A Look Back At Expensive System Launches

As the launch for the Xbox 360 approaches, with incredibly expensive bundles up for offer, Joystiq takes a look back at expensive system launches of the past. From the article: "Commodore 64 - $1207.04 (originally valued at $595 in 1982) Despite being the most popular computer model of all time, selling between 17 and 25 million units, the Commodore 64 was a relatively expensive games machine by today's standards. However, it offered extremely good value for money by offering unprecedented sound and graphics quality."

Comments

Neo Geo

[dogbowl]

How can anybody write about expensive video game systems and NOT mention the Neo Geo. In the early 90's, that sucker had *games* selling in the multiple of hundreds of dollars. It was the king of the hill in terms of $$$s (until the 360 came along)

And also, I don't think its fair to compare a video game console with full blown computers from the past.

C64? Try VIC-20

[Red Flayer]

A much better comparison would be the Vic-20 by Commodore.

The C64 was a home computer; the VIC-20 was a console computer. It was primarily used to play games, although it did have word-processing capability (though limited to 22 chars per line), etc. Its display was typically a TV, and IIRC, it came with a joystick.

Price at retail launch (Jan 1981) was $299, which is approximately $610 in today's dollars, making it about the same as the Xbox 360.

Of course, GTA4 in ANSI just doesn't seem as appealing.