This is a new record for a video game. A sealed cartridge of the legendary “Super Mario” for the Nintendo 64 console sold for $1.56 million on Sunday, according to US Heritage Auctions.
“It’s the first game to be auctioned for more than $1 million,” Eric Bradley, a spokesperson for the Dallas, Texas-based company, said enthusiastically. Heritage already set the first record on Friday: a cartridge for last year’s Nintendo NES consoles “The Legend of Zelda” was sold for $870,000.
Character from 1981
This “Super Mario 64” cartridge dates from 1996 and is used in 3D for the first time. Eric Bradley confirmed that this was the “only version known to have a score of 9.8 A++” from video game expert Wata that assesses cartridge condition, explaining that this score was “the highest that an old video game can achieve.”
Mario, a young, hyperactive plumber in a red hat, is one of the greatest heroes in video game history and has contributed to Nintendo’s worldwide success. He appeared in 1981 as “Jumpman” in the game “Donkey Kong”, and was renamed “Mario” in 1985 and had many adventures with his brother Luigi or driving a kart.
For several years now, vintage video games have enjoyed increasing success with gamers feeling nostalgic. Last April, a Super Mario Bros. video game cartridge sold out. 1986 Nintendo NES for $660,000 at auction, still at Heritage Auctions.
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