The magic number for consoles is $199, and the 360 reached it first?

rickonker

rickonker

CAGiversary!
A lot of people have said this before and I would have to agree. When a console's price comes down to $199 or less the impulse to buy it goes way up for me. If you count refurbs, the 360 has already reached that goal, and even if you don't, chances are the MSRP for a 360 will get to $199 before Nintendo cuts the Wii's price.

Anyway, what are your "magic numbers"? Have you been consistent in each generation, always buying consoles when they reach a certain price?
 
This poll sucks. You should have added 'book', while you were at it.
 
While every generation has its unique circumstances of the time, the general rules that people made up to mix and match may have even less weight in this generation with such an unprecedented divergence in consoles.

- NES aside, first console to launch doesnt win.
- Most powerful system doesnt win.
- Most expensive system doesnt win.
- First to 10 M historically has been significant.
- Same with first to $199.

If we're talking magic number in the context of widespread, mass market adoption, there doesnt need to be talk of anything above $299. I personally cant even begin to justify a price point above that. Software doesnt even come into play at that point. Maybe if I was short on games to play or didnt have options for cheaper price points from competitors, I could play along.
 
Now that I've thought about it a little longer, I think the concept of $199 as a magic price point is MOSTLY invalid on the following grounds:

1) All Nintendo consoles prior to the current one launched at $199.

2) Price drops if you dont already have leading MOMENTUM really dont have much of an effect. Consider PS2 price drops versus GC or XBOX1 drops, for example.
 
DMK, this thead is not about who will win this generation.

It's asking at what price do you bite on a system.
Simply a personal question.
 
[quote name='dallow']DMK, this thead is not about who will win this generation.

It's asking at what price do you bite on a system.
Simply a personal question.[/QUOTE]

Yeah DMK. Someone already said this thread was over anyway. I forgot who it was, but they sure said. I saw it. I saw it so good. Maybe dallow can tell me who said it. I forgot.
 
The dallow said so.

Although, now dallow has to listen to DMK for a while considering.. well, nevermind......... :(
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']OP's fault. He used the words magic number and "reached it first".

BOO[/QUOTE]
I did mean to discuss both in this thread.

I think $199 has more significance this gen because the prices for all three manufacturers shot up. So now a lot of people will be waiting for them to come down.

When consoles launched at $199 or less, I'm guessing even many CAGs bought them at launch.
 
I am going to have to say, $400. I got my 360 and my PS3 for this before tax. One reason why I wanted to jump on the PS3 boat so soon is because I wanted the emotion engine console and I am selling my gaming PC since I don't really game on it. Now I can dump my PS2 and controllers and help recoup my cost of my PS3 even more.
 
I don't have a problem impulse buying at $200, and I'll consider the current gen when they get to $300. I'm not desperate to play any of these games, and at the price of $60 for a new system, $50 for a second controller, I can wait, it's not going anywhere.
 
I don't think the 360 has reached it. and buying a refurbed 360 is not the smartest idea.

anyway, I guess now that I have my own money, I don't really care. before, i think the most expensive console my folks bought me was a PS1 for $200 or $250.
 
A refurbished 360 does not count towards the console's price point, since the vast majority of people who buy consoles buy new consoles.

I do think that $200 is the price point where the mass market/"casual gamers" will start impulse buying systems, and since Nintendo is selling the Wii with a game they have the first console to hit the "sweet spot".
 
I own a Xbox and Gamecube and didnt have to pay more than $149 for either of them. In gamecube's case it comes with a $50 game. For this generation I am willing to make the jump at $199. As long as developers keep supporting PS2 I dont have to make the jump. Even if the PS2 died I can still depend on PSP and DS.
 
Can I just point out that $199 in 1991 (the cost of a SNES at launch in North America) was a lot more money than $199 in 2007? Inflation.
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']I think the concept of $199 as a magic price point is MOSTLY invalid on the following grounds:

1) All Nintendo consoles prior to the current one launched at $199.[/quote]Welcome to the 21st century, buddy.

$200 in the NES days is $375 now ($200 nowandays would be $106 in the NES days).


Xbox 360 should have reached the $200 price point by this time next year.

I expect PS3 to cost twice as much at the same time.

If history is any indicator, price is a strong factor, but FAR from the most important.
 
$99 for a system with a decent crop of cheap games would be where I'd enter the impulse buy realm. Wasn't an option.
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']I would say to postpone this conversation for the monthly NPD thread. That way we have some actual numbers to throw around.[/quote]When do we get the July NPD numbers?
Dems gonna be sweet.
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']Now that I've thought about it a little longer, I think the concept of $199 as a magic price point is MOSTLY invalid on the following grounds:

1) All Nintendo consoles prior to the current one launched at $199.

2) Price drops if you dont already have leading MOMENTUM really dont have much of an effect. Consider PS2 price drops versus GC or XBOX1 drops, for example.[/quote]

SO ANNOYING AND I DONT EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU CAME FROM.
 
[quote name='dallow']When do we get the July NPD numbers?
Dems gonna be sweet.[/quote]
August 16th. Canada is probably a couple days before.
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']I would say to postpone this conversation for the monthly NPD thread. That way we have some actual numbers to throw around.[/QUOTE]
The sales numbers have nothing to do with this discussion. It's about what is your magic number for buying a system.
 
Personally, I don't think any console is worth more than $200. $150 is a really nice sweet spot for an impulse buy.
 
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