Comparison of 1996 game and console prices to today.

[prayformojo]

Tamron said:

Since people tend to look back at previous generations and point to the prices being much cheaper, let's be accurate.

Console price in 1996: $199.99
1996's console price today after inflation: $293.28

Mario 64's 1996 price in 1996: $59.99
Mario 64's 1996 price price today after inflation: $87.97

Average PS4/WiiU/Xbox One game price today: $59.99
Average game price today would have been this much in 1996: $40.91

Console price in 1996: $199.99
1996's console price today after inflation: $293.28

Twisted Metal 2's price in 1996: $47.99
Twisted Metal 2's price today after inflation: $70.38

Average PS4/WiiU/Xbox One game price today: $59.99
Average game price today would have been this much in 1996: $40.91

Console price in 1996: $129.99
1996's console price today after inflation: $190.62

Street fighter Alpha 2's price in 1996: $69.99
Street fighter Alpha 2's price today after inflation: $102.64

Average PS4/WiiU/Xbox One game price today: $59.99
Average game price today would have been this much in 1996: $40.91

The hardware of today costs a little more, depending on which console you buy ($72 more in 1996, for xbox one and ps4 to be exact)
The WiiU at 1996 prices would actually be cheaper than the PS1 and N64, at only $177.30
Games, which people complain as being too expensive, are on every single platform, much cheaper than they were in 1996, anywhere from $10-$25 cheaper per game, across all platforms after inflation has been taken in to account.

the cheapest, 39.99 games of 1996, are more or less identical in price, to todays day one release date prices.

You're forgetting something critical...perception. No one cares about infaltion. They see a price, and put value on that price. When I had a PS1 back in it's heyday, I bought games for $40.00 full price. Then when PS2 launched, it jumped to $50.00. Then, when PS3 dropped, it was now $60.00. Consoles went from $200.00-$300.00 at launch to freakin' $400.00-$600.00!

People see these "numbers" and associate what they want. For the average consumer, when you see $200.00, it will always look better than $400.00 no matter HOW much inflation has taken place. It's basic human psychology.