I had that dream again

[+Propane13]

I have a recurring dream; it happens once every 6 months or so, ever since I was a kid.

It stems from a time when I was very young (8 or 9) and went to Big Lots.

When I was there, Big Lots had Atari 2600 and 7800 games for 1, 2, and 3 dollars respectively.

There were 7800 games I had never even heard of before. Basketbrawl? 2 dollars? Yeah, I'll do that.

In the end, I blew all of my money that I had saved to that point on Atari stuff. The only game I left behind was Circus Atari for the 2600 since I thought 3 dollars was even too high for that game at the time. I wanted my 7800 games, and I wanted them now.

 

Little did I know how that one day (my "best haul day") would effect my life pretty much forever.

 

It causes the dream. And, the dream happened last night, so it's fresh in my mind.

Because of this, it's time for me to share "the dream".

 

The dream starts with me going to a store. It's either Toys 'R Us or Big Lots. And, once I'm there, I walk down a clearance aisle.

And, I see there's a few wrapped Atari 2600 games for sale, very dusty. As I take a look at them, there's an employee that stops by.

"Where did these cone from?" I ask the employee.

"Oh, these? They came from the back. We were cleaning the receiving department of the store and found these. But, I doubt anyone will buy them. There's even a few more in the back too, all shrinkwrapped for some 7800 system.

 

I tell the employee that I'd be interested to take a look at whatever is back there.

He then shrugs, and says he'll be right back. Usually, in the 2600 carts that are there, there's one I've never heard of, and I start looking at the pictures on the back, and the 2 dollar price tag on the front. That's when I smile, and start getting excited.

 

A few minutes later, the employee appears with about 10 boxes in his hands. "This is all we have. Here ya go!" I notice that 5 are "Lode Runner" for the 7800, 3 are "Sarge" and 2 are "Solo". The price? 2 or 3 dollars each.

 

I get really excited, and proceed to look at the boxes. I start thinking about how fun they'd be to play. I start thinking about how fun it would be to post my story on atariage! Then I think "Holy crap! I could dump these for the community, and then everyone could enjoy them! I can't believe I'm this lucky to be one of the few people that won't buy these to throw them out, and knows what he's really getting here".

 

At this point, my Mom or girlfriend is usually there and asks me why I would buy 5 of the same game. I have to explain quietly that 2 are for me (one to keep boxed, one to open), and that the others I could sell to those who really want a piece of history. I have to be quiet so that my excitement doesn't cause the price to suddenly inflate (which has been known to happen to me at flea markets years ago). It doesn't really seem to click for them, but they go along with it. I mean, 10 or 20 bucks isn't THAT big of a deal.

 

I proceed to the checkout lane, where I start showing signs of anxiety. I am really, really excited about the find.

The games get purchased, and I get to my car, games in hand, and start driving home.

 

Then it hits me. It always hits me. I hate when it hits me.

 

"What if this isn't real?"

 

I try to ignore that thought, and keep driving. I want this to work this time. I pull into the driveway, and take the games inside. The Atari is already set up. I start to remove the shrink wrap from "Lode Runner", and look inside the box. There's a beautiful manual, very few pages, like most 7800 games. The cart artwork matches the box.

 

It then hits me again, only this time, it's more negative and louder.

 

"This is probably not real."

 

I brush it off, and carefully put the game in the system.

I look at the cart there for one more moment.

This is it. I get to play "Sarge". A game nobody has seen before. This is the moment.

I breathe in the moment, and then carefully flip the power switch, and...

 

wake up disappointed.

 

-John

[accousticguitar]

Why is it that dreams always end before the really good part happens? WHY????

[+Mitch]

Did someone say Sarge?

 

Mitch

[frogstar_robot]

Why is it that dreams always end before the really good part happens? WHY????

 

I had some that didn't when I was a teenager.

[Rik]

Same here.Every once in a while i have this dream about being back in the Atari's heyday(early 80's)and going to the various mall department stores,to drool at all the nice games behind the display cabs or kiosk glass,that i couldn't buy until i saved my money,which sometimes would be months just to get 1 game.They were so friggin expensive back then for kids to buy on their own.

Edited October 28, 2009 by Rik

[Bruce Tomlin]

That's called a "reef store" dream (after someone in rec.games.video.classic had a dream where he found all sorts of wierd cartridges and stuff in a thrift store that was off shore in a reef), and is often considered a good omen for going out thrifting that day.

[Mord]

That's called a "reef store" dream (after someone in rec.games.video.classic had a dream where he found all sorts of wierd cartridges and stuff in a thrift store that was off shore in a reef), and is often considered a good omen for going out thrifting that day.

 

I will test this omen thing the next time I dream about going to a movie theatre, going for popcorn at the concession stand and find them selling video games. (short version: Weirdest model 3 genesis evah)

[Rik]

Guess what?I had that dream AGAIN last night!Well similar.I dreamed i was in this old thrift shop that doubled as a car junk yard.Inside the shop there was all these games on this shelf,but none were for any of the systems i had.

[segasaturn]

Just a thought, but maybe your dreams are trying to tell you something

[Rik]

Just a thought, but maybe your dreams are trying to tell you something

Absolutely!I believe all dreams have a deep subconscious meaning,and also warnings about your health,future,and all other aspects of life.

[aftermac]

Yup, to this day I occasionally have the same dream about finding Atari games at Big Lots. Even when I go to Big Lots in real life I still get the same feeling I did years ago when I was actually buying Atari games there. There is still a part of me holds out hope that a few strays will show up on the shelf.

[Vic George 2K3]

A funny dream that I had recently was buying a vintage classic game system at a store. It started off being one system, then it became a different system, then by the time I got to the cash register...it turned into a projection screen!

 

The two game systems in that dream were the Intellivision and the Atari 5200.

 

And my mother was in my dream checking up on me, too!

[Animan]

I had a dream one night that i found a MenAVision catalog. They called those funny T shaped cartridges "Lightning Carts". The games in there were bizzare. Each of them probably branched from something that happened that day before the dream. Dr. Pepper Cleanup with Barney, Yaffa: The Game, and Kool-Aid Man vs. Weird Al to name a few. Also, it mentioned Air Raid, 20 remakes of Air Raid, and a Pancake Boy/Snaparoo Double Pack. It even hinted at a Game Genie for your 2600, powered by evil, microscopic clones of Alex Trebek's! Yeah, it was a messed up dream.

Edited November 24, 2009 by Animan