How One Man Spent $17,500 On A Video Game

@Grooveraider: Yeah but you can't pretend it ISN'T the holy grail of collecting. This is a seriously limited piece of gaming history and was a well publicized competition. There are rare games and there are RARE games. This definitely falls into the latter category.

Having an NWC 1990 cart (gold or gray) is a NES collector's dream. Hell, it's certainly MY dream. I say three cheers for this guy. I'd love to have one if I could afford it.

Apple Kid

@article

I am glad the guy had the money to spend on what he wanted. I wish I were in the same situation.

On that note, if I paid that much money for a game, and the shipper fucked with me like that,(I'd rather be beat up that psychologically screwed with like that).. canceling the order on me.. not sure what I would do, but I'd say it would lead me to paying a personal visit to the person..

Here's wanting to have a wealthy future to, so much money that I can too can blow it on things I want like this man.

--Core--

@Sakilla:

It was supposed to prove a point since both you defended yourselves against what I said and that is don't be quick to judge. I bet very few of us on here are the stereotypical nerds everybody pictures. Sure people have things lacking in their lives and they try to "fill" it up but I have yet to meet a human being that is 100% fulfilled. I just don't like it when people try to tear others down. Out of no where you just assume he lacks something in his life? That's weak...................

@FtGF: Maybe too quick too judge, but I've met too many collectors to give the benefit of the doubt. When collecting gets so hardcore, it always feels like compensation for something lacking in their life, and that's just sad. Then again, archologists dig up ruins and collect stuff for museums, and I respect that. I guess we all have our standards of what's cool and what's not.

That said, I may be a bit nerdy (a little), but am in no way insecure. I have my moments, but I'm a rather confident guy, mostly. Thanks for being "too quick to judge".

@Cavefish: You're not fun and I'm not playing with you.

@Michael Dukakis - Mets fan - Leader: I'll answer the question.

It was a specially made game for the competition. It contains games like tetris/mario/etc specifically set up with a time limit on each game, and keeps track of the total score through all the games.

I cant remember the exact contents, but for example there would be the first level of mario, the score from which goes on to be added to a time attack version of tetris, etc etc.

And it's painted gold.

clammy

@StoneLazerkill:
Thats true.. guess we'll find out In 25 years

The rom is already dumped online. You too can play the $17,500 game *rolling eyes* Just do a Google search.

@beez1717:
The rom is already dumped online. You too can play the $17,500 game.

umm...great buy...i guess o_O

JJ Hendricks can spend money on whatever he wants. But to declare this competition cartridge as the "Honus Wagner" of video game collecting is ridiculous. Seriously, where's the OFFICIAL certificate of authenticity proving the actual number of competition carts still in existance? I get so sick and tired of people throwing the word RARE and LIMITED EDITION around so loosely. There has to be some guidelines. I mean I could easily be someone who's very well-off financially. I could get a couple of friends who are in the same situation as me. I could obtain some trivial merchandise, put it on Ebay with an astronomical price, publicize the auction, and get my friends to bid on it and win. Congradulations, you've created a "Holy Grail" story / winner and now you've got people out there feeling it is an official item that must be had.

Respect to the man! Now this is a serious collector. My most expensive game is Psychic Assasin Taromaru for SEGA Saturn which is estimated about 350-400$. I feel so small :P

sybnios

@jayntampa: I love how this guy spends this much and I'm never willing to pay $60 for a game.

As far as i'm concerned - this WAS the "Holy Grail" until the rom was dumped and reproduced. This comment is coming a guy who owns a signature and an original photo of the late Gunpei Yokoi - Father of Gameboy and Shigeru Miyamoto mentor. Its a one-of-a-kind item not to be duplicated.

Gunpei Yokoi & me:
[www.flickr.com]

@Masterpain22:

LOL, I think Masterpain has cracked the scooby doo mystery.

@John_Norad: General Asshole?

@Cavefish: Don't worry, man. I understand you made a simple mistake and I'm sure others do too. Just ignore all the people trying to get their jabs in about you or else it will probably head into a point of no return.

bangbangblah

@Quote: well, I hate stamps. So there.

bangbangblah

@Shadowguitar: Action comics 1 is also a good 50 years older than this cartridge, give it some time...

@jayntampa: Why's that? People spend thousands and thousands more on just as dumb things like postage stamps and *holds breath* baseball cards... Man do I hate baseball...

Rich people, that's all

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!: Seems like a decent investment, it will probably only grow in value.

pmur

@SHOWTIME!: It's already been done, man. It's called Lionheart with Jean Claude Van Damme (1990).

@Doomstink:

Never know.. he may have swindled some one or actually got it when he was younger...

But yeah odds are he made little to no profit...

@Deaf Mute:

Hey I never said you were I said you "seem" your expected response was to prove my point. Go enjoy life, of course you are the only one on Kotaku that has one ;).

@Doomstink: "It's an incredibly ignorant comment to say that all collectors have a dysfunctional social life."

@Theoutlet: "Methinks you judge too much."

@FtGF: "I think both of you seem like the insecure nerds you are talking about. Too quick to judge guys."

Whatever you say guys, I don't remember condemning the guy at all. Only bringing up the sort of skeptical questions that pop in my head.

I'll take my supposed "insecure" self offline and enjoy life.

I wonder if you can get the rom of it?

If I had the money I'd buy it and give it to the Angry Video Game Nerd so that he could say he had a COMPLETE collection of NES videogames. I really just think that is the right thing to do. I would first however, probably find a way to copy the ROM onto another cartridge so that I could play it at home whenever I felt like. I just would feel the need to do that, but the AVGN should get the game.. he deserves it more then I do.

beez1717

@Mischif: Man I suck at this internet thing.

@Mischif: Oh goddamn it.

@Deathbearer: I LUFF GOOOOOOOLD.

Obsession is a depressing, mind-boggling thing.

jasonduane

@Lion_Knight: The most I've spent on a singular card is $20.00.

@negitoro: Yeah Detective Comic #27 goes for a cool 1.4 million, and Action Comic #1 goes for a little over 1.3 million.

Whats actually on the cart? Is it a series of games played in the championships all on one cart or what?

O_o too much I would say, but he is a collector so more power to him if he can afford it.

motang

@Doomstink: Until the bit rot hits it.

TheUncleBob

Cool article!

Mlata

I was wondering wth the switches were for and found this:

[en.wikipedia.org]

qamulek

@Deathbearer: Or is an avid game collector and values this cartridge too much...or is able to look at it for what is actually worth.

ADM86

It could also be worth $0.17...@KEELr:

@[lmgtfy.com]

I wish I had a dumb friend with a cartridge like that so I could grab it and sell it hehehehe. lol

I´m sort of a collector but I collect consoles, I don´t care much about having tons of cartridges.

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!: 4-year college education? car?

@Shadowguitar: $17,500 is nothing compared to what Action Comics #1 would go for...
Game collecting is like chump change compared to rare comics or sports memorabilia.

negitoro

@Solertia: Suddenly, a week later the game goes missing, and his best friend takes him out for a nice lobster dinner.

Squirrelbot3000

@Deathbearer:
Especially this guy.

Squirrelbot3000

@harshalizee: Nah, I wasn't going for an insult. I was trying to self ironic if anything.
Collecting is as useless as doing anything in life, was my point.

Cavefish

@Zerorush: The other owners wouldn't mind. The less surviving copies that exist, the more valuable their copies are.

VBerg

@Cavefish: Ummm.. Dude you having your periods or something??!
Next time try and read, before you post your wall of insult, which I presume makes you feel all cool and shit.

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!:
House?

@NitroAML: You know what? We all could. You got £40 to spend on a game, you could bypass it that month, but we generally don't. If you do, then well done, but it's always hypocritical when people throw stuff around like this without ever putting up themselves.

@Nobuyuki: I can buy Symphony of the Night for a tenner on Xbox Live, didn't stop me spending over a £100 for the game with CD etc. It's fun being a collector!

...jesus. That guy bought a video game for the price I'd pay for like two used cars.

bonghammer

@Ghetto Cornetto:
>an collector
One of many typo's I've made this morning due to sluggishness, I'm sure you've noticed them. Point them out out some more. It will make a difference.

>We might be a rare breed compared to the masses of carbon based beings waiting in line to perish...
Maybe that should have been the "complete" masses for better legibility.
As we're all just waiting to die, a small part of us kill our time by collecting (i.e. doing this empty occupation may not be more or less valuable over anything else). Not noticing the self-irony in the whole post either?
Again, this was a reply to a comment I misread. Not helping that people are over-analyzing my reply.

>Everything else in that post
Subjective comment, it needs no reply.

>Get out.
Snappy internet reply, it needs no reply.

Cavefish

@Pornosaur: Major Discovery?

@Cavefish: >an collector

>We might be a rare breed compared to the masses of carbon based beings waiting in line to perish...

>Everything else in that post

Get out.

In 25 years that cartridge might be worth $175,000 so Im not gonna call him stupid...

@notquitedeadyet: Yes, I misundersood his question. No, I didn't insult people not obsessed with collexting.

Cavefish

i dunno... anyone willing to drop that much on a stupid cart deserves a quick swift kick in the nuts and a list of charities that desperate for cash read to them.

This is completely ridiculous, i´m a videogame collector too, i usually hunt for limited edition stuff and good old titles but paying 17.5 grand for a probably damaged (and probably BAD) NES game is simply retarded. When i payed 60 bucks for Chrono Trigger i felt like the seller was raping me... wow...

@chronomasakari is dizzy from the spinning of games: Man I wish there were an edit button

@Pornosaur: Lieutenant Discernable?

@Cavefish: Wow. You completely misunderstood what he was asking, and proceeded to insult him and people not obsessed with collecting [in some people's eyes] useless memorabilia. You're over-analyzing, chill dude.

notquitedeadyet

@Theoutlet: I wouldn't pay that much for a magic card either. I draw the line at $10.00 and I had better get more than on at that price.

Lion_Knight

wow, I could use that to fix my car that is barely running, or pay off some of my student loans, or heck feed starving children in Africa. (Or buy a a few sets of titanium platemail, they are only 5,000 and much cooler. Oh then get a horse and train it for jousting. A much better investment of almost 20g)

Lion_Knight

@Wizard: I'm very appreciative of JJ. He has supplied the gaming community with a great gift (VGPC.com), and I think he deserves this more than anyone.

@Sakilla:

I think both of you seem like the insecure nerds you are talking about. Too quick to judge guys.

@Zerorush: SMASH MY NINTENDO WOLD CHAMPIONSHIP CARTRIDGE DOT COM! As the onlookers look in confusion.

@Cavefish: And dammit, I always screw up end tags.

Cavefish

@Michael Dukakis - Mets fan - Leader: That's because you're not an collector. You'd probably never understand.

A lot of people, on the other hand, do. We might be a rare breed compared to the masses of carbon based beings waiting in line to perish, but I understand wholeheartedly the feeling of collecting a rare piece of history and adding it, as was it the last missing link, to one's collection, for a sense of completion.

Why do kids collect baseball cards? Celebrities collect cars? Archaeologists collect bones? What is it that makes us Gotta catch 'em all? It's the feeling of going on a treasure hunt. You don't just go out and find it. It takes time to progress, making it a deeper feeling of accomplishment.

Granted, I've not spent 17.5k just like that myself. But I do get it, having still spent ridiculous amounts of money on pretty much useless plastic as the Satellaview, 64DD, iQue and stuff like that.

Having seperate money is obviously pretty essential in my relationship :P

Cavefish

@Annie Are You OK? Are You OK Annie?: no, no. We all know raw steaks lead to hobo fights. Maybe that's how he makes his money, off the illegal hobo-fighting circuit. BRB gonna go write a screenplay about underground hobofighting circuit.

@NoobKitten: SHOCKTROOPERS! ASSEMBLE!

@notquitedeadyet: Not even plated, SPRAYED gold XD

@Lezard: I wish I had the game.

Wait, no I want the money too.

chronomasakari is dizzy from the spinning of games

I cant wait for a ps3 price cut. 400$ is insane

chamoo232

Looks like their value is depreciating. I should be careful. He might just end up selling it for $10,000.

mcderek3000

@Michael Dukakis - Mets fan - Leader: Shit, why not a raw steak?!?

@NoobKitten: Valkyria Chronicles ftw.

njd09

That's nothing I would pay like 50k for that

That's beyond insane!

Shevonne A Polastre

@Sakilla: Hell, if I was rich enough I'd spend my money on things people would consider more ridiculous.

Can't a person buy something without being judged negatively? (...idk if i shoulda said this).

how many times is the same article going to be rehashed?

@Masterpain22: While that would be pretty cool, I don't live in Colorado, I'm not married, and I don't have a blogger account.

(All the information I pulled is available if you just hop some links on blogger, which is where the article is hosted.)

Wizard

@Wizard: JJ Hendricks is this you?

Masterpain22

@Pornosaur: Captain Duh?

Joshua MacPhetridge

@Sakilla: I don't believe the negative light you've cast this collector in is particularly justified.

For a collector, finding that one crown jewel, something that you know is the creme de la creme of any collection, and then getting your hands on it? That's a feeling that will last. While he could have used that money on something more important, this can be said for almost everyone for many of the unnecessary things we buy.

I understand you don't empathize with him, but making him seem like a wretch because you don't agree with his hobby? That's just cold. He's got a family and a child, and as his blogs are linked, there's no secret that he spent this amount of money on this cartridge. I think that he's got a happy family and a top notch collection, and that should make anyone happy.

Wizard

@Sakilla: I need to throw one thing in...if this game goes up in value, and he sells it for a profit, good show. Even if he knows he can, good show! But in and of itself, it's not the smartest thing I've seen. But hey, people have money, work hard, etc, they should have what they want. Crazy rare video game...go crazy man. I'll invest in the stock market or my retirement fund. But that's because I like to make money. I get the feeling this guy has more money than me, so yeahhhhh....

@MellowJade: Take into account that they made no money on the sale of this, initially (it was a prize) or now (it was from a private seller) and you'll find that it actually printed them negative money (whatever it cost to give it out as a prize in 1990).

@Erode: You've got to take eBay fees and original purchase price into account. The seller really only made between $1,000 and $1,500 in profit. I'm relatively certain that the seller bought the cart a couple years ago for $15,000+ in a private sale.

Not bad by any means, but it's not the huge profit you'd think. I'd imagine in ten years JJ will be able to flip this cart for $30,000+ easily.

@Theoutlet: I think he has a point. We would all love to picture this guy as a fancy, hard working, self made, confident collector who's cool enough to have gotten into collecting video games. Reality is he's probably sad, insecure, and really could have used that money on something more important.

@Oreot: SNAP! Me too.

Ya' know, I read the Kotaku article, and I was like, "Whatever, I've read games go for buckets of money, so do paintings and comic books..." and so on. Whatever. Then I read the blog, and I honestly found it to be sad. I just can't relate to his description of his experience playing out like he just got the girl of his dreams. To each his/her own, but to drop all that cash of something so seemingly arbitrary...I just can't relate.

Not saying it's wrong, but wow, I hope after he got his dream game he went back to admiring his new baby, because, ya' know, that's actually worth getting excited over.

@GreyFox311: Same here. Too bad that pays, what, 1 year of tuition + room and board?

@Deaf Mute: Plenty of people who collect things are married and have perfectly normal lives. A lot of rich people collect art/baseball cards/movie memorabilia, like the previous poster said, why should video games be any different?

It's an incredibly ignorant comment to say that all collectors have a dysfunctional social life. This cartridge is the Honus Wagner of video games and it will definitely only appreciate in value over time.

@MiKe Hawk: I wish all other 25 exploded and I had the only one left.

@NitroAML: Pfft... if you have that much get them some Iams beef and rice.

@Deaf Mute: Hopping around on Blogger suggests that he is not only married, but is caring for a two-month old baby.

That by itself speaks to me as though he qualifies for the former opposed to the latter.

As the blog we've linked to is one about collecting and price trends of rare video games, I suspect that his hobby can definitely be afforded by whatever he does.

Wizard

@MellowJade: As a Nintendo fanboy -> "playing endless hours of TF2 on Xbox 360" convert, I laughed about your statement. Too bad they did not make profit on that sale. At least I think they didn't.

Meh, this is what it's like everyday buying games in Australia.

thy_dungeonman

@Nobuyuki: I'd say thank you Captain Obvious but that's like so cliche not even worth it. What the world needs now is a sidekick for Captain Obvious, sorta like a "General Disarray" to "Professor Chaos". Any suggestions?

Pornosaur

@Lezard: I wish i had that kind of money to pay my bills (ToT)

@Deaf Mute: Methinks you judge too much.

@(Zombie) Goldwings: Resonating a blue aura and blowing up tanks with a lance is also pretty hardcore :D

I wish I had money like that for college....

GreyFox311

@Wizard: I have no problem with people and their hobbies.. but I think collecting is a replacement for certain other desires or needs.

I mean, that is a lot of money. What is he not spending it on? How is his social life? Is he married or at least dating?

Those kinda questions run through my head, it is one thing if he has an extremely productive lifestyle and is so financially secure he can have this hobby, another thing if he is just another shut-in nerd.

Holy shit he has my last name and the first letter of my Dads name what the fuckkk

I've got a friend who has one of the grey carts. Shit's so cash.

Man, i wish i had the money to just casually drop 17k on a video game.

Lucky guy. I think i'm baller if i spend over a hundred on a game haha.

NerdyxTimx

I wish I had that kind of money to spend on games.

@Nobuyuki:

A) He's (most likely) a collector, so he didn't want it simply for what was on it, but for what it is.

B) This will likely only go up in value.

Wow.

...opposed to the general response of bewilderment and jeers, I actually feel like congratulating the guy. Especially after reading the article. The fact that the seller nearly welched...the emotional roller coasted must have been incredible.

And now he's got an incredibly limited edition artifact. Considering how good he feels...I think the price was worth it. He did the research, he went through a stressful buying situation, and he got his prize.

A good story, without a doubt.

(Some people collect cars, others collect paintings. Baseball cards, comic books...why should video games be any different? With only 26 in existence, and the fact that he can unite the gold and gray carts, the price is fine for a true collector like him.)

Wizard

The Holy Grail of videogaming... This is like Action Comics #1 for gamers, people. It's a big deal when one of these goes on sale. $17,500 is a lot of money, but these cartridges might be worth more in 10 years than some houses.

Shadowguitar

@NitroAML: if you got 17.5k to spend on a game*

I wonder if this guy ever donates to charity. if you got 17.5k, you could atleast give the homeless some kibbles and bits.

Yeah, that is a lot I'll give you that, but as a Magic the Gathering player it doesn't seem that ridiculous. There are cards (not many mind you) that will fetch above the $15,000 range and I know of one that sold for $30,000.

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!: It'll probably resell for even more.

@MiKe Hawk: I wish I was the person he bought it from. $$$!

Somewhere around the world. A small group of people gathered around their computers and let out a small whisper in unison: "That is fucking HARDCORE"
After that they went and chainsawed a locust and whispered: "That is fucking HARDCORE."

@Michael Dukakis - Mets fan: I think it was used for a competition or something, and the winners would get the gold-plated game....that's what I'm guessing anyway.

notquitedeadyet

I'd like to point out you can buy full versions of everything featured on that cart for less than $17.50. But whatever makes you happy guy.

Nobuyuki

I love video games.

I love them a lot.

They are probably my favorite thing in the world that isn't human.

But SERIOUSSLLLYYY? 17 grand??!?!?!?!?!?!

I can't think of much shit I would buy for 5 grand, let alone 17.

(inb4 car)

You know if you were unreasonably rich it would be great to buy that,record yourself setting it on fire as you laugh into the camera, and then post the video online.

I don't get it, is it an expanded edition or just the regular game painted... gold.

I find something disturbing about spending that much money on a game, even a rare collectible.

Nintendo even prints money on old shit.

Dammit now I want to play Zelda...

Oreot

I wish I was him.

Oh... I'll take 3?

I guess some people like gold paint

Deathbearer

@FtGF: Fair enough. Hey, Game Informer once pointed out that all nerds call out other things for being nerdier. I know I do that. Nobody's perfect. I like "The Grudge". I thought Final Fantasy 12 was a really good game. I like Mercenaries 2. We all have flaws. ;)

@Solertia:

@MiKe Hawk:

Me too, he seems so happy now. Good life.

@GreyFox311: I wish i had money like that period.

ourovoros

couldn't this be rather easily reproduced? idk, i'm not a scam artist, but it seams like a little gold paint and a label printer and you are makin' bank.