Think Video Games Are Expensive Today?

[Gregory DG]

How much did the 2600 cost in 1979? About $200? If you adjust for inflation, that $200 in today's dollars would be:

 

$455!

 

Considering that the Gamecube is $150 and the PS2 and Xbox are $200, and have technology miles beyond the 2600, these are pretty good deals!

[MegaManFan]

How much did the 2600 cost in 1979? About $200? If you adjust for inflation, that $200 in today's dollars would be:

 

$455!

 

Considering that the Gamecube is $150 and the PS2 and Xbox are $200, and have technology miles beyond the 2600, these are pretty good deals!

 

I've been saying this for a while now. In fact I think this was discussed at length on RGVC.

[MaxSpeed]

Wow, these were quite expensive. They are a muchy better deal now

[King Atari]

$455 may be a lot, but put in Space Invaders, and it's worth every penny.

[Flojomojo]

$455 may be a lot, but put in Space Invaders, and it's worth every penny.

So true. With 112 video games on that cartridge alone, your investment in hardware becomes only $4 per game!

[Voch]

I think the newer consoles are sold at a loss and they get their money back with software sales. The most expensive cart I've ever seen purchased new for the 2600 was when my uncle splurged and plopped down $40 for Dig Dug back in the early 80's. But that seemed more of an exception than a rule.

 

Voch

[Cupcakus]

I think the newer consoles are sold at a loss and they get their money back with software sales.  The most expensive cart I've ever seen purchased new for the 2600 was when my uncle splurged and plopped down $40 for Dig Dug back in the early 80's.  But that seemed more of an exception than a rule.

 

Voch

 

They are sold for a significant loss... Micro$ofts last report was they were losing $149 per XBox unit sold. That is quite a bit considering the volume of units sold.

[ATARIPITBULL]

When I was little and my mother bought me my first 2600, I had to have Pitfall & Raiders of the lost Ark and they were $45.00 each with out tax, so I don't think the prices of todays games are high at all.

 

[CaliColts]

If I remember correctly I(my parents) paid $65.00 for 2600 Pac-Man

the day it came to my local store.

[mos6507]

You know, most people didn't buy 2600s when they first came out.

 

The pricepoint of the 2600 around the time Space Invaders came out I think was around $120 which isn't too bad.

[SS]

If I remember correctly I(my parents) paid $65.00 for 2600 Pac-Man the day it came to my local store.