sniderock

i was just thinking about how much the new video game systems cost and it got my to thinking about good old nintendo(still the best system ever). how much did it cost back in the mid 80s, cuz i dont have a clue, im gonna guess around 150, but im not sure, a little help from the forum would be great, thanks

focker

I think it was about $99 bare bones and a little more with the gun and Super Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt. It was originally only available in with the gun and games, and I think that package was about $150.

zuffy

I think it was around $120 with the Super Mario game. I remember buying the bare system for $100 from KB Toys store.

CaptainMarvel

The 'barebones' set, with just Super Mario, the system, and two controllers (try finding a basic system that comes with a game and two controllers these days) was $99.00 when I got it, which was pretty much when it first came out.

Mooooooving to Video Game Forum ( )

SnoopDogg

Are you sure it wasn't 199 like the Genesis was when it came out?

GuessWho

Didn't the first edition come with a robot-like accessory?

CaptainMarvel

ROB! Mine didn't come with that thing, but you could buy it separately. I think they only ever made two games for it, and neither game worked.

Here's what I had:

I remember very distinctly that my parents paid $100 for the basic set, two controllers, and Super Mario. There's a lot of conflicting info on the websites out there:

This site says the original package did include all those accessories: http://www.nintendoland.com/home2.htm?nes/history.htm

This site says the same: http://www.classicgaming.com/museum/nes/

This site says it was $100, not $200: http://www.game-hunter.com/homepage/hardware/4.html

Souljahh

I also remember very distinctly my parents buying the set for 100 which included super mario bros/duck hunt, the gun, and 2 controllers. I'm not sure how close to launch we bought it though; i was too young.

squidget

same here. i do remember that it was about 1year after the intial release when my parents bought mine

Breakfast with Girls

I did chores for a long time until I had enough money to buy one for myself. I was really proud of myself that I had saved enough money to buy it, especially since it was so completely awesome (much better than my Atari computer!). My parents usually had me earn my games as well. I remember being so excited the days when my mom would bring me to the store and I got to spend my money on a game, having no knowledge of it beyond the cover art and the screenshots on the back. I remember how excited I was to buy Castlevania and Mario 2 (a huge display at Sears). Because I had to buy my own for the most part, I never had more than 10 as a kid (buying them new and at garage sales), but around age 13 I bought about 10 more from a friend at a discount price.

Aw, memories...

Will today's kids have these kinds of memories about their Playstation 2s or Dreamcasts? It seems different to me.

Tigger

The Main System came with the 8-Bit Deck, 2 Controllers, a Light Gun, Super Mario Bros. & Duck Hunt. $120.00

The Deluxe System came with the 8-Bit system, ROB (Robotic Operating Buddy), 2 Controllers, a Light Gun, Duck Hunt & Gyromite. $150.00

mkdevo

that's the one i had - the Deluxe Set... i believe it was $149 or $179...

darkside

I also had the deluxe set (I've still got ROB) and my mom paid $179 for it. I know because she complained for about a year about it.

Centurion

Ouch!!
Just look at how much ergonomics went into designing the shape of the controllers.

Hahaha! Back then, no one would complain.

sniderock

what about the version with mario/duck hunt/track and field, thats what i got, i havent seen track and field mentioned on this thread once though. that was the game with the power pad in case someone doesnt know.

lordzeppelin

What? You mean there weren't such websites like this one where the members could bitch about EVERYTHING, including free stuff? You don't say...

CaptainMarvel

The Power Pad/Track and Field combo didn't come out until several years later.

Don Catchpole

I hear you on that one! I think I still have corner creases embedded into my palms. I had forgotten how much the machine cost me when I bought it for my kids in 1989 but I find it amazing that the price of the machines hasn't increased all that much when you think about it.

wedge

They dropped in price over time. I remember the deluxe set with the Zapper and Mario/Duck Hunt being $199, the basic set being $129, and the one with ROB being $250. This was very early in the life cycle. I believe for the majority of the NES life cycle the deluxe set was $149 and the basic one was $99, and the one with the power pad was $199. It wasn't like now where they drop in price every year or so. But then, Nintendo had virtually no competition at the time either.

TheBang

Remember how weird the N64 controllers looked the first time you saw them, and how everyone thought that would be so unwieldy and uncomfortable?


This thread has gotten me really curious about the evolution of game console pricing. Can anyone fill in the blanks below for launch pricing?


NES - $100-200
Genesis (did it come with a game?) - ?
SNES (came with Super Mario World, right?) - ?
Saturn - ?
PSX - $200?
N64 - $200?
Dreamcast - $200?
PS2 - $300
XBox - $300
GC - $200


Gameboy (with Tetris?) - ?
Gameboy Color - ?
Gameboy Advance - $100

Gallant Pig

Genesis came with Altered Beast, I think it was $150 (or else $200). Super Nintendo was $200 I think. Saturn was $200. I think TurboGrafx 16 was $200 too.

KnightLerxst

Actually when the Saturn first came out it was around 400 or 500 bucks...it was insanely priced...and on of the many causes for its quick, painful demise.

I remember walking into an EB in 95 and seeing that sucker and thinking "Damn, that is expensive."

Mezzanine

SNES was $200, and yes it came with Mario World. PlayStation was $300 when it first came out, and I believe the Saturn was $400. And you're right about N64, it was $200.

Burnt Alive

I'm pretty sure the Genesis was $200 (w/ Altered Beast & 2 controllers).

The Dreamcast was $200.

Does anyone remember the original price of the 3DO? Was it :600 or $800?

Gallant Pig

How much as was the Neo Geo originally? LIke $1000 right?