There are many books and magazines showing off and detailing the various works of art Yoshitaka Amano produced for the Final Fantasy series, but this box contains more than I have ever seen in any other collection. Think about this; the box weighs about 16 pounds… you could spend an entire weekend looking through these books and extras. The collection covers every title from the first Final Fantasy through to and including Final Fantasy X.

Yoshitaka Amano “The Sky” Art of Final Fantasy - Inside you get three hardcover books that divide art for the series I to III, IV to VI, and VII to X. There’s a fourth softcover book called “All About Yoshitaka Amano” which is exactly that; a biography and more information about his work. Then you have an illustrated plastic sheet, two postcards, and a 96 page flip book which shows an example of Amano’s art in motion. The text in the books is Japanese unfortunately, but the collection of art here is staggering. Concerning the price… keep in mind this box is long sold out (2002) and is really hard to find. The release price (sold only in Japan) was about 28,000 Yen which converts to about $360 US. The auction’s buy now price is $1,000 with the option to make an offer. If the seller accepted an offer of $700, I would say you have a nice deal going. I envy the future buyer of this amazing set.

While we are on the subject of Final Fantasy, I would like to list one of my favorite Final Fantasy VII statues. I don’t own one of these (yet) but, damn… look at this…

Final Fantasy VII Aerith Gainsborough Polystone Statue - The design gives a sense of weightlessness that stops your heart for a moment. It also brings to mind one of the most important moments in FFVII (if not the most important). The statue stands over a foot tall and is simply pure awesome. The price set by the seller is quite high. The release price was something around $200 and I’ve seen this selling for $600 recently off eBay. You can try contacting the seller for a more reasonable price.

Next we have two homebrew games built off of Zelda Link to the Past and Super Mario World. You may have heard of or even played the ROMs, but these are well done reproduction carts.

The Legend of Zelda Parallel Worlds - For people who wished there was a sequel to Link to the Past (there are official semi sequels but let’s not get into that).

Super Mario World Return to Dinosaur Land - This is great because new Mario games are, for the most part, new level designs. Most Mario hacks are just made to test people with the most difficult levels possible but this game does well in making a fun experience.

I’ll end things today with a bunch of quick auctions for some great rare games. Not much to say about each individually but if you’re looking for a certain Neo Geo or Sega CD game that is hard to track down, it may be listed here.

King of the Monsters (Neo Geo)

King of the Monsters 2 (Neo Geo)

Last Resort (Neo Geo)

Shining Force CD (Sega CD)

Snatcher (Sega CD)

Keio: Flying Squadron (Sega CD)

Lunar: Eternal Blue (Sega CD)

There’s a bunch of amazing video game auctions up on eBay right now. I don’t think I’ve seen so many different items that I’m not familiar with all in one post.

Now to start things off I want to say that I know it’s not the rarest auction of the night, but I’d like to show first this Earthworm Jim Sega Cd Signed by Dave Perry. Now you are wondering why I choose this to be the first auction. Well, I remember a time back in the 90′s when Earthworm Jim was HUGE. Every kid was bringing their issue of Nintendo Power and showing around this new game that would be coming out. I remember it was very unique for it’s time. It’s humorous action moves, the amazing graphics, everyone wanted to have this game. If you owned a copy, you were the “cool” kid and everyone wanted to come over to your place to test it out. Nowadays, this is one title that I never hear anyone talk about. It’s one of the least discussed SNES/Sega game. Unless you are part of some underground Earthworm Jim forum, then you’ll probably agree with me here. So I thought that I would shed some light on a game that isn’t talked about much anymore. The fact of having a signed copy of the game(well, the Sega CD version) by Dave Perry is pretty freakin cool, and very uncommon to come by.

I also wanted to bring up a point. Most people will argue that the value of an autograph depends on whether or not the person who signed it is alive or dead. I believe that the value of an autograph is measured on scarcity. I find that autographs which are readily available don’t have much value since you can find them on eBay anytime. For example, look at the Hideo Kojima autographs; we post one every 2nd week if not more. Because Kojimas autographs are easily attainable this decreases the value in my opinion. It’s less desirable. Sure you’ll have a kick of owning one, but everyone else on your block has the same chance of owning his autograph as well thus making it less rare. I mean if you don’t care about everyone on your block also owning a Kojima autograph than it’s fine. But I like to work for my collectibles. I want to make sure that when I frame or display something thats “rare” in my room I can look at it and say, “Damn, that was one of the toughest finds ever!”. This makes sense to a hardcore collector. You want to own something that no one else owns, or very few other collectors own. So, with that said I have not seen a Dave Perry autograph in a long time, which by my defintion is quite desirable to own .

The best part about this auction is that the autograph was not made out to anyone, which definitely adds more value to the piece. Here’s what the seller said:

“Exact item pictured. Game, box, and manual are in excellent condition. This was purchased new by me and has been kept in a loving and smoke-free home.I took the manual to E3 one year and got it autographed by Dave Perry, founder of Shiney Entertainment (creators of Earthworm Jim), credited as a programmer on this particular game, and a well-known ‘mover and shaker’ in the game industry. He was pretty cool about giving me the autograph in spite of being obviously very busy doing businessy stuff at E3. He said he hadn’t seen the Sega CD release yet, and encouraged me not to cheat and listen to the special ending track on the CD, which dastardly deed I swore I would not perform. So, having never finished the game, I still haven’t heard it.”

Other Video Game Auctions:

The Holy Grail of Bioshock Collectibles- Thanks to PJ for the AWESOME find. What a beaut! Seller says everything perfectly: “The Holy Grail of Bioshock memorabilia-and one of the rarest pieces of videogame memorabilia-this is the Sander Cohen statue by Irrational Games Studios master artist Robb Waters.This item was never issued to the general public. It was, in fact, only given to people that worked on the original Bioshock game (and to other people at Irrational Games.) Ken Levine, himself, personally gave each statue away. Both Mr. Levine (the mastermind of the Bioshock franchise and head of Irrational Games) and Mr. Waters personally hand signed each statue on the underside of the base of the statue. Each statue has also been hand numbered.
Mr. Waters is the lead art director of the Bioshock franchise. His vision formed the Bioshock universe (of both the under sea dystopia from the first two games, and the skyward land of Infinite) as we know it today. The statue is near mint to mint condition and includes its original box. The bunny rabbit mask is removable and can be placed on the figure’s face or on either hand. The box is nondescript, being made of plain white cardboard. Not too many of these statue were made, and it’s virtually impossible to find one in the open market; don’t miss this opportunity.” Fantastic piece!
A Tie To Die For! - We’ve shown plenty of Sonic the Hedgehog ties (official and unofficial), but it’s about time that a Super Mario tie surfaces. The fact that this tie is also an official Nintendo product makes it much more attractive. The tie features characters from Mario cart! I bet you won’t find this one pop up on eBay anytime soon. The price is cheap so bid! Seller says: “TAG ON BACK OF TIE SAYS: NINTENDO TM 1993 NINTENDO ALL RIGHTS RESERVED”.
Magna Carta 2 Collector’s Edition – Only 1,000 Made – I’m not sure if this is the same one that sold a while back but it’s nonetheless very rare. Seller says: “This was released ONLY in South Korea, and is limited to 1,000.The box is very large, and one of the nicest collector’s editions out there. They are all individually numbered.The contents include the game itself, OST, extremely detailed art book, posters, and a faceplate.I must say, the Magna Carta 2 faceplate is my favorite faceplate — it’s extremely pretty. I have provided pictures of an openend edition, but do not be mistaken, this auction is for a brand new and sealed one. These pictures are simply to show you what the box looks like inside.There is a weird tail at the end of the shrinkwrap, but it is no rip of any sort. It just sticks out; I hope the pictures depict is as clearly as possible”
Signed Dead Rising Servbot Coffe Mug Cup – Last time we featured this mug on VGA, it sold for $400 (check the VGA Hall of Fame). Since then they have sold for less but still a hard item to find. Best part about this mug is that only 500 were given out and each one was signed by Keiji Inafune!
Rare Professor Layton and the Last Specter Promo Hat Nintendo – The Professor Layton series has grown over the years and it’s thanks to his first hit PL and the Curious Village. Now everyone wants to own Professor Layton’s hat, and lucky for you there is one currently on eBay! It’s not cheap, but then again when’s the next time you’ll see one of these hats on eBay? Really cool collectors piece.
Famicom Game Exed Exes Silver Members Sticker – Only 2000 of these were made for the special tournament in Japan which would explain why the starting price of $150 already has a bid. The seller was nice enough to give an explanation of the item in more detail. Hey says in the auctions description: “Apparently, Tokuma Shoten organized a contest to commemorate the release of Exed Exes in Japan. Four special words appear throughtout the game, all triggered by a certain hi-score -BABYBOY (between 500,000 and 2,000,000),TOUCHME (between 2,000,000 and 5,000,000),KICKPOP (between 5,000,000 and 9,000,000) andRAPYTUA (over 9,000,000). This is rather tricky to achieve, although the game gives the player unlimited continues, the score counter resets to zero after a game over. The game’s manual reveals some information about the contest. It seems that prizes were awarded through Tokuma Shoten’s Family Computer Magazine to players who could send such passwords. Prizes came in the shape of member stickers that players would put on their original Famicom game cartridge of Exed Exes . The prize stickers were Silver (2000 winners), Gold (500 winners), Platinum (100 winners) and Royal (10 winners).”

Rare MSX Games:
Seller tubare44 has up three rare MSX games which are all complete. Not sure about the sellers prices, but pretty cool to see these on eBay. Konami’s Frogger on the MSX is one of the rarest Konami MSX titles, and to find one complete is even rarer. Normally collectors looking to complete their “Konami MSX” collection will want to bid on this since this game was obviously available only in Japan. The game was never sold outside of Japan so this is the missing link to many collections. Seller also has:
Cabbage Patch Kids MSX Complete
Magical Tree MSX Complete

Also:
Nintendo DS Kiosk Countertop Promotional display – Promo Demo Unit
SOCOM U.S Navy Seals PlayStation 2 Dog Tag Promo
Official Sony Playstation PS Business Card Holder Promo Promotional
Arc the Lad Promo Power Stone Paperweight Twilight Spirits Playstation 2 PS2
Playstation 2 PS2 Promo Pencil RARE
Street Fighter Animated Series Cel – Blanca – 1996 Original Framed Cel
Banjo-Kazooie BD&A Beanie Plush Doll
Nintnedo Stunt Race FX Hot Wheels Kellogg’s Cereal Premium
Tactics Ogre Tarot Cards – One of the cards are signed by Akihido Yoshida!
Donkey Kong Country Competition Case Excellent Condition – Buy this, and then buy the DK COmp Cart alone. You’ll probably saves a couple of hundreds doing it this way.
DRAGON’S LAIR 3D Arcade Promo Wine Charm Keychain Capcom Coin-Op

Good luck!

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros, Converse released four different pairs of Super Mario shoes. Sadly, the shoes were released only in Japan. This of course doesn’t stop a hardcore collector from grabbing up a pair on eBay. The only question is… which pair would you want most? Or can you afford to buy one of each for your collection? It’s a tough choice and they are getting more rare by the day. Even now, about 7 months since their release in Japan, the prices have gone crazy and they are still selling. I’ve listed the cheapest auctions I could find that are still put up by sellers with %100 positive feedback. You don’t want to end up with a $20 pair of shoes with some Mario doodles on them, right?

Mario Sprite Pattern (Black) - This simple looking pattern nails the quiet cool that game related gear can sometimes have. At first glance for many, it’s nothing special. If a gamer takes a glance, it catches their eye before they know why!

Mario Sprite Pattern (White) - Same as the pair above except these have a white back. Something to note about all four pairs is the starman Converse star. Awesome…

World 1-1 Pattern - Nothing in the Super Mario series is more recognizable than world 1-1. If you flip down the back, you see Luigi grabbing some coins.

Bowser’s Castle Pattern - This is my favorite of the four. It works on so many levels color-wise, it puts Mario up against Bowser, and if you flip down the back of the shoe you see Princess Peach with Mario. It’s also up for the lowest price compared to the other three auctions here today.

I have some cool video game auctions to show you but before I do that I would like to give credit to Matrix6 who is the original owner of the beautiful “Uncharted 3 Travellers Chest” picture on the beach! I was fortune enough to be informed that Matrix6 took all the time and effort to make those pictures on the beach which can be seen here, and I was told that enough people have stolen his pictures to use on eBay without giving him proper credit. It really only takes 5 seconds to type “credit to:” and the persons name. Reason I am mentioning this is because we all should make an effort to give credit where it’s due, and the seller of the UC3 Chest didn’t give credit . Respect goes a long way let me tell ya folks. We’ve all been there where someone steals our pics (or info). (Thanks Beau!)

Moving onto the video game auctions, there’s some awesome auctions ending soon such as the Mario Stage Figures! You really need to check them out to see how cool they are. I use to own a couple, but never saw the rest of them. Anyways I thought I’d mention that they are ending in about an hour and a half so check it out!

Video Game Auctions:
Menace Beach NES Cart Gray Version
Pocket Watch Final Fantasy X
Max Payne 3 Art/Info Book – Pick one up while supplies last! Thanks PJ!
Piece of Billy Mitchell’s Tie – For those of you who are tuning in for the first time , check out Akira’s interview with the man himself here!
Very Impressive SNES Boxed Lot – Although the auctions not worth close to $5k, the price is pretty high up there. You got the Mega Man X’s, The DKC’s and some nice RPG’s especially a complete Earthbound. Nice lot!

Nintendo DotGraphics Stage Figure 2 Super Mario Bros. Complete Set – check out how much these DotGraphic Stage Figures are going for! Very nice set!
American McGee’s Alice LIMITED ED. BLUE VINYL LP Signed
Activision Patch Decathlon Bronze Original 1980s Atari 2600 High Score
Activision Patch Roadbusters Original 1980s Atari 2600 High Score Award
Super Nintendo Store Display
Vintage Nintendo Super Mario Bros. over 4 ft tall promo display figure
Super Scope Promo Button
Bulletstorm Nutcracker RARE promo
Portable PHILIPS CD-I
Official Final Fantasy VIII Poster Store Display Playstation – Haven’t seen this one before.
Vintage Early 90s SEGA CHANNEL T-Shirt – I don’t know how many of you tuned into the Sega Channel, but this is an awesome t-shirt for those who remember and want to reminisce.

Good luck!

Good morning VGA readers. Today’s post is a little special as there are some really nice goodies for you collectors out there like a signed Earthbound game(famicom). But I will begin by discussing the benefits of computer/gaming glasses. I recently had serious symptoms of what could be related to excessive computer use. Let me explain…

For about 4 weeks I had a massive headache, equilibrium issues(balance), and huge pain behind my eyes which made me fatigue and only want to lay down and not do anything. I am very much receptive to pain but this was something new I never felt, it was extremely painful from morning to night, even when I closed my eyes, even if I got good sleep. So researching on google for medical issues is like shooting yourself in the foot, you can find so much stuff that isn’t related. I went to several doctors and they couldn’t find anything. Then I realized after doing some research that being on a computer for 10+ hrs a day can definitely do some damage. That added with stress is what happened. So now I actually plan my time around a computer. But now I found a solution to my problem, and everyone elses problem.

If you wake up in the morning with a massive headache and eye pain after a long day of gaming or computer use, well think about getting computer glasses. Not reading glasses, glasses specifically designed for long hours in front of a computer or a TV. There are companies that produce these kinds of glasses for an affordable price, but one company imparticular caught my eye. That is GUNNAR Digital Performance Eye Wear. More specifically they actually have designed limited edition Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 glasses. It is estimated that 70% of the American population suffer from CVS which is Computer Vision Syndrome. I think personally that anyone who stays in front of a computer or TV for a long period will pretty much get a headache or eye pain, it’s a no brainer. We’re already in the digital age and more time is spent on computers and screens then ever before. You could use eye drops, walk away from a screen every hour for 20 minutes, or get a good pain of computer glasses at GUNNAR which is a technical eyewear solution that protects, enhances, and optimizes visual performance for anyone who spends long hours viewing computers or digital screens. GUNNAR Advanced Computer Eyewear helps minimize eye fatigue and visual stress, while improving contrast, comfort, and focus for anyone who spends long hours viewing digital screens. I am going to get a pair, and I think every gamer should have this next to his controller… will you get a pair?

Other Video Game Auctions:

-Extremely RARE Mother 1+2 Set Signed by Shigesato Itoi – The Creator of EarthBound signed this famicom game in 2003. This auction was recently on YAJ(hehe yes I see everything my friends), and I won’t say how much the seller actually won it for because I don’t think it’s fair to do that, but it is clearly for reselling purposes which is fine. I use to think it’s an evil thing but that’s how business works. A lucky fan will win this for his/her awesome collection. It’s the real deal so don’t miss out on a gem.

- Dead Space Ultra Limited Edition (Xbox 360) -  There are apparently 1000 copies for the PS made of this. It is pretty rare indeed and easily sells over $800, in fact some copies have sold for $1500+. This one is mint and unopened.

- Final Fantasy III (JP) signed by Nobuo Uematsu - All proceeds go to charity. From closer observations and comparisons I can say this is a legit Uematsu signature. The seller does have some references but compare them yourself and you can see it is legit. Low starting bid I might even give this one a shot.

- Call of Duty Black Ops Signed Poster - I don’t know if this is a print or an original hand signing. The seller says he/she interviewed a programmer and received this poster. It would be logical to say it’s signed because what programmer would give a printed signed poster? It’s like having an interview with the president and receiving a letter with his signature but printed… doesn’t make sense but you never know, better to ask the seller.

- Castlevania Koji Igarashi Autographed Dracula X – A REALLY nice signed Koji Igarashi paper. It’s on a Dracula X fact sheet, something that will have value over time. The auction is very low.

- Marvel Vs Capcom 3 Limited Edition Collection – Submitted by VGA friend Casey (Thanks!), this collector’s edition includes:

• The Collectors Edition game for PS3 (sealed)
• Marvel Vs Capcom 3 poster (slightly damaged from carrying around)*
• Marvel Vs Capcom comic book cover art (not an actual comic)*
• Marvel Vs Capcom 3 Shirt (large)*
• And a Marvel Vs Capcom 3 branded plastic bag*

- Videopac G7000 Boxed + 27 Games + Game Case – Submitted by VGA friend Hendrik (Thanks!), this is the Magnavox Odyssey² but in Europe it was called the Videopac G7000 and it’s boxed and in great shape and comes with 27 games. A console collector should not miss this!

Today’s video game auctions post is all over the map. There’s some great NES game auctions up along with some nice vintage store displays (Jaguar, PlayStation, Kirby Pillow). Also what’s really cool is the Uncharted 3 Travelling Chest. If you take a look at the auction you’ll see the seller probably has one of the nicest thumb pic’s an auction can have. His chest is on a freaking beach! Ahhh…. the beach.

There’s so many auctions that I’d like to split them up into different sections just to help you. I hope you enjoy todays findings:

User Submissions:
SQOON NES Complete
ATHLETIC WORLD Complete
Donkey Kong Jr. Math Complete
R.C Pro-Am II Pal
Stadium Events Pal
The Flintstones Surprise at Dinosaur Peak Pal

Thanks Adam and markowskicj!!

Store Displays:
Large Playstation One Display Banner 3 feet by 2 feet
Jaguar Atari Banner with Cat Eyes
Rare Nintendo 64 Kirby Hanging Pillow
Metal Gear Solid Coming Soon Poster 1997 Promo Limited Rare – One of the nicest MGS posters I’ve ever seen…
Original Assassin’s Creed Standee

Games/Hardware:
3 Panesian nintendo games hot slots peek a boo poker bubble bath babes
Tekken PlayStation Sealed LONG BOX!- Already passed $400
Sega Saturn Sophia Development System

Other:
Uncharted 3 Travelling Chest
Sega Sonic the Hedgehog duffle bag Press
The Maw game sculpture
Borderlands Cl4p-TP Robotic Revolutionary screen print poster
Mass Effect Evolution Hardcover Signed Edition 429/500

Good luck!

Before we get to today’s auctions, I would just like to mention that one lucky VGA reader has made a video about their recent buy! On January 12, Kenji listed a Starfox Competition cart which was selling with the score card. The final bid of $450 was made by TheJuice401 and he posted a comment which showed how ecstatic he was about the buy. You can view his video showing off the rare cart here on his YouTube channel. It’s always nice to see an item like that go to a true collector.

Here are today’s auctions…

Prototype Pokemon Hat - Any Pokemon fan will recognize this hat instantly. This hat was not meant for sale however. There’s a tog on the inside showing that it’s only a sample version of the hat. Only one day left on the auction and the current bid is very low.

Shigesato Itoi Autograph Board - For those who don’t know, Shigesato Itoi is the creator of the Mother (Earthbound) series. This autograph board appears to be dated 1985 which would mean he signed it for being known in something other than video games. This doesn’t come as a shock since Itoi is known for a large variety of work including writing and voice acting.

Legend of Zelda Majora’s Mask E3 Promo Pin - A simple pin that would be difficult to find if you were targeting it for a pin collection. There’s a mini bid war started on this auction.

Front Mission Pin Set - This set of pins was limited to 10,000 but, unfortunately, there’s a very clear crack in the front display of this set. Still, the price isn’t terrible.

Metroid Prime 2 Store Kiosk Display - You may have seen this in game stores back in 2004 framing the screen on Gamecube kiosks. The price is simply ridiculous and it may be tough to talk the seller down to something reasonable. Maybe offer a trade for a different item of similar value.

Sega Saturn Launch Promo Pin - This is a cool pin. I remember the early days of the Sega Saturn, the console’s ads were very mysterious. This pin captures that mood perfectly.

Twin Galaxies 1999 Poster - Here’s a poster that’s also a cool read. There are several dollar prizes for playing well at various games back in 1999. The seller has two of these.

Twin Galaxies 2001 Poster - Another Twin Galaxies poster but this one is from a festival in 2001. Same seller and once again, they have two.

Good morning VGA readers. It’s getting quite cold where I live so most of my leisure time is spent on the internet looking for auctions or playing video games of course. Gears of War 3 has the new map pack downloaded via xbox marketplace. Are the maps good? Not bad… I would have liked to see more of the original maps being reintroduced like Escalation or Roof Tops. But still can’t complain new multiplayer maps are always good.

The first auction is for a rare and complete 1970 Japanese Nintendo game titled “Challenge Ball”. “The game is in excellent, unused condition. Long before Nintendo developed video games, the company’s focus was playing cards. Many years later, it expanded into toys and such. This particular game is one of the earliest Nintendo games made”. Very unique auction with 3 days left and no reserve. There is more info on the auction so check it out. Thanks **Mato!

The second auction is for the Resident Evil Raccoon City Police Department from 1999. It was made by Phantom Tokyo and  purchased at Capcom’s booth at the 1999 Tokyo Game Show. The detailing on this is absolutely incredible. I have seen this in person several times. It’s a nice jacket and high in quality. For the price I think it’s a fair deal.

Other Video Game Auctions:

- Final Fantasy XIII Autographed Signed Art Cards – This listing is for an ultra rare set of exclusive art prints signed by producer Yoshinori Kitase and Art Director Isamu Kamikokuryo at the official Square-Enix HMV launch at Oxford Street in London.

- Final Fantasy XII Autographed Bundle – Same as above but different auction.

- SNES Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals Complete – Game comes complete with map, box and booklet. No reserve and it’s starting low.

- Biohazard Stamp Collection 2006 – Released in the Japan Post offices in 2006 as a limited run, were sold out immediately. Why don’t they release stamps like that here in N.A? Auction is at $250.

- Dragon Quest Smile Slime Mimic Plush Doll 2004 – This was part a prize in the arcade machines in Japan. I don’t know which game but that is how you won it. Looks to be in great shape, but no tag.

- Donkey Kong Country Official Poster – A very nice official Donkey Kong Poster for the SNES. Looks to be in mint condition. I don’t see this often and it’s at $224 or best offer.