Why do video game consoles only come with one remote?
By vivasuzi
@vivasuzi (4127)
United States
April 28, 2010 11:17am CST
Ok, I guess I know the answer to that question. Consoles come with one remote so you are forced to buy a second if you have friends that want to play games with you.
In my opinion, they should come with 2 right off the bat and then you can buy additional if and when they are needed. Why don't they just put 2 in the box and increase the price a bit?
Do you wonder how many people go home with their new PS3 or Xbox and don't realize there was only 1 controller inside?
We've had a PS3 for a year with only one controller. Today I told my husband to PLEASE pick up another b/c we have some sport games that friends would like to play with us. I know they are ~50 dollars, and I think that's a rip, but we need it.
So what do you think, why do they only come with 1? Is it so they can charge more for the 2nd one when you need it? Or is it for some other reason?
2 people like this
4 responses
@collingiusti (62)
• Canada
29 Apr 10
As you are right it does help them make money. There is the second reason as orginally the nintendo systems came with 2 controllers, but these days with the invention of internet gameing most consoles are only being used buy one person playing with anywhere of 2-16 players in a online match. So rather then putting the 2 controllers in the box and haveing people not use them and letting them rott they save money buy haveing only 1 and make money on the people who decide they want a second and are forced to buy it.
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
29 Apr 10
I guess that reason makes sense. Since people don't actually have to be at the same house to play, they might not need 2 controllers. I never played online against people, so for me I'd rather be able to play with my friends when they come over.
Thanks for coming up with a good reason!
@saizo6 (2199)
• United States
29 Apr 10
It's all about the money. Plus a lot of the games out there are geared towards single players so they figured that you only need one with the system. The second one is like an option or something. It kind of makes me miss the olden days with the consoles that comes with two remotes (NES, SNES and such). I only own a PS2 and it only has one remote controller. I never bothered to go out and buy another one for it since the games I played were one player games. The funny thing with us is that if someone wanted to play on a particular system then they provide their own remote. That's why I have a Wii remote even though I don't own the system. I just take it to my brother's place whenever we have group games at his house.
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
29 Apr 10
That is a good idea too, to have your friends bring their remote when they come over. That would work for us for the PS2, but as for the PS3 - most our friends don't own one and probably wouldn't spend 50$ just for a remote. So we had to go out and buy one for the multi-player games we have.
Thanks for the idea though!
@joey_matthews (8354)
•
5 Nov 10
They want you to make a purchase, they know you'll go to get one as very few people play single player games without a second person. I personally think it's to try and get you to buy more games and pocket in from only selling one, it could very well be a different reason but I haven't ever seen any being sold with two. I also find the price to be silly, as £30 is a lot of and it's not really worth a game but for a control pad it surely isn't.
