The vast majority of people walking around today have the ability to play electronic games on demand. Even if you don’t have a smartphone, chances are you’re carrying something with some sort of gaming function. But phone games are a new development, only a little over twenty years old. Handheld games are much older than that, dating back to 1976. Are those vintage games worth money? Let’s find out!
The Origins of Handheld Games
Despite the ubiquity of pocket electronics these days, they've been around since the 70s. The first commercial pocket calculators hit the market in 1970, a year that some of the folks reading this can remember. They were followed by the first electronic handheld games in 1976, made using calculator hardware. The games were simple, a small display screen and directional buttons allowing the player to maneuver a lit-up dot around other lit-up dots as obstacles.
But there had been nothing like that before! One of the earliest and most iconic in that vein was Mattel Football. It was followed a year later by Mattel Football II, which added more gameplay features like forward and backward movement and passing. Handheld electronic games persisted in this format, with calculator-like graphics and simple gameplay, into the 21st century.
Why Are Vintage Electronic Handheld Games Worth Money?
A factor that cannot be overlooked in EHG’s holding value is that they often still work, even fifty years later. If you pick up a 1977 copy of Mattel Football today, you can likely still play it as long as the battery compartment is undamaged. That lends them an extra cool factor you don’t always get with more elaborate handheld gaming consoles.
Additionally, they were the electronic gadgets in their day. As more advanced electronic toys came around, these handhelds were often thrown away. Who needs Mattel Baseball when you can play a fuller game on your Game Boy? They certainly weren’t seen as collectible by most people who owned them. That means there are more people with fond memories and/or an interest in electronic gaming history than there are high quality specimens on the market. That’s the soul of collectible value right there.
Where to Find Handheld Electronic Games
We have a whole bunch of these classic handhelds (including Mattel Football I & II, Burger Time, Armor Battle, Sub Chase, and many more) coming to auction on November 23rd! It’s a great collection and almost all of them come with their original boxes, though they have been opened and played with. Be sure to check it out, and follow us on social media @b2pCollect to stay on top of all our auction sessions!
And if this article reminded you of the collection gathering dust in storage, let Back to the Past help you sell it! We specialize in bringing collections to market and getting top dollar for them without consignors having to lift a finger. Doesn’t that sound great? Drop us a line and get the process started today!