As video game collectors expand their collection out into rare games and cartridges thought to be lost to time, they can encounter some hefty price tags indeed. While it isn't too common for video games to break into the range of tens of thousands of dollars, when they do, it's usually for good reason. Case in point: a long-forgotten Atari 2600 game has resurfaced on eBay, and its price tag is staggering to say the least.

The game is Extra Terrestrials, a title developed back in 1983 by a Canadian company called Skill Screen Games. What makes the game so special is its rarity, as only about 100 copies were ever made. According to the seller, this is the only time the game has ever been listed for private auction, with all other copies currently known to exist being held in museums. Because of this, the game won't come cheap. The seller listed the game with a "Buy It Now" price of $90,000, a fair bit more than Stadium Events for NES, which recently sold for $42,000 and once held the record for the most expensive game sale.

Extra Terrestrials released shortly after the video game crash in 1984, when distributors were unwilling to stock new games, due to low demand, after a torrent of bad games hit the market. Instead, the team behind Extra Terrestrials went door-to-door selling the game in an attempt to cut its losses. This copy, in particular, is only in "acceptable" condition, though it doesn't appear to be in too rough of a shape according to the photos posted along with it.

It'll be interesting to see how long it takes for the game to sell. An unopened copy of Super Mario Bros. recently sold for $100,000, so it only seems like a matter of time before this game finds a buyer. While some may think it is ridiculous to some to spend such a large amount on a video game, collectors that would seriously consider purchasing this copy of Extra Terrestrials really are a different breed.

It's impossible to say what long-lost game will pop up next, but there will almost certainly be something eventually. This price tag makes Extra Terrestrials one of the most expensive Atari games ever, but there are still some that hold an even higher value.

Source: eBay