Retro gaming references on reality tv?

[Superchop]

This morning I was watching an episode of Pawn Stars that I had DVR'd from last night and I found it interesting and funny that Pat the nes punk was on the show trying to "sell" his NWC carts.

Pat the NES punk on an episode of Pawn Stars
http://youtu.be/PHKBbY_Anuk

Besides that one of the other references I remember seeing was on an episode of Storage Wars where a guy thought a plain old NES was worth like 30k cause of an auction he heard about.

So it kinda got me wondering what other type of references or appearances have people done on those reality shows

[wiggy]

There's a big, fat discussion about it over on DP.

The real question I have with that sort of thing is whether it's instigated by the potential seller (in this case, Pat), or do the producers approach a known collector and invite them to be on the show?  If you watched the 2nd new episode right after, you saw the Nike museum guy.  That seemed like such an obvious ad for his business that it makes me wonder if it was treated exactly as such.  I.e. I'm guessing he actually paid for that spot as if it were a commercial, since that's all it was.  He obviously had zero intention of selling at the ludicrous average price of $500 per pair.

[madrocsz]

lol, I would have NEVER sent this to VGA, I wouldn't even trust that it's mine that I was getting back

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1990-Nintendo-World-Championships-Competition-NWC-Gold-Cartridge-VGA-85-NearMint-/140909876381?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item20cee2149d

for 27k$ you think they would have better pictures

[Superchop]

I'm more inclined to believe that the producers of the show approached him with some sort of offer to be on the show.  I mean there's only so much guns, coins, misc oddities that they can put on the show before it gets old, repetitive and stale...and by having something "recent" and the whole fact that retro gaming is so "huge" at the moment the show could attract some newer viewers.  I don't think Pat ever intended to sell the carts nor did the shop want to buy them...it's all just a pr stunt.  I would've found it funny though if their "expert" that they called in would've been the AVGN.

The Nike "museum" like you mentioned, also seemed like that was more for show and publicity then it was actual interest in buying/selling/profit.  Why spend so much time building the collection in an attempt to create a museum of sorts just to sell it to a pawn shop where you know they'd piece sell it ruining the point of the collection as opposed to just selling them yourself and making way more then you would otherwise.

--edit--

Just finished reading the DP thread and it seems pretty unanimous that it was all just something to get attention.

[wiggy]

lol, I would have NEVER sent this to VGA, I wouldn't even trust that it's mine that I was getting back

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1990-Nintendo-World-Championships-Competition-NWC-Gold-Cartridge-VGA-85-NearMint-/140909876381?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item20cee2149d

for 27k$ you think they would have better pictures

And this is like the 3rd time this guy has tried selling it.  Probably the 1st time that VGA grading HURT the value.  Everyone and their mother has expressed the concerns with having the chips exposed like that, but he always goes on to insist about how the VGA uses UV resistant plastics (which they do claim to use) and that there's no concern as a result.  Fucktard is the word for that level of stupidity.

The VGA's excuse for letting this one used game be graded is fantastic too.  Basically, they say that since there wasn't ever a retail package to pull the cart from, that there can't ever really be a new one.  Yeah there can, in the mailer from Nintendo, unopened. 

I'm more inclined to believe that the producers of the show approached him with some sort of offer to be on the show.  I mean there's only so much guns, coins, misc oddities that they can put on the show before it gets old, repetitive and stale...and by having something "recent" and the whole fact that retro gaming is so "huge" at the moment the show could attract some newer viewers.  I don't think Pat ever intended to sell the carts nor did the shop want to buy them...it's all just a pr stunt.  I would've found it funny though if their "expert" that they called in would've been the AVGN.

The Nike "museum" like you mentioned, also seemed like that was more for show and publicity then it was actual interest in buying/selling/profit.  Why spend so much time building the collection in an attempt to create a museum of sorts just to sell it to a pawn shop where you know they'd piece sell it ruining the point of the collection as opposed to just selling them yourself and making way more then you would otherwise.

--edit--

Just finished reading the DP thread and it seems pretty unanimous that it was all just something to get attention.

I also love the expert's authentication process.  Touch carts, mention that they're pretty, says how cool and rare they are, confirm authenticity.  Not that Pat would have ever let them open the carts up, since he had no intention of selling.  His asking price would have allowed him to buy another gold and gray and STILL have money left over afterward.

[mojoeskateco]

This morning I was watching an episode of Pawn Stars that I had DVR'd from last night and I found it interesting and funny that Pat the nes punk was on the show trying to "sell" his NWC carts.

Pat the NES punk on an episode of Pawn Stars
http://youtu.be/PHKBbY_Anuk

Besides that one of the other references I remember seeing was on an episode of Storage Wars where a guy thought a plain old NES was worth like 30k cause of an auction he heard about.

So it kinda got me wondering what other type of references or appearances have people done on those reality shows

Apparently the dude who thought the NES was worth big bucks was found dead over the weekend.

From Wikipedia:

Mark Balelo (Season 2-3): Balelo owned a liquidation, wholesale, and distribution company, and an auction house, and also used to own a gaming store called The Game Exchange from 2009-2012. He was known for bringing large sums of money to auctions, as much as $50,000 at a time. He also earned the name “Rico Suave” for his tendency to dress in fancy clothes at storage auctions. He was known to be a dirty player, overpricing Barry to $1,500 and Dave to almost $10,000, which took place in the episode "Enemy of the Enemy". Mark's approximate net worth was $2 million.[19] He appeared four times in the second season, once in the third season. Balelo committed suicide on February 11, 2013, at his auction house in Simi Valley, CA, by carbon monoxide poisoning after being released on bail from drug charges

Crazy stuff!

[Misanthroat]

Crazy... I live in Simi...

[Superchop]

, and also used to own a gaming store called The Game Exchange from 2009-2012.

Kind of funny now that I'm reading it...wasn't the store that he took the system to a Game Exchange?  If so that means he got shut down by one of his own employees lol...that's got to hurt even more.

[mojoeskateco]

, and also used to own a gaming store called The Game Exchange from 2009-2012.

Kind of funny now that I'm reading it...wasn't the store that he took the system to a Game Exchange?  If so that means he got shut down by one of his own employees lol...that's got to hurt even more.

Further evidence that the show is fixed.

You'd think he would know that NES-001 is a model # and not a serial number if owned a game store.

Also after the system doesn't power on the employee offers him $5 which it total BS see as he a had a few games (which they don't show).

The system could have been working fine and maybe the power cord was damaged.

[Beastman1975]

do you really think ANY reality tv show isnt scripted/setup/fake? i dont believe a single one of them are anywhere near even 25%  real

[BadChad]

Clearly just an act for attention for both Pawn Stars and Pat the NES Punk. I didnt for one second think that Pat would actually be willing to sell his NWC carts. Pat would have to be seriously hurting for cash to part with those, anyone who has the slightest idea who he is would know that. Plus something tells me he wouldnt need to take it to the Pawn Stars to sell it anyway.

Honestly, the funniest part was them calling someone in to authenticate the carts. Seriously? Who better could you get to authenticate the carts then Pat himself? That would be like the equivalent of having some famous artists come into to sell one of their rare paitings, just to have a random guy who owns some art store down the street to come in and tell you what its worth. Id be insulted.

[satoshi_matrix]

Yes. I'm sure if Pat really and honestly wanted to sell either of his NWC 1990 carts, the best place would be NintendoAge. Guys there seem to be willing to shell out almost anything for ludicrous items.

[larryinc64]

I wonder if they were even real? In the AVGN review they made some very convincing fakes.

[BadChad]

Im sure they were real. Obviously the ones they abused in the AVGN episode were fakes made from any grey cart and a zelda cart, but I always found the dip switches on the fakes simply look like a printed picture of the switches glued to the carts which gives it away, as were the carts on Pawn Stars had real dip switches. And seeing as how there was no real intent to sell them in the first place, I dont see why he wouldnt bring them real ones. You know Pat likes to flaunt those bad boys!