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10 of the Rarest Classic Consoles Ever!

10 of the Rarest Classic Consoles Ever!

We’re all aware of the rare video games to watch out for as we hit garage sales and thrift shops. Such things are obvious. But did you also know there are actually rare systems of which you should also be aware? There are many classic, rare, and unorthodox consoles in the wild, sometimes even prototypes, and you should always keep your eyes open for one of these guys. You never know when you could stumble across an invaluable piece of gaming history.

Image Credit: Dave Ward

Casio Loopy

Casio Loopy

Never heard of the Casio Loopy? Don’t worry, you’re forgiven. This was a Japan-exclusive console marketed to girls. Most of the games were life sims, dating sims, or offered the opportunity to play dress-up. It was particularly notable for its screenshot function, which let you print out an image from a game. It’ll probably cost you about $150 for a system, though one new in the box could run for over $450.

3DO

3DO

The 3DO was an odd console that was made by companies like Panasonic, Sanyo, and Gold Star. It was famous for providing people easy access to ports of arcade and computer games like Alone in the Dark and Myst , as well as plenty of adventure and FMV games like Jurasic Park and Night Trap . It can be a bit difficult to find, but people who are willing to tolerate a “loved” machine might find one for around $80. If you want a mint condition one with all the boxes and manuals, you could end up paying around $500.

SG-1000

SG-1000

We all know the Sega Genesis and Sega Master System, but do you remember the system that preceded both of them? The SG-1000 was Sega’s first console and honestly? It flopped. it helped get the company into the market and prepare for the Genesis, but this cartridge-based console didn’t have much to offer or many games. Two of the most notable of its 68 games were Flicky and Galaga , both of which appeared in improved forms on other systems. Multiple variations were released, known as the SG-1000, SG-1000 II, and SG-3000, with the Sega Mark III being what we later knew as the Master System. Depending on the SG-1000 version you find, it can be around $50 for a well-used version of the system or up to $500 for a collectible and complete edition.

Apple Pippin

Apple Pippin

Oh, the Apple Bandai Pippin. This was a system that probably shouldn’t have existed, but did. That it only existed for a year, from 1996-1997, proves what a horrible idea it was. Apple wanted to license the technology, to allow other companies to produce Pippins, but only Bandai and Katz Media took Apple up on it. It didn’t have any particularly notable games, though anime fans might be interested in Guntam Tactics: Mobility Fleet 0079 or Anime Designer: Dragon Ball Z . Depending on its condition, a Pippin today could go for between $50 and $400.

TurboExpress

TurboExpress

When the Game Boy and Game Gear hit the market, companies wanted to see if they could offer other games on the go. NEC Home Electronics decided to do like Sega did with the Nomad and give people a chance to play TurboGrafx-16 games on the go with the TurboExpress. This handheld, which was about the same size as a Game Boy, would let you insert the console’s cards into the system and play games like Bonk’s Adventure , Neutopia , and R-Type anywhere. It didn’t sell well, and that means it can be quite costly now. You could end up paying between $250 and $450 for one.

Vectrex

Vectrex

Having a Vectrex was like having a little arcade machine in your home. This console was unique in that it was an all-in-one system. You have a monitor and speakers built into it, as well as a Minefield game. It only offers one color for its display, using overlays to occasionally add more detail to the experience, and extra cartridges can be popped into the side to expand your library. Spike and Minefield are its two most notable games. This is known to be one of the more delicate consoles, due to its unusual nature and a rather sensitive controller, which means you can end up spending at least $100 for a system in average condition and over $1,000 for one that’s pristine.

Sega Pluto

Sega Pluto

The Sega Pluto is a prototype console. It’s a version of the Sega Saturn with a Netlink modem built into it. There are two of these prototypes in existence, and the owner of one attempted to sell it. Kidvid666 put his up on both GameGavel and eBay, getting an offer for $7,600 on the former and $15,500 on the latter, though neither met his reserve price. While you could absolutely make do with an actual Sega Saturn for your gaming needs, since it’s not like you could really take advantage of the internet options, you can’t deny the street cred you’d get from owning this system.

APF Imagination Machine

APF Imagination Machine

The APF Imagination Machine is an incredibly weird, classic console. It released around the same time as the Atari 2600 and was notable for the ability for people to expand it into a console / computer hybrid. You could actually attach the console to a keyboard, for coding and creating; and tape deck, for writing, using extra games, or recording and listening to audio tapes. You could even add on more accessories like a telephone modem or floppy disk storage. Most of its games were very basic, like Blackjack , Hangman , Tic-Tac-Toe , and Baseball , but people could expand the library with their own creations. Given its rarity and add-ons, this unconventional system can start at $500 for the basic system and go for over $3,000 in pristine condition with extras.

N64DD

N64DD

This is one that’s popped up recently. In Japan, a 64DD was released for the Nintendo 64. It was a disk drive add-on that would allow people to play magnetic disk games with persistant worlds and real-time clocks. It didn’t do well in Japan, with only a handful of games like Doshin the Giant , SimCity 64 , and F-Zero X Expansion Kit released. A Japanese version of it can go for $400 to $1000, depending on its condition. Though recently, Jason ” MetalJesusRocks ” Lindsey found a US model of the N64DD. Since it could perhaps be the only one in existence, it’s priceless.

Nintendo PlayStation

Nintendo PlayStation

Our top item is another priceless system. It’s the Nintendo PlayStation, also known as the SNES-CD, prototype. Back before Sony went into the console business with the PlayStation and Nintendo went on to make the Nintendo 64, the two companies almost went into business together. Obviously, this didn’t happen, but in November 2015, Terry Diebold purchased an Advanta bankruptcy lot that included a Nintendo PlayStation prototype owned by Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, a former Sony CEO. Since no games were ever released for it, there’s nothing to play on it, but it can play Super Famicom cartridges. In the time since, a disc boot ROM has been found and a Super Boss Gaiden game created. There’s no way to assign a value to such a precious thing, so let’s just acknowledge it’s the best and appreciate that it was actually found.

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