Joystiq

Blizzard auctions off old server hardware for charity

Mike Schramm — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:45:00 EST

You can't actually own a piece of Azeroth, because the virtual World of Warcraft doesn't exist -- sorry, ThrallFan6969, it's true. But this is probably your closest chance to the fake thing: Blizzard is auctioning off a group of hardware server blades that were used to run the popular MMO in the past, so for a price you can own the circuits and silicon that served up all of those boars, dwarves, and elves.

All of the money raised in the auctions is going to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. All in all, about 2,000 server blades will be auctioned off, and you can even aim to buy one from a specific realm -- the hardware where your very own characters once resided! Each blade will be mounted in a windowed case adorned with the WoW logo, and the hardware displayed prominently.

The auctions start on October 17 (just a few days before BlizzCon), with sales occurring in four different rounds. Good luck!

Blizzard auctions off old server hardware for charity originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Relic Entertainment holds charity auction to mark developer Brian Wood's death

Mike Schramm — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:30:00 EST

If you've finished the game, you'll know that Relic Entertainment's recently released Warhammer 40000: Space Marine is dedicated to developer Brian Wood, who passed away in a car accident last year (but not before turning the car so that his pregnant wife would survive the wreck). This week happens to mark the one year anniversary of Wood's death, and to honor him, Relic has started up a set of eBay auctions featuring a number of Space Marine and Relic-related goodies, from signed posters and game copies to even consoles and other promotional items.

Most of the auctions end in about four days on Sunday, and plenty of the items only have a few bids so far. All of the money will go to setting up a memorial bench for Wood in Vancouver, where his wife and now 9-month old daughter live. The company has also set up a memorial trust in his honor, as well as an in-company internship. This auction is a great way to show your support for Wood's legacy, and get some one-of-a-kind Relic gear to boot.

Relic Entertainment holds charity auction to mark developer Brian Wood's death originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mojang auctioning off custom Minecraft Xperia Play on eBay

Mike Schramm — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:30:00 EST

This custom-designed, limited edition Xperia Play phone is being both given away at Gamescom later this week, and auctioned off on Ebay by Mojang to benefit a charity of the Minecraft team's choice. And it's definitely well-designed, from that sweet skin on the device's back to the matching in-game wallpaper.

But as beautiful as the phone is (at least $1,325 of beauty, as of this writing), that's not even the most beautiful thing about it. The real gorgeousness is that someday, someone will be able to build a replica of this phone, using the scene on it, inside the actual game of Minecraft, while using this very phone. It's overwhelming!

Mojang auctioning off custom Minecraft Xperia Play on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massive Final Fantasy collection for sale on eBay

Mike Schramm — Wed, 25 May 2011 01:00:00 EST

This Final Fantasy collection for sale on eBay is one of the most impressive assemblages of video game titles we've ever seen. Not only are all of the numbered Final Fantasy games brought together by this seller, but almost all of the various spinoffs and versions are included as well. From the very first Final Fantasy cartridge on Famicom up to three different versions of Final Fantasy 8 on the PC -- and even an Advent Children Cloud Black PS3 console bundle.

In short, just buying this collection could set you up as the curator of your own Final Fantasy museum, dedicated to huge swords and great battle themes from throughout the years. The price for such an honor? It's currently sitting at around $15,000, with no bids as of this writing. If that's something you want to invest in, we can only wish you good luck ... and could we borrow a buck?

Massive Final Fantasy collection for sale on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 May 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Silent Hill composer's guitar auctioned for Japan relief

David Hinkle — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:05:00 EST

What's scarier, being absolutely broke or regretting never taking a chance to have a piece of video game history? An auction for Akira Yamaoka's guitar and FX amps, which were used to create the audio atmosphere for a little franchise called Silent Hill, is currently underway on eBay (and will last for five days).

The auction is part of Play for Japan, a coordinated effort to present consumers and gamers with means to help the relief effort in Japan. If you partake, you'll not only feel good about donating money to Japan, but you'll possibly give this guitar a new home and outlook on life, one filled with joy, sunshine and family -- not giant death bunnies and other unspeakable horrors.

Silent Hill composer's guitar auctioned for Japan relief originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Who-autographed Rock Band guitar controllers auctioned for Teenage Cancer Trust

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

Prolific peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz has again teamed with The Who frontman Roger Daltrey to support the Teenage Cancer Trust -- and this time they've gotten Pete Townshend to leave his mark on this unique charity event. Both legendary rock gods have signed a pair of Mad Catz's Wireless Wooden Fender Stratocaster controllers (no strings attached) for Xbox 360 versions of Rock Band.

These cherry red rarities are up for auction on eBay -- one here and the other here -- until 9PM ET on Sunday, April 3. All proceeds will go to the UK-based Teenage Cancer Trust.

Okay, now can we get a YEEEEEEAAAHHH?!

The Who-autographed Rock Band guitar controllers auctioned for Teenage Cancer Trust originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Media Molecule auctioning original LittleBigPlanet art for Japan relief

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST

Media Molecule is doing its part for the Play for Japan campaign, auctioning off a few rare pieces of original concept art for LittleBigPlanet, along with signed copies of its sequel. There are four sketches up for grabs on the auction block, each of which show the evolution and development of the franchise's floppy, stitched protagonist, Sackboy. Each piece comes with a copy of LBP2 with an extremely limited edition cover slip signed by the entire Media Molecule team.

Bidders can also try to grab a super rare, in-game crown costume piece for their Sackperson -- a prize usually only distributed as prizes for Media Molecule contests. If you'd like to get involved and grab a piece of LittleBigPlanet history in the process, check out Media Molecule's eBay page.

Media Molecule auctioning original LittleBigPlanet art for Japan relief originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sega does its part to help Japan with gear auction

Justin McElroy — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST

Delivering another fine example of the industry pitching in to help Japan, Sega is auctioning off a Yakuza track jacket, a Dreamcast hoodie and a ton of neat stuff, all of which you can see after the break. All proceeds go to the Red Cross, so you can dress like a geek but still feel like a champ.

Continue reading Sega does its part to help Japan with gear auction

Sega does its part to help Japan with gear auction originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rare DS signed by Nintendo vets being auctioned for Japan disaster relief

Randy Nelson — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

Kept in a glass case for more than four years, an original model Nintendo DS bearing the autographs of some of Nintendo's key players (and two literal key players) is being auctioned off by its owner to raise money for the Red Cross disaster relief effort in Japan.

The red Mario Kart DS promotional system is signed by Mario's creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, along with composer Koji Kondo, Zelda series chief Eiji Aonuma, voice of Mario Charles Martinet and Martin Leung, a pianist who performs with Video Games Live and rose to fame thanks to a YouTube video of him playing the Mario theme blindfolded.

Its current owner has vowed to donate 100 percent of their profit from the auction to the Red Cross and provide proof of the donation to the winning bidder. As of this writing, there are six days left to not only get your hands on a rare gaming collectible, but do something good for your fellow man in the process. Visit redcross.org for information on donating directly to the relief effort.

Rare DS signed by Nintendo vets being auctioned for Japan disaster relief originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LittleBigPlanet custom shoes being auctioned for Child's Play

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 07:25:00 EST

If you're in love with the LittleBigPlanet universe from your head to your feet, it's time you donned some apparel representative of your admiration: The shoe artists at KyozoKicks have transformed a pair of Vans into a sticker-stuck canvas, inspired by Media Molecule's customizable PS3 platformers.

Continue reading LittleBigPlanet custom shoes being auctioned for Child's Play

LittleBigPlanet custom shoes being auctioned for Child's Play originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 07:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Limited edition Grand Theft Auto PS3 now up on eBay

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:00:00 EST

You've already got an impressive GTA memorabilia collection, including that Vice City retail stand-up and actual warrant for your arrest for Grand Theft Auto -- however, if you need a crown jewel, check out this Episodes from Liberty City-branded, limited edition PS3 Slim on eBay.

Continue reading Limited edition Grand Theft Auto PS3 now up on eBay

Limited edition Grand Theft Auto PS3 now up on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Name two of Slam Bolt Scrappers' scrappers in Child's Play auctions

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST

Without the help of special potions, unguents or spells, immortality is a pretty tricky thing to obtain. Fire Hose Games is offering a pretty rare opportunity to have your genius brain live forever: The studio is auctioning off the chance to name one of the characters in its upcoming downloadable tower defense/action title Slam Bolt Scrappers, one-hundred percent of the proceeds from which will go to Child's Play. A second character's naming rights will be sold off during the Child's Play Charity Dinner in Seattle on December 7 -- tickets for which are still available!

There are some limitations, of course. You can't name the characters anything inappropriate, copyright-infringing or too long, so, sorry, Boner MacBurgerKing, but you'll never be a real person. Not ever.

Name two of Slam Bolt Scrappers' scrappers in Child's Play auctions originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not interested in a 360 Slim? How about this rare, 2005 launch model?

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:50:00 EST

Around this time each year, we find ourselves buying peculiar things -- fruit cakes and pine trees and ... Madagascar Kartz -- but we never expected we'd have a chance to buy a new Xbox 360 ... from 2005! Not just any old '05 360, mind you, but a 2005 Launch Team console -- available to bid on (in Australian dollars!) on eBay.

As noted in the auction listing, the launch consoles were only given to folks "intimately involved in designing the console," and the one in question is still functioning, surprisingly. ("The console was last used around September or October of 2008 and was reading discs and playing games fine before being packed away," the listing claims.)

We might normally warn against the danger of buying a launch Xbox 360 given the ubiquity of that model's failure rate, but we're guessing this baby's gonna get mounted on a wall somewhere rather than actually be expected to play games. At least, we're hoping ... for your sake, you crazy person who wins the auction.

[Thanks, Godot]

Not interested in a 360 Slim? How about this rare, 2005 launch model? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reach for your wallet and bid on Emile's helmet for charity

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:25:00 EST

Looking for a fashion statement that says, "Hey, I'm potentially violent, but I've also got a big, sweet heart?" Look no further than this Good-Game-Media eBay auction: a replica of the Halo: Reach helmet worn by Emile; the proceeds from which go to Child's Play and the Brian Wood Memorial Trust.

Continue reading Reach for your wallet and bid on Emile's helmet for charity

Reach for your wallet and bid on Emile's helmet for charity originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grab some signed gaming gear in Brian Wood Memorial Trust auction

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST

If you're looking to acquire some gaming paraphernalia signed by some of the people responsible for the crafting of said games, a batch of recent eBay auctions from vendor GoodGameMedia will let you do so -- while also supporting an incredibly worthy cause. All of the money you spend on these items will be split between Child's Play and the Brian Wood Memorial Trust, a fund to help support the family of the Company of Heroes lead developer who died in an unimaginably tragic car accident earlier this year.

Go check out the 30 pieces of biddable memorabilia on the vendor's eBay hub. Some of those would make pretty wonderful (and karmically positive) gifts for the upcoming holidays, don'tchaknow.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Grab some signed gaming gear in Brian Wood Memorial Trust auction originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now you can own a giant Halo: Reach statue for some reason

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Whether you need it for home security reasons, or whether you're just a collector of man-sized gaming memorabilia, a super limited edition Halo: Reach statue, modeled after Noble Team's Captain Carter, can be yours if you've got the wherewithal to win this pricey eBay auction.

Continue reading Now you can own a giant Halo: Reach statue for some reason

Now you can own a giant Halo: Reach statue for some reason originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NES signed by gaming industry superstars auctioning off for charity

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We can't help but notice that there's something wrong with your Nintendo Entertainment System. No, it's not that its connector pins are totally jacked after two decades of rough cartridge insertion -- it's that it isn't covered, toe to tip, in the autographs of some of the gaming, tech and general nerd industry's most prominent figures.

You can rectify that problem by bidding on this NES, which has been signed by folks like Penny Arcade's Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, Wil Wheaton, MC Frontalot, Jonathan Coulton and many, many more. All the proceeds from the auction go to the Baystate Children's Hospital in Springfield, Mass. -- as do the proceeds from eBay user DanMckela's other auctions. Go take a look at his altruistic wares!

[Thanks, Dao Jones!]

NES signed by gaming industry superstars auctioning off for charity originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You can buy your own SNES retail display unit

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:15:00 EST

An eBay user by the name of rifaavalon recently tipped us off to an item of interest that's currently on his storefront: An SNES retail display unit. This relic comes with an illuminated case, a monitor, a console and two built-in controllers -- but no games. (We're sure you have some lying around.)

Continue reading You can buy your own SNES retail display unit

You can buy your own SNES retail display unit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auctioned Atari game may be rarer than Stadium Events

JC Fletcher — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:46:00 EST

With all the attention over boxed copies of the NES game Stadium Events, this eBay auction for a boxed copy of the Atari 2600 game Air Raid seems even more noteworthy than it might otherwise ... not that it needs any help. Already considered one of the hardest-to-find 2600 games, a boxed copy of the game has never been found. Until now.

AtariAge forum member Tanner claims to be the original owner of this copy of Air Raid, even offering specifics of the location and date of its purchase. For the last couple of decades, it's been quietly hanging out in his garage, being awesome. After reading an article on CNN, he realized what he had and put the cartridge on eBay; later, when he found the box, he cancelled the original auction and relisted it. It's currently going for $6,500.

Even if you don't plan to bid on Air Raid, you should really look through the auction images. The box, with the rainbow logo of its publisher "Men-A-Vision" and its thrilling back-of-the-box text, is entirely worth seeing. "Can you save Manhattan from your loan command post?"

[Via GameSetWatch]

Auctioned Atari game may be rarer than Stadium Events originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'BioWare Bazaar' announced; online auction tied to community challenges

Randy Nelson — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST

A recent countdown clock on BioWare's Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2 websites fueled speculation by some that an announcement -- maybe even a big one -- about one or both (or neither) games was imminent. Now that the timer has expired, we know that it's actually something very different: An online auction of 412 various BioWare items (ranging from custom PCs to Jade Empire mousepads) that the developer has dubbed the "BioWare Bazaar."

Although the estimated value of the items up for auction tops $62,000, participants will actually bid on them using virtual tokens earned through "challenges" that can be entered by following @biofeed on Twitter. This feed will also provide specifics of the various auctions, which are set to begin at 9:00 a.m. PDT on Tuesday, April 5 and run roughly every 15 minutes through 4:00 p.m. PDT on Saturday, April 10. According to the fine print, the auction is open to residents of "the 50 United States and the District of Columbia with the exception of residents of Florida and New York." You also need to be 18 or older to participate.

A full list of items up for auction can be found here. Thoughts?

'BioWare Bazaar' announced; online auction tied to community challenges originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Baltimore mayor's telltale Xbox 360 now on eBay

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00:00 EST

Here's a bit of backstory for those of you who don't follow the hot Baltimore news scoops: Sheila Dixon, once mayor of Baltimore, became the former mayor Baltimore after being indicted for embezzlement earlier this year. One of the main pieces of evidence in her trial was an Xbox 360 prosecutors claimed she purchased with gift cards given to her by local developers, which were supposed to be given to various charities.

The telltale 360 recently appeared in an eBay listing, attracting a number of prospective buyers hoping to get their hands on the game console/slice of Baltimore history. If you're interested in owning a device which is capable of single-handedly ending someone's mayoral career, the auction is still running. Its price is significantly higher than a standard console, but you've got to pay a premium for all that history.

[Via Baltimore Sun]

Former Baltimore mayor's telltale Xbox 360 now on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stadium Events auction hits an unbelievable $800K

JC Fletcher — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:45:00 EST

[VGMuseum]

First, a mom hit the jackpot when one of the random games she was selling with an old NES turned out to be Bandai's super-rare Stadium Events, which went on eBay for $13.105. Following the excitement about that auction, someone else sold their sealed copy of the NES exercise game (which you've most likely played under its other name, World Class Track Meet) for a staggering $41,300. And then it got ridiculous.

Seller acuraboi12's sealed Stadium Events reached a high bid of $800,200. Unfortunately for acuraboi12, we doubt that's anything but a joke bid. We may be in the midst of an odd Stadium Events gold rush, but that is beyond excessive, considering that the previous $41,300 was the highest known price commanded by an NES game to date. Not even Bubble Bath Babes could command $800k, and it's got nudity.

[Thanks, NiteOwl]

Stadium Events auction hits an unbelievable $800K originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stadium Events sells for $41,300, becomes most expensive NES game ever

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST

We're not sure which element of this story is the most newsworthy, so we'll lead with this: Some person, somewhere in the world, recently spent $41,300 on an extremely rare NES game. Someone was perusing the eBay auction block, saw Stadium Events (which Nintendo bought the rights to and retitled World Class Track Meet), and said, "you know what? That looks like the kind of thing I'd like to spend an American's median annual income on."

According to Video Game Price Charts, that auction has turned Stadium Events into the most expensive NES game ever sold. There are around 200 copies of the game still floating around out there -- which should be enough to send most of you rushing to your local pawn shop in a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory-esque tizzy.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Stadium Events sells for $41,300, becomes most expensive NES game ever originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Halo fan selling off huge collection of merchandise for two good causes

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:19:00 EST

It's still a little early in 2010 to be handing out our "Human of the Year" award, but a Halo.Bungie.org forum poster by the username of Seraph XXVII is already high atop our list of candidates. In a recent post on the fan site, Seraph displayed his massive Halo memorabilia collection, seen above, and revealed that he'll be auctioning the whole lot off within the next few days.

Half of the proceeds from the auction are going to Child's Play, and the other half will go towards paying the medical expenses of a fellow Halo.Bungie.org forumite, whose fiancee learned she had a tennis ball-sized brain tumor last week. Needless to say, both of these are great causes -- if you've got room in your home for six bajillion miniature Spartans, why not show your support once the auction goes live?

Halo fan selling off huge collection of merchandise for two good causes originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft 2 beta keys being auctioned for around $300

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:30:00 EST

We've received a ton of emails asking how one might get up on the StarCraft 2 beta if they didn't apply for access last year. Kotaku recently turned our attention to a possible solution, though ... well, you're not going to like it. More than 50 beta keys, most of which came in the form of coupons handed out at BlizzCon 2008, are now being auctioned off on eBay. The prices range from around $120 on the low end, averaging out at about $300, and reaching as high as $450.

If you're as independently wealthy as you are impatient, this may be your only channel for instant gratification. Of course, keep a watchful eye out for scammers, and keep in mind that purchasing Battle.Net accounts linked to World of Warcraft accounts is against Blizzard's Terms of Use. We'd also advise you to take a good look into that deep, dark, truthful mirror, and think about all the other things $300 can buy. (Hint: It can buy a lot of things.)

StarCraft 2 beta keys being auctioned for around $300 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Into the Pixel goes into the auction on eBay

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST

Hey, you remember the Into the Pixel exhibit at last year's E3, right? Oh, no, that's right, they don't allow the plebes in. Had you been lucky enough to grace it with your stares, you'd have found a "jury-curated exhibition of video game art created by published video and computer game artists." And now that very same art can be found gracing the pages of eBay, as the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has opened up bidding on a smattering of pieces (starting yesterday and running through February 20).

Featuring art from games like Flower and Fable 2, the proceeds will help to fund the AIAS' scholarship programs. The bidding has most certainly begun, though most pieces remain at their initial $100 opening bid as of publishing. If you're looking to snap up one of these snappy pieces, we'd suggest you get bidding sooner rather than later!

Into the Pixel goes into the auction on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard announces 'premium' Auction House functionality for WoW Armory app

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:35:00 EST

There's a surprisingly large sect of characters in World of Warcraft who live their entire lives without ever stepping foot outside of their race's capitol city. To some, the MMO's in-game auction house presents a more compelling gameplay option than the usual dungeon raiding and level grinding -- it allows players to become wildly wealthy with shrewd business practices. According to an announcement made by Blizzard earlier today, these players will be able to manage their auctions on-the-go using the Armory app on iPhone and iPod Touch.

Little is known about how much control the app will give players over their in-game assets, however, references to the service being "premium-based" have led to conjecture that the functionality will cost a few coins. Real-life coins, that is. You spend the real-life coins for the thing that lets you make the fake-life coins. This is going to get confusing.

[Via WoW.com]

Blizzard announces 'premium' Auction House functionality for WoW Armory app originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ben Heck's PS3 Slim laptop going for broke on eBay

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

If you're an extremely nomadic gamer with a couple of grands in the bank to spare, you might be interested to learn that Ben Heck's ultra slick PS3 Slim laptop is now up for grabs on eBay. As you might remember, the portable-ized device was originally purchased by gaming retailer The Score, then raffled off to one of the shop's customers. Now that customer is selling it on eBay. We certainly hope that, at some point, somebody will play the damn thing. Please, if you've got the extra $2,000, won't you give this poor creature a permanent, loving home?

[Via Engadget]

Ben Heck's PS3 Slim laptop going for broke on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game and film artists come together for 'beautifulgrim' charity auction

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:59:00 EST

Mythic Entertainment's Mike "Daarken" Lim and Dreamworks' Leif Jeffers aren't the type of gentlemen to sit around idly while a friend is in need. When Lim's girlfriend (Cat) was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year at the age of 25, the two quickly hatched a plan to help her wade through the sea of medical bills that a bilateral mastectomy and 16 weeks of chemotherapy can quickly accrue. That plan quickly turned into an art auction named "beautifulgrim."

Artists from all over the game and film industries have contributed to the project -- from Blizzard and Rockstar on the gaming side to Pixar and Disney on the film side, to name only a few. Lim is hoping to hold the auction "sometime next Spring" in either San Francisco or New York City, though plans are still a bit up in the air. " We are still in the process of looking for a venue, so the date and location of the opening reception is still unknown," Lim told us. He also encouraged people to check out some of the already submitted works on the project's Facebook page. Any money earned in the auction beyond what Cat requires will be given to "a breast cancer related charity to be determined by the artists in the coming weeks."

Though you only have one day left to tell Lim if you'd like to contribute, final art for the show isn't due until February 1. We wish them the best of luck.

Gallery: 'beautifulgrim' Art Submissions

Game and film artists come together for 'beautifulgrim' charity auction originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 Fortune Hunter Edition hits eBay, costs a (wait for it) fortune

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST

Wait, wait, wait! Tell us you haven't already purchased Uncharted 2 on this, the day of its release! Oh, you haven't! Great. Why purchase the boring ol' standard edition of the game when you could just as easily purchase the ultra limited Fortune Hunter Edition on eBay. Sure, it's $2,990 more expensive than the regular edition, but it comes with a dagger which will unlock ancient, wondrous portals to treasures untouched by human hands for a millennium. So, you know, the cost should be fairly easy to recoup.

Gallery: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2/3/09)

Uncharted 2 Fortune Hunter Edition hits eBay, costs a (wait for it) fortune originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'All You Need is Love' becomes fastest-selling Rock Band song

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST

Microsoft has announced that "All You Need is Love," the first downloadable song for The Beatles: Rock Band, became the fastest-selling tune in the franchise's history within the first two days of availability. We'd like to believe that the Xbox-exclusive track was entirely propelled by the spirit of philanthropy, with proceeds from sales ("tens of thousands of dollars," Microsoft says) benefiting Doctors Without Borders, but its success probably comes from the fact that it's "All You Need is Love." By The Beatles.

A limited edition Beatles-themed Xbox 360, bearing artwork from the game's introduction video, was also sold by Microsoft during an online charity auction. After ten days, the system took off for $17,300.

If you've yet to expand the legendary band's in-game lineup or hope to gain entry in the on-going Beatles sweepstakes, keep in mind that revenue from "All You Need is Love" is still going to charity. All you need is 160.

'All You Need is Love' becomes fastest-selling Rock Band song originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rare PlayStation Home goodies go for big bucks

David Hinkle — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

GameZine did some snooping around eBay recently, and found some of the more rare PlayStation Home items were going for a surprising amount of money. Two examples were presented in an InFamous reaper costume that sold for $30 (that's like 18 Slurpees) and a Killzone 2 Helghast outfit that went for -- you may want to brace your hindquarters for this one -- a whopping $66. That is more than the frakkin' game!

So, Joystiq has come up with a plan:

Create a Joystiq-themed Home space (there may be some minor kidnapping of designers involved, but we'll flesh that out later)
Make sure it is the only one in existence
???
Profit

Fool-proof plan, doncha think?

Rare PlayStation Home goodies go for big bucks originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The rest of Midway is up for auction

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:00:00 EST

Apparently, struggling publisher Midway has more than just Warner Bros. bidding on its remaining assets. After last week's announcement of WB's $33 million dollar offer to acquire the lion's share of Midway's properties, Midway released a statement today detailing the process and, in so many words, is allowing for larger bids. "Midway recently announced a stalking horse asset purchase agreement, which is expected to receive court approval, subject to higher or better bids, in a hearing on June 2, 2009," reads the statement. Additionally, all remaining assets owned by Midway are available for bidding as well -- including the TNA Wrestling franchise not included in the WB bid -- until the court-supervised auction takes place on June 29th.

Midway's Geoff Mogilner told Joystiq this afternoon that today's release "doesn't change that agreement [with WB]" and either side will suffer financial penalties for backing out. He also noted that the acquisition has no effect on the development teams employed by Midway as "people aren't assets." Yet, Geoff. Yet. Seriously though, he told us that any bidder wishing to acquire development teams would have to engage in a "separate acquisition" and any winning bidder on Midway's assets won't take on any of the massive debt the company is currently weighed down by. He also noted that the recipient(s) of the money from this auction have yet to be decided. Standing in line for a payout are a laundry list of creditors along with mystery man Mark Thomas.

The rest of Midway is up for auction originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rare autographed Nintendo swag up for bid

Xav de Matos — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST

Collectors, listen up: One Nintendo-loving eBay user has dug through his/her Nintendo collection and decided to give up a few rare (and autographed) collectibles. Included in the auction are four gold and black N64 controllers (won during a Star Fox tournament) signed by legendary developer Shigeru Miyamoto and ex-Nintendo president Minoru Arakawa. The auction also includes a copy of Next Generation magazine signed by Miyamoto and Arakawa as well as former Nintendo executives Howard Lincoln, Peter Main and others.

It isn't the sexiest auction available but at $21.48 (as of press time) it may be the cheapest way to grab classic Nintendo autographs... or at least a half-dozen N64 controllers.

[Thanks, Charles P.]

Rare autographed Nintendo swag up for bid originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wendy's giving away 'Ultimate Game Room' for a buck

Jason Dobson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:50:00 EST

It's not just cholesterol and square burgers that Wendy's is serving up, but gaming gear as well. A tipster sends word that the "waaaay better than fast food" fast food chain is running an online promotion called '99¢ Bid for Value,' with an "Ultimate Game Room" to be won for $1.

The catch? This is a "reverse auction," with visitors answering trivia questions in order to bid down a prize's price tag. The first auction-goer to reach 99¢ first wins the haul, with an Xbox 360, gaming chair and plasma television all up for grabs. A different prize is set to go up on the blocks every half hour starting at 11am EST today. The auction breaks down like this:

11:00 AM EST - 11:29 AM EST Microsoft - Xbox 360 Elite Console
11:30 AM EST - 11:59 AM EST Ultimate Game Chair - Ultimate Game Chair V3
12:00 PM EST - 12:29 PM EST Panasonic - 50" 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV
12:30 PM EST - 12:59 PM EST Ultimate Game Room - Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite Console, Ultimate Game Chair V3, Panasonic - 50" 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV

So set your watches, make with the clicking and good luck.

Wendy's giving away 'Ultimate Game Room' for a buck originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TechKnow auctions unique Gears 2 console for Make-A-Wish Foundation

Xav de Matos — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:30:00 EST

Looking for a new Xbox 360 console with writing all over it? No? Well, how about if that writing includes autographs from some of the developers behind the 2008 sales giant, Gears of War 2? Yeah, we thought so.

The TechKnow podcast has teamed up with Epic Games to auction off an exclusive Xbox 360 console -- featuring crimson skull art from senior concept artist, James Hawkins -- with all proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The ongoing auction will end on March 12 and currently sits at $465. If you're looking to do some good (while picking up a piece of exclusive swag) hit eBay and make a bid.

TechKnow auctions unique Gears 2 console for Make-A-Wish Foundation originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who's bad? Whoever buys Michael Jackson's arcade collection!

JC Fletcher — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:00:00 EST

Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch ~~has been foreclosed~~ is no longer occupied by the singer, and Jackson is auctioning off many of the items contained within. That includes the deposed King of Pop's rather massive arcade game collection. If you were wondering where all the arcades in the US went, now you know: Michael Jackson's house.

The collection includes somewhere in the area of one hundred video game machines, including store demo units of game consoles from the Genesis up to the Dreamcast, and dedicated arcade units including a Guitar Freaks unit, Sega's impressive R-360 machine and Galaxy Force II. In fact, the collection seems rather Sega-heavy, which is no surprise since Jackson was, himself, the star of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (whose arcade machine is not part of the auction!) and a guest star in Space Channel 5.

The only acknowledgment we'd like to make to the controversy surrounding Michael Jackson is this -- the fact that he is a ruined, disgraced pop star means that you can get a bunch of arcade games at rock bottom prices. As far as we're concerned, he sang Thriller, then he was in some video games, and then nothing else happened ever.

[Thanks, rengifo!]

Who's bad? Whoever buys Michael Jackson's arcade collection! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo DSi off to a flyer in Japan

Chris Greenhough — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: News, Imports, Sales

Famitsu publisher Enterbrain has reeled in the first Nintendo DSi hardware sales figures, revealing that the console has gone down a storm in Japan, with 170,779 DSi handhelds sold over the first two days. So much for Japan not being hyped for the thing! As we mentioned in passing yesterday, the DS Lite took three days to sell 68,438 consoles, but it appears Nintendo has learned from Lite shortages, and shipped many more DSi units (200,000, to be precise). Our congratulations and barely concealed, envious glare to those who bagged themselves a console.

Even though Japan's public is evidently totally hot for the DSi, Siliconera reports that people aren't exactly panic-buying yet; one evil scalper purchased fifty of the consoles, and is now struggling to reap any profit whatsoever from them on Yahoo! Auctions. And that, my friends, is the beauty of karma. Har.

Source: 170,779 DSis sold ...
Source: ... including fifty to this guy.

Nintendo DSi off to a flyer in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Madden 2010 cover could be auctioned for charity

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:56:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sports, Business

Pacman Jones on the cover of Madden NFL 2010? It could happen ... if "Adam" makes it rain on United Way. EA Sports head coach Peter Moore has been pitching the idea of a cover athlete auction to the Madden marketing team, reports Bloomberg.com. The decision won't be made "anytime soon," according to Moore, but the proposal suggests offering up the Madden ~~curse~~, er, cover to the highest bidding NFL player. All proceeds would go to United Way, the NFL's charity partner. "Our research tells us we don't see a huge up-tick or down-tick depending on who's on the cover -- they're buying Madden," says Moore.

Update: Oops! We were going for Pacman during his TNA Wrestling debut and wound up with his tag team partner, Ron "the Truth" Killings, instead (above). Thanks for pointing this out, folks -- needless to say, we don't watch much TNA nor have we ever seen Pacman with his helmet off. (And yes, we place full blame on Google Images.) Rest assured, we've rectified this careless error after the break!)

[Thanks, John]

Continue reading Madden 2010 cover could be auctioned for charity

Madden 2010 cover could be auctioned for charity originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grandson sneaks on eBay, uses Grandpa's account to buy Wii

David Hinkle — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:47:00 EST

Filed under: News

Archie Lovett is one sneaky kid. Not only is he adept enough at using those computer things, but apparently he's got a good memory, too. See, he used his Grandpa's account, UK resident Ray Atkinson, on eBay, remembering the username and password, to place a £197,654 bid on a Wii. The best part? The kid already has one.

Thankfully, the eBay seller was cool about the whole thing and ended up selling it to another individual, although for a lot less than Archie's bid.

We've featured various eBay goodies in the past. Have you seen Miyamoto's first console? Or how about the very sweet Super Mario Galaxy mod? Be sure to also check out this nice pair of Chuck Taylors with Nintendo mascots painted all over them.

Grandson sneaks on eBay, uses Grandpa's account to buy Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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