Sealed Stadium Events

[Little Samson]

Just out of sheer curiosity, has anyone ever seen or heard of a sealed copy of the NTSC version of Stadium Events? That would be pretty impressive...

[Jumpman Jr.]

Bronty-2 has one. He got it off of eBay a year ago I think. It went for something like $3,000. Rumor has it the only other one is in a Bandai display case in their head office or something like that.

[Family Computer]

LoL @ $3,000

[DreamTR]

$3000 is a deal now. Guaranteed that the next boxed one that shows up goes for at least 3K.

[cyberfluxor]

May 2007, a loose instructions manual was sold for $875
Is there a more expensive manual in existance?!

I just find Stadium Events to be one of the top gaming gems because you can find World Track Meet almost anywhere for $0.10 and yet the rarity/story of this game is what makes it $1000+.

[Nescollector]

I was just telling someone the other day, that I should have tried to get one (Loose cart) when the use to go for $300-$400 DOLLARS :) I saw one last week for over a grand.

[mb7241]

I was just telling someone the other day, that I should have tried to get one (Loose cart) when the use to go for $300-$400 DOLLARS :) I saw one last week for over a grand.

Braveheart69 won that one for $1775.

[Family Computer]

yeah, Stadium Events...a true collector's gem ;p

[All Things Sega]

Gotta love collector's and the way they raise up prices. If the prices get any more crazy on some of these games, I might just be tempted to sell.

[Garry Silljo]

I still remember going to Woolworth's in the South Hill's Village mall when I was 9 and always passing up a huge pile of Bandai Fitness pads and Stadium events. They were on clearance and I could have had what I didn't know would have been tens of thousands of dollars for less than $100. My dad looked at the price once and offered to buy it for me because it was so cheap. I laughed at him and said "we already have that it came with our Nintendo." Easily my biggest regret in hindsight.

[Ed Oscuro]

*snip sob story ;)
Eh, if you ever wrote a book that'd give you a good story. Or maybe somebody else will steal it from you - just make sure to get credit.

$100 to $10000 is a respectable return on investment even considering the loss to inflation. It'd be great to go back in time when the hobby was even less sophisticated than it is now...even ten years ago would've been much better. I bet we'll be saying the same ten years from now, too.

[MarioMania]

Why isn't WCTF not so high, even know it's Stadium Events with diffent name....

[Jumpman Jr.]

Why isn't WCTF not so high, even know it's Stadium Events with diffent name....

Cause it's common as hell.

[portnoyd]

A loose one went for HOW MUCH? WTF

My complete copy was purchased in parts: cart ($300), box ($100) and manual ($200). Goddamn, $3000 now? Wow, that's insanity.

The sealed copy Bronty has was first up on eBay from a seller in the midwest. AndrewB won it (old NES scener) for $675. Quite a steal.

[Family Computer]

I can't believe the owners of any parts of this game (cartridge, manual, box or sealed) don't just clean up their copy to as best as possible and sell to someone willing to play such outrageous prices for a game that holds no value aside from its rarity.

I can understand people paying hundreds of dollars for things such as Mint Complete MSX Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Snake's Revenge. These are the only original versions of classic games which spawned a classic series.

Stadium Events is a game that is commonly available under a different name, and the game itself is horrible. I can understand going for a complete set of games, but unless you are a millionaire or game museum owner, $3000+ can be put to so much better use elsewhere.

[Little Samson]

Stadium Events is a game that is commonly available under a different name, and the game itself is horrible. I can understand going for a complete set of games, but unless you are a millionaire or game museum owner, $3000+ can be put to so much better use elsewhere.

On one hand, you have a great point -- the game is commonly available under a different name. On the other hand, I can totally see the draw of owning a game of which only one other sealed copy exists (not counting Bandai's). On top of that, the game holds some inherent historical value as the game that got the fairly successful Power Pad going.

How many people can point a (non-prototype) title in their collection and say, "This is the only one of these known to exist"? I can respect that.

Finally, if it's going to stay sealed (probably a safe assumption), then it technically doesn't matter how crappy it is, since one's never going to play it anyway. ;)

All that said, I'm never going to blow $3000 on one -- I'm only a few-thousandaire, and there are more important things to spend money on.

[Family Computer]

Like I said, I know it is the rarity of the game that creates this "value". In this case, the major problem is that this physical rarity seems to be the ONLY reason for the games price.

I guess its just my perspective though, but I find collecting just based on rarity alone is not very fulfilling. For example, I can see a Michael Jordan Rookie Card being worth $1000, even though it is just a "piece of cardboard". But if there was some horrible player who's card happens to be extremely rare then to me the card is still "worthless".

In the end, I guess it's the hole Pokemon mentality. Or too much money?

[Oobgarm]

In this case, the major problem is that this physical rarity seems to be the ONLY reason for the games price.

How is this a problem? If a game is truly difficult to find, and there's demand for it, why not let the market dictate the price?

Demand is key.

[Family Computer]

There is no problem with the theory of supply and demand.

If you read my replies, you would see that I cleary stated that I realize the rarity is the reason for it's value. I just find it absurd that there *IS* demand for a game like this for $1000+ simply due to rarity.

[Porksta]

IIRC, Bronty bought the game for 3K, even though the bids were much higher. I always wondered how that happened.

[raregamergirl]

The bids were not higher. There were a couple people who stopped bidding on it in respect to Bronty, but the auction ended with Bronty the high bidder at $3000 or so. He even was able to pick it up locally (I believe it was about 30 minutes away from him).

[DKTheArcadeRat]

Why isn't WCTF not so high, even know it's Stadium Events with diffent name....

I thought Athletic World was Stadium Events with a different name?

[xtremegamer]

I would think a sealed one would go for double what he paid for it sealed.

[Family Computer]

I think it would be really funny if a warehouse find of about 500-1000 deadstock copies turned up.

[Bronty-2]

could happen. in which case I might regret paying 3k. On the other hand, it might not happen, it which case this will probably be an extraordinarily good purchase, in time.

I mean, jesus christ, if a loose cart is worth $1700 now, a manual a grand or so, and the box worth more than the cart in all probability, $3k would be a steal for a complete let alone a sealed at this point. And I don't think that sale was a fluke, we discussed it on nintendoage and there appear to be several buyers lined up at the $1500 level.

anyway, to the original poster, if you want to see a picture of it its viewable on the nintendoage database.

[Bronty-2]

A loose one went for HOW MUCH? WTF

My complete copy was purchased in parts: cart ($300), box ($100) and manual ($200). Goddamn, $3000 now? Wow, that's insanity.

The sealed copy Bronty has was first up on eBay from a seller in the midwest. AndrewB won it (old NES scener) for $675. Quite a steal.

$600 for the complete is lookin' pretty good my friend. I would put the cart at 1500+, box at 2k, manual at 1k these days.

Anyway, AndrewB actually paid 800. The winner of the 675 auction backed out, if you can believe that, and Andrew picked up the pieces.

Hell of a nice guy. He used the money to go visit a lady friend he'd made acquaintance with in I want to say... Brazil?

[Bronty-2]

I would think a sealed one would go for double what he paid for it sealed.

only problem with that is that I wouldn't sell it for triple.

[Family Computer]

So did you purchase it as an investment that you plan to sell later? I can see that being a pretty smart move if you have a lot of knowledge about the market dynamics of sealed NES games.

[Little Samson]

anyway, to the original poster, if you want to see a picture of it its viewable on the nintendoage database.

Awesome, I found them. Sweet pics! Do you happen to know the story behind your copy? (That is, somebody bought it but never played it, or it sat in a store for years and years, etc.)

[Bronty-2]

So did you purchase it as an investment that you plan to sell later? I can see that being a pretty smart move if you have a lot of knowledge about the market dynamics of sealed NES games.

Not really. While I do think it will end up doing very well over time, I just bought it to try and complete my set. If my purchases were just about investing I wouldn't have bought sealed copies of barbie, dance aerobics, and wheel of fortune ;) (I'm trying to get a sealed nes set). Aren't too many chances to buy a sealed one so I pounced when I saw it. I was also lucky that a couple of others backed out. I could have gone to 4500 or so but no higher.

[Bronty-2]

Awesome, I found them. Sweet pics! Do you happen to know the story behind your copy? (That is, somebody bought it but never played it, or it sat in a store for years and years, etc.)

Can't say I know.

[Overbite]

daaaaaaamn 3k for it. pimpin old games 4 life

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5630/68kxywwjq0.gif

[Family Computer]

do you plan to start a museum or NES exhibit? A sealed collection is a pretty insane feat, but I am just trying to understand the psychology behind it. Since you can't play the games it seems like the thrill would be in the hunt, so what do you do once you complete it?

[jajaja]

I still remember going to Woolworth's in the South Hill's Village mall when I was 9 and always passing up a huge pile of Bandai Fitness pads and Stadium events. They were on clearance and I could have had what I didn't know would have been tens of thousands of dollars for less than $100. My dad looked at the price once and offered to buy it for me because it was so cheap. I laughed at him and said "we already have that it came with our Nintendo." Easily my biggest regret in hindsight.

Damn, that sux :\ Its impossible to know tho. I'm sure there are games in the store today thats easy and cheap to get that will be worth alot in the future. Too bad we cant know which ones hehe :\

[Bronty-2]

do you plan to start a museum or NES exhibit? A sealed collection is a pretty insane feat, but I am just trying to understand the psychology behind it. Since you can't play the games it seems like the thrill would be in the hunt, so what do you do once you complete it?

its no different than collecting stamps, coins, trading cards, or anything else that you can only look at.

[Family Computer]

I'm neither a stamp nor a coin collector but I think that stamps/coins have a far greater historical & political and in many cases artistic relevance than sealed video games (the box art is hardly anything write home about on Stadium Events).

But seriously, once you have a complete NES sealed collection you should start an exhibition or something.

[Jumpman Jr.]

I thought Athletic World was Stadium Events with a different name?

Nope, World Class Track Meet is the game that Stadium Events turned into. Athletic World does use the Power Pad, but it's different.
As for the sealed Stadium Events, it was definitely a good buy on Bronty's part. All the pieces of that game have been going for crazy prices lately. Personally, I'd spend $1000 on the box and $500 on the manual... but the problem is, is that there are a lot of other people who are willing to pay more.

[Bronty-2]

I'm neither a stamp nor a coin collector but I think that stamps/coins have a far greater historical & political and in many cases artistic relevance than sealed video games (the box art is hardly anything write home about on Stadium Events).

But seriously, once you have a complete NES sealed collection you should start an exhibition or something.

Have you ever tried looking at a book or coins or stamps? Booooooooooo-ooo-ooo-ring.

[savageone]

Amazing. I didn't know there was actually anyone out there trying to get a complete sealed NES set. How far in are you Bronty? And where are the pics? I never truly understood the collecting of sealed games but I've gotta respect the time, effort, and money it takes to build a set. So props to you sir.

I've got a couple dozen sealed games I bought when a store closed many years ago. I've got Mega Man 4 Bronty, MEGA MAN 4!! I bet thats worth at least 3-4 times a sealed Stadium Events, huh? Whoa-ho-ho. @_@

No? :(

[Family Computer]

I bet some Japanese collector has an insane famicom collection

[DreamTR]

I'm going to try and go for Famicom one of these days, I have more than half of them already...

[Family Computer]

wow...CIB or sealed?

[savageone]

Some day you're gonna run out of games to buy Dream. What are you going to do then? Donate it all to charity and start again?

[Blitzwing256]

the majority of famicom games were never "Sealed" when they were released.

[Kitsune Sniper]

the majority of famicom games were never "Sealed" when they were released.

Didn't they have stickers on the cardboard flaps, though? Like the early US releases?

[Niku-Sama]

how sure are we that there is only 2 coppies left in the world that are sealed?

its possible even though the rarity of the game that another copy or multiple coppies still exist. its not like bandai made them and then kept close tabs. records arent always maintained as well as they should have to the production ammount.

i am not saying anything for sure but its definitly a possibility

[Family Computer]

Obviously no one knows for sure, that is why there are only 2 KNOWN sealed copies

[Bronty-2]

Amazing. I didn't know there was actually anyone out there trying to get a complete sealed NES set. How far in are you Bronty? And where are the pics? I never truly understood the collecting of sealed games but I've gotta respect the time, effort, and money it takes to build a set. So props to you sir.

I've got a couple dozen sealed games I bought when a store closed many years ago. I've got Mega Man 4 Bronty, MEGA MAN 4!! I bet thats worth at least 3-4 times a sealed Stadium Events, huh? Whoa-ho-ho. @_@

No? :(

Hey mega man 4's a nice title, don't sell yourself short.

Thanks for the kind words. I'm pretty close, but at this point its really tough to find anything I need so the going is painfully slow.

[KennyB]

Does anyone has some info about the copy in the head office ? Or some pictures ? Would be nice to see.

[portnoyd]

With how much a sealed copy would probably go for, it wouldn't be bad idea to run into the Bandai HQ with a crowbar, pry that fucker open and run for the door.

[Family Computer]

I would just reproduce counterfeits by hand on the DL. For $3,000+ you could just do one a year or so and take your time. Slowly ease them into the market from different regions once a year.

[Blitzwing256]

Didn't they have stickers on the cardboard flaps, though? Like the early US releases?

nope no tape or anything (theres always exceptions from other companies naturaly) but 99% of the famicom and sfamicom games came without any sorta tape or shrinkwrap, just generally a cardboardbox a plastic trey and a baggie (manuals and maps as well depending on the game). gameboy is the same (though japanese ds games do come shrinkwrapped)

[Family Computer]

all this is true but there are still "new" games for these systems even if they aren't sealed

[savageone]

how sure are we that there is only 2 coppies left in the world that are sealed?

its possible even though the rarity of the game that another copy or multiple coppies still exist. its not like bandai made them and then kept close tabs. records arent always maintained as well as they should have to the production ammount.

i am not saying anything for sure but its definitly a possibility

Almost certainly there are more than 2 copies in the world. It's just a matter of when (if ever) they will surface in a manner visible to the scene. It could be tomorrow or in 10 years, but eventually someone will find a whole box full in some dusty old warehouse. This box might contain a few copies, 10 copies, or a hundred copies. Will this person have any idea what they're looking at besides some old games? Probably not.

[Bronty-2]

With how much a sealed copy would probably go for, it wouldn't be bad idea to run into the Bandai HQ with a crowbar, pry that fucker open and run for the door.

sooner or later some employee will steal it, especially if the value keeps going up and if property security isn't in place.

[SpaceHarrier]

So.. a sealed, VGA-graded copy of Stadium Events just sold for $24,000 on Ebay, Christmas day. Merry Christmas (for the seller, that is)! The winning bidder appears to have decent feedback, so troll bidding, while still possible, seems less likely.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-NES-Stadium-Events-NTSC-VGA-Sealed-Bandai-Family-Fun-Fitness-Archival-/200690213314

[TheChristoph]

You never hear about the Bandai version of the power pad, only the cart. Is it desired by collectors at all?

[mrmark0673]

So.. a sealed, VGA-graded copy of Stadium Events just sold for $24,000 on Ebay, Christmas day. Merry Christmas (for the seller, that is)! The winning bidder appears to have decent feedback, so troll bidding, while still possible, seems less likely.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-NES-Stadium-Events-NTSC-VGA-Sealed-Bandai-Family-Fun-Fitness-Archival-/200690213314

Not a real sale, likely a shill bid by the owner.

[Tokimemofan]

You never hear about the Bandai version of the power pad, only the cart. Is it desired by collectors at all? Probably a bit but it can't be that rare, I haven't seen any but I have seen the occasional Athletic World Bandai cart. It is just that Stadium Events has only a low few dozen copies in any condition, but is required for a complete NES set. A similar reason explains the relatively high value of Spider-man Web of Fire and a few others on the Sega 32x or Bonk 3 or Magical Chase on the Turbografx 16. Beyond a certain rarity level the value of a game is determined more by the number of surviving copies relative to the number of set collectors, a number that is of probably by off by 1-2 orders of magnitude minimum. Kizuna Encounter EU is probably the only other game to be released under such unusual conditions and goes for a bit less probably due to the fact that most people wouldn't even try collecting a system where commons can reach $50+.

[SparTonberry]

I've seen the Family Fun Fitness pad listed and relisted around $200 on ebay for quite and awhile and it hasn't sold.

I don't think the Bandai Athletic World cart is worth much. From what I understand, when Nintendo recalled Athletic World, they destroyed the box and manual but spared the carts since the title wasn't changed.
So the Bandai cart seems pretty common, but if you have a Family Fun Fitness-branded box or manual that might be worth something.

[Tokimemofan]

Yeah I noticed that while typing up my last post. Athletic World has a rarity of 3.