You may remember an old PR stunt pulled by publisher THQ around the 2009 launch of Big Family Games (known in the US as Neighborhood Games) which involved sending a gold-plated Wii to Buckingham Palace as a present for HRH Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen isn't in the habit of opening unsolicited gifts, so she almost certainly never personally saw this shiny custom console, but the system absolutely existed and cropped up on our radar a couple of years ago when People Make Games released a fun video tracking it down.
Well, the self-same console is back on the gaming scene — and now we proles have the chance to get our greasy mitts on this regal retro curio. The 24 karat gold (plated, obviously) Wii console is up for sale on auction site eBay with a chunky 'Buy It Now' price of $300,000.
The current owner is Donny from consolevariations.com, a fine website devoted to cataloguing system variants. He originally got hold of the console in 2017 and he has detailed the motivations for selling this little piece of Wii history in an interview on the site:
My family was never very healthy financially, so money was always needed. I never wanted to sell it; however, I was always curious how much someone could give for it. I wanted to keep it with me just in case I’ll open my museum.
I started talking to people about moving forward, and they told me nothing lasts forever. I’m the type who is attached to things in a way that I find it hard to let them go. So selling the Wii will also help me move forward in this respect.
Described in the listing itself as being in 'working condition', it's apparently running firmware 3.2E with the username "THQ" (we wonder what the Mii looks like). It is showing some signs of wear, though as you can see in the pics below:
The bottom of the serial number is very slightly covered with the red fabric it was displayed on by THQ. This may not be considered a flaw, rather a nostalgic part of the console. However, it should be mentioned.
The Wii-mote has some wear on the bottom. My guess is that it was actually used at one point.
Ol' Liz might never have got her gloved hands on this golden Wii Remote — and we're not sure it's worth its weight in gold — but even if this is little more than a leftover from a PR stunt, it's a unique gaming artefact and we can't help wishing we had it sitting next to our own TV on its little velvet pillow.
We're off to grab our gold Skyward Sword-branded Wiimote to compare its shininess to QE2's. Maybe we'll put in a speculative 'Best Offer' bid on this, too. 125 quid, perhaps? 200? Let us know below how much you'd pay for this particular Shiny.
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[source ebay.com, via consolevariations.com]
Comments (39)
Aunty Betty could use the Wiimote for knighting people
I lack the money, but would certainly be one-heck of a collector's piece.
Royally gaudy.
We need some famous YouTuber to buy the system, and do a full on investigation of the Wii. Wonder what game saves are on there.
I'll give you £30 for it.
Just to be pedantic, it was never really the Queen's if she didn't accept the gift.
Realistically, how much would this cost to replicate? I suspect a lot, lot less than this asking price, and this one isn't even in pristine condition.
If Nintendo had done this I'd be more interested in the historical value of it, but the fact it was just THQ dicking around means I'm not that fussed about it.
@gcunit
The cost of a used Wii system and Wii Remote, the market value of 24 karat (1 ounce) of gold, and the labour costs of shaping that gold into casing for the Wii system and remote.
That will probably set you back about $1800 for cost of materials, no clue about paying someone commission to assemble the thing.
❗And still, the rumoured 24K Gold GBA:SP STILL hasn't been found...
Look at all those scratches on the Wiimote - looks like someone had trouble plugging in the nunchuck. I suspect the Queen is a traditionalist and prefers the N64 controller.
I remember seeing a video on this. I want it.
I prefer White color of Wii machine.
Golden Wii... eheheheh (Yes, I am very mature!)
Does this have the Gamecube support? If not, I'm out.
I'd buy that for a dollar.
The royal wii
It looks terrible. Silver would have been a better and less expensive choice!
If some1 buys it good for him. Still better than 1 Pokemon card
Honestly, if I was rich I'd buy it. It would be a neat thing for any collection.
@LouBlu08 Sounds like a job for Nick Robinson.
I just bought it!!!!!!
@RupeeClock @gcunit But assuming it never will be recreated, it being the only one adds significantly to the price.
that wii is sooooo beautiful. l want it
I feel like there should be some kind of joke here about polishing a turd, but I rather liked my Wii, in spite of the SD output and forced waggle in many of the games.
Which reminds me, when am I getting a sequel to Zack & Wiki?
Nice of Mario to take the auction pictures
Why are you guys so certain the Queen never managed to use or even see it? Everyone loved the Wii back in it's prime...
@gcunit I would honestly suspect the actual real deal honestly.
Yeah even if I was serious about bidding it looks hidious.
Not on the Ohio Craigslist, but at least it showed up.
I feel like someone out there is crazy enough to buy this for 1 million and up.
If someone up there claimed you could get at least the materials for 1800 then how hard would it be to make a gold one and claimed it’s the queens to sell for like $300,000. I don’t notice any THQ branding on the outside. And the serial number is partially covered. Just thinking.
@RetiredR [Seller sent a counter-offer for $45!]
This is how the fist THQ was ****ing away money.
Free Economy Shipping.
That's what I want for my $300,000 item.
@Raylax And there’s the tag I wish I’d gone with! Bravo 👏
I’ll give ya tree fiddy
Someone alert Scott the Woz
The C3PO themed Wii.
Come on, not even a bad pun about her majesty the QWiin?
Edit: I might go to prison for saying something like this.
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