So, today I've noticed there's a pack on Steam for $9.99 (US and Canada only? It's been restricted for Brazil.) There's also the retail pack, called Gold Edition. There are differences between the two editions.

Steam: $9.99
http://store.steampowered.com/sub/7683/
It contains Shadow Dancer, but not the two ToeJam & Earl titles. Does not contain 6 Sonic games.

Retail: $29.95
http://www.sega.com/games/sega-genesis-classic-collection-gold-edition/
It contains the two ToeJam & Earl, but not Shadow Dancer. It does contain 6 Sonic games.

Opinions? Anyone here bought any of these two? Do both contain exactly the same executables? (Even if retail is pricier, I would get it just to have the games in a disc+the benefit of the Sonic games...)

I would say the retail box from Sega is the better collection, mostly because of the sonic games. The Sonic franchise defined the genesis for many people and a collection of genesis games would feel out of place without them in my opinion.

Actually the Sonic and Toe Jam & Earl games are supposed to be in the bundle - they're just not listed on the product page, and when you buy it, YOU DON'T GET THEM EITHER. Check this forum post at Steam...

I'm not buying this until Steam fixes things.

(Edit: Sonic 3D Blast isn't in the bundle for some reason. WTF Sega!)

Yet another Steam "error"...

And what about Shadow Dancer? It's not present in the retail disc?

Don't hate me for saying this, but I downloaded the first Genesis pack illegally a while back, and the games are basically roms running in an emulator. The emulator's -not bad-, but it was REALLY slow on my computer. I blame my video card.

I don't know if these will run without Steam, but the games are DRM free on other stores...

there is really no point in buying it on steam, if you check the forums you can see that the emulator is a crap and the multiplayer is not for playing online :O with others? they made it local like 2 players its still confusing but the multiplayer is not online multiplayer

Local co-op only then, or vs. matches.

In a sense that makes it more likely that I'll eventually buy the pack. Just because that way I can run it on my own emulator, complete with authentic controller.

I don't remember if the game roms are encrypted though. :P

Usually they aren't when Steam goes that route. Particularly for games of that vintage. But, I'd probably want to know before buying.

Valve just removed any mention of the Sonic games and Toe Jam and Earl.

Sega doesn't want my money? Fine then.

I plan to get the boxed collection... every game you could want and probably no DRM.