A sealed cartridge of the legendary "Super Mario" for the Nintendo 64 console sold for $1.56 million, a new record for a video game, according to auction house Heritage Auctions.
"It's the first game to be auctioned for more than $1 million," Eric Bradley, a spokesman for the Dallas, Texas-based company, told AFP.
Heritage had already set a first record on Friday, when a cartridge of "The Legend of Zelda" for the old Nintendo NES console netted $870,000. The copy of "Super Mario 64" dates back to 1996 and uses 3D for the first time.
It is "the only known copy to receive a score of 9.8 A++" from video game expert Wata, which assesses the condition of cartridges, explained Bradley, adding that this score was "the highest a retro game could receive."
Mario, a hyperactive plumber with a mustache and a red cap, is one of the greatest heroes in video game history and contributed to Nintendo's worldwide success.
The character first emerged as "Jumpman" in 1981 in a game dubbed Donkey Kong before being renamed Mario in 1985.
Old video games have enjoyed increasing success among nostalgic gamers for several years.
In April, a 1986 "Super Mario Bros" cartridge for the Nintendo NES sold for $660,000 at auction, also organized by Heritage Auctions.
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