Xbox 360 for $300

Xizer writes "Wal-Mart employees have leaked the price of Microsoft's next-generation console. The Xbox 360 is set to be launched for $299.99. Additionally, games are set to be $59.99 each. Ouch. Looks like the next generation of consoles is going to burn holes in gamers' wallets even moreso than the current generation. One thing is for sure: It's time to start gearing up for an expensive Christmas."

Comments

Still $300

[TPIRman]

Looks like the next generation of consoles is going to burn holes in gamers' wallets even moreso than the current generation.

Launch price of Xbox 360: $300
Launch price of PS2: $300
Launch price of Xbox: $300

If you account for inflation, the Xbox 360 is cheaper at launch than its predecessor.

Re:Still $300

[mr_gerbik]

If you account for inflation the Xbox 360 is *much* cheaper than some of its predecessors.

Atari 2600
1977 price: $199.95
Adjusted for inflation: $648.83

Colecovision
1982 price: $199.95
Adjusted: $405.63

Nintendo Entertainment System
1985 price: $199
Adjusted: $353.16

Inflation based on the Consumer Price Index.

Inflation Calculator

Re:Still $300

[shoptroll]

Actually, unless you've been living under a rock for the past 6 months, the price of AAA PC games is up to $55 (depending on the publisher).

Half-Life 2 was (and still is) billed at $55. I think Doom3 was the same at launch.

Also, Blizzard/Vivendi charged $35 for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. So not only are new games going for larger amounts, but expansions are trying to pull in more money.

Re:Still $300

[badasscat]

Atari 2600
1977 price: $199.95

This is disputed - I and many others have seen boxes over the years with an original $249 price tag, and still more people remember seeing them in stores at that price. The general feeling now is that $249 was the initial price of this system, although actual MSRP is not so simple to just go back and look up. (The old Atari no longer exists, there was no WWW back then, and people's memories are not always accurate.)

But, regardless, that would just make it that much more expensive, thereby further proving your point for you.

Nintendo Entertainment System
1985 price: $199

The NES was also originally available as a "Deluxe Set" for $249. I think this may have been the only set available when the system was first test-marketed in New York, but I'm not sure about that.

One thing to keep in mind about the earliest systems (though not the NES or above) is that prices were not "locked". There was an MSRP but manufacturers didn't enforce it - it was literally a suggested price, just like any other piece of electronic equipment gets. Stores could price as they saw fit. That changed around the time of the NES.

Some other hardware launch MSRP's:

Intellivision: $299 (mine was $280 in 1980)
Atari 5200: $249 (although apparently you could get them near launch for $199 if you looked)
Neo Geo AES: $699
Sega Genesis: $249
Sega Saturn: $399

All of those prices would be way over $300 in today's dollars.

Re:OT: where'd all the 4/5 comments go?

[Evro]

Moderation was apparently broken, and now fixed (I guess?).