Joystiq

Namco Bandai denies collusion with eBay reseller amid Ni no Kuni Wizard's Edition shortage

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST

After some orders for the Wizard's Edition of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch started being mysteriously cancelled, Namco Bandai stepped forward to clarify that the special edition had been oversold, that the issue was caused by an error in its e-commerce provider's software and that said provider would be in touch to work things out.

Shortly thereafter, Wizard's Editions were found on PlayCanada's eBay store, marked up to an astronomical $400 each. The Internet, being the Internet, quickly jumped to the conclusion that Namco Bandai and/or Digital River had entered into a clandestine agreement with PlayCanada, removing inventory from its official site in order to maximize profits through an eBay scalper.

"NAMCO BANDAI Games America is not, nor has it ever, worked with or in conjunction with the EBay seller known as 'PlayCanada' to sell units of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch - Wizard's Edition at a price premium on EBay," Namco Bandai has told us.

"According to our records, this individual or group of individuals purchased Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch - Wizard's Edition during the NinoStarter promotion period (August 2012); at which time, no limits were placed on how many units an individual could order. PlayCanada's claims that they officially worked with NAMCO BANDAI Games America to obtain their stock is entirely false."

Namco Bandai is still attempting to make it up to fans who pre-ordered the Wizard's Edition and aren't going to receive one; every affected person will receive a 400-page hardbound strategy guide that includes a code for an in-game "Gold Hurly Familiar," as well as a $20 clubNamco voucher.

Namco Bandai denies collusion with eBay reseller amid Ni no Kuni Wizard's Edition shortage originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Replica Portal gun signed by Valve and auctioned on Ebay for charity

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:00:00 EST

The only thing better than donating to a worthy charity is donating to a worthy charity and getting a full-size replica Portal gun signed by the entire Valve team out of it. Warm fuzzies and a new toy.

Valve signed a replica Portal gun for the Games Art and Music charity event in Florida, and now that the show is over, GAAM is auctioning it off on Ebay, with all of the funds benefiting Child's Play Charity. It's like helping two charities in one go.

The Ebay auction started off strong, but because of some technical issues, it was reset and now needs to make up some ground to reach its previous peak. The auction ends tomorrow, December 28, at 10:37 a.m. PST. If you have a pure heart and an empty space on your mantel, this bidding war might be for you.

Replica Portal gun signed by Valve and auctioned on Ebay for charity originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy every North American SNES game for $25,000

JC Fletcher — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST

If you want to play every single North American SNES release ever - and display them in their original boxes when not playing - now is your chance. A collector called "Byuu" is selling a complete set of 721 Super Nintendo games on eBay, for just $24,999. That comes out to $34.67 per game overall, but it's worth noting that the rarer games are worth much, much more than that (Demon's Crest, for example, is up for $150 complete), and boxed copies of any game command higher prices than loose cartridges.

In addition to the games and boxes, the set includes 605 manuals, plus duplicate games, boxes, and manuals for some. Such careful, expensive, obsessive work was done in the name of preservation: Byuu is the developer of the Bsnes emulator, and the cartridges were dumped from the collection to obtain clean copies of all the games, in order to make the emulator work as close to perfectly as possible. "I will be using 100% of the profits from this sale to do the same for the European and Japanese sets next," Byuu said on Reddit.

Byuu is getting offers ranging from one penny to $20,000, but no one has bid the full price yet, Byuu told Polygon. "If I cannot get $20,000 I will not fully recoup my own investment, and I can't afford to lose money," Byuu said. "I will most likely wait indefinitely. The SNES game prices have continued to rise steadily over the past several years. It will eventually sell, I am confident in that."

Buy every North American SNES game for $25,000 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cardboard Wii U GamePad going for way too much on eBay

JC Fletcher — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:15:00 EST

You could have this exclusive cardboard Wii U GamePad cutout for your own collection. You just have to win an eBay auction. Bidding is only up to $91,300 right now - it's up to you to decide if that's worth paying for a one-of-a-kind work that immortalizes the excitement of the Wii U launch, and imitates the cardboard mockups used by the Miiverse team!

We suspect that the high bids are as fake as the GamePad. There's already a history of retracted bids, from $10,000 up to $99,999, all explained as "Entered wrong amount." We suspect every single person who has bid on this has entered the wrong amount.

Cardboard Wii U GamePad going for way too much on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another used games retailer in Florida is selling their business on eBay

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST

Remember a couple weeks ago, when Shane Butcher tried to sell his entire material life on eBay, including the chain of games resale shops he owns? Well, it turns out no one took him up on his $3.5 million "American dream," but that hasn't stopped the owner of a competing chain of Florida resale shops from deciding to do the same thing.

Rather than selling an entire life's worth of cars and property along with the stores, "Buddy and Dave" will only be selling the three existing Gamers HQ locations in Belleview, Inverness and Gainesville, Florida for a cool $2.6 million. All three locations are profitable and have been since day one, according to the eBay listing.

Both Buddy and Dave will stay on as consultants for three months after purchase, with an option to help open a fourth location that is already in the planning stages. Additionally, 10 percent of the listing's final sale price will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "This business succeeds thanks to children and giving back to them will be our first step if sold," reads the listing.

The chain of stores reportedly makes over $400,000 a year and prospective new owners can expect to earn a monthly take-home income of around $4,000, but if you can afford to spend $2.6 million on something, you're probably earning more than 50 grand a year anyway.

Another used games retailer in Florida is selling their business on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man sells life on eBay for $3.5 million, includes chain of gaming stores

Jordan Mallory — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 02:00:00 EST

Shane Butcher, the owner and proprietor of the R.U. GAME? chain of stores in Florida, has decided to sell his entire life on eBay. The listing includes his house and condo (along with everything inside), three cars, three kayaks, his personal rare game collection, and all three R.U. GAME? locations. Butcher's entire "American Dream" can be yours, all for one low payment of $3.5 million.

All merchandise/inventory associated with the retail outlets are included in the purchase price, and all employees "have agreed to give 110% in helping the new owners with the transition," according to the eBay listing. Butcher will hang around as a consultant for six months to ease the transition of ownership, as well as make a year's worth of lease payments in advance for all three locations.

A full year of Home Owners Association fees for both residential properties will also be covered, but what we're most impressed with is the fact that Butcher's life bundle includes Panzer Dragoon Saga and a MIB Neo Geo, both of which would probably go for a pretty penny in their own eBay auction.

Man sells life on eBay for $3.5 million, includes chain of gaming stores originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get your own prototype copy of The Legend of Zelda for just $150K

JC Fletcher — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:30:00 EST

Do you want the most expensive NES collectible imaginable? Forget that Stadium Events business, and check out this $150,000 auction for a US prototype of The Legend of Zelda. eBay seller tjcurtin1 has a Nintendo of America prototype, dated "2-23-87," up for auction, with a sealed copy of the retail release thrown in for good measure.

"This is a complete version to my knowledge," the seller says, "and as far as I know does not differ from the released version." That means it lacks the differences found in the Famicom Disk System prototype that was released freely online, and is thus valuable solely as a collectible. Keep that in mind while applying for loans.

Get your own prototype copy of The Legend of Zelda for just $150K originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Custom steampunk Xbox 360 controller hits auction

David Hinkle — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 07:00:00 EST

eBay user "troxin_kustoms" is selling the custom (and working, he claims) Xbox 360 controller mod you see above, a painted beauty meant to resemble a less advanced, repurposed construction material. Alongside the custom paint job, all of the face buttons and analog sticks have been ripped out in favor of old typewriter keys.

The auction is still going for just over two days, so best act quickly if you're in the US or Canada. Those are the only territories "troxin_kustoms" is willing to ship this thing, probably because the fuel for an overseas dirigible trip would be outrageously expensive.

Custom steampunk Xbox 360 controller hits auction originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael McDonald arcade stick, for takin' it to the Street Fighters

JC Fletcher — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:45:00 EST

You're not going to find a better custom PS2 arcade stick with a better picture of a better Doobie Brother.

Michael McDonald arcade stick, for takin' it to the Street Fighters originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Somebody bid $1,725 for Modern Warfare 3 on eBay

Justin McElroy — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:30:00 EST

Those Kmart copies of Modern Warfare 3 that slipped off store shelves have been doing big business on eBay, but none bigger than this copy which sold -- four days before its retail release -- for $1,725. Though the buyer's identity is a mystery, considering their abundance of free time, love of the franchise and inability to judge the value of everyday objects, we have to assume it's the either a prankster with too much time on their hands, or the World's Richest Juggalo.

Speaking of record-setters, did you know that the final bidding price technically makes this copy of Modern Warfare 3 the most valuable thing ever sold at Kmart? It's true! Look it up!

[Thanks, Prince.]

Somebody bid $1,725 for Modern Warfare 3 on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:30:00 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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Buy BioWare's wares for Japan relief

JC Fletcher — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:15:00 EST

BioWare games are all about binary moral choices, but you don't have to choose between self-serving behavior and "Paragon" style heroism in real life -- all you need is a ton of money. The developer is auctioning a few custom Dragon Age 2-themed PS3 and Xbox 360 systems, plus a bunch of Mass Effect hoodies signed by BioWare founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka.

The auctions all end April 19, and with bids already in the $400-$600 range for the consoles, expect to give a lot of money to the Japanese Red Cross in exchange for one of these collectibles. But shipping is free!

Buy BioWare's wares for Japan relief originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy signed Metal Gear Solid games to help Japan

JC Fletcher — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST

With one simple act, you can help the American Red Cross' efforts in Japan, help your game collection become more amazing, and help Otacon reconcile with his sister. All you need to do is purchasing the Hideo Kojima-autographed copy of Metal Gear Solid 2 that Play for Japan is auctioning off for Red Cross funds. It was donated by Sam Kennedy of 1UP.

Would you prefer a different signed Metal Gear Solid game as a reward for your generous donation? Alex Fraioli is auctioning a Japanese copy of Metal Gear Solid Integral signed by the designer. Andrew Vestal provided a copy of MGS3 signed by Kojima and art director Yoji Shinkawa, bundled with a bunch of press-only bonus items handed out at a Japanese event in 2004.

These are just a few of the items on Play for Japan's auction list. Go bid on stuff! When these charity drives end, bidding on rare game stuff on eBay will once again become a selfish act.

Buy signed Metal Gear Solid games to help Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xperia Play phones given away at GDC end up on eBay

Mike Schramm — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:33:00 EST

Sheesh. First the Xperia Play is obtained by the press even before its official announcement, and now the first units to reach the North American public, given away to developers at a GDC panel and raffles last week, are ... wait for it ... being sold on eBay.

That's right -- even weeks before the actual launch, you can't give these things away for free. eBay seller "mejones73-1" doesn't hide the fact that he's one of the developers who won a free phone (and neither does this guy), though the Sony writeup says that a winner named "Mike Jones" just happens to work across the street from their office in Redwood City, CA. Jones might want to be careful in the parking lot this week -- even if he plans to buy another phone with the $730 and rising that his auction is earning, Sony can't be too happy about this one.

[Thanks, Benny!]

Xperia Play phones given away at GDC end up on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:33:00 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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The XToaster360 can be yours, for enough bread

Randy Nelson — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:00:00 EST

We were tempted to make a joke about avoiding the unnecessary risk of overheating your Xbox 360 when we saw this video for Nick Carouso's "XToaster360" -- a toaster gutted and turned into a custom console -- but that's a little stale. The case mod is currently up for auction on eBay with a starting bid of $150 ... so we're assuming there's no Valhalla inside. (There's also no hard drive -- just the ability to use USB thumb drives.)

While the XToaster is still pretty neat, what with its blue LEDs and novelty factor, there are a couple of other issues with the design: For one, it doesn't actually make toast. Also, Carouso kept the disc drive horizontal, missing the opportunity to insert a game through one of the toaster's bagel-accommodating slots. Maybe he was worried about it ejecting early -- or worse: jamming?

Continue reading The XToaster360 can be yours, for enough bread

The XToaster360 can be yours, for enough bread originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:00:00 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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Night Trap's original cover art for sale on eBay

JC Fletcher — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:31:00 EST

Have you ever dreamed of having the original cover art from a video game hanging on your wall? How about the original cover art from Digital Pictures' Sega CD vampire-hunting game, Night Trap? If so, passion burns and danger calls you to eBay where, for around $250 (the current bid), you can own the 15" by 25" painting used for the Sega CD box, retrieved from Sega of America's art department.

If you're not sure whether you want this real gaming history for yourself, mull it over while you watch Night Trap's party scene, after the break.

Continue reading Night Trap's original cover art for sale on eBay

Night Trap's original cover art for sale on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:31:00 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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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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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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Some guy is selling his Steam account on eBay

David Hinkle — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:45:00 EST

We think this is interesting for two reasons:

This is actually the first post we've ever written about some guy selling his Steam account
We can't believe someone would actually want to get rid of their Steam account

So, yeah, eBay user dave311freak is trying to unload his massive Steam collection (139 titles strong) onto whoever's willing to fork over the most cash for it. As it stands, nobody's actually dropped a bid on the auction, so we're not sure he'll be successful in this venture. Head past the break for a video rundown of some highlights from dude's collection.

[Thanks, Terry]

Continue reading Some guy is selling his Steam account on eBay

Some guy is selling his Steam account on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:45:00 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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Parody for charity: Retro Matt Hazard stuff on eBay

JC Fletcher — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:25:00 EST

click to go down Fake Memory Lane in our galleryThe best part of the Matt Hazard series, in our opinion, is the part that doesn't exist -- the fake retro series which the new games pretend to reboot. While the classic Matt Hazard games aren't precisely real, you can now buy the cartridges on eBay. To benefit Child's Play, D3 is selling mockup Hazard memorabilia, including nonfunctional game cartridges and functional Haz-Matt Carts shirts -- and, of course, slap bracelets -- in four simultaneous auctions.

It's kind of the opposite of digital distribution: instead of getting a game without physical media, delivered over the internet, you'll get cartridges with no game inside through the mail.

Gallery: Matt Hazard promo items

Parody for charity: Retro Matt Hazard stuff on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The effects of re-releases on classic game pricing

JC Fletcher — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:25:00 EST

In a survey of (presumably) eBay prices for rare and collectible games, MTV Multiplayer's Jason Cipriani illustrates what re-releases of these games do to their resale value -- and, by association, to the people who hoard these game for profit. As it turns out, re-releasing rarities like Dracula X affects game collectors negatively in the same way it affects normal people positively -- by making the games more easily available, thus driving down the cost of copies in the original format. Won't someone please think of the jerks trying to make a profit from their rare games?

To use another Castlevania example, Castlevania Chronicles: Cipriani found a three-year high price of $70 for the 2001 PlayStation release in 2007. Two years later, after the game's release on PlayStation Network, physical copies dropped to a low price of $26.93. The people who just wanted to play the game could now get it for six bucks, leaving the PS1 discs for collectors only.

It's not as simple as a re-release dropping the value globally, however: the data shows some weirdly fluctuating prices, like Persona 2: Eternal Punishment on PlayStation, which seems to have gone up in price significantly following a reissue. Perhaps interest rose when buyers got the idea that it was even possible to buy an old Atlus game.

The effects of re-releases on classic game pricing originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:25:00 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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Money can buy you a custom Beatles: Rock Band Xbox 360

JC Fletcher — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:29:00 EST

You have two options for getting your hands on one of these custom-designed Beatles: Rock Band Xbox 360 consoles. You can either offer the winning bid on the unit being auctioned by Microsoft -- which has a current high bid of $680, with almost ten days to go -- or you can purchase the 360-exclusive downloadable version of "All You Need is Love" and be automatically entered into a drawing to win one. Of course, the costlier eBay method has better odds!

Whichever method you use, all of the proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders. That makes you a hero for trying to win a prize or playing a song in a video game!

Gallery: The Beatles: Rock Band Xbox 360 console

Money can buy you a custom Beatles: Rock Band Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Other Xbox 360s Palin comparison to this one, up for $1.1 million

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:24:00 EST

Former presidential candidate ... vice-presidential, really? Could have fooled us. Anyway, former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin saw fit to grant a man her autograph on an Xbox 360 and now he's selling it on eBay for ...

One billion dollars (dramatic music)

No, but the actual figure is almost as ludicrous at $1.1 million. And for that price, you're not even getting an Elite, just a plain ol' Pro -- which may be a collector's item soon anyways. Perhaps, if the gentleman sells the item, he'll be a very supportive donor to Palin's expected 2012 presidential bid. Yes he can.

[Via adn.com; Thanks, ganung]

Other Xbox 360s Palin comparison to this one, up for $1.1 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LittleBigPlanet pod replica making eBay a bit more adorable

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST

This seems like one of those things that, when a Sony representative sees it, it elicits a sharp forehead smack, accompanied by the following exclamation: "Why didn't I think of that?" A clever eBay user known as "thegroovygamer" recently put a lovingly crafted LittleBigPlanet pod replica on the virtual auction block. Of course, it wouldn't be an exact replica without two additional items: A DualShock 3 controller, and a little Sackboy to inhabit it.

We would have bought an armful of these bundles had Sony released them in the thick of LittleBigPlanet fever last fall. Oh, heck -- we'd buy an armful now. Just throw in a few sticker sheets, and we'll get out our checkbooks.

[Thanks, Corey!]

LittleBigPlanet pod replica making eBay a bit more adorable originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time runs out for Zelda-esque chicken strip auction

JC Fletcher — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:45:00 EST

One Zelda fan discovered that McDonalds had selected a very special Chicken Selects strip for him: one that bears a resemblance to the Ocarina of Time from, well, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The one on the right is the chicken strip -- we know it can be hard to tell the two near-identical images apart. After holding the treasure aloft and singing the classic Zelda "You Found an Item" fanfare (we are approximately 100% certain this happened), the lucky owner of the magical instrument ... -shaped chicken strip decided to share his good fortune. By putting it on eBay.

Despite starting bidding at a reasonable (for a legendary artifact) $25, nobody bid on 0iz0's auction for some old food. Now what is he to do? How does one dispose of something like this?

[Thanks, George!]

Time runs out for Zelda-esque chicken strip auction originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:45:00 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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