301: The Mysteries of the Bin

[sylekage]

I love the bin. Or the "Shit-Bin" as me and my friends call it. That's where I built most of my DVD collection from. It's amazing what kind of movies and games you can find in these bins that were awesome when they were first out, and now they're a good 5-10 bucks. I'm just like you, I'll never not give the bin a once over when I get to stores.

But Wal- Marts screwing with me. They don't have bins in the ones near me. They have added more shelves with prices at the tops, which is actually kind of better cuz you can see without rummaging.

Though I like me some rummaging

 

[beema]

Yeah I've rooted through the bin many a time. I'm not sure why the endless piles of shovelware never deter me from looking again. I really never go to physical game stores anymore though. There's actually been the off occasion when I do find something worthwhile in a bargain bin, and then I get home and look it up online, and it's STILL cheaper online.

And, really, what's five bucks? A box of Kleenex and a bad burrito.

Dude, where in the hell are you shopping?

...and that blue penis rocked my world.

uhh...
that's what she said?

itothe 'estmated

 

[GonzoGamer]

I've found some great games in bargain bins too. Not just obscure shovelware.
I remember getting San Andreas for less than $10; and it was the original one you could crack the hot coffee out of.
And that game was actually worth $60.

I love the bargain bin and yes I am cheap but being cheap is also the reason I'm not poor anymore. I'd rather be cheap than poor.

 

[Sartan0]

Getting Culdcept for less then ten bucks was my last good score from a bargain bin. Granted that was two years ago or so.

 

[vxicepickxv]

Oh, the bins. I prefer the movie bargain bin to the video game one. I always find something good in there.

Ah, the bargain bins for entertainment.

Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny for a 5 spot, Front Mission for 7. Persona for 99 cents.

Wonderful Times, wonderful times. Sometimes you can keep yourself entertained for a while with nothing more than a hand full of change.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I got "The Misadventures of Tron Bonne" from a bargain bin years ago.

It was awesome. Despite me having NO FUCKING IDEA what Megaman Legends was at the time.

 

[Taynas]

I just wanted to inform this writer that I loved their article. The topic was interesting but the writing was amazing. It was clever and funny in a way that I personally love. Thanks for this article; it made me giggle and crack more then a few smiles.

 

[imnot]

I like them but they make me cry inside, poor games ;_;

 

[Susan Arendt]

Bin there, done that!

You go to your room and you think about what you've done, sir. FACE THE CORNER!

 

[Xman490]

I got Dead Rising 1 (on a Christmas sale) for $10, got Brutal Legend (no sale) for $9, and Little Big Planet PSP (on an Easter sale) for $12. Keep in mind that all three of these were first released less than 5 years ago.
I love Amazon.com.

 

[jpblade666]

I've gotten so much from the bargain bin. My latest find was Nostalgia for the DS. I looked at it on the shelves but thought it looked a little to generic to drop too much money on it, then I found it for $5 in a bin and I bought it, it has become one of my favorite DS games and I'm a little mad I didn't get it sooner.

I also found a bunch of games for the N64 as a kid/teen, Turok Rage Wars has always been good to be ($2) and Extreme-G ($4) was one of the few racing games I've ever liked. I even once found Zelda:OoT for 6 bucks. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go play some of these games I found just by stepping out of line and digging through generic games.

 

[Seraph_Black]

The ultimate bargain bin I've found is at a local store that deals with some new games, but primarily handles second hand and older games, along with any type of game related merch you can think of. Posters, Paintings, Action Figures, Pens, Yo-yos, etc. This place is truly bin-diver heaven. PS1, 2, and 3 titles. Xbox and 360 titles. PC titles. Hell, they even have a display case full of so many game-cube games that if you buy $100 worth they will GIVE you a gamecube console for FREE. The list goes on. All stupidly cheap and in working order as the disks have been buffed, cleaned and tested.

It's as though half the store was sourced from a bargain bin! And to think, I almost didn't discover this gem.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

I found Shadow of the Colossus in the bin. I found Lost Kingdoms in the bin. Some of the old Worms titles on the PC were found in a bin. Banjo-Kazooie, Goldeneye, and Pokemon Snap--all in a bin, or the bargain shelf. I'll admit it. I rummage. I'll make stacks on the floor by the bin while I rummage. I'll go through the bins, even if most of the games are for a console I don't own. I get the weird looks from people content to buy from a shelf. They don't know. I laugh at them, knowing that in a bin nearby, that they'll never check, is a game or movie or book they will love, and they have no idea of it. Let them give me the weird looks. I don't mind. Soon, I will find something in the bin, and I will cheer, standing exalted before the register.

 

[Shaz]

My husband is the bargain movie bin addict, but me? I haven't found a video game bin bargain in many, many years. Heck, I haven't SEEN a bargain bin for video games in nearly as long. It's all console games now, and I don't have a console.

But I'll never forget the joy of games such as Startopia, and Majesty, and Arcana. I may be an online shopper now, but... PC game bargain bin, I miss you. Thanks for the memories.

 

[kwagamon]

A massive chunk of my Magic collection and a few of my video games are things from group lots at the auction gallery my mom works at. Also I have to say Newbury Comics has one of the best setups for bargain-bin games I've seen. Instead of a bargain bin at all, they just put them on shelves near the big titles on proper display. Usually it's big titles that are 6 months old or more and not the obscure gems, but I've been in GameStops and other game stores that put anything that's not the biggest, newest titles in the bin. My copy of BioShock came into my collection because I couldn't walk by a copy of such a great game I didn't own for $10.

 

[Synonymous]

"I took it to the guy at the counter, and he nodded, and said, 'Yeah, I had a look at that one. It's about a blue man with his penis out.'"

No one's commented yet to note that this story is hilarious? Come on.

As we're all trading bargain-bin tales, I think my best find was Minish Cap in KMart's bin around the holiday season for $8. The Dark Spire for DS for $6, though it's far from a rare find, wasn't a bad value for me for the money, either (though it's not a game for everyone).

 

[Spud of Doom]

Borderlands and Rock Band 2 for 20NZD? Heck yes. Huge discounts give me the opportunity to get games that I always meant to buy, but didn't think I could afford.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

But I'll never forget the joy of games such as Startopia, and Majesty, and Arcana. I may be an online shopper now, but... PC game bargain bin, I miss you. Thanks for the memories.

QFT. I've never played any of the games you just listed, but I do miss the days when bargain bins filled with old PC games were common. Granted, any time I find a place that carries used PC games, they're at bargain bin prices, but the selection is always much, much smaller than what you used to find in the bargain bin. What do people who don't keep every game they buy, but also aren't set up for e-commerce do with their old games these days, anyway?

OT: The bargain bin and I have always been on a first name basis. What is not to love about, to give some recent examples, $5 Battlefield 2, $2 Oblivion, or $3 Unreal Gold?

 

[roneel]

bravo good sir, bravo

 

[roneel]

bravo good sir, bravo