Looking for info about this old game compilation \ VOGONS

Looking for info about this old game compilation

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First post, by NovaCN

Posted on 2021-02-19, 02:33

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The other day I was at my local Goodwill and found this sealed big box. As the "10 for $20" label indicates, it's a compilation pack of 10 games (technically 19 since one of the included games is itself a compilation pack) published by Electronic Arts. From what I can gather by examining it, it was released in 2000, but I can't find anything more than that. Searches on Google, eBay, and the retro PC game sites I know of have turned up no information, and even looking up its ISBN gets no results.
The box is sealed so I'm a bit hesitant to open it. Still, I'm curious, and I assumed that if anyone had a chance of knowing anything about obscure budget compilation packs of old PC games, it would be the community here at VOGONS. Pictures below.

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Reply 1 of 5, by Jorpho

Posted on 2021-02-19, 03:02

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Wow, the whole Ultima collection.

It looks very similar to the "Top Ten Pack" which underwent several different iterations, including "Top Ten Red" and "Top Ten Blue".
https://www.amazon.in/Electronic-Arts-Top-Ten … k/dp/B00005V3TJ
https://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Arts-Top-Te … D/dp/B00005V3TI

Note that searching for "Top 10 Pack" is much less likely to bring up results than "Top Ten Pack". In fact, https://www.google.com/search?q="electr ... "&tbm=isch will show you a lot more, including a "10 for $10".

and even looking up its ISBN gets no results.

Odd. I thought ISBN numbers related exclusively to books.

My Top 10 Red has an ISBN ending in 3325-3, so presumably this compilation predates the Red and Blue.

Last edited by Jorpho on 2021-02-19, 16:47. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 2 of 5, by NovaCN

Posted on 2021-02-19, 04:36

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Jorpho wrote on 2021-02-19, 03:02:

snip

Interesting! I've never seen any of these compilations before. Would be nice if I could find this specific one, maybe find out if it's worth something sealed (probably not) or if I should just tear it open to play the games.
I was surprised when I saw it had the whole Ultima Collection, too. What a wild inclusion.

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Reply 3 of 5, by Jo22

Posted on 2021-02-19, 05:12

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Jorpho wrote on 2021-02-19, 03:02:
Wow, the whole Ultima collection. […]
Show full quote

Wow, the whole Ultima collection.

It looks very similar to the "Top Ten Pack" which underwent several different iterations, including "Top Ten Red" and "Top Ten Blue".
https://www.amazon.in/Electronic-Arts-Top-Ten … k/dp/B00005V3TJ
https://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Arts-Top-Te … D/dp/B00005V3TI

Note that searching for "Top 10 Pack" is must less likely to bring up results than "Top Ten Pack". In fact, https://www.google.com/search?q="electr ... "&tbm=isch will show you a lot more, including a "10 for $10".

and even looking up its ISBN gets no results.
Odd. I thought ISBN numbers related exclusively to books.

My Top 10 Red has an ISBN ending in 3325-3, so presumably this compilation predates the Red and Blue.

I'm not completely sure, but I believe the newer ISBN-13 (?) equals the EAN..
Anyway, I'm a pre-ISBN type of person. My grandmother used to have many books without ISBNs. 😅
So I grew up with looking for title, author, publisher whenever I needed a certain book.

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Reply 4 of 5, by megatron-uk

Posted on 2021-02-19, 13:41

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Interesting that they show Sim City classic on the front of the box, but its clearly Sim City 2000 in the screenshot on the back.

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Reply 5 of 5, by NovaCN

Posted on 2021-02-19, 13:53

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megatron-uk wrote on 2021-02-19, 13:41:

Interesting that they show Sim City classic on the front of the box, but its clearly Sim City 2000 in the screenshot on the back.

I just noticed that earlier. I don't even know which of the two is included here since the box is still sealed. Demonstrates just how little effort went into these budget compilations, I suppose.

Update: Curiosity got the better of me and I opened it. It's Sim City Classic. The Ultima Collection is also the only game in here with a dedicated manual (plus yes, the Atlas is also inside) while the others are all reduced to sharing a single "Installation Guide" book.

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