Ah Capitalism

Someone has paid $800,000 dollars on eBay for the NES game you see pictured above. Let me enunciate that: eight hundred thousand dollars. Almost one million dollars for a sealed copy of a very rare game (probably the rarest from what I've read), which only has value because the handful of collectors willing to pay such prices think it has that value.

Its pretty sad that we've gotten to this point. On the one hand sure its a piece of history just like a Picasso or a Warhol painting whose value should be determined by what it means to the person purchasing it and what the consensus is among those who would want such an item. But on the other we're talking about $800k for what is essentially is plastic inside a box wrapped in more plastic.

But this is what capitalism is all about: not only having the freedom to own private property but having the freedom to own whatever private property you want and spending whatever ridiculous amount of money you want for it. That we've reached the point in which a video game is worth that much money probably proves some point that Marx made in Das Kapital or the Brumeire. What that point is evades me right now but I'm sure it would have something to do with not being a fucking moron.

I'm kinda glad for the person who sold it though. A game collector, someone who obviously loves video games, selling it probably because this game has fetched up to $40,000 previously and deciding to cash in. And why not? the way I see it the person who bought it isn't a game collector like you and me but some rich guy who can afford to splurge in stupid stuff like this. Shit, its probably Todd McFarlane. The transfer of wealth from such a person (or casino or hedge fund or whatever) to a regular citizen is great, I'm sure eBay is happy about it too.

I'm also happy since that auction where I bought Killer Instinct, Maximum Carnage and a JLA game for $20 now seems like a steal.

So the moral of the story? simple:

1. find a copy of Stadium Events
2. Put it up for auction on eBay
3. ????
4. Profit.