A sealed copy of the video game Super Mario 64 has shattered records by selling for more than $1.5 million (£1.1 million) at auction.
One of the most significant early 3D platformers, the 1996 cartridge i.e. the Super Mario 64 was a launch title for the Nintendo 64 device. There were “fewer than five” copies in such good shape, according to the auction company. A record-breaking sale of an original Legend of Zelda cartridge was set just two days prior.
On Friday, an original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) cartridge sold for $870,000, briefly making it the most expensive game in the world. Neither game was purchased because of its unique gameplay experience; Nintendo has rereleased both for the Nintendo Switch system. Wata, a video game collectibles company, gave the Super Mario 64 cartridge a 9.8 A++ rating, indicating that it is in near-perfect condition and that the seal is intact and “like new.”
Although it helps, a high rating isn’t enough to guarantee a high auction price. In the same auction, another copy of Super Mario 64 with a 9.6 A++ rating went for a more reasonable $13,200. Rarer copies of highly popular titles, on the other hand, get the most offers.
- More about The Legend of the Zelda
Super Mario 64 was the best-selling game for the Nintendo 64 system, and it is widely regarded as a seminal video game. It was Mario’s first foray into three dimensions, as opposed to his previous side-scrolling roots. Despite the fact that many modern gamers believe it has not aged well and is commonly believed to have serious camera flaws, it is still regarded as one of the best video games ever developed. The business behind the auction, Heritage Auctions, was taken aback by the massive amount it eventually fetched.
The unique Zelda cartridge has gotten a lot of attention leading up to the auction. Because this copy came from an early manufacturing run, it was expected to fetch a high price because it was one of the first ever created and still exists. Only one earlier production copy is known to exist, according to Heritage Auctions, and it may never be sold.
A copy of Final Fantasy III for the Super Nintendo went for $96,000, as did a copy of Zelda: A Link to the Past, at this week’s record-breaking auction.
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