In nearly all facets of the video game industry, nostalgia is hitting hard right now, from remakes and remasters to ports, collections, and decades-overdue localizations like Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. And as digital video games become more and more prevalent, fans look to build up their physical collections with classic games in fear of them getting lost to history only to end up on digital stores for download.
This surge in the popularity of classic video games has caused the third-party reselling market to absolutely explode with listings for classic games, like a sealed copy of the original Super Mario Bros. which just broke the auction record for highest price paid for a gaming collectible. While many spend their hard-earned money on such collectibles, it seems that sometimes such rarities will fall in the laps of fans, such as one Pokemon fan now.
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Over on Reddit, user Lanai posted a photo of a brand new, sealed copy of Pokemon Blue for the Game Boy. The boxed game looks to be in pristine condition, with no wear or other cosmetic defects to be seen. Along with the post, the Reddit user mentioned that the game came from their parents, who asked if Lanai was interested interested in a new Pokemon game, which turned out to be what was originally intended as a childhood gift, much to their surprise.
In the comments of the Reddit post, Lanai mentions that their father told them it was meant to be a birthday gift back when they were young, but the game somehow got lost and was only just now discovered upon cleaning up the user's childhood home. The Reddit user reminisced on their love for Pokemon as a kid, from seeing Pokemon: The First Movie to collecting Burger King's Pokemon toys found in kids' meals. Lanai went on to express gratitude for their parents who realized how much finding the game would mean to them. While a factory-sealed copy of Pokemon Blue looks to go anywhere from $4,000 to $40,000 depending on the condition, the Reddit user explained that they have no intentions of selling the game, wishing only to keep it as a physical reminder of their parents' love and care.
Despite expressing interest solely in the game's intrinsic value, other Reddit users have urged Lanai to at least get the game graded, as it could at least determine its physical value and prove to be quite the collectible. Other Redditors mentioned that should Lanai hold on to the copy of Pokemon Blue for just a few more years, as its value is sure to go up even more.
While this is a touching story, it also serves as a timely reminder of the beginnings of the Pokemon franchise, which is celebrating its monumental 25th anniversary this year. The Pokemon Company has helped fans celebrate with a Pokemon-themed Happy Meal promotion at McDonald's, a virtual Pokemon Day concert featuring Post Malone, and much more.