Everyday folk discovering colossally valuable collectors' items amid everyday junk has been the lifeblood of antiques shows for years, but it's not every day you see a real-life gold-in-the-attic tale play out on eBay.
Last week, North Carolina eBay user lace_thongs35 thought she was putting up an everyday, 80s-era Nintendo Entertainment System (together with five games) up on the popular auction site. But less than an hour after the first bid, the price was over $6,000 -- and on Wednesday, when the auction closed, the final selling price topped $13,000.
Why? Not the console itself, but one of the games bundled with it -- a deeply obscure 1987 release called Stadium Events, a highly sought-after collectors' item. But it wasn't even the game itself that was worth the bulk of the money -- it was the original cardboard box, which collectors value at a breathtaking $10,000. Fewer than 10 complete copies of the game are thought to exist, and retro gaming aficionados consider it one of the hardest-to-find NES games ever made.
Bet you're wishing you hadn't let Mom throw out your Nintendo collection now, eh
Commander Shephard must gain the trust of a rag-tag band of unlikely heroes in order to secure the fate of the galaxy in the sequel to the sci-fi shooter Mass Effect.
The Game Boy Micro is a leap forward in portable gaming. In this tiny, cell-phone sized body you have the same technology that powers the popular Game Boy Advance SP. Shorter, thinner and lighter than an SP, it plays all the SP titles on the market. No more need to buy special game cases -- Just shove it in your pocket or the cell phone pocket in your backpack when you're done. If you'd like the look of your system to be as cool as thegames you play on it, the new Game Boy Micro is for you. Supports standard headphones.
The all-new Game Boy micro sports a sleek vibe with portability and comfort, all in the palm of your hands. Switch between four faceplates to match your style and play any of the 700+ titles in the Game Boy Advance library.
Features:
* Lithium Ion rechargeable battery * Charge lasts 6 to 10 hours; recharging takes approximately 2-1/2 hours * 2-inch diagonal screen * Resolution: 240 x 160 pixels * 512 out of a maximum 32,000 colors * TFT with adjustable backlight * Interchangeable faceplates * 32 KB RAM, 256 KB external * 32-bit RISC-CPU (16.78 MHz) * Measures 4 by 0.7 by 2 inches * Weighs approximately 2.8 ounces
Note: The Game Boy Micro can play Game Boy Advance games, but it isn't compatible with classic Game Boy cartridges or the eReader peripheral. The handheld also requires an adapter when connecting with GBA players, since it can't use the old cables
The Rise of Cobra is not your grandfather's G.I. Joe. It's more like C.G.I. Joe with explosive special-effects action sequences that provide the film with a surplus of "Boom Boom Pow" (to quote the Black Eyed Peas song that drives the end credits). This blast from the summer past is very much like the metal-munching nano-mite missiles a (literally) mad Doctor (Joseph Gordon-Levitt cashing in some of his indie cred) and McCullen, a Scottish weapons dealer (Christopher Eccleston), threaten to unleash upon the world. It never stops. Ever. The original G.I. Joe action figure was an all-American hero. These Joes are--all together now--"the best of the best," an elite multi-national squad. Two soldiers, Duke (a buff Channing Tatum), an "on the ground, in the fight" kind of guy, and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans), his wisecracking best friend, are rescued by the Joes after they are ambushed while transporting the missiles. These are no ordinary Joes. Snake-Eyes (Ray Park) is a silent ninja, Stella (Rachel Nichols) a bodacious brainiac, Heavy Duty (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) the imposing weapons specialist, and Breaker (Said Taghamaoui) the techie. They are led by gruff Gen. Hawk (Dennis Quaid), who barks out lines like, "When all else fails, we don't," with polish. Duke and Ripcord are recruited to join the classified unit after Duke discovers that Ana (Sienna Miller), his former fiancée, is in cahoots with McCullen and now sports the sinister moniker the Baroness, not to mention killer cleavage-enhancing latex outfits. This being the first in a budding franchise, there is much backstory to cover. Flashbacks date back to 1641! But the order of the day is underground military command centers, underwater evil lairs, gleaming high-tech weaponry, breakneck chases, and cool gadgets, such as a speed-accelerating hydraulic suit. It's enough to make you want to dust off your original Hasbro action figures or, the studio no doubt hopes, buy the new ones.
Drake's adventure continues through snow and sacred temples. Will fortune favor the bold Drake, and his endless sarcasm?
UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves is the story of Nathan Drake, a fortune-hunter with a shady reputation and an even shadier past who is lured back into the treacherous world of thieves and mercenary treasure-seekers. Drake embarks on a journey that will push him to his physical, emotional and intellectual limits to discover the real truth behind the lost fleet of Marco Polo and the legendary Himalayan valley of Shambhala. http://www.playerschoicevideogames.com
Mario and Sonic head to the slopes! Choose from your favorite cast of characters, including a few new faces, and get ready for exciting ice and snow action in Vancouver and Whistler, which are hosting the 2010 Winter Games. Warm up those muscles, get your Wii balance board ready, and go for gold on the Wii and Nintendo DS!
