Money

A large problem with video games and CPU games is that they outdate quickly. For example, the time between the release of a game system and the release of the previous game systems is around 5 years. At the same time, the average lifespan of a computer before it is obsolete is 5 years. This is really a short lifespan considering the amount of money that is spent on these consols. And the game consols are not getting any cheaper. In 2006 three game consols were released for sale, Xbox 360, Plastation 3, and the Nintendo Wii. Their respective prices were $499, $599, and $249. And, in approximately 2011 those systems will be outdated! A new and improved system from each company will come out and blow the face off the gaming comunity. I added that last part because that's what is said about every gaming system that is released, even if it isn't true.

This trend reminds me of cars and car buyers. A car is definitely alot more expensive than a video game consol. But the economics behind it are almost the same. If we take the same lifespan of a $500 game consol and compare it to a $20,000 brand new car we would have a 40 to 1 ratio. So if the lifespan of a game system is 5 years then comparatively the lifespan of a car should be 200 years. That is if you multiply 40 times 5. However, that is not the case. Cars are lucky to last 20 years, and even then most people decide to get rid of their car before it even dies. And if you think about time between release of products, new car models are released once a year. This almost immediately outdates that $20,000 car.

My point is, there is alot of money invested from dedicated gamers. Their need for something outstanding could even be compared to car enthusiasts' need for something innovative. Is this a bad habit? Is this a bad trend that is the reason other countries look down upon us because we wastefully spend money instead of making the products last? At the same time, however, is this industry helping the United States stay on top of the economic heap of wreckage?