The initial cost of a new console upon its release rarely goes over without mass hysteria and uproar from the general public. It seems that regardless of the entry retail price, most people will be in disagreement with it and flame the console accordingly, until eventually coming to terms with the number and giving in, or waiting for a price drop.

For example, Sony's new PSP Go! has been receiving criticism for the $250 price tag attached to it, and in comparison with Nintendo's DSi (retail $170.00), Sony's decision to beef up their portable system about a hundred dollars more seems a bit hasty. With the new UMD-less system, previous PSP owners may have to buy all of their favorite titles over again, as the PSP Go! renders their current collection relatively useless. Europe has it even worse: the PSP Go! will retail in the UK at £229.99 ($380USD) and outside of the UK at 250 Euros ($350USD).


What goes into deciding retail prices for new consoles? More importantly, what are the manufacturing costs of a system, the production cost versus what we pay in stores? Let's go down the list of recent consoles and crunch some numbers.

[CUT TAG="Click here for the statistics..."]

PS3
Release Date: Nov. 17, 2006
Retail price: $599 (60GB) $499 (20GB)
Cost of components: $840 (60GB) $805 (20GB)
-As you can see, Sony loses money on every console they make and depend on game and peripheral sales to clear the deficit. Especially with the newer 80GB consoles, Sony ditched backwards compatability in an attempt to cut production costs, but there are still a few rare 80GB consoles with backwards compatability floating around. As of Q2 2009, Sony was still in the red, but the PS3's peak is soon approaching with the release of some heavy hitting Sony exclusive sequals like God of War 3, Gran Turismo 5, and Little Big Planet 2.

Xbox 360
Release Date: Nov. 22, 2005
Retail price: $399
Cost of components: $330
-Microsoft too made a conscious initial loss, but were confident that they would be able to recoup their losses, given their past with the original Xbox (the first console to ever be released cheaper than the manufacturing cost). The 360 actually began with a $715 dollar cost of components until it was cut down to $470 in 2008. The market for the 360 is certainly in decline, and if the PS3 price ever drops, I think the Xbox will finally be down and out (sorry Halo fans).


Wii
Release Date: Nov. 19, 2006
Wholesale Price: $190
Cost of components: $158
-Ah, leave it to Nintendo to package their little console in a sleek white box and still make roughly $40 on each system. Nintendo has never put out anything for less money than the manufacturing price, which may attribute to their many successful franchises, more than Microsoft and Sony combined.

And some more...

Playstation 2
Original cost of components: roughly $350
Original retail price: $199

PSP
Retail Price: $250
Cost of components: roughly $170

Nintendo DS Lite
Retail Price: $130
Cost of components: roughly $90

Apple iPhone 3G S
Retail price: Starting at $199
Cost of components: $179.16

BlackBerry Storm
Retail price: $249 before rebate
Cost of components: $202.89


Well, what do you think? Have you ever considered manufacturing cost compared to the retail price tag before?

Move over, Milo. The Neurosky Mindset takes controllerless controllering even further, shifting from the physical body to the abstract complexities of the mind. According to Gizmodo, the Mindset "is a gaming controller that monitors brainwaves, and uses those readings to carry out specific actions within a game. In demos, this includes sliding boxes, lifting objects, and setting crap on fire. It also doubles as a pair of Headphones with Bluetooth." As of yesterday, news of a free Neurosky SDK surfaced, and it is out now! This means that game development groups as well as independent coders can build interfaces to use with the Mindset. The peripheral may even work alongside a physical controller, using brainwaves to reload a gun or open doors, while moving is done with a thumbstick. IMAGINE the possibilities!

Do you think this is the future of gaming? Do you think a cross between Nerosky and Natal is the next wave of video game interaction?

Pic related: This girl looks like she loves Neurosky. And by the way, the user MUST wear shoulderpads and an offensive, black and white checked, eyesore of a sweater in order to get optimal brainwave compatibility.