DALLAS, TX.- A sealed copy of a notoriously rare video game will cross the auction block for the first time ever in Heritage Auctions’ Comics Auction March 5-7 in Dallas, Texas.

The only remaining "Play Station” prototype, developed by Nintendo and Sony during the 1990s, is expected to rock the gaming world March 5-7 when the console comes to auction for the first time at Heritage Auctions, HA.com.

The prototype is believed to be the only surviving example of 200 pre-production consoles that spawned from a once promising partnership between Sony and Nintendo. These companies are now two of the biggest competitors in the modern home console video game market, which makes this console's existence a bit of a head-scratcher. At one time, this reportedly single-surviving unit was owned by Olaf Olaffson, the founder, first president, and chief executive officer of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc., and eventually found its way into the hands of a private owner by pure chance.

"Reportedly, the other 199 prototypes were destroyed when the partnership between Nintendo and Sony was officially severed, and, though it isn’t certain, it is entirely possible this unit narrowly missed that fate,” McLeckie said. "While there are vast differences between this 1990-1992 prototype and the PlayStation console that was eventually released to consumers by Sony in 1994, it is technically the earliest existing prototype for Sony’s first home console video game console and an invaluable piece of video game history.”

Sealed Games Offer Collectors Rare Opportunity
Only 200 copies of Stadium Events: Family Fun Fitness Wata 9.2 A+ Sealed NES Bandai 1987 USA are purported to exist in any condition, and the offered copy is the first high-grade factory-sealed copy ever offered at any auction house.

"Stadium Events has a well-documented reputation regarding its perceived scarcity, Heritage Auctions Video Games Consignment Director Valarie McLeckie said. "Even the loose Wata-graded cartridges that we have offered have demanded a significant premium. Approximately 10 copies are known to have maintained their factory seal. Given all of these factors, we expect this high-grade sealed copy will garner some serious competition at auction!”

The sale also includes a high-grade copy of Athletic World: Family Fun Fitness [Gloss Plain Sticker, First Production] Wata 9.6 A++ Sealed NES Bandai 1987 USA. This game was exclusive as a pack-in title for the Family Fun Fitness Control Mat, and this copy is one of fewer than five sealed copies currently known to be fully complete, still matched with its original control mat. Considered the "older brother” to Stadium Events: Family Fun Fitness, it met the same fate of being pulled from shelves shortly after its release after Nintendo acquired the rights for the fitness pad technology. According to Wata, the offered game is tied for the finest known copy. This title is the only third-party game released in the United States with a sticker seal, rather than plastic.

Donkey Kong 3 [Hangtab, 3 Code, Mid-Production] Wata 9.6 A Sealed NES Nintendo 1986 USA includes the perforated cardboard hangtab built into the box. Any Nintendo Entertainment System game that has a cardboard hangtab variant, black box or otherwise, is comparatively harder to find sealed – especially one that is unpunched. This particular box variation was produced for a short time in mid-1987, before the cardboard hangtab was removed from the box-cutting die.

Donkey Kong Country Competition Cartridge [NFR] Wata 7.0 CIB SNES Nintendo 1995 USA was never factory-sealed, making complete-in-box copies the pinnacle of condition for this title. This "not for resale” version of Donkey Kong Country was created to be used in the Nintendo PowerFest ’94 competition and was later used in the Blockbuster World Video Games Championships II. Just 2,500 cartridges were produced, and once the competitions were over these carts were gathered up and paired with a green clamshell box with a custom art insert and sold through a Nintendo Power catalog exclusive to its subscribers.

Other top lots include, but are not limited to:

· Super Mario Bros. [Oval SOQ TM, Late Production] Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed NES Nintendo 1985 USA

· Super Mario Bros. ["Bros.” Right] Wata 9.8 A Sealed NES Nintendo 1990 USA

· Fire 'n Ice Wata 9.4 A+ Sealed NES Tecmo 1993 USA

· Clu Clu Land [Hangtab, 1 Code, Mid Production] Wata 9.4 A+ Sealed NES Nintendo 1985 USA

· Volleyball [Hangtab, 3 Code] Wata 9.2 A+ Sealed NES Nintendo 1987 USA

· Pro Wrestling [Hangtab, 3 Code] Wata 9.4 A+ Sealed NES Nintendo 1987 USA

· Chrono Trigger Wata 9.0 A++ Sealed SNES Squaresoft 1995 USA

· Final Fantasy III Wata 8.5 A+ Sealed SNES Squaresoft 1994 USA

· The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past [Standard Release] Wata 9.4 C+ Sealed SNES Nintendo 1992 USA

· Secret of Mana Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed SNES Squaresoft 1993 USA