So, with the next crop of consoles coming out from the big three, it got me thinking. And, that can be quite scary at times. This time I started thinking about what our hard earned money is going to get us. And, then I started thinking about what our hard earned money, or more likely, our parent's hard earned money used to get us.

Today:

Nintendo Wii:
Price: $250
Includes:
hardware system
1 Wii remote
1 nunchuck
cables, sensor bar, console stand
copy of Wii Sports

Sony Playstation 3:
Price: $499-$599
Includes:
System
1 Controller
Cables
Hard Drive (Size Various depending on price model)
NO GAME

Microsoft XBox 360:
Price: $299-$399
Includes:
System
1 Controller (Wired or Wireless Depending on Price Model)
Hard Drive (Only with $399 model)
NO GAME

Nowadays, our hard earned money get us a game system that if we buy it, can stare at it, until we go out and spend more money on games. (Wii Excluded) In all cases, even after we go out and buy a game to play, we still cannot play with friends until we go buy more controllers. And, in Nintendos case, we have to go buy the "gamepad" controller if we want be able to play all the Virtual Console games.

Now let's take a look back in the past:

1977-
Atari VCS (2600):
Price: $190
Included:
Console
Cables
2 Controllers
Free Game

1980-
Mattel Electronics Intellivision:
Price: $299
Included:
Console
Cables
2 Controllers
Free Game

1985-
Nintendo Entertainment System:
Price: $124.99
Included:
Console
Cables
2 Controllers
Light Gun
A Fucking ROBOT!
And 2 GAMES on 1 cartridge.

1986-
Sega Master System:
Price: $199.99
Included:
Console
Cables
2 Controllers
Light Gun
3 GAMES (2 on a single cartridge, 1 hidden inside system.)

1990-
Sega Genesis:
Price: $199.99
Included:
Console
Cables
2 Controllers
1 Game

1991-
Super Nintendo:
Price: $199.99
Included:
Console
Cables
2 Controllers
1 Game

Is it just me, or does everyone feel ripped off? System that were Under $200 came with multiple controllers and a free game or two. Now we are expected to pay $250 - $600 for a system that comes with only 1 controller and no games!?! If we are lucky we might get a demo disc. Damn, the future sucks.

-

"Fuck, even in the future nothing works!"

I didn't forget the TG-16, in fact I used to own one. But, it did not really fall into my arguement, because it DID come with a free game. (Keith Courage) The problem with it was, that not only did it only come with one controller, it only came with one controller port. You had to go buy a Turbo-Tap and more controllers just to play multiplayer. Also, it ticked me off that I had to pay another $40 for the attachment that let me use the RCA ports on my TV instead of the RF.

Now that I think about it, I think Hudson and NEC may be to blame for leading the ONE controller revolution! Down with NEC!!! I hope their efforts into the Game System world fail! MUHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!

Oh wait.... they already did fail.

YAY! See, why you shouldn't get on my bad side, game companies?

Did I also mention that I got really pissed playing Shenmue, because nobody would talk to me, and if they did, they "Knew nothing about that." And, then shortly after SEGA went under in the Hardware market... Hmmmm.... I got my eye on you now, Sony! So help you, God, that the PS3 better not suck ass... Else you shall incur my wraith!

-
"1,2,3,4,5? That's the stupidist combination I've ever heard in my life! That's the kind of thing an idiot would have on his luggage!"

I too have the whole movie memorized.

JEW wrote:

your pricing with the NES is fucky.

Digging further, you are indeed right. I fuckyed up my facts. There was a limited release in the US before the initial launch, where Nintendo was "testing the waters" before putting too much of an investment in a US release. The limit market NES systems were released on October 18, 1985 for $124.99. When the NES offically launched nationwide in February of 1986, the price was changed to $199.99.

In response to Valdronius:

The Commodore 64 was launched in August 1982 at a price of US$595.*

(*Note: That was for just the Computer itself, not including a Disk Drive/Cassette Drive, Monitor, or printer.)

From "History of the Commodore 64":
The C64 faced a wide range of competing home computers at its introduction in August 1982. With an impressive price point coupled with the 64's advanced hardware, it quickly out-classed many of its competitors. In the United States the greatest competitors to the C64 were the Atari 400/800, IBM PC and Apple II. The Atari 400/800 was very similar in hardware terms, but it was very expensive to build, which forced Atari to redesign their machine to be more cost effective. This resulted in the 600XL/800XL line and the transfer of their production to the Far East. The IBM PC and the now aging Apple II were no match for the C64's graphical and sound abilities, but they were very expandable with their internal expansion slots, a feature lacking in the 64.

All three machines had a standard memory configuration of 16K, 48K less RAM than the C64. At US$1,500, the IBM PC and Apple II were 3 times as expensive, while the Atari 800 cost a mere $899. One key to the C64's success was Commodore's aggressive marketing tactics, and they were quick to exploit the relative price/performance divisions between its competitors with a series of television commercials after the C64's launch in late 1982.

The C64 made an impressive debut, as recalled by Production Engineer David A. Ziembicki: "All we saw at our booth were Atari people with their mouths dropping open, saying, 'How can you do that for $595?'" The answer, as it turned out, was vertical integration; thanks to Commodore's ownership of MOS Technology's semiconductor fabrication facilities, each C64 had an estimated production cost of only $135.


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Kinda sounds like Commodore was to computers, that Nintendo is to Consoles. Most bang for the buck. Give the consumers the best expirence for the lowest cost, and make your money back in software/games.

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Computer: "3...2...1... Have a nice day!"
President Scroob, Dark Helmet, and Col Sanders: "Thank You."