Does anybody remember way back when Jack in the Box was selling four different Sega PC games? I remember getting Sonic and Knuckles, because the cover said that it came with three games, and my mental math told me that it was a better deal than just getting a single game. (I was really little and didn't know the whole Sonic 3 and Knuckles thing) It came in a paper CD sleeve, with the Jack in the Box logo on the corner. I could have sworn that those were only meant to be demo discs or something as a promotional thing, but I was able to play through the whole thing start to finish on Sonic 3, as well as start to Carnival Night Barrel on Sonic and Knuckles. I know it's stupid, but it's been bugging me for a while. I mean, looking back it makes no sense that a fast food restaurant was selling full-length first-party video games. It would only make sense if they were demo discs as a promotional thing. Does anybody remember these, and were they just bugged or something where the timer didn't work? On a separate note, does anybody remember what the other games were that they sold back then? I remember Sonic + Knuckles, and Sonic 3D Blast. There were four different games for sale, if memory serves me right. (Really wish I had gotten 3D Blast. I think the Saturn-based PC version is pretty hard to find these days, unless it's just me and terrible luck looking for it.)
I'm not sure about this "Jack in the box", but when you're telling about Sonic 3 & Knuckles Collection and pack with 4 games, there are two things which came to my mind. First one is Sonic Action Pack (Sonic Action 4 Pack?), where was included Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic CD (1996 version), Sonic R and Sega Smash Pack (6 emulated games from Mega Drive, including Sonic 2). I remember that three games were ins simple white paper sleeves, while Sega Smash Pack 2 was in hard cover, separately foiled. Second one is... Well, Sonic 3 & Knuckles Collection itself :P It's a bit fetched statement, but there were 4 games included - Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Blue Spheres(this bonus games with impossible to overcome by human being amount of bonus stages). I know, it's just a marketing slogan. There were also some smaller packs than Sonic Action Pack, such as pack with Sonic 3 & Knuckles Collection & Sonic CD; also Sonic CD(?) and Garfield: caught in the act... But I'd recommend to check sonic retro wiki, there are enlisted compilations as well, as far as I remember (can't check by myself now). I believe that Sonic 3D Blast (version you've mentioned of course, not the emulated tat based on Mega Drive version) is relatively easy (and quite cheap) to buy in some cheap series sold in UK, I've seen it on ebay when I've last checked (don't remember the name of this series, but it's rather hard to miss, and it's quite often sold in bundle with...Sonic R, I presume?)
I know you're in Poland and all but bro, 2 seconds on google: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_in_the_Box As for this, I'm guessing these are what you are talking about? http://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-Jack-In-The-Box-Ecco-the-Dolphin-Sega-Game-Collection-PC-rare-Game-SEALED-/142142849798?hash=item21185fc306:g:~YcAAOSw4shX-Yzd http://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-Jack-In-The-Box-Sonic-3D-Blast-Sega-Game-Collection-PC-rare-Game-SEALED-/142142848163?hash=item21185fbca3:g:E9kAAOSwmLlX-Yw- http://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-Jack-In-The-Box-Sonic-Knuckles-3-Sega-Game-Collection-PC-rare-Game-SEALED-/131964380501?hash=item1eb9b0a555:g:sbAAAOSwZJBX-YuH http://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-Jack-In-The-Box-BUG-Sega-Game-Collection-PC-rare-Game-SEALED/131964383911?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D40148%26meid%3D6732ad10845c4d7bb270395d141f93a0%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D142142849798 Brand new sealed for $20 each, better get them soon if you're interested.
My bad, I was probably so strongly convinced that it must be one of these things(I've mentioned), that I didn't thought about the simplest thing to start with (google).
Its cool. I've been examining the box sleeves through the pics on the sellers listing and these do seem to be full retail games, no hints at being a demo or anything. so yes at 1 point in time a fast food restaurant was selling full retail copies of SEGA games and from the comments I've been looking at (old GameFAQ threads and such) these went for anywhere about $5-$10. Kharen I hope you can snatch these and provide some pics for the wiki, don't think we have these versions scanned.
Your memory's not wrong: http://segaretro.org/File:Bug_PC_US_Box_Front_JitB.jpg http://segaretro.org/File:Ecco_PC_US_Box_Front_JitB.jpg And there were extras: http://segaretro.org/File:Ecco_Plush.jpg http://segaretro.org/File:BugJackintheBox_Toy.jpg I did look this up at one point, but I delegated the task to someone else... which in Sega Retro terms means it's stuck in limbo until someone steps in.
Wow, that's one really standard "dolphin plush" there. I wonder if they even bothered to reflect the brand on the label.
I already have Sonic and Knuckles Collection. I've been missing the disc itself for ages, but I've still got the disc sleeve laying around somewhere. I'm broke, so I can't buy the other games off eBay. (Unemployed and in college tends to do that.) Good news is, I'm visiting my family right now and I can probably dig out the package sometime tomorrow. (It's one in the morning right now) Unfortunately, I'm not very good at using my mom's scanner, and it always gives us a hard time trying to make it work. If you want, I'll see what I can do.
Somewhere around 2000-2001, in an OfficeMax, I found (and picked up) a pack that contained the Sonic & Knuckles Collection, the PC version of Sonic R, and the PC version of Sonic CD, like the first pack you mentioned, only without the Smash Pack. It also had bonus screensavers, and pretty much EVERY sound effect and BG track from Sonic 1, 2, 3&K, CD (U.S).
I had that too. Thought the screensavers were the best thing ever. My dad hated them, though. I played Sonic and Knuckles on the Genesis, but never owned 3. So I first played Sonic 3 on Sonic and Knuckles Collection. I'm in the minority, but I actually like the other music. I do prefer the original stuff now, though. It was really jarring the first time I played Sonic 3 on an emulator or on the Mega Collections.
I had this when I was a kid too. Definitely the full version though it seem to be missing the screen saver, or I didn't know how to find it