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http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/the-17-500-video-game/1332488

Think $60 video games are too expensive? You won't hear any argument from us, but you might from JJ Hendricks, a collector who just paid a clinically insane $17,500 for an obscure NES game from 1990.

The game in question is an ultra-rare, gold-colored version of Nintendo World Championships, a cartridge specially produced for use in a Nintendo-sponsored gaming contest. According to Wikipedia only 26 were created, and Hendricks calls it the "Holy Grail" of video game collectors.

The game itself has a time limit of just 6 minutes and 21 seconds and consists of three short segments from other NES games: Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and Rad Racer. Players are scored according to their performance in each game, and their scores are totaled once the time limit expires. Doesn't sound too riveting to us, but then somehow we doubt Hendricks is in it for the gameplay.

And while $17,500 might seem a bit much for a collection of ones and zeroes, Hendricks actually got a bargain: the game was originally listed on eBay for a cool $25,000.

Hell i wouldnt even pay 100 for that game.

Well, it's a collector's item at this point. And value is in the eye of the beholder.

Lots of people look at the plastic soldiers we play with and think the same thing.

Its funny, because one of my older brothers was just talking about that very game about a month ago. Ill have to email him that link lol

Some people either have more money then sense or are just one sandwhich short of a picnic. That is insane! If I had that much money to spend I'd use it for a deposit on a house, buy a car or pay off my debts. But $17,500 for a retro game, not even a full game at that, is beyond comprehension even bearing in mind he's a collector. He needs a woman, stat!

Of all the possibilities for 17,500, that game would never enter my mind.

Hopefully he'll sell it for even more money.

Exarch_Nektel wrote:Of all the possibilities for 17,500, that game would never enter my mind.

Hopefully he'll sell it for even more money.

Exactly, not only does he get bragging rights among those who care about collecting games, he'll probably sell it in a few years for more. As a collector's market games are still emerging.

I remember reading when I was a kid that Action Comics 1 was $3000.

Today it's like $300k.

For that amount of money, I could build my own Lunar Lander. With Black Jack and Hookers!

In fact, forget the Lunar Lander and the Black Jack!

Ah, screw the whole thing.

Kid_Kyoto wrote:he get bragging rights among those who care about collecting games.

Can't imagine that's a large group of people .

But seriously, it's a daft amount of cash to pay for an object. At the end of the day that's all these things are.
Even GW (in fact especially GW) has examples of things for silly amounts of cash. Who in their right mind for example, would buy the Tau Manta? Yes I know it's a georgous model (and if you ask me a lot more desirable then a gold chunk of plastic), but for over £1,000? Nah, its ridiculous.

Its a bad buy, and no I am not stating the obvious. The price tag can be realistic if the media is truly collectible, this frankly isnt collectible at that price level.

Some things cost far more than they are worth. Just look at art prices. Now a rare collectable can be a good investment but you have to look at the genre. true top collectables that are not one of a kind pieces must be naturally rare not artifically rare to have best value. For example early comics on open sale which deteriorate over time and deteriorate quickly at the hands of the children who bought them. They cost because they are naturally rare. A special edition goldie coloured case is an artificial rarity, its worth something to geeks of the genre but little else.
Now if we compare something more mainstream such as 1st edition The Hobbit or 1st edition Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, a very limited print run from before anyone suspected either author would make it, they are worth a fortune and the value will only grow.

NES is dead, its being bypassed and soon the generation that remembers it will remember it no longer. Thus it has little collectible longevity. sure it will still be worth something but now is actually peak value because it is in the personal nostalgia phase. 40+'s looking back at their youth. However those in their current 20's wont have the same attraction to the icon, and thus values will inevitably slip.

Also due to the nature of the medium it will decay, as soon as the cartridge no longer works its value is slashed. That day will occur soon enough.

All in all a colossally bad investment. Holy grail of console gaming? No sorry, for that you need to look at early Pong consoles, and they dont often go for such a lot of money. But they are collectible because its a piece of technolgical history, the NES goldie cases are marketing history, which has very limited value all told.

Let people do what they will with their own money. It's their money, not yours, they earned it and have every right to legally spend it how they please.

Also, can we NOT post thread titles in all CAPS please?

It's fairly annoying as the internet isn't a new thing anymore [so no one has an excuse for this behavior anymore] and certain standards of netiquette need to be maintained.

That is an insane amount of money!

Orlanth wrote: NES is dead, its being bypassed and soon the generation that remembers it will remember it no longer.

I'm 13 and I have an NES that i play fairly regularly. I also have an SNES, N64, PS1, and PS2

Lagduf wrote:Let people do what they will with their own money. It's their money, not yours, they earned it and have every right to legally spend it how they please.

Quite true and I'm sure the person that bought it is very happy right now and couldn't care less aboout what others say.

However as this was publicised in a news article we have our right to voice our opinion. And it's insane.

Meh, he's a collector, has the money, and the game sounds pretty rare I say let hime do what he wants. How many things ever have 26 copies made of them?

I don't see any threads where people are griping about Ted Kennedy and his $1,000 per copy LE book that is being released.

My question is how did he get the money???

Still, I hope that every 6 seconds is filled with ecstasy (No, I'm serious, if you did ecstasy this 6 minute game will last forever)

Cryonicleech wrote:My question is how did he get the money???

Probably very easy to save up money when you live in your parent's basement


Don't panic, it's a joke. He's probably loaded and sleeps on top of a pile of money alongside many beautiful women.

Let's hope so.....for 17,500 dollars sake...

Aren't there any ROMs of it?

$17,500

Man... that could tip a lot of strippers... or buy hella pizzas.... or buy a bunch of Titans.... mmmm stripper pizza titan goodness...

That money could get us a really good weekend for two with a shopping spree at the good places such as Ann Summers

Wannabe Writer wrote:But seriously, it's a daft amount of cash to pay for an object.

Warhammer: also seen as a daft amount of money to pay for an object. May especially interest you in something from Forgeworld?

I guess that could also be seen as a collectable movie prop though, if you're into really cheesy 80's movies about autistic gamer kids.

That was actually the cartridge used at the end of The Wizard, which was more like a demo cartridge than a completely pointless one. It was also released before Super Mario Bros. 3 was.

That has the potential for driving the price up quite a bit.

Worth it? He'll definitely sell it for more later, if he even wants to. If not, to each his own I guess.

Ahtman wrote:

Wannabe Writer wrote:But seriously, it's a daft amount of cash to pay for an object.

Warhammer: also seen as a daft amount of money to pay for an object. May especially interest you in something from Forgeworld?

I do make that point later in the same post if you recall, I comment on the Tau Manta.

Wannabe Writer wrote:

Ahtman wrote:

Wannabe Writer wrote:But seriously, it's a daft amount of cash to pay for an object.

Warhammer: also seen as a daft amount of money to pay for an object. May especially interest you in something from Forgeworld?

I do make that point later in the same post if you recall, I comment on the Tau Manta.

Well carry on then.

Ahtman wrote:

Wannabe Writer wrote:But seriously, it's a daft amount of cash to pay for an object.

Warhammer: also seen as a daft amount of money to pay for an object. May especially interest you in something from Forgeworld?

Yes but warhammer last longer then 6 minutes.

garret wrote:

Ahtman wrote:

Wannabe Writer wrote:But seriously, it's a daft amount of cash to pay for an object.

Warhammer: also seen as a daft amount of money to pay for an object. May especially interest you in something from Forgeworld?

Yes but warhammer last longer then 6 minutes.

Not if you do it right.