The $17,500 video game ????

Betallsports · Jul 7, 2009

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.

Betallsports · Jul 7, 2009

Would you pay $17,500 for this?

STACKSONDECK · Jul 7, 2009

geez... i guess and hope this guy is a multi millionaire

STACKSONDECK · Jul 7, 2009

well he did get a deal so i guess its an investment

RobFunk · Jul 7, 2009

I played in that competition in 1990 I only made it past the first prelim. I remember seeing that gold cartridge. I had no idea it was that rare

Boxer22 · Jul 7, 2009

Betallsports said:
Would you pay $17,500 for this?

If there was only 26 made and I was a video game collector definitely. Its like asking someone who collects sports memorabilia if they would pay $150,000 for a mint condition Babe Ruth ball..... Which if I had $150,000 I would buy in a heartbeat.

Boxer22 · Jul 7, 2009

RobFunk said:
I played in that competition in 1990 I only made it past the first prelim. I remember seeing that gold cartridge. I had no idea it was that rare

When I seen that gold cartridge I got it confused with the Zelda gold cartridge. I never seen that cartridge before in my life.

RobFunk · Jul 7, 2009

Boxer22 said:
When I seen that gold cartridge I got it confused with the Zelda gold cartridge. I never seen that cartridge before in my life.

I only had that Zelda one also. But there were actually a small series of gold carts among other screwed up looking carts.

'My NES collection'

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MONDOGECKO · Jul 7, 2009

no excite bike, what a waste

kkandnathan · Jul 7, 2009

i wont pay for that!!!!!!!!

KillaRSox · Jul 7, 2009

Not to mention you can only play the game for 6 mins, it's a tournament game.

louisvillekid · Jul 7, 2009

Boxer22 said:
When I seen that gold cartridge I got it confused with the Zelda gold cartridge. I never seen that cartridge before in my life.

that's the only gold one i remember also.

MONDO GECKO said:
no excite bike, what a waste

i can't believe i used to play that game, it was so simple and plain. I used to have another racing type game me and my buddy would play, R/C Racing, or something like that.

KillaRSox said:
Not to mention you can only play the game for 6 mins, it's a tournament game.

i caught that when i read it, it also confused me when i read it yesterday , the article made it sound like the game(s) would just quit and your score would be locked in or some shit.

All i know is i don't remember it or the tourney.

Rambo · Jul 7, 2009

Punch out has to still be my favorite nes game. I still remember the code to tyson.

Boxer22 · Jul 7, 2009

I was a huge Maniac Mansion fan for NES.

louisvillekid · Jul 7, 2009

my game was the original Metroid. i remember having notebook pages filled with maps i had drawn out so i could get an overall visual of where i had been and what secret holes and tunnels would lead me to that would link back to other rooms and whatnot.
Then after i spend a couple months beating the game Nintendo started offering this big black magazine, it was basically like the very first issue of Nintendo monthly or what Nintendo monthly was goingto be like, anyway they were putting/bundling this big ass book/mag in with new purchases of Nintendos and the thing had maps for all kinds of games and codes and whatnot. I was pissed cause i had just spend like 2 months hand drawing this shit out and my grades went to shit cause i was so addicted to that damn game, and then that damn book/mag came out with all the tips and maps.

Boxer22 · Jul 7, 2009

louisvillekid said:
my game was the original Metroid. i remember having notebook pages filled with maps i had drawn out so i could get an overall visual of where i had been and what secret holes and tunnels would lead me to that would link back to other rooms and whatnot.
Then after i spend a couple months beating the game Nintendo started offering this big black magazine, it was basically like the very first issue of Nintendo monthly or what Nintendo monthly was goingto be like, anyway they were putting/bundling this big ass book/mag in with new purchases of Nintendos and the thing had maps for all kinds of games and codes and whatnot. I was pissed cause i had just spend like 2 months hand drawing this shit out and my grades went to shit cause i was so addicted to that damn game, and then that damn book/mag came out with all the tips and maps.

That's okay doing things on your own makes it that much better imo.

STACKSONDECK · Jul 7, 2009

RobFunk said:
I only had that Zelda one also. But there were actually a small series of gold carts among other screwed up looking carts.

'My NES collection'

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damn i wish i could be in that room. bases loaded was classic if you hit the pitcher in the 7th inning he would fight and get kicked out.

TomGshotput · Jul 7, 2009

A lot of people thought baseball cards and comic books were insanely priced when they first became high end collectables 30 years ago. It is an investment in the theory that there will be enough people with more brains than money. If you know what you are doing, you can always do well with that

Rambo · Jul 10, 2009

Thats the angry videogame nerds collection. Dont try and be slick robfunk :tongue2:

RobFunk · Jul 10, 2009

Rambo said:
Thats the angry videogame nerds collection. Dont try and be slick robfunk :tongue2:

Oh no, thats why I used the quote marks. Wasnt trying any BS here.

AVGN is great, his reviews are funny as hell.

I'm not into collecting stuff, though I was when I was younger.