Posted Tue Sep 23, 2003 11:03 PM
2. Back when atari was originally released and even the early 80's, were there stores solely devoted to selling video games?
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I assume you are talking "console" video games.
Well, Back when the Atari was originally released, there weren't enough video games to have a store devoted to selling them. :-)
As I remember, almost all video game sales were though department stores. Sears and such. I don't even remember the early computer stores selling video games, but maybe that was just in my area. My feeling was computer stores felt like they were for REAL computers and video games were toys and belonged in the TOY department.
Yeah, the Commodore stores I frequented had lots of games, but all for C64s and Amiga's. (Actually, you could get the C64 in department stores too, but the local C64 dealer couldn't see why someone would get a Computer at a TV store.. :-)
I don't know if Atari dealers (since Atari made computers AND consoles) were any different.
Interesting question...
I don't remember when I first saw a store that sold just console games..
Or even a computer store that sold console games.. It was much after I got out of gaming. (I got better.. :^)
Luckily, the department stores were usually close to the Arcades, so it was a win-win situation!!! :-)
desiv
Just remembered.. Toys-R-Us was a big source of video games too!!! Department stores and toy stores!!!