Perhaps the only remaining evidence that Sony and Nintendo were once in a partnership is the Super Nintendo PlayStation Prototype. Even though the partnership was short-lived with latter dropping out quite unannounced to work with Philips instead, the hype for the console led a hacker named Ben Heckendorn to devote time and effort to get the prototype working.
The original issue of the Super Nintendo PlayStation Prototype was that the CD-ROM was not functional. Because the most vital part of the console refused to work, the prototype was reduced to a memory and a painful evidence of the failed partnership between the gaming giants, Sony and Nintendo.
While all units were reportedly destroyed, the Super Nintendo PlayStation Prototype was found in an estate sale and the owners, Terry and Dan Diebold shared how they were able to acquire the retro-looking console.
"The company I worked for, Advanta Corporation, they filed for bankruptcy (November 8th, 2009). When they did that, we purged the buildings. What you do is you take pictures, you itemize, and then they had an online auction. And I had gotten into the auction myself because there were a few things I wanted to buy. So I knew what were in certain lots. And when they called out the certain lot number, I raised my panel and I ended up winning it," Terry told Engadget. According to him, the Super Nintendo PlayStation Prototype only cost him $75, a cheap price for something that many fans looked forward to.
Being at the right place and at the right time and with a hacker interested, it was only a matter of time before someone figured out how to make the console work.
In a video, Heckendorn recorded his progress on the console and was, apparently, getting ready to make some more tweaks and turns when all of a sudden, the Super Nintendo PlayStation Prototype decided to work. Jokingly, Heckendorn commented that a magic elf may have worked on it while he was sleeping.
Regardless, can the now working prototype attract the attention of Sony and Nintendo? Maybe. With this much hype over the console, it may be possible that the two gaming giants can pick up where they left off.
