AES Console Prices Back in the Day

[Neo Alec]

According to retrogaming Youtube, the AES was always $650. Well, how much did you pay for yours? I'll get things started. Let us know what you paid, especially if you got one during the console's original run.

New:
1990 $650
1991
1992
1993
1994 $559 (Chips & Bits)
1995 $499 (Japan Video Games) $559 (Chips & Bits)
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004

Used:
1990
1991
1992 $389 (Funco)
1993 $450 (thegreathopper)
1994
1995
1996 $230 (Neo-Alec)
1997 $250 (city41, terry.330)
1998 $225 (Ralfakick)
1999
2000 $185 (Yamazaki)
2001 $200 (GohanX)
2002
2003
2004 $200 (roker)

 

[city41]

97, used $250 with two games (kof94 and wh2)

 

[terry.330]

1997 $250 used with 5 games

 

[Burning Fight!!]

Where's JAPJAC to give his insight on being the first #1 confirmed neo-geo owner in the west?

 

[supergoose]

I can't remember if I bought mine in 1999 or 2000. All I know for sure is that I had the console and 2 games for months before I managed to win an eBay auction for an old style stick.

console with PSU and scart cable: 300 DM (~ $135 to $150)
Samurai Shodown and Robo Army for 150 DM each from the same seller, so 300 DM total. (~ $135 to $150)
old style stick: 150 DM (~ $67)

I may have overpaid but at least I didn't have to buy sight unseen or travel across Germany in order to pick it up in person.

 

[HellioN]

I had an AES but I don't remember what it cost.
I bought it before 2000 I remember that much.
My MVS + supergun cost me $500 or so in the mid 90's.

 

[Ralfakick]

1998 $225 used with KOF94

 

[roker]

2004 -$200 (I think I got lucky on eBay.

 

[LoneSage]

My MVS + supergun cost me $500 or so in the mid 90's.

Having a supergun in the 90s made you a god.

 

[Neo Alec]

Thanks! Anyone able to help point to some print ads from magazines for retailers back in the day listing new prices? The Wayback machine probably isn't going to do any good.

supergoose's might be too much of an outlier at this point.

 

[city41]

Here's one

Crave (December, 1995)

www.retromags.com

$569 in 1995. That site has lots of scans

 

[city41]

And another

Chips & Bits Inc. (November, 1994) 02

www.retromags.com

$569 in 1994

 

[Neo Alec]

Thanks! I remember it being closer to $399 for no game and one controller by around 1994 or so. Am I misremembering?

 

[city41]

Thanks! I remember it being closer to $399 for no game and one controller by around 1994 or so. Am I misremembering?

One listing says gold, maybe both are for gold? $569 seems about right if that is the case.

 

[Neo Alec]

Yeah, I assumed Gold. I also remember Chips & Bits not exactly being known for deep discounts, but they did advertise that they had some serious goods, so you knew who to call if you had money saved.

I may want to plot separate US prices for Gold and Silver systems if folks find it useful. I was mostly interested in finding the lowest new price, to counter the $650 price parroting.

 

[city41]

$499 gold system in 95

Japan Video Games (November, 1995)

www.retromags.com

These listings are interesting. Like this one has puzzle "bubble" and zed blade. Another one has "boxing", I'm guessing they are just making stuff up or saw super spy very briefly and thought it was boxing?

 

[kernow]

I bought an unused system maybe 5yrs ago for £250. Was an absolute steal, minty

 

[Hattori Hanzo]

2006 - 200 € boxed with matching serials

 

[thegreathopper]

I bought a used but boxed console in 1993 for about £300 from KT Konsoles up in Scotland via mail order, used games were approx £120 each.

 

[GohanX]

I'm not sure if this helps for the kind of data you are recording, but I've bought a lot of home cart systems, mostly through other people in the community on the net. These years may not be 100% accurate, but should be close:

2001: Bought a system with 2 sticks loose and good condition from eBay for about $200

2003: Bought svideo/stereo/debug bios unit from the forums for $350

2006: Bought loose beat up home cart system for $90 on a different forum

2008?: Bought a fully modded component system from shadowkn for $400.

2009?: "Bought" a loose system from Big Bear here for I think it was $90, but because of a shipping delay he ended up giving it to me for free which he totally didn't need to do. This is the system I still use today, everything else was sold/traded away.

 

[Neo Alec]

$499 gold system in 95

Japan Video Games (November, 1995)

www.retromags.com

These listings are interesting. Like this one has puzzle "bubble" and zed blade. Another one has "boxing", I'm guessing they are just making stuff up or saw super spy very briefly and thought it was boxing?

Boxing could be a Legend of Success Joe import.

 

[city41]

Boxing could be a Legend of Success Joe import.

oh yeah, totally forgot about good ol joe.

 

[Neo Alec]

All you guys reporting buying a used system during the system's original run can take a hike. Youtube has made it clear you don't exist and your experiences don't count. Neo Geo was "omg expensive!!!!1" and only spoiled kids who could afford $650 had one.

No exceptions can be made for someone buying one in the KOF96 and Metal Slug era for cheap. The same thing happened to my brothers and I buying a $100 3DO at the end of its life. We never get mentioned on videos that talk about 3DO. Only people who paid full price.

 

[city41]

I quickly switched to a CMVS when I realized poor college me couldn't afford $250 for the new releases coming out though. Back then after about six months or so, a recent MVS release would be like $100 or even less.

 

[Neo Alec]

I quickly switched to a CMVS when I realized poor college me couldn't afford $250 for the new releases coming out though.

Same. I still have the MVS collection my brother and I started. The AES design is my all-time favorite though.