Around this time last year, I bought Sonic the Hedgehog on the Wii Virtual Console.¬¨‚Ć In case you’re not aware, the VC is a download service on the Wii where you can buy, download and play old console games, including the Megadrive version of Sonic.
Then, about six months ago, I bought Sonic the Hedgehog on the Xbox 360’s Live Arcade. In case you’re not aware, XBLA is a download service on the Xbox 360 where you can buy, download and play games, some of which are old console games, including the Megadrive version of Sonic.
Today, I bought Sonic the Hedgehog on iTunes for use on my iPod nano. In case you’re not aware, iTunes is a download service where you can buy, download and play music, videos and games,¬¨‚Ć some of which are old console games, including the Megadrive version of Sonic.
Now, the thing is, Sonic was one of the first console games I ever owned.¬¨‚Ć I got it for Christmas, with my Megadrive, in 1991.¬¨‚Ć I still have both that cartridge, and the Megadrive I played it on.¬¨‚Ć Since then, I’ve acquired a second copy. And a Japanese copy. And a copy of “Sonic Compliation” for the Megadrive, which includes a copy of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Then they made a compilation for the Sega Saturn, called Sonic Jam.¬¨‚Ć Which has the Megadrive version of Sonic on it too.¬¨‚Ć And yes, I have that. And there’s a Gamecube compliation called Sonic Mega Collection, which again has Sonic the Hedgehog on it. Again, I have that.
I don’t know how many times it is possible to buy the same game, but so far, I’ve managed to buy Sonic the Hedgehog 9 times. Without losing the ability to play any of the previous 8.¬¨‚Ć In fact, I also have Megadrive emulators for my DS, GBA, N-gage, mobile phone, PC, Mac, Dreamcast and PS2, so I could even play it on them if need be, and yet – here I am, having just bought it again for the iPod.