My first exposure to 3dgs was in the early 2000's. The local software store(yes stores that sold box software lol!) had a "Game Programming Starter kit". I had seen a lower version that had the Geneses engine, but this one had 3dgs 5 'standard'. I ended up with the box set and caught the 3dgs bug.

This was it.. http://www.gamevortex.com/gamevortex/hard_rev.php/180/game-programming-starter-kit-50-pc.html