One key issue which sets video games apart from most high-end collectibles is that we can all remember seeing these games for sale when they were new. In the realm of collecting, most of the games we all saw were not generally in the conditions that go for tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Heritage Auctions Video Games Signature Auction is yet another opportunity to see what is being paid for the highest graded examples as well as a chance to buy into the hobby with examples that are meant to be invested in.

Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end collectibles as an alternative asset class. This means collectibles are attracting the same capital that could have been invested into stocks or bonds. Many collectibles now cost thousands of dollars (or much more). Collectors with a passion to own a collectible for years frequently have to compete directly against investors whose only desire is to make a profit in the future.

Heritage Auctions has some old favorite titles in this auction as well as some more unknown to the average collector with 4 days remaining for bids in the auction. With the recent passing of NFL legend and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame John Maddon, the ripples in all areas of sports collecting can be noticed. John Madden Football in Heritage Auctions January 28th and 29th Video Games Signature Auction has nearly 3500 page views for the first ever John Maddon Football videogame from 1990. Image below by Heritage Auctions.

Loosely based on the 1988 computer game of the same title, “John Maddon Football” 1990 videogame was the first entry into what would become the yearly Madden NFL series. The franchise was shortened to its present form as Madden NFL in 1994. Heritage Auctions notes that a sealed box of the first Maddon game is very rare. Here is the state of the Madden auction:

• John Madden Football – Wata 9.2 A+ Sealed [Cardboard Box], Genesis Electronic Arts 1990 USA with a current bid of $70,000.00 after 28 bids.

The Pokémon Red Game featuring a picture of Charizard on the cover only has 278 page views at the time of publication. One collector could make the observation that John Madden is more popular than Charizard in this auction. Here is the current state of its auction:

• Pokémon Red Version – Wata 9.8 A++ Sealed [Sandshrew, First Production], GameBoy Nintendo 1998 USA with a current bid of $17,500.00 after 29 bids.

There are other video games up for grabs as well.

• Super Mario Bros. – Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed [Oval SOQ R, Last Production] (The Carolina Collection), NES Nintendo 1985 USA with a current bid of $62,500,00 after 20 bids.
• The Legend of Zelda – Wata 9.2 A Sealed [Rev-A Round SOQ, Early Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA with a current bid of $41,000.00 after 16 bids.
• Nintendo World Championships 1990 Grey – Wata 6.0 Cart [#0084], NES Nintendo 1990 USA with a current bid of $31,000.00 after 11 bids.
• Super Mario Land – Wata 9.4 A+ [Green Screenshots, First Production] GameBoy Nintendo 1989 USA with a current bid of $24,000.00 after 12 bids.
• The Legend of Zelda – Wata 9.6 A+ Sealed [Oval SOQ TM, Later Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA with a current bid of $23,000.00 after 11 bids.
• Halo: Combat Evolved (NFR) – Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed [Microsoft Security Label], Xbox Microsoft 2001 USA with a current bid of $22,000.00 after 12 bids.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time – Wata 9.4 A Sealed [Made in Japan, Early Production], SNES Konami 1992 USA with a current bid of $20,000.00 after 6 bids.