Sony lightens PS2 components by almost a third

Unlike Microsoft, which dropped the original Xbox in favor of the Xbox 360 in manner similar to Paris Hilton dropping her old cellphone, Sony has continued to maintain the PlayStation 2. Somehow, Sony has managed to make a new iteration of the PS2 that decreases the console's weight by almost a third: they've trimmed the console itself down to 600 grams from 900 grams, and the power adapter to 250 grams from 350 grams. The external design of the console is unchanged, but the lower weight and the new components should decrease production and shipping costs. Not bad for an old console that continues to sell well (and sell for more than the value of its components, at that).

[Bob @ Jul 8th 2007 3:15PM]

Ah! Now it all makes sense why you made that Paris Hilton post!

[darkstar @ Jul 8th 2007 3:16PM]

i wish they redesigned it, so i'll know whether im buying the old one or the heavier 900g one.

[Made in DNA @ Jul 8th 2007 10:32PM]

Telling the difference is EASY. Even my wife, who is an avid sportswoman who dislikes games of any kind, noticed right off. We were at the store and as we passed the console gaming section she turned to me and said, "Oh look how small it is. We ought to get one to replace your old one." She was so dead serious, I nearly fainted.

[Chekote @ Aug 20th 2007 12:12PM]

You've obviously mis-understood the article. The slimline PS2 has been out for a looooong time. You obviously have the Fat PS2. This article is about a revision of the Slimline PS2 . So Darkstar was saying that he wished he could tell the difference between the "Slimline PS2 Rev.1" vs "Slimline PS2 Rev.2", not "Fat PS2" vs "Slimline PS2".

[Al @ Jul 8th 2007 3:17PM]

I dont get it. Isnt this really old news?

[kingofwale @ Jul 8th 2007 3:25PM]

wow, we haven't seen this kind of weight dropping... since Paris Hilton went to Prison.

another jab at Paris for ya.

now, let's drop the price on PS3

[Fatima @ Jul 8th 2007 3:31PM]

Thats the difference between a software company and hardware company. Sony makes amazing and reliable hardware, and pretty decent software ie: XMB & PS HOME. MS makes great software but pure crap hardware(360..big black xbox..and fugly xbox 1 controller).

Only Apple makes both beautiful hardware and software. Why do you think iPhone is so good? cuz apple designed the software around the hardware. While MS has to make Windows Mobile 6 work with many different cellphones with many different features.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 8th 2007 3:36PM]

That would be true if it weren't for the popularity and ratings of MS's PC hardware.

[Kevlar @ Jul 8th 2007 3:49PM]

@!st -- I got your bada$$ apple gaming system right here: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=80177546&node=home/desktop/mac_pro

Not only is it one of the few computers on the market at the consumer level to sport dual quad core CPUs (for a total of eight cores), but it has all the expandability and upgradability you could want in a nice brushed-aluminum tower. Another thing you may not realize is that it runs Microsoft Windows, allowing you to run your entire library of DirectX-based games.

So there.

[Fatima @ Jul 8th 2007 4:11PM]

xbots are funny. They think they know everything about others. I use a Sony Vaio Vista laptop. I have a xbox 360 and not a PS3. I don't own a mac. And I don't worship Steve Jobs.

I DO love Blu-Ray and will eventually buy a Ps3 when price drops and games like MGS4 come out. At which point i will trade in my 360.

[Bman21212 @ Jul 8th 2007 4:28PM]

Uh Kevar, when a NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics card classifies as BADDAS, give me a call will you? It was a mediocre card a few years ago. Put in a 8800, and I might agree with you. But a 7300?

And !st, smoke a joint and chill out will you. Goddam...

[Mike @ Jul 8th 2007 9:06PM]

@Fatima

PS3 down to $499 (60gb of course) for this week at Target, Circuit City, and those places. So if you want the PS3 cheaper now, just get it while it's on sale at $499 instead of waiting 2 years for a price drop and missing out on MGS4 for about a year and a half to 2 years.

[Paul @ Jul 8th 2007 3:38PM]

"Why do you think iPhone is so good?"

I don't, and tons of other people don't think so either, just take a look around yourself for a change and realize that just because you are an Apple fanboy, not everyone is.

[Zeus the God @ Jul 8th 2007 3:40PM]

Wow, who the fuck cares? If they made the PS3 smaller, that would be a big deal, but the PS2 slim-line was small enough already (and a piece of trash in my opinion... Went through 3 of them. The old one was better). I mean, its not like you're going to be carrying this thing around like a portable.

[TheGuy @ Jul 8th 2007 3:45PM]

Some of the decreased production and shipping costs would be passed-on to consumers, which would likely result in a holiday price cut. If the rumors of a 'wii-like' controller being unveiled at E3 for the PS2 are true, that plus a possible price cut could give an extended life for the PS2.

[Big @ Jul 8th 2007 3:51PM]

900 grams to 600 grams?

Is this really a big deal? How many of you PS2 owners CARRY your PS2 around and mustn't be bothered by its mass?

A better deal woulda been PS2 dropping in price to $100.

More and more I am thinking Sony shot themselves in the foot with the PS3 being released so closely to the twilight of PS2's life. PS3 shoulda been released this Christmas 2007. Give the developers more time to figure out just how the hell to develop games for a Cell processor and Blu Ray disks.

[TheGuy @ Jul 8th 2007 3:52PM]

If you weren't an idiotic fanboy, you would know 2 things:
1. Reduced number of components usually means better quality, since there's a reduced chance of something going wrong in the production process.
2. Less components usually reduce production costs, which can be passed-on to the consumers in the form of a price cut.
Accept it, Sony is actually doing something good for consumers for a change, but your too moronic with fanboyism to see it. GO AWAY TROLL!!!

[Kevlar @ Jul 8th 2007 3:52PM]

OMG Sony is teh crap they take out more procelators in ps2 2 maek it way less!!!1 I no sony maeks badd gaems to!!!!11!1!!

[Manuel @ Jul 8th 2007 3:53PM]

perfect, now how about making better games for PS3 ?

[js @ Jul 8th 2007 3:55PM]

That's great. Now when are the good PS3 and PSP games gonna come out?

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 8th 2007 3:59PM]

I understand Sony is adopting Globochem's "Pit-Pat" mascot for added lovability!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uco5Ed-5y2U

[BestSnowman @ Jul 8th 2007 4:01PM]

Maybe... they should work on making their new console a success...

[2playedout @ Jul 8th 2007 4:10PM]

Hey everyone I think this is Sony just announcing in a sly way of showcasing the new PSP hardware. Arn't most of the components of the PSP based off of the PS2 slimline boards? SO of they made the PS2 board a 3rd smaller that would make you assume the same goes for the PSP and that would have to usher in a new design to take advantage of the extra space (probably just leaving it the same and adding a flash drive knowing them).

[alex8 @ Jul 8th 2007 4:11PM]

i bet its next move will be emulation

[King Mustard @ Jul 8th 2007 4:31PM]

Digg it: http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/Sony_shrinks_PS2_even_more

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jul 8th 2007 4:36PM]

Now Sony just needs to lower their memory card prices.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 8th 2007 4:57PM]

Wow, Sony lightened the PS2 by a third. Isn't it amazing just how small you can get a 300 mhz console with 32 MB of RAM?

[Zach @ Jul 8th 2007 5:02PM]

I think this is a bad move. Stick with one device. This is like the Apple II and Apple III fiasco. Development continued on the Apple II after the Apple III's release and the Apple III tanked. Replace "Apple" with "Playstation" and read the story again.

[ChoChoSan @ Jul 8th 2007 5:08PM]

My 360 just RROD'ed.

I'm so happy I have a 3 year warranty now. That's so friggin cool of M$.

OK, well, off to call technical support via India, then I shall wait by the door for my 360 coffin....then I will wait by the door till it comes back. Hopefully, that unit will work fine. Thanks M$ for the experience, you guys R the best.

[Baby21 @ Jul 8th 2007 7:10PM]

Well done, but more RRODs will coming up after then after.

More phone calls for you.
More coffins coming for you.

[Jamesology @ Jul 8th 2007 5:21PM]

@ Best Snowman

PS3 is not a failure yet. Like they pointed out over and over, they were looking at a 15 year life span even more. Unlike Nintendo, who keeps producing systems like baby rabbits. Their view is totally different, the present.

So far I think the only system that failed was the Wonderswan. If you even know what that is.

[rockintom @ Jul 8th 2007 11:54PM]

Uh, what about the Neo Geo Pocket/color, or the Game.com?

...If you even know what those are.

[John @ Jul 9th 2007 2:20AM]

Dreamcast much?

[n3rrd @ Jul 9th 2007 3:11AM]

...3D0? CD-i? GameGear?

[Jamesology @ Jul 9th 2007 8:34AM]

Well there you go those are even better examples, and add that Jaguar to that list too! As for the PS3 it still has a couple years to prove itself.

[zed @ Jul 8th 2007 5:49PM]

So this is where the euroPs3 chips go...

[justme @ Jul 8th 2007 5:52PM]

Of all things to latch onto, the console weight. Does anyone really care? Now, with less weight! Great. Didn't ask for it. Don't need it. But good to know.

Why this doesn't appear on Joystiq, I'll never understand. Over there, it's like they shutdown on Sundays. While game articles get posted to Engadget on weekends.

[Geir E @ Jul 8th 2007 5:56PM]

the apple III vs apple II comparison to ps3 vs ps2 is a bit wrong cause PS1/PSone was still selling when PS2 was launced, and way into its life. And it was not doing anything wrong for the PS2 sales because they sold a PS1 to people with less money and a PS2 to those with more to use. Same with the PS2 vs PS3. They can save some of the loss they have on the PS3 on the PS2 sales. what can be wrong with that. its in sonys best interesst to get a bigger game liberary before they really start to sell too so that people buy more games thus reducing the total loss they have on each console to result in plus.

[humpty @ Jul 8th 2007 6:12PM]

Cutting 50% of the weight of your shipment is a big FREAKIN deal if you're into logistics.

Anyways, its amazing that an almost 8 year old console is still around.

[Joseph @ Jul 8th 2007 6:23PM]

Or almost 7 years old.

[KennyD @ Jul 8th 2007 7:04PM]

I think that Sony is wasting their time on the PS2. It's done with. Over. Gone. They should be using their resources on making the PS3 more buyer friendly, maybe with some better games and lower prices? Let's face it: there are new innovative games for the Xbox 360 and the Wii, such as Gears of War, and pretty much anything that comes out for the Wii, but what big seller does the PS3 have? Nintendo has the Mario clan, Xbox has Halo, and the PS3 has what, slightly better graphics then the 360 ? They should be working on getting better games and lowering prices.

[Baby21 @ Jul 8th 2007 7:12PM]

One thing, Sony need PS2 profit to feed that might lead to cover for a price cut for PS3.

[humpty @ Jul 8th 2007 7:33PM]

It probably costs them nothing to make the PStwo and it still sells in huge numbers which keep big retailers happy, like Walmart, etc. Given that its 1/5 the price of the PS3, its not like the two platforms are competing with each other. Its pure profit at this point, it would be stupid to kill it right now.

PS2 is competing with Wii if anything.

[pball_inuyasha @ Jul 8th 2007 7:41PM]

Sweet
if this lowers the price I'll be happy. Only down side is they should have put a slim disk drive on it like a laptops, cause if you put this in a tight spot you have to move it to open it up, only down side to the redesign

[Unregistered @ Jul 8th 2007 7:52PM]

If only technolgoy can revive the NeoGeo CD! :'(

[Tim @ Jul 8th 2007 8:11PM]

I don't get why everyone is complaining. I highly doubt that this change in the PS2 has much of any effect, if any, on the PS3 developement. If anything, this probably frees up more money for PS3 development because of cheaper manufacturing, cheaper shipping, and a resparked interest in the system as soon as they are able to drop the price, bringing more revenue into the company. Beyond that, Sony will probably be able to sell some of their unused components or use them in something else. Also, the smaller power supply could probably be partially a result of research they are doing with the PS3 power supply and could mean that the power supply on the PS3 is close to having a size reduction. Besides, I don't think that Sony's research in making the PS2 smaller has any effect on what games are made by different companies for the PS3.

Anyway, the CC ad getting leaked for the cheaper PS3 and this coming out before E3? Sony must have something really big to announce if these things are coming out before E3 (wishful thinking even though I doubt anything much bigger will be announced except maybe a PS3 with a larger hard drive)

[Mike @ Jul 8th 2007 9:08PM]

That's a great comment, by making the PS2's cheaper, and they are still selling, they can make money to invest into the PS3.
WTG Sony
Nice post Tim

[Tim @ Jul 8th 2007 11:09PM]

It just seems like people are complaining just for the sake of complaining. That's the problem with all of these blogs. I notice the same thing on Gizmodo and Kotaku, people complain just to complain, whether it is an improvement on something or just not quite what they wanted. I think a part of it is just that hype is so easily built on these blogs and it's nearly impossible to live up to the hype. Look at the Playstation Home, it was exactly what the rumors were, but people still were like meh because they heard so much about it before it was announced.

[TJ @ Jul 8th 2007 8:33PM]

i have a feeling they reduced the size/material of the heatsinks to reduce the weight, and it'll get EXTREMELY HOT than it already is, since the new PS2s are completely passive. hmmm....... perhaps they went from copper to aluminum and reduced the sizes? idk.

[Jamesology @ Jul 9th 2007 12:31AM]

I agree with Tim, most of these are just fanboys. No matter what happens they will never be happy.

If I controlled these blogs I would make another thread saying that the PS3 controller also got a new strap and see what happens.