There is alot of talk about price points and how they will affect sales, I figured to help put a few things in perspective if compiled a chart of most console and handheld systems comparing not only their release price and year but the inflated price if released in 2006. I think you'll find some of the info interesting.

Their position number is based on the inflated price.

Hey, wow... Cool stuff...

Do you know the price of the Atari 2600 in 1980?

This is interesting, but not surprising in my opinion, but i see things different because i live in europe.

here, consoles always started quite expensive afaik. the gc was the first console to be cheap at the launch, but n64 or ps2 were quite expensive in the first months.

Very interesting. Thanks for putting this together.

One small error I noticed though: you have the release year for the PSP listed as 2006, I think it was 2005. Oh, and the Virtual Boy being classified as a handheld is questionable

Here are the French prices at release date for Nintendo, Sega, Sony and Microsoft consoles : 

http://www.gamekult.com/pic/blog/29834_3.jpg

http://www.gamekult.com/pic/blog/29835_3.jpg

http://www.gamekult.com/pic/blog/29821_3.jpg

http://www.gamekult.com/pic/blog/29828_3.jpg

http://www.gamekult.com/pic/blog/29854_3.jpg

http://www.gamekult.com/pic/blog/29858_3.jpg

http://www.gamekult.com/pic/blog/29862_3.jpg

http://www.gamekult.com/pic/blog/29865_3.jpg

Unfortunately, that doesn't help the PS3. The only ones more expensive are the 2600: a system that launched in the early days of video games, when the tech to price ratio was much higher, the CD-i (and 3DO, which is pretty much the same case here), a system that was considered overpriced, and the Neo-Geo, which was considered a hardcore niche systems.

Yet the PS3 is selling well enough, but the price is still an issue, especially since it's sold at a loss. 

That dosent help the Wii either, showing it as almost the cheapest console in console history.
EDIT: And I feel the Wii is overpriced where it is at. I think a 199.99 price is more right.

good stuff!  thanks for putting it together.

 just wondering about some details... did you actually use year-to-year inflation data or just assumed like a 3% annual inflation?

$199 for the Wii may be just right but it's hard to argue it being at $250 when it's still selling out like crazy at that price.  Nintendo would've been stupid to put it at $199 really, that'd be like giving away $30+ million dollars for no benefit.

 By the way what was the inflation rate used for these calculations?

DKII:

I found this link and used it:  

 http://www.westegg.com/inflation/