Solely just lately, I handed on my GameCube to my nephew who was simply beginning school. He wished one thing to play Mario Kart and GoldenEye on with new buddies, and apparently it’s proving successful. However this implies I don’t have a GameCube. So let’s test eBay…
$100,000?!
OK, let’s be smart, you’ll be able to truly choose up one in all Nintendo’s traditional cuboid consoles for round $60 to $80. That may solely get you an everyday mannequin, nonetheless, and never a pre-release Area World 2000 model of the machine.
Of all the assorted particular version GameCubes that appeared in the course of the console’s heyday 24 years in the past, as IGN stories, the Area World is the rarest. Therefore the astonishing (and but nonetheless reasonably hopeful) price ticket.
This explicit mannequin was a prototype design, one in all 5, that appeared at Nintendo’s annual Area World commerce present in Japan within the 12 months 2000. It was to be the penultimate Area World, but in addition the start of the cute machine’s life, because it was unveiled on the occasion—alongside the Sport Boy Advance. The prototype was misplaced for a few many years, after which rediscovered in 2023. It’s apparently 1mm larger in all dimensions than the ultimate retail GameCube, has a different-shaped vent on the again, and, properly, didn’t have a CPU or GPU inside.
Which is to say, sure, this can be a $100,000 GameCube that may’t play video games. Because the eBay description reads, “It is a show unit. The one factor that works is the little LED on prime.” And actually, I’m impressed the sunshine nonetheless activates 1 / 4 of a century later.
The present proprietor says they’re promoting the mannequin with the intention to fund a spot the place individuals can collect to play video games, “the place your entire household can get pleasure from, individuals can meet different individuals, speak with individuals who really feel uncomfortable with different individuals, and make the guests really feel younger once more.” Which sounds beautiful.
However make certain before you purchase. The gross sales web page makes clear there’s no-takes-backsies.
“I don’t run a store, please, no refunds if the console is to not your liking.”
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