Pack-in Games

[7800Lover]

In the near future, I'm planning on getting a Nintendo Wii. During my research, I was actually surprised to learn that a new unit came with a pack-in game, Wii Sports. When I had purchased my Game Boy Color, PS1 and PS2, I didn't even get a pack-in with the console. Heck, with the PS1, all I got was a stupid demo disc.

 

I've long missed the days of buying a brand new console and getting a game included.

 

The Atari 2600 had Combat, the Atari 5200 had Super Breakout, the Atari 7800 had Pole Position II, the NES came with Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt, the Super NES had Super Mario World, and with the Sega Genesis, first we had Altered Beast and then Sonic the Hedgehog.

 

Why did makers stop including games with their new systems? Was it because of greed? Or maybe it's due to the increased market of used video games out there and new games $20 and under?

 

At any rate, will pack-in games make a comeback?

[SRGilbert]

If I had to guess, I'd say that given the much wider variety of genres, it would be hard to decide on a pack-in game for a system like a PS3 or X-box that would be appropriate for everyone. The Wii makes sense given how perfectly a game like Wii Sports defines what that system is all about.

 

It would be nice if they at least came with a voucher to get a free game with system purchase.