Only 12 known copies of "Air Raid" for the Atari 2600 existed mere weeks ago. Nonetheless, Tanner Sandlin of Austin, Texas, would have been hard pressed to anticipate what kind of return he'd receive on his $5-10 investment when he put the 13th copy up on eBay. The auction closed last Sunday, though, and Sandlin walked away with a closing bid of $31,600. He also put himself in the history books for several reasons.
Sandlin was the "Air Raid" cartridge's original owner, according to CNN.com. That probably added some bang to its desirability on the auction block, since the other 12 members of his exclusive club are believed to have bought their copies from other private parties.
Noted among collector's for its rarity and blue T-shaped case, the game itself is an oddity in Atari history. The origins of its production are an enigma, as are the circumstances that resulted in Sandlin finding a single copy at an Arlington store called Tuesday Morning as a child. The $31,600 sale price reportedly now makes him the seller of the second-most expensive collectible video game ever.
Best of all is his quest to now figure out how to spend his profits off the investment. He's looking for something impressive that he can tell people he purchased after selling a video game.
What do you think Sandlin should buy with his $31,600? Would you have sold the game if you found it in your garage? Share your opinions in the comment section below.