Ask any retro game collector about the current prices of games and they will all tell you the cost of owning our treasured favourites has skyrocketed over the last few years. We constantly see news stories of sealed and graded games selling for thousands but this latest story will certainly raise some nostalgic eyebrows.
If you asked most gamers about the Mega Drives sports titles, especially the ones from prominent publisher EA, they would be right in estimating that most are among the cheapest to collect for Sega’s 16-bit console. But mention Lakers vs. Celtics, a 1991 basketball title, and the prices start to add up.
It seems to be beyond belief that a Mega Drive sports title would sell for over £7,500 but here we are. But what is it about this particular game that has caused this colossal amount from one bidder on eBay? The answer is simply that the game wasn’t meant to be released in shops and is an incredibly rare game.
The game is plentiful in the USA however, where the Sega Genesis version can be found for a pittance. But the European Mega Drive version, one of only up to fifteen known to exist, is a ‘holy grail’ amongst Mega Drive collectors.
Even more impressively, another version of the highly sought-after game sold for over £8,000 in recent years. Those wanting to dive deeper into the story of this remarkable game should check out the excellent interview with David Amor on Eurogamer.
