Is $500 too much?

[sergiodaly]

richardhutnik said:

To support the current model that the videogame industry has, which is to end up selling millions of copies of games, a $500 price point is not viable.  It can come out at that, but not stay there.  Sure, you can do what the 3D0 and Neo-Geo did, or heck even the PS3 ($599), but you don't move enough consoles to justify the production  costs of over $50 million to get a game done (including all costs).  It just is not sustainable.

A think about people is they want a LOT of things.  That doesn't mean they will open up the wallet and pay for it.  This is PARTICULARLY true in this era of sluggish economic growth and most people looking at wages not keeping up with inflation.

@1 we are clearly talking about a launch price point... PS2 was released @ 450 in here (Portugal) and @ 500 in the rest of europe, the rest is history. $500 is perfectly doable for a launch price...

@2 if they don't want to open the wallet, why do they voice so actively their desires? that is what bugs me.