User:Nintendonite/EB Gamestop Powerplay Saturdays

EB Gamestop Nintendo Powerplay Saturdays were three events held at various EB and Gamestop retail stores around the U.S. on September, 9th, October 7th and October, 28th 2006. These events consisted of tournaments with a few different Nintendo DS games. Mario Kart DS and New Super Mario Bros were included. One of the latest gaming events held, simular to Nintendo World Championships, but on a much lower scale. Considering back when NWC were held, EB Games and Gamestop did not exhist. But, with the grand prizes being offical nintendo merchandise, it proves that Nintendo endorsed the events, despite relatively sponsored solely by EB Games and Gamestop.

The tournament prizes consisted of two different t-shirts, and a official Nintendo necklace. The shirts were runner up prizes, one being a green, baseball styled tee, and the other was a regular black t-shirt with the Powerplay Saturdays logo. The necklace was cast of a shiny silver metal, made to be thick and heavy. The charm made to be a crown was embelished with diamond like stones, with the words "Nintendo Champion" inscribed on the front. The necklace is very simular to those worn by many famous rap artist, also known as "bling bling". The necklace also included a collectable offical Nintendo tin with foam insert, to store or showcase.

The collectable value of any of the prizes is still very new, and unresearched. Some were hastly sold by the 1st place winners on various auction sites. Mainly eBay for various prices. But because of it's extreme rarity, fewer than most know of it's exhistance. The shirts are likely the least exspensive items, with the necklace obviously being the scarcest, and the least to be sold by whoever posses them. The actual number of these special one-of-a-kind items are virtually unknown. Auctions for either one of the prizes are rarely seen, let alone the grand prize necklace.

Once further research can be completed, and knowledge of the events and it's prizes becomes more available, it may show an increase in appearances of these items. The contestants who participated at these events will eventually become the factfinders, as time allows to age, these events will be etched into a part of modern video game history.

References:

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/read_article.php?topic_id=24946458&union_id=2029