freakonomics.com — The national availability runs around 2-5%, with most stores out of them most of the time, and no legit online retailer carrying them at all. This has had two effects: the average price paid has been around 150% to 180% of retail price, with none of that going to retailers or the manufacturer. Only scalpers are profiting.
Apr 19, 2007 View in Crawl 4
chingy1788Apr 20, 2007
Yeah but when you buy a computer you Will, you Will, Will use it for more than gaming and Movie playbackSo at the $600USD or $999 AUD (which you can buy a dual core PC (no monitor) with a similar video card as the PS3 (Geforce 7800 GTX), not to mention more RAM (256MB + 1024MB))I would probably get the PCunless if you do have such a PC already then you would go the PS3Though the above is similar to an Xbox vs PC debate a few years ago with a friend of mine, who thinks the Xbox is better than a High End computer built 2-3 years after the release of the Xbox... (AthlonXP 2500+, 512MB RAM, Geforce 4 Ti4800SE) except the PC cost a lot more, I needed a new comp, so I got oneIf I already had a fairly decent comp, Then I would of probably got the Xbox or more likely the PS2So yeah, you're decision on console or PC is really based on your situation at the time, unless you're some rich dude who has too much moneyJust to play games, new gamers would go for the Wii due to the cheaper price and supposed ease of playonce they mature they would go for an Xbox or PS3 or PC, many buttons can be overwhelming for a newbie
beaurichApr 20, 2007
@ NiGHTSChao Are you serious? I am guessing you are still living at home with your parents or make so much money you have forgotten what it is like living off of 8 dollars and hour. Many who work for that wage are still paying rent, car notes, insurance, phone bills etc. It is possible to support yourself making eight dollars and hour but I sincerely doubt that there are many people making that wage and supporting themselves who can come up with $600+ "in no time."Justify it all you want but when the comparisons for the other game systems are $250 and $400, $600 is expensive. Justify it in any way you want but it is still way above the par at 150% of the closest competition.
rhinohelixApr 20, 2007
@stupidbrowner:"A two year cycle for computers?? What, are you crazy? In business the average is 5-6years."I would ask you cite statistics to back up that claim but I won't as you don't have any. Perhaps small businesses keep computers longer than 3 years but vast majority of large corporations and I would guess mid-size businesses lease their PCs, replacing them every 2-3 years. The way the tax code works encourages this. Purchased PCs are a capital expenditure to be depreciated; leased PCs are a business expense to be deducted. Plus at the end you are left with a largely useless piece of equipment that requires special care and extra expense to dispose of properly or a brand new computer every 3 years.And while you may be "enjoying" the latest and greatest on a machine that is likely a 1.0-1.4Ghz machine with 256MB of RAM and a "dedicated" 3-year old video card , I think our definitions of enjoyment are substantially different. I would also guess that you are sporting a CRT of some sort, as a fixed-pixel display would either be choking on or badly filtering down whatever resolution you are "enjoying" Supreme Commander or Oblivion at.See? Condescension sucks. Give civility a try next time.
kinggoonieApr 20, 2007
Myko, I live in NYC and its still hella hard if your not willing to work for it like that though lol. Its not just Nintendo world, its all stores.... usually on a Sunday... and they will usually tell you when they are getting a shipment if you ask. Its just you gotta get your ass up probably an hour earlier then store opens or at least at the very second it does. Maybe nintendo world you have that hour window because they have more consoles, but its still the same point. Don't say its impossible people... say its impossible to find one on a Saturday afternoon. Cause if you were just willing to get up early for one day... and maybe make one call asking when a shipment is coming in.. then boom. But I guess its harder for younger people if you don't drive or anything, your at the mercy of others.
wytefangApr 20, 2007
This is amusing for so many reasons: 1. It keeps an average console out of unsuspecting gamers' hands longer - never a bad thing, really, 2. The scalpers deserve some cash if gamers are going to be so dumb about their $$. We can only hope the shortage continues until the reality hits Nintendroids/Wii-tards that this isn't, in fact, a great system as much as it is an average system with shoddy 3rd-party support and no real powerhouse games.
cyndessaApr 20, 2007
The Wii is in huge demand here in the US. You have the PS3/360 that appeal to 'gamers', then you have the Wii that appeals to 'gamers', soccer moms, casual gamers, retirement homes, etc. Thats a HUGE potential customer base! Sony isn't dealing with anything like that, thus you find pallets of PS3's in Best Buy. The PS3 just doesn't appeal to anywhere near the amount of potential customers. I think Nintendo just got caught by suprise of the amount of people who are finding this system fun after they get a chance to play Wii Sports, there is no conspiracy here. If they keep releasing games like Wii Sports they will have staying power with all of those potential customers who have no interest in the 'gamers' consoles of the PS3 and 360. (I do understand that the other consoles have other great attributes, like the HD/Blu-ray, downloading of media, etc but for the mainstream people... they already have a computer that does all of that, and they do not care yet about HD/Blu-ray) (And I am currently playing Super Paper Mario, it is a fun throw back to the good days of the NES, and I'm LOVING it!)
wageslavenApr 20, 2007
I believe point #1 is saying something this forum doesnt want to hear -- and I may get dugg down for this, but here goes:If "their inability to ramp up production in 4 months is pretty unusual in this industry. Note that there are no known parts shortages." is true, then why is there a shortage?Are we to believe that after 20 years in the business, in a nation with ample electronics experience, that Nintendo cant run up the production fast enough? This is where I repeat something unpopular: Nintendo is doing this on purpose. It builds _demand_ if the product has a shortage. Remember Cabbage patch and Elmo dolls? Same thing, the makers were touting the shortages to prove -- to justify -- to people that they're foolish to not want one too.I think Nintendo is purposefully holding back a ramp-up and/or holding supply steady to maintain this image of a hyper-demand. If that Wasnt the case, then what is wrong with Nintendo -- why cant they get more out? I belive they dont want to, it keeps people "on the hook". Look at whats happening to sony, the price cuts in UK and tonnes of dead stock says "No Demand, no one wants this -- dont buy it". Nintendo is being very crafty.
wageslavenApr 20, 2007
Dude -- do you think all the Wiis and DSs are made in the same place?