10 years ago when the Euro was introduced, the dollar had more value compared to the euro. But since 2002 the euro is more expensive than the dollar. The price for €1 is quite stable for some time now hanging at $1,35 (sure it has it's been lower and higher). Can someone tell me why most consoles (xbox 360 is an exception) and games cost the "same" in dollars as they cost in euro's? The price in pounds and yen are different, but not with the euro. Why is there such an exception?

Some examples: Playstation 3  costs (160 GB) €299 in EU - $299 in USA, Wii €199 vs $199, 3DS €249 vs $249.

Do the prices of those product include tax? Remember all USA prices are without tax. 

Europeans have a 15-20% sales tax included in the price.

Switzerland is worse

0.9x dollar is 1Franken   and 

1.20 Franken is 1 Euro

and STILL a PS3 costs about 450Franken wich is 375 euro  or 405 dollar...

its getting better though

EUR-USD rate is about 1.35 right now. That's a 35% difference, not 20%. It's been that way as long as I can remember, even when the rate was 1.5-ish. So taxes don't really fully explain the difference.

@OP: I believe what you meant to say is that the prices are not the same. They look the same but they really are not. Ah, nevermind, it's not important what you call it.

I think the prices, in UK at least are more of the equal value despite us getting taxed like mules, ~£40 transfers into about $60, which is the release price for games in US too. I think it's more or less equal now if taking the conversion rates into account, but before the gap was massive. I just think that in UK we don't get near enough deals as in US, $20 Amazon card for preordering game etc. I'd like some of that shit!

Europe has far more logistic and linguistic difficulties than the US so those extra expenses are padded into the consumer costs.

23% in Greece :'-(

There is no mystery here. European prices include tax and store margin. Subtract about 35-40% of the listed prices to get "raw prices" manufacturers get. GB is an exeption because XBoxes were often sold at considerable loss to MS in order to yell "King-of-the-Hill".

You think that's bad, when the Canadian dollar is higher then that of the USA we still have to pay more for everything it's really annoying