JOURNAL ARTICLE

Between retro gaming and speculating: The history and culture of graded video games.

  • Published In: Journal of Gaming & Virtual Worlds, 2025, v. 17, n. 2. P. 235 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Fleury, James 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines the rise and subsequent decline of the graded video games market, focusing on the role of WATA Games and Heritage Auctions in popularizing and controversially inflating prices for sealed, authenticated retro video games. It situates grading within broader tensions between retro gaming as a cultural practice—centered on preservation, gameplay, and nostalgia—and as an economic market driven by speculation and investment. The article details allegations of market manipulation by WATA and Heritage, including conflicts of interest and promotional strategies that contributed to a speculative bubble, which later collapsed amid a class-action lawsuit. It concludes by highlighting ongoing debates within the retro gaming community about the ethics of commodifying video game history and the impact of grading on access to and preservation of gaming culture.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Gaming & Virtual Worlds. 2025/06, Vol. 17, Issue 2, p235
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1757191X
  • DOI:10.1386/jgvw_00123_1
  • Accession Number:189167447
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