How much did they originally cost?!?!?

[icarwngs55]

Ok here is the topic up for discussion or maybe evena reality check...

What did the games for every and any system cost when they first game out (If we wish I will make a running tab here as updates for each). I mean when you think about it the level of depreciation is insane, sometimes us scoffing at paying $1 for a game. So here we go...

Dreamcast
Playstation
Turbografx
NES
Game Boy
Game Boy Color
SNES
N64
Sega Master System
Sega Genesis
Sega Saturn
Sega CD
Sega Game Gear
3DO
And so forth...

Let's hear it guys and gals...
:)

Mike

[gepeto]

Here is what I remember. Not chisled in stone.

Dreamcast 199.99 games 49.99
Playstation 299.99 games 49.99
Turbografx 199.99 games 49.99
NES 149.99 games 49.99
Game Boy 99.99 don't know
Game Boy Color 99.99 don't know

SNES 199.99 games 59.99
N64 19.99 games 49.99
Sega Master System games 49.99
Sega Genesis 199.99 games 59.99
Sega Saturn 399.99 games 49.99
Sega CD 399.99 games 49.99
3DO 699.99 games 49.99



And so forth...

[s1lence]

I believe the SMS was 199.95 as well.

[scorch56]

I believe he's asking for the MSRP of the GAMES.. and not the consoles themselves.

[Flack]

I agree, I believe he's asking about the games themselves (which will be tough to do, as so many games had different price points).

The console price at launch list is here:

What was the "price at launch"?
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18101

[scorch56]

Averaging over time.. I'd say 50 bucks was the price point for most of them. I remember buying new Genny games just released for $50. I have some old PC game ads going back to the late 80's and early 90's advertising PC games (Zork and such) on floppies.. and their MSRP was $50 even back then (in some cases.. a bit higher).

I think that's why the public hiccuped when they heard 360 games were going to be $60; we've been conditioned to pay 50 for so long.

[Vectorman0]

When dreamcast came out, I got a few games at $50 each. Later in DC's life I think I paid $40 for Sonic Adventure 2 and PSO ver.2, and that was right at release. N64 games cost me $60 or $50 most of the time. It really does vary quite a bit.

[steveant1636]

they year that N64 came out, that Christmas most games were going for $100.00 each at most retail stores.

[Carey85]

Eh, the general price point for Genesis games was $50, whereas the general price I remember seeing SNES games for was in the ballpark of $60. The most expensive game I ever bought was for Genesis, that being Virtua Racing... I still can't believe my folks paid $99.99 for that.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

they year that N64 came out, that Christmas most games were going for $100.00 each at most retail stores.
You must have been shopping at rip-off land, because the most expensive N64 game I ever saw was $60

[Hounder]

Most NES games ran in between $39.99 and $59.99. I think the Caltron 6-in-1 was retailed at like $250, Action 52 at $199.99, and the Myriad 6-n-1 $75.

[gepeto]

Here is one for the books:) I remember when phantasy star 2 came out retail price was 69.99.

I remember talking to the store mgr. He said it was because it was an rpg and they don't sell well. The high price helps defer the cost. Every time I see the box art I laugh. 69.00 in the early 90's was alot of money.

I also remember the street fighter snes cart raising the bar by charging 75.00 for there monster. I was so happy when I got the cart. the price was the last thing on my mind. I even think it was one of the first 16meg carts for the snes.

Capcom put people on the pay train and I was in seat 3 row 5.

[FireMillen]

I dont remember ever seeing an original gameboy game (Or gameboy color) over $30.00 so there's my contribution to the list.

[The_4th_Survivor]

Here are the prices I can recall:



Sega Genesis (1990 - 1995)

$49.99 from 90-93
$39.99 - $49.99 from 93-95
$79.99 for the very first "8-Meg" game, "Strider" (1990) and yes, I bought my copy of "Strider" for $79.99 + tax. :P


NES (1985 - 1993)

$49.99 from 85-92
$19.99 - $39.99 from 90-93
$9.99 (clearance) from 93 to 97 (or whenever supplies were exhausted)


Turbografx-16 (1990 - 1995)

To tell the truth, not many retailers carried TG-16 products around here, so I can't recall too many prices. Here's what I can remember....

$29.99 - $49.99 (Toys R Us prices) for Chip and CD Rom games. Even some of the TurboDuo games were priced around that amount.


Sega CD (1992 - 1997)

$49.99 (1992 - 1994) Interesting Tidbit - When "Shining Force CD" was released, it NEVER went down past it's $49.99 tag price at the local Electronics Boutiques and Toys R Us stores, although they eventually sold out of it. Or maybe it did go on sale and I just never knew about it. :P

$19.99 - $39.99 (1993 - 1997)



Game Boy (1989 - 1997)

$29.99 - $39.99 (1989 - 1993) Note - The only expensive Game Boy game I've ever seen hold the "$39.99" price were the "Final Fantasy" titles upon release. Eventually, those games started to go down in price and retail for about $9.99 to $29.99 depending on where you bought the game(s).

$9.99 - $29.99 (1993 - 1997)



Playstation (1995 - 2004)

$39.99 - $49.99 (1995 - 2001)
$29.99 - $39.99 (2000 - 2004)
$4.99 - $29.99 (2004 - present)


Sega Saturn (1995 - 1999)

$39.99 - $49.99 (1995 - 1998)
$19.99 - $29.99 (clearance) (1998)

Note - Games released during the last year of life for the Sega Saturn were "Burning Rangers", "Enemy Zero", "Shining Force III", "House Of The Dead", "Duke Nukem 3D", and "Panzer Dragoon Saga". All of them retailed for $49.99 and a few select titles have become collector's items (mainly the RPGs) which fetch at least their original MSRP, even in used/complete condition.


If I think of any more prices for systems, I'll be sure to jot em' down here.

[BrokenFlight]

Streets of Rage 3 was £50 new.

[DeputyMoniker]

they year that N64 came out, that Christmas most games were going for $100.00 each at most retail stores.

Yep. I remember that. I had forgotten until you mentioned it though.


Most NES games ran in between $39.99 and $59.99. I think the Caltron 6-in-1 was retailed at like $250, Action 52 at $199.99, and the Myriad 6-n-1 $75.

Ya' know...I may remember that too...

[CosmicMonkey]

I remember when Jpn import copies of Street Fighter II for the Super Famicom were going for £120, shortly after release.

What's a minty boxed SF2 worth now? 10-20quid tops?

[Spartacus]

I recall paying $19.99 for Atari 5200 games. That was 25 years ago and I can't say for sure if that was the everyday going rate or if that was during the video game crash and stocks were being dumped.

[NEOFREAK9189]

neogeo $599.00 games $200.00

[NEOFREAK9189]

I remember when Jpn import copies of Street Fighter II turbo and super mario all star for the Super Famicom was $120

[rxdoga]

I remember paying 79.99+tax for Shining Force 2 at an EB the the days after Christmas '94. $80+ dollars for 24megs of data.

[heybtbm]

A few personal experiences...

SNES: I bought Street Fighter II brand new for $79.99 back in '92. Contra III, Castlevania IV were $49.99.

Genesis: (1989 - 1991) Most games were $49.99, a few were $39.99 like Herzog Zwei. My copy of Strider still has the $79.99 price tag on it.

N64: I remember buying a few games at Toys R Us the day after Christmas '96. Shadows of the Empire, Cruising USA, and Killer Instinct Gold were all $69.99.

I think if there's a general rule with past game prices, it's that cartridge games were always more expensive. In 2006, we have the cheapest average game prices we've ever had...even considering the "next generation" $59.99 price point.

[alexkidd2000]

God damn the Dreamcast was such a steal. Look at what we are having to pay for 360 and PS3. People are FUCKING retarded! How could anyone pass it up at $199 on launch day? Makes me sick.

[Kid Ice]

3DO games were mostly 60-70 dollars when they first came out, with some "multimedia" titles at budget prices.

Of course by the time most came around to getting the system games were 10 or 20 dollars.

[MarioMania]

I also remember the street fighter snes cart raising the bar by charging 75.00 for there monster. I was so happy when I got the cart. the price was the last thing on my mind. I even think it was one of the first 16meg carts for the snes.
.

I remember wiating for to G & G to open to get Street Fighter II Turbo, it costed almost $75

[6502]

Turbografx-16

$49.99 - 2 megabit game
$59.99 - 3 megabit game
$69.99 - 4 megabit game
$61.99 - CD game

The above are launch prices. They held from 1989 to early-mid 1990, when some of the early games started dropping a bit.

Saturn/PSX

Both systems had games from $49-59 at launch and in the first year or two. IIRC, some of the early Working Designs Saturn games were over $60 at release. People that complain about $60 360 games have very short memories. :)