Original Xbox Launch system w/ Bill Gates' signature

Little Nemo

Yeah, yeah, this is a Nintendo forum, I know.  I was really hoping to see if anyone has seen one of these sold.  This was the system that was offered to employees who worked on the original Xbox.  My friend found one at a Value Village with both controllers, and I'm interested in buying it from him (I don't want him to sell it on Ebay).



I only have two price reference points:



July 2014 - Broken system with no controllers, pretty bad shape = $170

October 2013 - System works with no controllers, pretty good shape = $580(??)



I can't figure out why the price difference between those two was so much.  There's a Wiki on the system that says there were about 60 produced, but not sure how reliable that is..



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_special_limited_editions



Help?

jonebone

It's been awhile, but I thought they were in the $250-$300 range. Also, I believe the signature is printed instead of hand signed? It's been a couple of years since I looked into these closely. There's been discussion on DP if you are a member there.

Silent Hill

This is pretty damn cool.

FireEmblemZack

Which Value Village was this found at?

If it's the Vancouver one, I'd be pretty sad.

KAMIKAWA

I would imagine the price difference has to do with the fact that that one actually works and has the controllers. Granted the controllers can easily be replaced, heck even the guts really, so that's a biiit crazy. Time of the year might have been a factor too, or if one hadn't popped in a while. I dunno, I'd expect what your friend has there to go for at least $200 at auction. Its not like Bill will be signing any more of those. As far as I remember when these hit, the signature is real, not printed.

jonebone

Originally posted by: KAMIKAWA



Its not like Bill will be signing any more of those. As far as I remember when these hit, the signature is real, not printed.

I'm almost 100% positive that the signature is just printed.

Silent Hill

Originally posted by: KAMIKAWA



I would imagine the price difference has to do with the fact that that one actually works and has the controllers. Granted the controllers can easily be replaced, heck even the guts really, so that's a biiit crazy. Time of the year might have been a factor too, or if one hadn't popped in a while. I dunno, I'd expect what your friend has there to go for at least $200 at auction. Its not like Bill will be signing any more of those. As far as I remember when these hit, the signature is real, not printed.

It appears that those are green "duke" controllers. I've never seen those anywhere, so I assume they are specific to this set?

KAMIKAWA

^Whoa true that! If those are "Dukes" there weren't any green ones for sale that I know of and would be exclusive to the set. I bought & have the clear green halo xbox & those came with "S" type controllers. This is a super cool find btw!

skoreboardtxjmo

I wouldn't sleep to hard on that thing, it's pretty freakin cool! I don't have any help on the value though sorry. I think your looking at a pretty special piece of a collection so if I was to guess id offer 300 to make a good impression and it's a middle # to the ones that have previously sold.

Little Nemo

Thanks everyone. My friend is an eBay guy so he knows when/what something is worth. We're basically trying to land on a fair price for the both of us.



The signature is definitely not Gates'. It's printed on.



The Dukes were specific to this console. It was sold as a set (green console and TWO duke controllers), so technically this set is complete.



Jone - I'll take a look, but any chance you can link me to that discussion on DP?

Shinju

It's a legit signature that was printed on that pog for that edition. I worked at Microsoft Game Studios when those came out to employees ect. I had one at one point but traded it for something else years ago.



Only xbox rare I got left is 2 rose pre RTS discs for jade empire, rally sport challenge 2 and a green dev kit to play em!

Shinju

If he is a good friend, I would say if it's in working condition 250/325 range. He will get his monies worth and hook up a brother in return

Was this a Kirkland/Redmond find?

buyatari2

I can confirm that the signature is printed.



While I believe paid ~$300 for one, it was years ago. They were higher at one point selling for close to grand but when retail Xbox prices fell they came down with it. Not sure what a current auction would bring.

Little Nemo

Just a quick update on this, we ended up settling on $300 total with both controllers. We both agreed that on Ebay the set would probably go for something in the $400-$600 range depending on the bidder, maybe higher. He got a nice flip profit (he paid ~$65) and I got it for what I think is a fair price. Everything is in really nice shape.