was the best.
Holy crap this vid is amazing! Thanks for this trip down memory lane - the nostalgia factor is off the charts here. I would love to see more catalogues from Interplay, Infocom and maybe EA (from when they didn't suck). But yes, the vid did make me kind of sad to see such classics nearly forgotten.
Normally got two new games per year back then: one on my birthday, one at Christmas. The rest was all shareware and/or copied from friends. No allowance either, so yeah :)
Catalogs like these were a big part of my life growing up.
Great video!
It was a good video man! nice to know these things... I tell you (off topic), you are one of the few people i love to hear on lets plays... Always a pleasure o see ur videos mate. kee pit up ;)
Wow you haven't reviewed Tyrian yet? ohhhh I look forward to seeing that review when you do get around to it?! I still have Tyrian 2000 on CD somewhere...-.- I played Tyrian soooo much.... loved the multiplayer co op! Had a friend use the mouse, and I used the keyboard controlled ship! ;D
Hey LGR, great video! It was a interesting watch. Please do more!.
Castle of the Winds! I had that game. I wasn't a PC gamer, I'd never played an RPG, and I had no idea what D&D was, so that game totally entranced me even though it was pretty primitive by the time I was playing it.
I actually had one out to show in this video, along with many others, but figured I'd cut it off since it was nearing almost half an hour. If there's enough interest, I may just follow this one up!
Would enjoy more catalog videos. Enjoyed this one a lot. thank you
I love looking at these and seeing all the planned games that didn't end up with a release. For me, it's almost the best part of picking up an old game CiB; the catalogs always have stuff in them that flew under the radar, or never came out. :)
This was great! I would enjoy seeing more of these, especially Sierra and Interplay.
I remember loving Brix and Electro Man, but I don't even know if I had the full games or just the shareware. What I do remember however, is calling the Epic hotline to order ZZT! Taught me object-oriented programming, game logic and basic AI, and now I work in videogames. :) Thank you, Potomac Computer Systems!
I would recommend making another one, the nostalgia to some of these games (especially the late 90's) always make me happy.... And more Sims 2
Oooh, Hocus Pokus brings back memories.... We had a shareware version on a disk, and my brother and I used to alternate between levels... playing it together.... gawd, I miss those days...
13:27 Read-A-Rama sighting!
I too loved the lucasarts catalogue, funny years later in 98/99 the behind the magic title, or a re-release with phantom menace stuff on it, with me in it! (special effects animatronics) so weird to see and such a thrill.
Loved it, please do more ! I remember back in the day where i would just stare at the catalog's screenshots. Good times.
Wow that last catallog brought up so many memories, lucasarts games were a big part of my childhood I actually have the lucas collection volume 3 hehehe, I always wondered why you dont have reviews of their products.
Love your vids.
Greetings from Argentina :)
I used to do this a lot back in the day! i'm 28 now, I remember looking through all the PC game magazines / catalogues that my dad would bring home! :D my fav was PC Gamer magazine (well that was a magazine we got here in New Zealand) if I remember correctly, one issue came with the Shareware version of Quake.... good times....
I loved free discs included in magazines! Cereal boxes at my local Albertsons, too.n
+Advection357 Haha awesome man! i think our game magazines are still around and in good condition! i better go find them 😅
I was that kid calling Nintendo Power hotline sneaking it at night while playing Links Awakening on the Gameboy. I knew the hotlines button combination for the sections i was at pretty well, but they would act as if they had backlogs and would play advertisements in between transfers milking those $$$'s, and then you had to write the notes down because there was no way you could follow the instructions as they spoke. Needless to say my parents were not happy with my completion of the game.. rofl.
Loved Raptor as a kid. Probably my favorite vertically scrolling shooter, even though I never played the full version.
More please. I remember the magic of looking through the Atari 2600 catalog when we bought a new game. Well done video!
Love the video, real down to earth and just an honest-to-god video. A well earned thumbs up from me.
Hope you do more catalog vids very much enjoyed this nostalgia trip
I actually had a Froggman catalog ready to show here, but cut off the video before I could so as not to have it running too long. If I do another one of these I'll definitely be showing that, as I think the renamed games they sold are fascinating.
Cool, I know it was sold in stores in Europe, but wasn't sure about the US.
And yes, mine's the original release! Comes with the aviator sunglasses and infamous easter egg.
Also, I'd love to see more catalogs, it's like an awesome trip down memory lane!
Yeah man! I posted some thoughts about the closed beta in my Wrap Up video for October 2012. Looking forward to the full release.
Hey, loved the catalog idea!
Please do more of that kind of stuff in the future.
I was so lucky as kid because the first computer what my parents bought for me was filled with games and some of them were even full games. Commander Keen 4,5 and Monster Bash was my favorite games. Also Skyroads was awesome. :D
I loved watching this. I used to do the same thing with NES hint/cheat books. I would read through all the cheats and tips and then dream about actually getting to play them :D
super nostalgia, especially from the lucas arts catalogue... thanks for sharing with us.
This was suppose to be background noise while I did some work but I ended up watching this instead of doing the work I wanted. Would love more of these if your willing to do them.
I was that poor too! I used to LOVE getting a new game and looking at all the advertisement crap inside the box. Aaahhh those were the days; t'was a simpler time in the 90's. They just don't make computer game boxes filled with delicious goodness like they used to. Now you're lucky if you even get a manual that's more than 5 pages long let alone printed previews of upcoming games form the developer or publisher.
Nice video. Brought me back to the good old days of reading Special Reserve catalogues and laughing at how much the 3DO cost!
Loved Ep I Racer for my PC. Wish I could still play it.
I was referring to the fact that the Atari 2600 game compilation shown there was released in the 90's. Those games were still being sold just ten years ago at that point, so calling them "retro" back then was a bit odd.
you the man!
so many memories...
I enjoyed this video, hope u make more like this
I remember so many of these games.
I remember Sierra's catalogs back in the day. Huge Sierra fan.
JonTron shows Herc's Adventure in his Hercules Games Video
yeah, you do need to review Tyrian. one of the best pc games ever, period. best music, best gameplay, even the graphics were great. it even had a secret game within the game!
these are actually really good video's, reminds me of the games i used to play that are all now freeware.
I, too, called Nintendo's Helpline. But I used those long-distance discount lines (like 1010220), to cheapen what was basically audio Let's Plays of PokeMon and FF6. Made it cheaper, but still got in trouble.
I think its almost about time for a "One Must Fall 2097" video sounds like it would be an enjoyable video to make.
Aw man, I would love a follow up to this video where you look at the ones you mentioned at the end!
cooool do more of this some time great vid man
Yes please do more of this. It's very interesting.
Oh, I had Battletech Multiplayer! It played like a Mech Warrior 2, but the only area you could play in was a little arena. Never played with friends only the PC, but it wasn't good. It boiled down to just finding the other guy, blowing out the knees, winning. Two giant mechs, standing still, laser to the knee.
Yes please clint, more catalogues = more nostalgia for me! I remember playing and owning many of those games, including raptor on floppy disk lol I still love that game!
I don't care what you make videos of, just keep making videos.
I'm not joking, I could literally listen to you recite the dictionary for three hours and still find it enjoyable.
Why is it so satisfying to see you read these with us xDD
I remember my first PC game back in the day flipping through the Frogman software catalog thinking Rooms of Doom (which was a re-titled version of Dangerous Dave and the Haunted Mansion) being the coolest looking game I ever saw.
"Yeah! Curse of Monkey Island™ Balls Yeah!" Pretty much sums up my feelings about all the Monkey Island™ games. Friend of mine told me about them about two years ago and I've been hooked since :D
I used to do this with Sega Power. I could afford the magazine but couldn't afford the games so would read the reviews over and over. Night Trap was one of them. Street Fighter for the Mega Drive was another. But that I was saving for. When I eventually got it, it was a massive anti-climax. Despite now being able to play the game for free, it just wasn't the same as going to the arcade to play it (although I could only play it at the local video rental shop as there were no arcades near me).
Those slips of paper in the Mechwarrior 2 box are called buckslips