In the early 90s, Sony Computer Entertainment Engineer Ken Kutaragi, who later became Chairman and CEO of the company, created the Super Nintendo sound chip. This led to another collaboration between the two companies with the goal of creating a disc-based console.
Unfortunately, after Kutaragi designed the console and produced a couple hundred prototypes, disagreements on both sides prevented the mass production of the Super NES CD-ROM System. (Also known as the SNES-CD or Nintendo Playstation)
It was assumed that none of these still existed as most of them had been destroyed. The revelation of the device's existence came when a man named Terry Diebold bought the unit at a blind auction when the company he worked for, Advanta Corporation, went bankrupt. Apparently, the unit was once owned by Sony Computer Entertainmnet CEO Olaf Olafsson, who later worked at Advanta.
After showing off the console at gaming conventions for years, Diebold is now ready to sell his Nintendo Playstation.
“It’s the first time this prototype has ever been offered at public auction before,” said Heritage Auctions consignment director Valarie McLeckie.
“Nintendo and Sony are arguably two of the biggest competitors in video games today. It’s just a little baffling to some to see Nintendo and Sony sharing the same console — and that it has the namesake of the PlayStation itself.”
While none of the games created specifically for the console prototype have ever been found, the device is still able to play games. The auction is scheduled for March 5-7, 2020.
Bidding will commence in February.
“We don’t have any sample as to what this could possible sell for,” McLeckie said.
“The market’s going to have to dictate the value on this one.” So far, estimates range from six figures to "the downright shocking." Apparently, Diebold has already turned down a
$1.2 million offer from a person in Norway.
Interested in acquiring this rare and expensive item? Let us know in the comments section.