Ep 9. Gaming Gold

As the title implies, American Pickers: Best of season 3 episode 9, titled Gaming Gold, is all about the hunt for rare and valuable video games. The episode follows the stars of the show, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, as they travel through the Midwest in search of hidden gems.

The episode starts with Mike and Frank visiting a retro game store in Michigan, where they meet the owner, Jay. Jay has an impressive collection of games, but Mike and Frank are looking for something truly special. After some digging, they come across a rare game called "Stadium Events." Only a few hundred copies of this game were ever made, and it's considered one of the holy grails of game collecting. The guys manage to strike a deal with Jay and buy the game for a cool $7000.

Next, Mike and Frank head to Indianapolis to visit another game collector, Alex. Alex is a true expert when it comes to vintage games, and he has an extensive collection of his own. After looking through Alex's inventory, the guys find a copy of "Air Raid," another super-rare game that's worth a lot of money. They manage to buy the game from Alex for $8000, and they're thrilled to have made another great find.

The third stop on Mike and Frank's journey is in Ohio, where they meet a collector named Shawn. Shawn has a massive collection of games, and he's been buying and selling them for years. Mike and Frank are hoping to find some hidden gems in Shawn's collection, but they're also interested in learning more about the gaming industry. Shawn tells them about the history of video games and how they've evolved over the years, from the early days of Pong to the more advanced games of today. It's clear that Shawn has a real passion for gaming, and Mike and Frank are impressed by his knowledge and expertise.

The final stop on Mike and Frank's trip is in Illinois, where they visit a collector named Chris. Chris has one of the most impressive game collections that Mike and Frank have ever seen, with games dating back to the 1970s. Chris is proud of his collection, but he's also open to selling some of his games to the guys. After looking through his inventory, they find a copy of "Nintendo World Championships," another extremely rare game that's worth a fortune. Mike and Frank make a deal with Chris and buy the game for $12,000, which is a new record for the most expensive game ever purchased on American Pickers.

Overall, Gaming Gold is an exciting and informative episode that's sure to appeal to video game enthusiasts and collectors. The guys travel to several different states, meet some fascinating people, and uncover some truly amazing treasures. Whether you're a fan of vintage games or just enjoy watching the thrill of the hunt, this episode is definitely worth checking out.