Pablo Gomez

@drew
You're wrong, there is a middle class in Mexico, maybe you don't hear about it too often, but that doesn't mean there isn't one. Also, videogames are actually quite popular here in Mexico, just as an example, take a look at the following google trends page: http://www.google.com/trends?q=wii&ctab=1&sa=N

In fact, I belong to the Mexican middle class, and I can say that the 10,495 pesos is way too high, but to be honest, every videogamer here in Mexico expected that. All of the people I know how are interested in videogames say that they will either get a Wii or a 360 or both, but when I ask any of them if they're getting a PS3, everyone says they'll wait for a price drop.

The problem is that here in Mexico, the retailers have the final decision on the price point. So they usually set very high price points to new products and they gradually become lower as time passes and the product stops being "new". But to everyone in Mexico this is nothing new. For example, right now the price tag on the Wii is 4500 pesos which is approximately 415 dollars.

The other fact that the article omits is that that price includes sales tax which is 15% here in Mexico. Also, many people import their consoles from the US rather than buying them here since it's a lot cheaper that way.

The funny thing is that those parents who think TV doesn't hurt and videogames do, have probably been so affected that TV, that when they watch the news and hear videogames are bad, they believe it.