It seems like vintage video games are becoming a rather hot commodity in the auctioning world. Just two days ago, Heritage Auctions in Dallas, TX broke the world record for the biggest purchase of a video game when it sold a rare, sealed copy of Nintendo 1987 Legend Of Zelda NES for $870k. The record didn't last very long though as Heritage saw another amazing feat yesterday when it auctioned off an unopened copy of 1996 Super Mario 64 for $1.56 million!
This isn't the first time Heritage has sold a game featuring the world's most beloved mushroom eating plumber. The house auctioned off a practically untouched copy Super Mario Bros back in April of this year. According to AP News, the game's initial owner left it in a drawer after buying it in 1986. When it sold at Heritage, it's final bid was at $660,000.
"It seems impossible to overstate the importance of this title," Heritage's go to girl for specialist for video games Valarie McLeckie says in a statement, "not only to the history of Mario and Nintendo, but to video games as a whole."
So, what makes Super Mario 64 so special that it's worth a million dollars, especially since Nintendo released an updated version for the Switch ?
Back when the game was first released to the public, it was the best selling game for the Nintendo 64 system. It's marked as the first time gamers were able to play as Mario in a three dimensional scale. It made history, setting a precedent for future gaming and leading by example of what not to do when crafting a 3D experience.
"Well -- we're a bit speechless on this one," the item description reads on Heritage Auction's official website, "What can we even say that would do this copy the justice it deserves? The cultural significance of this title and its importance to the history of video games is paramount, and the condition of this copy is just so breathtaking that we're really at a loss here."
Heritage has a large selection of vintage video games at it's disposal. From Pokémon cartridges for the Gameboy to Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! for the NES, there's something for any game enthusiast with a enough dough to spend. We'll just have to see what the next game that will top this $1M record will be.
Sources: AP News, USA Today, Heritage Auction,