An ultra-rare Atari 2600 game appeared at a Texas Goodwill auction earlier this June. The popular cartridge classic, "Air Raid" has been sold for more than $10,000. How did the discovery of this retro gem begin?
How 'Air Raid Atari 2600' Becomes a Valuable Find
According to a report by Polygon on Friday, June 25, the cartridge game was only found accidentally in storage intended for donated toys and games. The prominent game, known for its T-shaped handle, became a "valuable find" when a Goodwill e-commerce processor discovered it.
At first, Alex Juarez was quite unsure about the cartridge that he spotted, but he was certain that he recognized it at the very least. To guarantee that it was an auction-worthy item, he consulted this father for advice.
After knowing that it was really a rare game, he immediately felt excited for the "Air Raid." His father texted him after confirming the game's legitimate identity.
Together with his supervisor, Juarez conducted research about the game, From there, they started to place "Air Raid" on the official website of Goodwill. After a week-long auction, it netted a whopping value of $10,590.79.
'Air Raid' eBay Auctions Are Commonplace
'Flop Atari 2600 ET cartridges' came out in 2011 on an eBay auction site. At that time, it gained $3,575 as part of the collector's item.
If we compare its value to the recently bought "Air Raid," the latter was three times more expensive. The following year after the eBay Atari 2600 game auction, another version emerged on the bidding site.
In 2012, an unknown buyer purchased a completely mint and sealed copy of "Air Raid." The auctioned game has restored the set of the box, cartridge, and even its instruction manual. It was sold for $33,433.30.
In line with another collector's item event," Gamerant reported last May that five "Ai Raid" sales have been included in the classic gaming memorabilia collection. According to Goodwill, the installment already sold 12 copies which were all hard-to-find these days.
The Purpose Behind Atari 2600 'Air Raid' Auction
The June 17 sale, as per Goodwill will be used to "provide day habilitation services" for a year to an adult. It could also be used for 20 homes people who have been affected by the unemployment brought by the pandemic.
Another alternative could be the youths who would be granted help. The non-profit organization which was established more than 110 years ago has been keen to help those who are in need. The group is also willing to train the individuals and provide jobs for them.
If you are wondering about the most expensive cartridge game sold, that is the "Super Mario Bros," one of the classic games on the NES console. In April, the retro game was purchased for $660,00 in Dallas, Texas. The pristine condition of the cartridge including its original packaging was preserved, Archyde reported.
Related Article: After Two Decades, Atari Is Making A Comeback With A New Game Console
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Written by Joseph Henry
