Among so many iconic devices that the gaming industry has bestowed, there is undoubtedly a special place for Nintendo Game & Watch. These handheld consoles were sold during the 1980s and early 1990s, and are highly sought after by collectors today.
So it is not surprising that a special model has recently been auctioned at a record price. In accordance with Ars Technica, a Nintendo Game & Watch by Donkey kong It was sold for 9 thousand dollars in Yahoo! Japan. It is a commemorative version launched in 1982, after reaching 20 million units sold.
The figure paid is not too shocking, especially when compared to other collectibles related to the video game industry. However, it is much higher than what has been used for other versions of this type of device. The report cites that “common” closed-box models they were sold from 50 dollars; while a variant of Balloon fight changed hands for $ 2,000.
The singular fact is that it is not known for sure how many units of the commemorative edition with Donkey kong Nintendo Game & Watch were originally available. What can be seen in the image is that the portable console is accompanied by the box, the manual in Japanese and a pair of Maxell LR44 batteries in their original blister.
Nintendo Game & Watch, a portable console that also left its mark
The Game & Watch was a very important bet by Nintendo to bring its video games to the portable market. From its launch in Japan in 1980, until its discontinuation in 1991, the Asian firm put on sale 59 different versions. It is worth remembering that each small console only executed one game, and the device changed its physical format depending on which series it belonged to.
In recent years, Nintendo has ridden the wave of nostalgia and has released reissues of the Game & Watch to commemorate special dates. In 2020, for example, it introduced a special version of Super Mario Bros. Similarly, the variant of The legend of zelda for its 35th anniversary, which will go on sale next november.