DALLAS, TX.- The first copy of John Madden Football - Wata 9.2 A+ Sealed [Cardboard Box], Genesis Electronic Arts 1990 USA ever offered at Heritage Auctions sold for $480,000, setting a world record for the most ever paid for a sports video game, to lead Heritage Auctions' Video Games Signature® Auction to $4,989,510 in sales January 28-29.

This particular copy is especially extraordinary as it comes from the offices of its famous namesake, as noted by the third-party authentication service, Wata Games. The legendary former NFL coach and broadcaster, and video game pioneer, died December 28. Heritage will be donating the buyer's premium of the sale of the game to a charitable foundation created in Madden's honor.

"John Madden's impact will be felt forever in football, sports broadcasting and in the video games community," Heritage Auctions Video Games Managing Director Valarie McLeckie said. "It's only appropriate that this game should achieve a record result, and it is equally appropriate that Heritage Auctions is donating the buyer's premium from the game to a charity in his honor."

Many consider Madden to be the godfather of sports video games. For more than three decades, the John Madden Football video game franchise has generated more than $7 billion in revenue, according to the New York Times.

Multiple records were set in the event, in which 13 lots topped the $100,000 mark — among them was Halo: Combat Evolved (NFR) - Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed [Microsoft Security Label], Xbox Microsoft 2001 USA, whichbecame the first Xbox game ever to reach six figures when it sold for $108,000.

Also enjoying exceptional popularity was Sonic the Hedgehog - Wata 9.6 B+ Sealed [Printed in Japan, Early Production], Genesis Sega 1991 USA, which drew 34 bids before finishing at $240,000. This classic which featured the debut of Sega's furry blue mascot and was the highest-selling game for the Sega Genesis with over 15 million copies sold. The game, which first hit the shelves in 1991, was included in the Sega Genesis, which helped capture the attention of new players. The game also helped to make Sonic the mascot of the entire company: Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most recognizable and iconic video game characters ever created.




Super Mario Bros. - Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed [Oval SOQ R, Last Production] (The Carolina Collection), NES Nintendo 1985 USA, one of just seven copies across all variants to earn that lofty Wata grade, soared to $186,000. It bears a yellow "Nintendo Products" sticker that features the Nintendo service hotline number and shows the exact date of purchase: January 11, 1992 — late in the life of the NES. This copy is from the last production run of the game, as indicated by the presence of the registered trademark symbol by the oval seal of quality.

Three sealed games from one of the most revolutionary video game franchises ever created topped $150,000 each

• $180,000: The Legend of Zelda - Wata 9.2 A Sealed [Rev-A Round SOQ, Early Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA— only four copies of this iteration of game have been graded higher in this variant of the first game of the Zelda series

• $156,000: The Legend of Zelda - Wata 9.6 A+ Sealed [Oval SOQ TM, Later Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA

• $168,000: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Wata 9.8 A++ Sealed [Standard Release], N64 Nintendo 1998 USA — the fourth-best-selling N64 game
The highest-graded copy (according to Wata) of any variant of this black box launch title, Baseball - Wata 9.6 A+ Sealed [Hangtab, 2 Code, Mid-Production], NES Nintendo 1985 USA drew a winning bid of $144,000. One of just 11 copies graded by Wata over the last three years, it was the first version of virtual baseball that many young gamers ever played.

Tecmo Bowl - Wata 9.4 A+ Sealed [Oval SOQ R, Later Production], NES Tecmo 1989 USA drew 30 bids before closing at $144,000. The same variant as the copy from the Carolina Collection that sold through Heritage Auctions in 2019, this copy is one of just four carrying a Wata grade of 9.4, and there is just one with a higher grade. Although the game only included nine players on the field per team, it is the first game that featured the names of real players.

Other top highlights included, but were not limited to:

• $132,000: Donkey Kong Country - Wata 9.6 A+ Sealed [Made in Japan, First Production], SNES Nintendo 1994 USA

• $114,000: Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! - Wata 9.2 A+ Sealed [Oval SOQ TM, Later Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA

• $111,000: Pokémon Blue Version - Wata 9.8 A++ Sealed [Rattata, Pixel ESRB, Early Production], GameBoy Nintendo 1998 USA

• $102,000: Pokémon Red Version - Wata 9.8 A++ Sealed [Sandshrew, First Production], GameBoy Nintendo 1998 USA