Batteries… included?

Hey everybody!  Sorry for the absence last night, I was actually up until 2am playing video games for the first time since law school started.  I finally broke down and bought a Nintendo Wii then spent hours learning how to use the thing

They even named a movie because of it...

My heart almost went into cardiac arrest when I paid for everything, but I rationalized spending money I probably shouldn’t be spending by (1) remembering I’ve wanted one since they came out 4 years ago and (2) telling myself it will be one more piece of my regimen to get in shape

After the initial “oh, this is cool!”1, I spent an inordinate amount of time working up a sweat between Swordplay and Boxing

And then after putting everything away to finally go to bed, I noticed I didn’t need any batteries — the Wii actually came with a pair in the box! So did the extra WiiMote I got in case I ever had a competitor stop by.

When did companies start including batteries with their products?

Don’t get me wrong, I greatly appreciate the gesture. I actually wondered back when I was a kid why a toy manufacturer would make you go through the extra hassle of buying batteries on the side.

But my childish curiosity aside, it was standard practice that batteries weren’t included — begetting untold number of late night punchlines and other references.

Until some time between then and now.

Anyone out there able to pinpoint when included batteries became the norm?  Inquiring minds (ok really just me) want to know

1. Followed by the initial “My @#$%ing hand is @#$%ing shaking too @#$%ing much to control this @#$%ing thing precisely enough to @#$%ing enter my @#$%ing network password!!! :mad:” [↩]