Enlarge / You might have better luck finding that classic cartridge than the miniature NES this holiday season…

Update: Just as this piece was going up, Toys R Us’ online allotment for the system sold out within minutes of becoming available for web ordering. And Nintendo provided Ars Technica with the following statement regarding availability:

The Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition system is a hot item, and we are working hard to keep up with consumer demand. There will be a steady flow of additional systems through the holiday shopping season and into the new year. Please contact your local retailers to check product availability. A selection of participating retailers can be found at www.Nintendo.com/nes-classic.

Original story: Anyone who doubts the huge market power of Nintendo nostalgia would do well to look at the resale market for the miniature NES Classic Edition today, on the morning of the console’s release. Ars’ analysis of the 100 most recent successful eBay sales sees the tiny HDMI-powered unit, which comes pre-loaded with 30 classic NES games, going for an average price of $183.52.

That’s a more than 200-percent markup over the Classic Edition’s $59.99 retail price (the median resale price on eBay is a comparable $179.99). And that average doesn’t even include the single most lucrative auction we’ve seen for the console, which drew $499.99 from at least one buyer.