Rare edition of Super Mario becomes the most expensive video game

A rare version of the 1985 classic Super Mario Bros was sold at auction for $ 114,000 (FCFA 65.45 million), the highest price ever paid for a video game.

The game cartridge, still in its original packaging, was sold to an anonymous bidder.

And the US auctioneer said the demand “is extremely high”, in part because this particular packaging was only used for a short time.

The previous record for a game sold at auction was 100,000 dollars (57.4 million FCFA) – for another copy of Super Mario.

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The plumber hero

“If a lot of the sale could reach such an amount, that would be it,” said Valarie McLeckie, director of video games at Heritage Auctions.

“We knew it would be a strong session. But I don’t think anyone could have anticipated the amount of bidding on Heritage Live and the phones,” she added.

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Super Mario brings to life the adventures of the eponymous plumber hero, often joined by his brother, Luigi.

Interest in the game has never waned. And it is often cited as the most successful video game franchise to date.

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Proust’s madeleine of video games

Piers Harding-Rolls, a video game expert with research company Amper Analysis, said: “New and used games linked to highly regarded brands and game companies, especially if these are rare versions, have experienced a huge increase in their value over the past 20 years. “

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“This is explained by the fact that these items are now firmly anchored in nostalgia for childhood games for many collectors aged 30 to 40. With the rise in prices, more and more collectors have come to the market, “he explains.

“These pieces are now auctioned off alongside other toys and collectibles that are auctioned off in large quantities, including boxed Dinky cars, sealed vintage Star Wars figures and new Marvel comics”, he adds.

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