Comparison of 1996 game and console prices to today.

[Baalzamon]

While I GENERALLY agree that game prices have increased (due to inflation), keep in mind that DLC did not exist in 1996, so there is an additional source of revenue for developers that often comes at minimal cost.

Additionally, I don't think the cost structure was the same that it is today. Reviewing the differences in a game between 1996 and 2010 will show that retailer margin has went from 30% ($18) down to 25% ($15), platform royalty has went from 33% ($20) down to 12% ($7), whereas publisher/developer has went from 20% ($12) to 45% ($27).

http://kotaku.com/5937166/why-1990s-snes-games-were-so-damn-expensive
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/anatomy-of-a-60-dollar-video-game.html

So in that regard, the publisher/developer should not be the ones hurting from video game sales, as their take has increased quite a bit faster than inflation. It is the stores, and the gaming platforms themselves that have actually decreased without even taking inflation into effect.