Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1h

Item: 50 Classic Cartoons: Volume 2 (VHS Compilation)

Release Year: Early 1990s

Fun Fact: These compilation tapes became a staple of 90s bargain bins, offering public domain cartoons that introduced a new generation of kids to the golden age of animation.

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 2h

Item: 2001 Topps #729 Prospects – M. Bynum / S. Smyth / N. Haynes (PSA Graded NM 7)

Release Year: 2001

Fun Fact: The Topps Prospects subset often featured rookie & minor league players before their big-league breakthroughs, making these cards gems for long-time collectors.

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 2h

Item: Pokémon Shining Pearl (Nintendo Switch)

Release Year: 2021

Fun Fact: Shining Pearl was released alongside Brilliant Diamond as part of Pokémon’s 25th anniversary celebration — marking the first time fans could explore Sinnoh in full 3D on modern hardware.

1

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 2h

Item: Killua Zoldyck – Funko Pop! Animation #654 (Hunter x Hunter)

Release Year: 2020

Fun Fact: Killua’s Pop was one of the most anticipated in the Hunter x Hunter wave due to his popularity — it even glows under UV light in select exclusive versions!

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: Donkey Kong (Atari 2600 Cartridge, by Coleco/Nintendo)

Release Year: 1982

Fun Fact: This version of Donkey Kong marked one of the earliest appearances of Mario on a home console — predating his Super Mario Bros. fame by several years.

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Nintendo 3DS, Capcom)

Release Year: 2013

Fun Fact: The 3DS version could link with the Wii U version for cross-platform play and data sharing — letting players hunt on the big screen or continue their quest on the go.

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: Jimi Hendrix (1973 Documentary VHS, Warner Bros. Home Video)

Release Year: 1986 (VHS Release)

Fun Fact: The film includes historic performances from Monterey Pop, Woodstock, and the Isle of Wight festivals.

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: The Amazing Spider-Man Kid’s Digital Camera (Tech 2 Go)

Release Year: 2007

Fun Fact: This bright red camera was often bundled with themed software and stickers, making it a nostalgic collectible for kids who grew up during the 2000s Spider-Man craze.

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: Chicken Little: Ace in Action (Nintendo DS, Disney Interactive Studios)

Release Year: 2006

Fun Fact: The game’s story takes place in the fictional movie world seen at the end of the Chicken Little film — making it both a spin-off and a sequel to the 2005 movie.

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Tenth Season

Release Year: 2019 (DVD Release)

Fun Fact: Season 10 marked a major milestone for the series — becoming the first season produced entirely in HD.

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: Supergirl Action Doll (Mattel, DC Super Hero Girls Line)

Release Year: 2016
Fun Fact: The DC Super Hero Girls line marked one of Mattel’s biggest crossovers between the worlds of fashion dolls and comic book heroes

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray Hi-Def Exclusive Edition, Warner Home Video)

Release Year: 2009 (Blu-ray Edition)

Fun Fact: This edition included a 38-page collectible booklet with photos, sing-along lyrics, and behind-the-scenes trivia

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: Star Fox Command (Nintendo DS, by Q-Games / Nintendo)

Release Year: 2006

Fun Fact: Star Fox Command was the first entry in the series to feature online multiplayer via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, letting players dogfight with friends across the globe

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: Mortal Kombat II (Nintendo Game Boy, by Midway / Acclaim)

Release Year: 1994

Fun Fact: Despite the Game Boy’s hardware limitations, Mortal Kombat II managed to capture the spirit of the arcade experience, featuring digitized sprites and recognizable special moves

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: Jo Jo Gunne – Self-Titled Debut LP (Asylum Records)

Release Year: 1972

Fun Fact: The album cover — showing the band inside a car viewed through the windshield — became one of the era’s memorable rock visuals. Jo Jo Gunne reached the Billboard 200 charts

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 1d

Item: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling – Unabridged Audio Cassette Edition (Read by Jim Dale)

Release Year: 1999 (U.S.)

Fun Fact: This cassette release is now considered a nostalgic collector’s item for audiobook fans

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 3d

Item: Jafar as Red Genie – Disney’s Aladdin (Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure #356)

Release Year: 2019

Fun Fact: This version of Jafar was released as part of Funko’s Disney Villains line and became a favorite among collectors for its translucent red design

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 3d

Item: Ghosts ’N Goblins (Capcom, Nintendo Entertainment System)

Release Year: 1986 (North America)

Fun Fact: Known for its brutal challenge, Ghosts ’N Goblins inspired numerous sequels and spin-offs, and remains famous for requiring two full playthroughs to see the game’s true ending.

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 3d

Item: Super Mario Bros. McDonald’s Happy Meal Toy (Nintendo / McDonald’s Collaboration)

Release Year: 1989

Fun Fact: This was the first-ever McDonald’s x Nintendo collaboration, released to promote Super Mario Bros. 3 in the U.S.

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 4d

Item: Deluxe Jango Fett – Kamino Escape (Hasbro, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Line)

Release Year: 2002

Fun Fact: Released alongside Attack of the Clones, this deluxe Jango Fett was one of the most popular figures of the 2002 wave—showcasing the bounty hunter’s full Mandalorian gear

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 4d

Item: Motorola Numeric Pager (Black, with Vibrate Function)

Release Era: Late 1990s – Early 2000s

Fun Fact: Motorola dominated the pager market at its peak, producing over 60% of all beepers used worldwide. Devices like this became cultural icons of the ’90s

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 4d

Item: The Wizard of Oz (50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition VHS, MGM/Warner Home Video)

Release Year: 1989

Fun Fact: This 50th Anniversary Edition was one of the earliest examples of a “collector’s edition” VHS, helping establish the market for premium home video releases long before DVD

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 6d

Item: The Last of Us (Sony Computer Entertainment / Naughty Dog)

Release Year: 2013

Fun Fact: Widely regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time, The Last of Us won over 200 Game of the Year awards and became one of the PS3’s defining titles

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 6d

Item: DC Supergirl Barbie Doll (Mattel Collector Edition)

Release Year: 2003

Fun Fact: This release was part of Mattel’s early 2000s Barbie Loves Pop Culture series, celebrating iconic media heroes and marking one of Barbie’s first official DC Comics crossovers.

1

VGS: Variety Goods Store @varietygoodsstore.bsky.social · 6d

Item: Mario 5" Mini Plush Doll (Wendy’s Kids Meal Exclusive)

Release Year: 2004

Fun Fact: These plushes were only available for a short time through Wendy’s Kids Meals in 2004, making them a nostalgic collector’s item for fans of early-2000s Nintendo promotions.