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Soundwave 2 days ago
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Cerebralbore101 said:
Soundwave said:

That's not really accurate. 

The N64 launched at $199.99 in 1996, so that would be the same price as the Playstation in 1996 with a significantly more advanced chipset. 

The N64 wasn't delayed from 1995 to June 1996 because of the Playstation, it was delayed because the games weren't ready. Even with a June 1996 delay there were still large software droughts, Wave Race 64, the next "real" game for the N64 after Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64 wasn't ready until several months later. 

Hardware delays weren't anything new to Nintendo at that point anyway, the Super NES CD-ROM was obviously delayed multiple times before being eventually cancelled, the Super NES was supposed to release in 1989 but the games weren't ready and had to be moved to 1990 in Japan and 1991 in North America. That's actually the only reason the Game Boy released (because of the Super NES delay). The Game Boy was cancelled at that point, believe it or not. 

Yeah it was $199 at launch. I don't know how my Mom paid $250 for it in 96 but clearly she got taken for $50 extra somehow. I need to ask her why it was $250 at the store. 

Legit didn't know about the GB almost not releasing. 

The N64 was supposed to launch at $250, but they dropped the price to $199.99 before it even released. But if you paid $250 for it, yeah you got a fast one pulled on you, the N64 was never a penny over $200 officially. 

The Saturn actually was probably the best value by late 1996 (IIRC) funny enough. Sega was selling the system with 3 free games (Virtua Fighter, Daytona, and Virtua Cop I believe) ... that was honestly a way better value than the Playstation or N64. 

Nintendo would have been better off sticking to $250 but including a 2X CD-ROM drive ... it would have radically changed the system's library and given it virtually all the same 3rd party support because it would have sold too well to be ignored by any publisher (33 million units easily doubles at that point no 3rd party can ignore it, which then sends sales even higher). 

Last edited by Soundwave - 2 days ago