Question for us that grew up in the 90’s as far as video games.

[fdub]

As I was looking at these video Game ads from 1996. How in the world did some our parents afford these games? Lol. $70 for a video game was a lot. I know for us, we didn’t have that many sega or snes games due to the prices.

 

[swendro]

We used Blockbuster for 90% of the games we played.

I'm sure my parents never paid those prices.

 

[raphaeldelaghet]

Back then one game would last you months on end lol. Street Fighter alone you could play for like a whole year. We wasn’t buying em in bulk like the present.

 

[Grine]

Pops managed to get a booster to get an OG Nintendo for me. Box was all crunch up.

Had it for 2 weeks...Then *poof* it disappeared.

Had to go to my cousin's house to play, or they would bring it to my grandparents so I can play.

 

[lazybread]

The rule in my house was I couldn’t get a new game until I beat the one I had. Thankfully that rule was flexible around christmas and my birthday because this was NES era.

 

[Nouss]

Inflation costs.

$100 in 1996 was $167.72 in 2020.
$70 in 1996 was $117.40 in 2020
$130 in 1996 was $218.03 in 2020

 

[ccastro02]

Wasn’t allowed to have video games growing up.

 

[6 Rings G.O.A.T.]

My parents didn't mind paying.. but I legit had to beat the game to get a new game..

 

[Extrait de Minimalisme]

We had all the systems, but very few games and I knew better than to even ask for games. My parents knew we didn’t play them.

i remember my dad rented the original PlayStation during a Christmas break for $250, my ten yr old self felt like it was $2k. I wouldn’t ‘rent’ anything for $250 in 2021, let alone 1995. That’s a carnote.

off topic, I remember window shopping in the 90s and not really understanding how all the kids wore Guess, RL, Hilfiger, Jordan’s, etc… I don’t recall clearance and sales back then, so their parents were paying full till? My mom kept me geared, but it was definitely the bodega/swap meet specials.

 

[Air Champa]

Only got 2 or 3 games a year. Two of those would usually be Christmas and birthday presents.

Played most of my games through rentals and borrowing from friends. We had a whole network going back then.

 

[jaymosenvied]

My pops had me hooked up with games. It helped since he played a bit to.

 

[jamie dimon]

off topic, I remember window shopping in the 90s and not really understanding how all the kids wore Guess, RL, Hilfiger, Jordan’s, etc… I don’t recall clearance and sales back then, so their parents were paying full till? My mom kept me geared, but it was definitely the bodega/swap meet specials.

Pretty sure there were still clearance and sales back then, just not on the scale there is now. That said, a lot of people definitely stole stuff (ex: lo heads).

 

[s0lefunk]

I was spoiled growing up systems wise but I don’t remember having THAT many games. N64, Dreamcast, and PS2 were my prime childhood gaming. I mainly played fighting games and RPGs so those kept me busy for a while.

 

[jpzx]

I remember newer games on the original Xbox, so like pre-2005-ish, being $49.99 when they’d come out (like NFL 2K5, with Terrell Owens on the cover).

It was sticker shock when they all of a sudden went to $59.99 a few years after.

I don’t remember the feeling around game prices in the 90s though because I was anywhere from 1-8 years old.

 

[waukeganwill]

man as an adult now thats married and we got a kid, lookin back now, Idk how my Parents afforded half the **** that they did for me and my brother. this **** aint easy lmao

but yea I definitely had allllllllll the systems growing up. My parents would buy a nice amount of games as well. Me and My brother would hustle up to cop games too, but I definitely had a nice arsenal.

 

[6 Rings G.O.A.T.]

I had the hardest games to beat.. EVER..

 

[jpzx]

I had the hardest games to beat.. EVER..

Sounds like you got no controller-eye coordination my guy

 

[Shaunaldo25]

I feel games were a lot harder during the 90s we had a Megadrive (Genesis in the US) and I doubt I finished any of the games we had. I remember buying Toy Story with my own money, it was £40 which seemed like a lot as a kid.

 

[L7oser]

Birthday and Christmas were really the only times I got games. Blockbuster and having a cousin that had the same system is what got me through lol.

 

[brendasdeadbaby]

people still complain today about games going from $60 to $70 like gaming isn’t a luxury.

 

[tr1ll]

If you adjust for inflation games cost pretty much the same, if not cheaper. I would just acquire games via hand me downs and trades and such. Occasionally, my parents would get me a new game when I accomplished something. Most of my gaming experiences came from rentals, tho.

 

[Air Champa]

Haven't bought many games at all this gen or last gen.

Not happy at all with how things have been going these past several years.

 

[tr1ll]

off topic, I remember window shopping in the 90s and not really understanding how all the kids wore Guess, RL, Hilfiger, Jordan’s, etc… I don’t recall clearance and sales back then, so their parents were paying full till? My mom kept me geared, but it was definitely the bodega/swap meet specials.

I felt the same way. Only to get a job and discover Ross and Marshall’s. I was like y’all could’ve been doing this the whole time instead of sending me to school with BX Basic Concepts wardrobe.

 

[360waves]

My 3 older brothers and I would get $5 for every A we got each semester. We pooled our money together got the games.

 

[babyface34]

Folks would buy all of my NES and Sega Genesis games w/ the system(s) during the holidays. I didn't want for too many new games outside of that. I would either rent from the local video store or roll to my friend's cribs to play stuff I didn't have. It was nothing to ride out some games for a year or 2.