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A man has discovered an ultra-rare console that was the result of a brief collaboration between technology rivals Sony and Nintendo in the early 1990s.

The never-released SNES PlayStation, known as the ‘Nintendo PlayStation’, was designed to play both Nintendo cartridges and games on compact discs. Only 200 prototypes were ever made.

After the partnership broke down, Sony went on to develop its own console, the PlayStation 1, to compete with the Nintendo 64 which the rival company brought out after the SNES.

The 200 prototypes were all supposed to have been destroyed, but Philadelphia-based Terry Diebold kept onto one and stored it in his attic.

Terry acquired the machine while working as a maintenance man at a company called Advanta Corporation alongside the former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment Olaf Olafsson.

As explained in this gripping Polygon story, Olafsson was responsible for building ties between Sony and Nintendo and the development of the mythical hybrid console.

(Image: YouTube)

When Advanta went bust, Terry took the console with him and stored it in his attic - only to be discovered by his son Dan, who recognised how unusual it was, a few years ago.

Dan hasn't been able to turn the console on yet as it lacks a power cord but he plans to do so in the coming days.

Alongside the machine is a mystery cartridge and CD - and gaming fans can't wait to find out what - if anything - is on them.

The piece of video game history is likely to be worth a small fortune and Dan thinks his dad may try to sell it because, he tells Polygon, "he's pretty broke".

Given that an ultra-rare video game sold on eBay for $35,000 it's possible the Nintendo PlayStation could go for much, much more.