Collector Nabs One-of-a-Kind SNES Game for $12k

[kitsuta]

Collector Nabs One-of-a-Kind SNES Game for $12k

After two years of negotiations, a collector is now the proud owner of Nintendo PowerFest '94.

Ever since the SNES was discontinued in 1999, cartridges for it have become increasingly rare, allowing many amateur collectors and nostalgic gamers to boast a rare game in their respective libraries. Maybe it's a copy of fan favorite Earthbound, maybe it's one of the unlicensed games that never made it to official retail outlets, or maybe it's every official game ever made [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118342-Million-Dollar-Game-Collection-Sells-on-eBay] for Japanese sister console Super Famicon. Whatever the case, it's probably not as rare as one collector's recent $12,000 acquisition of Nintendo PowerFest '94 - a literally one-of-a-kind cartridge that was supposed to have been destroyed over a decade ago.

The oversized cartridge was originally created for a 1994 Nintendo competition that spread across the US and Canada, known as both Nintendo PowerFest and Nintendo World Championships II. Included in the cartridge are sections from Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Super Mario Kart, and Ken Griffey, Jr. Presents Major League Baseball. Players are given six minutes to complete all the game excerpts, and then the overall score is automatically tallied and displayed.

Nintendo meant to destroy the approximately 32 cartridges created for the event in order to salvage the parts, but that apparently didn't quite work out. This cartridge is technically the second of two known copies of the game, but the two cartridges assign different scores to a home run in Ken Griffey Baseball because they're from different rounds of the event, so they are both unique.

[gallery=837]

The other copy, known as the "One Million Point Home Run" version, was found in a garage sale in 2009 and ended up getting into the hands of Rick Bruns, a collector who played on the winning team of the 1994 PowerFest [http://www.snesmaps.com/maps/NintendoPowerFest94/NintendoPowerFest94.html]. The new-found copy, dubbed the "Ten Thousand Point Home Run" version, was saved from destruction by the seller, who helped run the competitions.

The sale of the cartridge itself took a grand total of two years. Negotiations were slow at first because the seller originally wanted a whopping $50,000 for the game, but even after a deal was sealed, the actual transaction took a great deal of planning and preparation. The purchase was eventually completed in person, in cash, in a hotel in Vermont, and the buyer definitely noted potential comparisons to mobster movies. Fortunately though, everything went off without a hitch, and the collector is now the proud owner of a truly unique game.

As a bonus, the buyer invited Bruns, who lived in nearby New York, to bring his version to the hotel and play a couple rounds of each game. The two collectors also played the only currently-known copy of Nintendo Campus Challenge '92, which Bruns brought without prompting. Pretty good deal for a mere $12,000.

Source: Destructoid [http://blog.pricecharting.com/2012/07/how-i-got-nintendo-powerfest-94.html]

Permalink

 

[Fappy]

What's sad is that, with everything going digital these days, we won't have many collector stories like this a few decades from now

 

[draythefingerless]

What's sad is that, with everything going digital these days, we won't have many collector stories like this a few decades from now

not really. there will always be physical editions of games that come with physical bonuses. my skyrim map, in 20 years, will be worth some money i bet.

 

[Vkmies]

12k? Not really that bad of a deal, I guess. I would've payed it if I had the money.

 

[Vkmies]

What's sad is that, with everything going digital these days, we won't have many collector stories like this a few decades from now

not really. there will always be physical editions of games that come with physical bonuses. my skyrim map, in 20 years, will be worth some money i bet.

I doubt it, with coming every physical edition of such a big title. Not to mention, that the existence of one-use-activation-codes also completelly kill the value of the actual game. Now something like the one-print only localized copy of Xenoblade: Chronicles might, especially sealed, because of the extremelly limited run and the lack of any kind of restricting online activation. But games really do not hold the same value they did in the 70's, 80's or 90's, since hundred-copy-runs of rental stores of games are simply not made anymore. Not to even mention that the "Collector's" and "Limited" editions are everything but, being printed of literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of copies.

The collecting of actual video games is dead. Try your luck with things like replicas, limited edition statues and other limited print merchandise. My signed copy of the Skyrim Soundtrack is worth more than the actual game, even though I originally paid less of it. Or you can do what I do, and just collect old games, that are assured to either break, or rise in value. Can't go wrong with a retro-collection.

 

[Torrasque]

Wow. Hardcore gaming nerds like these earn my respect
I felt bad for not getting Legend of Mana because it is $129, but 12k? That is pretty dedicated

 

[draythefingerless]

What's sad is that, with everything going digital these days, we won't have many collector stories like this a few decades from now

not really. there will always be physical editions of games that come with physical bonuses. my skyrim map, in 20 years, will be worth some money i bet.

I doubt it, with coming every physical edition of such a big title. Not to mention, that the existence of one-use-activation-codes also completelly kill the value of the actual game. Now something like the one-print only localized copy of Xenoblade: Chronicles might, especially sealed, because of the extremelly limited run and the lack of any kind of restricting online activation. But games really do not hold the same value they did in the 70's, 80's or 90's, since hundred-copy-runs of rental stores of games are simply not made anymore. Not to even mention that the "Collector's" and "Limited" editions are everything but, being printed of literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of copies.

The collecting of actual video games is dead. Try your luck with things like replicas, limited edition statues and other limited print merchandise. My signed copy of the Skyrim Soundtrack is worth more than the actual game, even though I originally paid less of it. Or you can do what I do, and just collect old games, that are assured to either break, or rise in value. Can't go wrong with a retro-collection.

i actually meant the cloth skyrim map that was only in physical pre order copies of the game. not the game itself. i was also able to acquire the dvds of star wars with theee original theatrical release, and those are gonna be the shiiiit when i get old. unless they rerelease them again..... but yeah, its harder these days than it used to be. less one of a kind unique events.

 

[Epona]

Wow, they got something rare and something that can become even more valuable is a couple years time.

They nabbed something impressive, lot of money, but they got something special, hats off.

InB4 people who come here and complain about them having no lives or some bullshit...

How about if I complain about "InB4" statements? They are pretty fuckin stupid IMO.

Anyway, I have been amazed at the staying power of the SNES and it's games. I think the SNES was the best gaming console to date and I happy to see that others also hold it in high regard. The best thing about the Wii is that you can play many SNES favorites on it.

I would also like to say that I really don't like the picture viewer on this site.

 

[Epona]

What's sad is that, with everything going digital these days, we won't have many collector stories like this a few decades from now

not really. there will always be physical editions of games that come with physical bonuses. my skyrim map, in 20 years, will be worth some money i bet.

I doubt it, with coming every physical edition of such a big title. Not to mention, that the existence of one-use-activation-codes also completelly kill the value of the actual game. Now something like the one-print only localized copy of Xenoblade: Chronicles might, especially sealed, because of the extremelly limited run and the lack of any kind of restricting online activation. But games really do not hold the same value they did in the 70's, 80's or 90's, since hundred-copy-runs of rental stores of games are simply not made anymore. Not to even mention that the "Collector's" and "Limited" editions are everything but, being printed of literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of copies.

The collecting of actual video games is dead. Try your luck with things like replicas, limited edition statues and other limited print merchandise. My signed copy of the Skyrim Soundtrack is worth more than the actual game, even though I originally paid less of it. Or you can do what I do, and just collect old games, that are assured to either break, or rise in value. Can't go wrong with a retro-collection.

i actually meant the cloth skyrim map that was only in physical pre order copies of the game. not the game itself. i was also able to acquire the dvds of star wars with theee original theatrical release, and those are gonna be the shiiiit when i get old. unless they rerelease them again..... but yeah, its harder these days than it used to be. less one of a kind unique events.

I've got a map for Morrowind, how much do you think that is worth? A quick look on eBay shows that I can get the game and the map("Buy It Now") on XBOX for $22. Morrowind is a much better game than Skyrim, in 10 years very few will care about Skyrim. Even now, less than a year after release few people care about it.

 

[draythefingerless]

What's sad is that, with everything going digital these days, we won't have many collector stories like this a few decades from now

not really. there will always be physical editions of games that come with physical bonuses. my skyrim map, in 20 years, will be worth some money i bet.

I doubt it, with coming every physical edition of such a big title. Not to mention, that the existence of one-use-activation-codes also completelly kill the value of the actual game. Now something like the one-print only localized copy of Xenoblade: Chronicles might, especially sealed, because of the extremelly limited run and the lack of any kind of restricting online activation. But games really do not hold the same value they did in the 70's, 80's or 90's, since hundred-copy-runs of rental stores of games are simply not made anymore. Not to even mention that the "Collector's" and "Limited" editions are everything but, being printed of literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of copies.

The collecting of actual video games is dead. Try your luck with things like replicas, limited edition statues and other limited print merchandise. My signed copy of the Skyrim Soundtrack is worth more than the actual game, even though I originally paid less of it. Or you can do what I do, and just collect old games, that are assured to either break, or rise in value. Can't go wrong with a retro-collection.

i actually meant the cloth skyrim map that was only in physical pre order copies of the game. not the game itself. i was also able to acquire the dvds of star wars with theee original theatrical release, and those are gonna be the shiiiit when i get old. unless they rerelease them again..... but yeah, its harder these days than it used to be. less one of a kind unique events.

I've got a map for Morrowind, how much do you think that is worth? A quick look on eBay shows that I can get the game and the map("Buy It Now") on XBOX for $22. Morrowind is a much better game than Skyrim, in 10 years very few will care about Skyrim. Even now, less than a year after release few people care about it.

i dont think you can get the skyrim map now. it was a pre order only event. only with used games will you find it now. and i have to disagree with you on the few people care about it...its still in the top 10 games sold on steam weekly. it has been almost constantly there since its release. it has sold FAR more than morrowind did. and id disagree about morrowind being better. i think they have each done things better than the other and worser than the other. and i did say in 20 years, morrowind came out 10 years ago so its still soon for you to get to the point of rarity on the product. you need time for decay, for people to lose it, for the company to abandon it.

if anything, morrowind will be much more valuable than skyrim, because skyrim has become far more successful hence more widespread products around the world, where as morrowind being less available will make it more gold. but this is all speculation anyway...time will tell these things.

 

[jFr[e]ak93]

Really? I have 6 of those games kicking around!

OT, I wish I had 12k to throw around like that! That's a fairly impressive feat when you think about it. Collecting games like that.... wow.

 

[Epona]

What's sad is that, with everything going digital these days, we won't have many collector stories like this a few decades from now

not really. there will always be physical editions of games that come with physical bonuses. my skyrim map, in 20 years, will be worth some money i bet.

I doubt it, with coming every physical edition of such a big title. Not to mention, that the existence of one-use-activation-codes also completelly kill the value of the actual game. Now something like the one-print only localized copy of Xenoblade: Chronicles might, especially sealed, because of the extremelly limited run and the lack of any kind of restricting online activation. But games really do not hold the same value they did in the 70's, 80's or 90's, since hundred-copy-runs of rental stores of games are simply not made anymore. Not to even mention that the "Collector's" and "Limited" editions are everything but, being printed of literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of copies.

The collecting of actual video games is dead. Try your luck with things like replicas, limited edition statues and other limited print merchandise. My signed copy of the Skyrim Soundtrack is worth more than the actual game, even though I originally paid less of it. Or you can do what I do, and just collect old games, that are assured to either break, or rise in value. Can't go wrong with a retro-collection.

i actually meant the cloth skyrim map that was only in physical pre order copies of the game. not the game itself. i was also able to acquire the dvds of star wars with theee original theatrical release, and those are gonna be the shiiiit when i get old. unless they rerelease them again..... but yeah, its harder these days than it used to be. less one of a kind unique events.

I've got a map for Morrowind, how much do you think that is worth? A quick look on eBay shows that I can get the game and the map("Buy It Now") on XBOX for $22. Morrowind is a much better game than Skyrim, in 10 years very few will care about Skyrim. Even now, less than a year after release few people care about it.

i dont think you can get the skyrim map now. it was a pre order only event. only with used games will you find it now. and i have to disagree with you on the few people care about it...its still in the top 10 games sold on steam weekly. it has been almost constantly there since its release. it has sold FAR more than morrowind did. and id disagree about morrowind being better. i think they have each done things better than the other and worser than the other. and i did say in 20 years, morrowind came out 10 years ago so its still soon for you to get to the point of rarity on the product. you need time for decay, for people to lose it, for the company to abandon it.

if anything, morrowind will be much more valuable than skyrim, because skyrim has become far more successful hence more widespread products around the world, where as morrowind being less available will make it more gold. but this is all speculation anyway...time will tell these things.

Wasn't the Skyrim map pretty useless? I'll have to dig mine out but I remember looking at it once and thinking, this isn't going be helpful and putting it back in the box.

 

[Torrasque]

Wasn't the Skyrim map pretty useless? I'll have to dig mine out but I remember looking at it once and thinking, this isn't going be helpful and putting it back in the box.

My Skyrim map is pretty useful. I have it right beside my bed to remind me to play Skyrim. I also have several important places marked on it.

 

[draythefingerless]

What's sad is that, with everything going digital these days, we won't have many collector stories like this a few decades from now

not really. there will always be physical editions of games that come with physical bonuses. my skyrim map, in 20 years, will be worth some money i bet.

I doubt it, with coming every physical edition of such a big title. Not to mention, that the existence of one-use-activation-codes also completelly kill the value of the actual game. Now something like the one-print only localized copy of Xenoblade: Chronicles might, especially sealed, because of the extremelly limited run and the lack of any kind of restricting online activation. But games really do not hold the same value they did in the 70's, 80's or 90's, since hundred-copy-runs of rental stores of games are simply not made anymore. Not to even mention that the "Collector's" and "Limited" editions are everything but, being printed of literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of copies.

The collecting of actual video games is dead. Try your luck with things like replicas, limited edition statues and other limited print merchandise. My signed copy of the Skyrim Soundtrack is worth more than the actual game, even though I originally paid less of it. Or you can do what I do, and just collect old games, that are assured to either break, or rise in value. Can't go wrong with a retro-collection.

i actually meant the cloth skyrim map that was only in physical pre order copies of the game. not the game itself. i was also able to acquire the dvds of star wars with theee original theatrical release, and those are gonna be the shiiiit when i get old. unless they rerelease them again..... but yeah, its harder these days than it used to be. less one of a kind unique events.

I've got a map for Morrowind, how much do you think that is worth? A quick look on eBay shows that I can get the game and the map("Buy It Now") on XBOX for $22. Morrowind is a much better game than Skyrim, in 10 years very few will care about Skyrim. Even now, less than a year after release few people care about it.

i dont think you can get the skyrim map now. it was a pre order only event. only with used games will you find it now. and i have to disagree with you on the few people care about it...its still in the top 10 games sold on steam weekly. it has been almost constantly there since its release. it has sold FAR more than morrowind did. and id disagree about morrowind being better. i think they have each done things better than the other and worser than the other. and i did say in 20 years, morrowind came out 10 years ago so its still soon for you to get to the point of rarity on the product. you need time for decay, for people to lose it, for the company to abandon it.

if anything, morrowind will be much more valuable than skyrim, because skyrim has become far more successful hence more widespread products around the world, where as morrowind being less available will make it more gold. but this is all speculation anyway...time will tell these things.

Wasn't the Skyrim map pretty useless? I'll have to dig mine out but I remember looking at it once and thinking, this isn't going be helpful and putting it back in the box.

well, lets be honest, no map that comes with a game is really useful...but it is pretty awesome, and its fucking canvas cloth too! not like the other maps, wich come in poster plastic...

thou to be honest, the map comes with little markers that lead you to those ....i dun remember the name, those stones that give you buffs.

 

[draythefingerless]

Wasn't the Skyrim map pretty useless? I'll have to dig mine out but I remember looking at it once and thinking, this isn't going be helpful and putting it back in the box.

My Skyrim map is pretty useful. I have it right beside my bed to remind me to play Skyrim. I also have several important places marked on it.

wait...you marked stuff...on the map? D:

 

[Torrasque]

Wasn't the Skyrim map pretty useless? I'll have to dig mine out but I remember looking at it once and thinking, this isn't going be helpful and putting it back in the box.

My Skyrim map is pretty useful. I have it right beside my bed to remind me to play Skyrim. I also have several important places marked on it.

wait...you marked stuff...on the map? D:

All of the important shrines, and some major dungeons.
I enjoy making new toons more than getting to the endgame, and it can be annoying at times forgetting where said shrines are.

 

[Epona]

What's sad is that, with everything going digital these days, we won't have many collector stories like this a few decades from now

not really. there will always be physical editions of games that come with physical bonuses. my skyrim map, in 20 years, will be worth some money i bet.

I doubt it, with coming every physical edition of such a big title. Not to mention, that the existence of one-use-activation-codes also completelly kill the value of the actual game. Now something like the one-print only localized copy of Xenoblade: Chronicles might, especially sealed, because of the extremelly limited run and the lack of any kind of restricting online activation. But games really do not hold the same value they did in the 70's, 80's or 90's, since hundred-copy-runs of rental stores of games are simply not made anymore. Not to even mention that the "Collector's" and "Limited" editions are everything but, being printed of literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of copies.

The collecting of actual video games is dead. Try your luck with things like replicas, limited edition statues and other limited print merchandise. My signed copy of the Skyrim Soundtrack is worth more than the actual game, even though I originally paid less of it. Or you can do what I do, and just collect old games, that are assured to either break, or rise in value. Can't go wrong with a retro-collection.

i actually meant the cloth skyrim map that was only in physical pre order copies of the game. not the game itself. i was also able to acquire the dvds of star wars with theee original theatrical release, and those are gonna be the shiiiit when i get old. unless they rerelease them again..... but yeah, its harder these days than it used to be. less one of a kind unique events.

I've got a map for Morrowind, how much do you think that is worth? A quick look on eBay shows that I can get the game and the map("Buy It Now") on XBOX for $22. Morrowind is a much better game than Skyrim, in 10 years very few will care about Skyrim. Even now, less than a year after release few people care about it.

i dont think you can get the skyrim map now. it was a pre order only event. only with used games will you find it now. and i have to disagree with you on the few people care about it...its still in the top 10 games sold on steam weekly. it has been almost constantly there since its release. it has sold FAR more than morrowind did. and id disagree about morrowind being better. i think they have each done things better than the other and worser than the other. and i did say in 20 years, morrowind came out 10 years ago so its still soon for you to get to the point of rarity on the product. you need time for decay, for people to lose it, for the company to abandon it.

if anything, morrowind will be much more valuable than skyrim, because skyrim has become far more successful hence more widespread products around the world, where as morrowind being less available will make it more gold. but this is all speculation anyway...time will tell these things.

Wasn't the Skyrim map pretty useless? I'll have to dig mine out but I remember looking at it once and thinking, this isn't going be helpful and putting it back in the box.

well, lets be honest, no map that comes with a game is really useful...but it is pretty awesome, and its fucking canvas cloth too! not like the other maps, wich come in poster plastic...

thou to be honest, the map comes with little markers that lead you to those ....i dun remember the name, those stones that give you buffs.

I remember getting useful maps with games in the SNES era. Maps were good in the PS1 era too but they didn't really come with the game, they were in guides. I am looking at the cloth map for Skyward Sword and really doesn't show anything of value. I have been too lazy to get my Skyrim map out of the closet but I think it's about the same.

Wasn't the Skyrim map pretty useless? I'll have to dig mine out but I remember looking at it once and thinking, this isn't going be helpful and putting it back in the box.

My Skyrim map is pretty useful. I have it right beside my bed to remind me to play Skyrim. I also have several important places marked on it.

wait...you marked stuff...on the map? D:

All of the important shrines, and some major dungeons.
I enjoy making new toons more than getting to the endgame, and it can be annoying at times forgetting where said shrines are.

On a good map, that shit would already be marked for you.