The mysterious device that many considered to be a myth has recently been put up for auction and collectors are already thousands of dollars in an attempt to get their grubby paws on this iconic piece of technology.
Allow me to sit you down and give you a lesson on video game history. Back when CD ROMS were starting to be whispered about as the next big step in media technology, Nintendo wanted to get in on that particular venture. Having only used cartridges to in the Nintendo Entertainment System and the more powerful Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo was trying to crack the technology in a realm where they had limited experience.
So they turned to Sony, some of the brightest minds in the field of technology, to help them implement their latest idea: The Super NES CD. Unfortunately, the project went bust. Due to tensions between the companies and some shady deals made with Phillips, Sony ended up canning the project but not before developing between two and three hundred prototypes. Most of them were reportedly destroyed or lost…except this one.
The “Nintendo PlayStation” as it has been dubbed is now up for auction by Heritage Auctions. According to the auctioneers, the console is still fully operational and has even been tested with a few rounds of Mortal Kombat.
“By far, this is arguably one of the most notorious, mysterious, and controversial artifacts of the video game industry,” reads the auction description. “This prototype has been around the world and back again, admired and appreciated by video game enthusiasts from all over. Even though this is the closing of this portion of its narrative, it will continue to remain a pivotal piece of video game history no matter where it ends up”, reads the product’s description.
If you want to throw your hat into the ring and own the only known version of the console, the current price is sitting at a mere $31,000 although the total is technically $37,200 due to a buyer’s premium. Although I doubt it’s going to hang around the low tens of thousands for two long. I have to assume the Nintendo PlayStation will be sold at a price upwards of $100,000.
I keep telling everyone that we need it around the office but no-one is taking me seriously.