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Sonic the Hedgehog - Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed [Made in Japan, Early Production], Genesis Sega 1991 USA....
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Sold on Apr 22, 2022 for:
$360,000.00
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Description
Highest Graded Early Production Copy Offered By Heritage Auctions
Sonic the Hedgehog - Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed [Made in Japan, Early
Production], Genesis Sega 1991 USA. Few games set off our
nostalgia meters like Sonic the Hedgehog, 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. Despite the
ubiquitous nature of the title, we rarely see factory sealed early
production copies, and this is the highest graded one we've ever
offered. In fact, it's the highest graded copy from any production
run that we've ever offered!When Sonic the Hedgehog hit store shelves in 1991, it quickly became the Sega Genesis' much needed "killer app". The game's instant popularity helped move tons of systems. Its inclusion with the system helped capture the attention of new players who weren't won over by the previous pack-in, Altered Beast. The game also created a mascot for the company as Sonic himself was a huge hit with fans. Prior to Sonic, the closest thing Sega had to a mascot was Alex Kidd, who was likeable enough but hardly a household name.
So, why was Sonic such a hit with gamers, both casual and hardcore, and why does he continue to resonate with fans and collectors? For starters, he's got a bit of an edge to him, especially for a cartoonish hero. There's a mischievous twinkle in his eye on the box illustration, and he's holding up #1 to indicate, perhaps, that Sega outranks its competition. When the game is paused for too long, he gets impatient with the gamer, scowling at you and tapping his foot--something Mario would never do!
Sonic's debut game features dazzling graphics, dynamic gameplay, and lightning fast action which helped one Sega marketer coin the term "blast processing,". This was a tool in Sega's arsenal to make the company seem superior to Nintendo. Sonic the Hedgehog and its sequels were the games to own and seemed ultra cool next to Mario's "slower" adventures. (Mario would quickly rebound in gamer's eyes as the excellence of Super Mario World for the SNES took hold, but for a time Sonic was the king of platforming protagonists.)
Along with Mario, and perhaps Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Lara Croft, Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most recognizable and most iconic video game characters ever created. His debut game on the Sega Genesis still holds up today and is available on just about every modern console. The chance to get a near-perfect copy of his first appearance is a rare one, so we could not be more delighted!
Please note that the white markings that are visible on Sonic's stomach are a defect on the Wata blister and they are not on the game itself. This case is in the process of being repaired.
Wata Population Report More Information: EDIT 4/7: Added "Please note that the white markings that are visible on Sonic's stomach are a defect on the Wata blister and they are not on the game itself. This case is in the process of being repaired." to the description.
Auction Info
2022 April 22 - 23 Video Games Signature® Auction #7286 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
April, 2022
22nd-23rd
Friday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 19
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
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Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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