Itroduction
Do you remember a time when prices for video games were forty dollars and consoles used to cost one hundred dollars. Ever since the first video game in 1958 the popularity of video games has gone up. According to CPG(Critical Gaming Project),”In 2009, 25 percent of Americans over the age of 50 play video games, an increase from nine percent in 1999.”On the down side the price for video games has risen at the same time. From the first home video game system, The Odyssey, which was sold at 100 dollars on May, 24, 1972. All the way to the PlayStation 3 at 599.99 (600 dollars for 5GB 500 dollars for 4GB) in 2006.These prices are definitely high but will they stay that high? The answer all depends on how much you care about it.
What?
The price of video games has been a concern to some people for a while now. In 1927 the Atari 2600 came out at a price of 249.95 US dollars. From then to now the technology of video games has gone up along with almost everything but video games prices have risen up dramatically in the last ten years. Along with just buying the console and the video game discs gamers have now had to buy things like membership to allow them to be able to play online. Currently the price for membership for the XBOX 360(a.k.a. XBOX live gold membership) for 3 months is at 24.99 US dollars. That means that in order to be able to play online on the XBOX 360 for just six months is around 50.00 US dollars. Also if you want to play with more than one controller(to play with someone else), the microsoft wireless controllers cost in between 44.99 US dollars and 49.99 US dollars(white wireless controller cost 44.99 and black wireless controller cost 49.99 US dollars).If you play on computer you don’t have to pay the membership or the controllers but you do have to the price of a computer that is advanced enough to run the new games or else the games won’t work. A computer that can run the latest games is around 600.00 US dollars. Then you have to add in the cost of the compatible screen and then the price goes up by around 100 US dollars.
where?
Video games are all over the world. From Japan to Europe to the United States video games are everywhere. Video games originated in the United States, however they quickly spread throughout the world. Today some of the most popular companies are located in japan such as Sony or Nintendo. Yet the new games sell world wide. Thanks to the new technology of the twenty-first century games can now be found inside of an everyday smartphone. Smartphones are sold all over the world therefore video games are everywhere in our lives everyday. Learning can be done with video games. Since kids can learn with video game systems such as leapfrog, video games used everywhere.
why & how?
There are different reasons why and how the price of games has risen over the last ten years. The first reason is that life of video games has gone up. According to Tom Loftus on NBC News gaming consoles have a lifetime. This lifetime is the time from the console’s debut(when the console comes out) to the time when the console is replaced with a new console. Lifetimes have two halfs in which the first half the games for that console cost more because of the newer technology. Usually in the second half the price of the video games down. If that were the case though then shouldn't video game prices be going down? I mean right now the prices of new AAA games still cost 59.99 even though the present consoles such as Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are about to be replaced. Well around the time of the NES(Nintendo Entertainment System) and the Sega Genesis the lifetime of a new console was about five years. However present consoles such as the PlayStation 3 have been around now for about seven years.The reason why the lifetime of the present consoles has gone up is because the technology of the consoles has gotten more advanced allowing the console to last a longer time without having to release a new console. Since the console can still run new triple-A the price of the games does not drop. Another reason for the jump on prices is the cost. According to Polygon Staff in their article called State of the Games: State of AAA, In 2012 Ubisoft had a profit of 48 million dollars over the loss of 67 million dollars the year before that. Also another reason why games price is so low is that the technology. A even though a console like the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3 can run the latest games it has been around for almost a decade now which makes some of its technology not up to date. The most noticeable disadvantage is the graphics. Since they are almost a decade old the current console’s graphics are driving customers away because it looks too old. This not only takes gamers away from consoles but it also pushes gamers onto computer gaming. Since the computer is constantly updating its graphics definitely look newer than the Xbox’s. Also gamemakers have figured out how to raise the game prices without rising the price of games. According to Chris Kholer author,“Video games can’t afford to cost this much.” companies such as EA have been holding back game content to sell it later. That way they get more money and at the same time keep prices for games at 60$ so people don’t complain about the prices.
who?
There are many different people that this happens to. For instance did you know that according to CPG,”The average gamer is 35 years old and has been playing games for 12 years.” This means that not only do kids play it most adults have and are playing video games. Also gaming prices do not only affect males. In fact according to CPG,”Forty percent of all game players are women and women over the age of 18 represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (34 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent).” The CPG also said,“The average game purchaser is over 40 years old.” However this did not include learning game systems such as leap frog. Game Systems like these mean that these prices might also early learning with electronic games.
when?
The time between when video game prices started to go up is an extensive timeline. According to Ken Polsson and Amanda Kudler authors of A Brief Timeline of Video Game Systems and Timeline: Video Games, It all started with The Odyssey which sold for 100 dollars each. Second was the Atari 2600 which sold at 199.99 dollars in 1977. Third was the Nintendo Entertainment System or NES for short which sold at 199.99 dollars in 1985. Next was an Atari release, the Atari 7800 for 149.99 dollars in 1986. In order to compete with the other consoles sega introduces the Sega Master System(SMS)that same year for only 200 dollars. Then in 1989 nintendo releases the Game Boy for 109 dollars. That same year NEC released the first 16-bit console which was named the TurboGrafx-16 and at an initial cost of 189 dollars. Also that same year Atari and Sega both released a new console. The new Atari console is their first handheld console which was named Lynx. Lynx sold at 149 dollars. The new sega console was the Genesis sold for 149.95 dollars. In 1991 nintendo released the superNES or SNES for short. The SNES was set to cost at 249.95 dollars. Next in 1991 Atari releases the Jaguar for 250 dollars. In 1995 Sony releases the PlayStation in the US for 299 dollars. The next year in 1996 Nintendo releases a new console, the Nintendo 64 which was sold at 199 dollars. In 1998 Sega introduces the sega dreamcast sold at 199 dollars. In 2000 Sony releases the PlayStation 2 at 299.99 dollars.Then in 2001 Nintendo and Microsoft both introduce new consoles. Nintendo releases the GameCube at a retail price of 199.95 dollars. Microsoft released the xbox for 299.99 dollars. In 2004 nintendo releases the Nintendo DS for 299.99 dollars. In 2005 microsoft and sony both release a new console. Sony releases the PSP and Microsoft releases the Xbox 360 which used to cost 399.99. Then in 2006 sony and nintendo go head to head when they both release a new console. Sony releases the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo releases the Wii.
why is it a problem?
This is a problem for many reasons. One of them is obviously the cost. The cost for a new console has gotten to the point where it costs less to buy groceries than to buy a gaming console. The price for the new console, the steam box is estimated at 1000 dollars. According to Anne Vandermey, the price of an airplane from New York City to Los Angeles is 506.62 US dollars. That means that with the money to buy a new console you could go to L.A. and back from NYC. Another reason why this is a problem is because of how much we use games. If the price of video games were to surpass the amount of money the average gamer makes then it would have an impact on people who do not play games too. According to Chris Morris from CNBC,”Video games added $4.95 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product in 2009”. So if you take away video games you make a loss about 5 billion dollars to the U.S. economy. A loss like this would be a tremendous loss to an already bad economy. In conclusion video games could one day affect you financially even if you don’t play video games.
how can you be the difference?
There are many different ways to go about fixing this problem. The first is to not allow it. The companies are raising the price is partially because of the fact that the consumers allow it to happen. So if you as a consumer join or start a club or association to not allow the prices of the video games to keep rising. In conclusion in order to stop this problem you have to stand up and not allow these prices.
conclusion
The prices of video have been high for a while now, it’s up to you to change it. The Atari 2600 used to cost 199 dollars when it came out. The PlayStation 3 used to cost 599.99 dollars when it came out. The steam box is estimated to cost 1000 dollars.It is all up to you to change this.