Dreamcast? GameCube? Xbox? They're cute and endearing to look back on now, because they really never stood a chance. Sony practically redefined what it meant to be dominant in a console generation with the
PlayStation 2, which was launched on March 4, 2000 in Japan (the US got it that October), went on to sell over 140 million units, and is still going strong. It's strange to think that for what many people was their
first DVD player turned out to be powerful enough to bring us the cinematic experiences of
Shadow of the Colossus,
God of War II and
Final Fantasy XII, and enough of a kicker to make it into the latest round of
Madden releases. Of course, its foray into online gaming took a second fiddle to Microsoft's Xbox, and many of Sony's high-minded, living room-invasion promises of the console (remember that FireWire port? The hard drive slot?) never really panned out. Still, we'd say it's been a pretty good 10 years for this thing. Feeling extra-nostalgic? Check out
Sony's own timeline of PlayStation it pumped out for the 15 year anniversary of the brand last year. Brings a tear to our eye every time.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted March 4th 2010 1:33PM
@Starcade bargain bin =/= bad
@Starcade
btw, I meant 'viable' not visable
Don't get me wrong, I think it sold decent last year, but not great and is in decline. December and the holiday season I don't really consider an indicator as everyone enjoys inflated sales around that time. I still say it's appealing to the nostalgic or bargin bin shopper by this point, it's not at the level what I would consider a 'contender.' I think it'll only continue to decline this year.
My point basically is, while it IS still selling after 10 years, I don't view it as a strong seller after 10 years. It's certainly doing less business and it'll only continue to do less. Maybe they'll release an even cheaper version and spur sales, but unless that happens, I don't see anything turning around.
@Starcade 300-400k sales is about average for the past 8 years. When it sells 50k worldwide in a single month, I'll consider that the final slump.
@Starcade
I'd imagine Sony might push out one final, 50 dollar revision of the PSTwo(perhaps for this year?). Once it goes, they'll allegedly release software BC for the newer PS3's (and offer PSTwo Classics on the PSN)
It may be dying, but what a lifespan!
Still my favourite console. Cheapest to buy (today), loads of great and cheap games, what else would you want from a gaming console?
Absolutely loved the ps2. Glad I have a BC PS3.
And with that amazing lead Sony still managed to screw up their current generation by releasing a too expensive, too big, few games console. Just like Nintendo before it the flew high and fell hard.
@krizoitz
Yeah, but they've fixed that now.
@krizoitz
Actually, I think the PS3 is well worth the money, especially with the built-in Blu-Ray player, and has better exclusives than the 360! Not to mention the fact that the 360 is more expensive over time because you have to pay for Xbox Live if you want to play online.
@pcwzrd13
Actually its only worth the money if you care about Blu-Ray. If you don't, it doesn't matter.
As for online, sorry but PSN's online experience is poor compared to xbox live.
Exclusives are a matter of taste, but whats not a matter of taste is that the xbox 360 has had more exclusives (more top ones as well) over time.
Thats not to say that a PS3 is a terrible machine, but Sony did a very poor job in positioning it relative to its competitors. The hubris they showed and, frankly based on some executive level statements and decisions, continue to show is mind boggling in comparison to how well they swept in to dominate the previous console generation. I mean they have ACTUALLY said that pricing it higher is a good thing because its what people expect from a premium console or something like that.
The PS3, while it has dropped in price and gotten smaller is still more expensive at purchase time than the 360. While I have no problem with the PS3 succeeding (or failing) in this generation, from an objective position Sony completely squandered their lead and botched this generation. While its possible, i suppose, for them to make a miracle come from behind, I dont' see them catching up to the 360 at this point, and lord knows neither is anywhere close to catching the Wii.
@krizoitz
PS3-299
360-299
How is one more expensive than the other? The gutted Arcade units don't count.
@krizoitz
As Dr. Blight above has stated, they are both the same price currently. I do agree that exclusives are a matter of taste. A majority of the 360 exclusives are First Person Shooters, which I don't play on consoles due to inferior controls, mouse and keyboard all the way! That being said, the PS3 has a lot more varied selection of exclusives such as LittleBigPlanet, Infamous, Warhawk, Ratchet & Clank, Uncharted, and White Knight Chronicles. Now considering the price, I'd take the Blu-Ray Player/Media Center/Game Console combo over the 360 any day!
As for the online play, PSN is perfect for me. Xbox Live may have more features but all I want to do is play games online!
@Dr Blight
the regular price is $249 your going at the elite, mcsft has won this generation so far because of lower price points. people didn't want to buy the ps3 looking at that 500+ bill and thus now that its lower they're jumping on it
@lv2bll54
I'm pretty sure that "mcsft has won this generation" due to the fact that a lot of people are on their third or fourth XBox 360 now! I'm on my third. Those duplicate sales really add up and help the numbers!
What? My hard drive slot gets more use than the optical drive... albeit thanks to hackers.
@BigD145 and yes I own my games. GTA3 with no load screen between islands is awesome.
Wow, that wire to the controller looks so crazy now. That used to determine so much about where you sat, console placement, or how close you had to be to the TV. Wild how quickly I'd forgotten.
@hey buddy
I use my Xbox controller plugged in with the play and charge. Id use my PS3 pad plugged in aswell, but the MiniUSB just falls out during play.
Wired is far better. Shame the xbox still insists on using the wireless when you plug it in. PS3 uses the Cable though ;)
I own both PS2 and Dreamcast. Both were great but DC > PS2
I didnt get a PS2 until 2003, But i remember my uncle getting one on release day. Spent the next few summers playing Gran Turismo 3, SSX and Tekken Tag Tournament. Some of the best times ive had while gaming.
I loved my PS2, but I love the PCSX2 so much more now that it works. Oh, these games are GORGEOUS at 1920x1200.
About a month ago I saw a young kid with his mom in EB games buying a used PS2 and Guitar Hero 3. I was so confused! But I guess that's why this system just won't let up.
We got it in October 2001, so either the Japs got it over a year earlier than us, or you meant March 2001
@Agent007
NA release was Oct 2000.
South America release..... Nov 2009 (two thousand and nine) :O
I remember when I got my first PS2. It was the most epic moment of my life. Then I played FFX and it was my second most epic moment of my life. Long live the old school PS2 - not the slim - and Dual Shock 2
It also has possibly the most handsome box and logo combo of any console.
My 2003 fatty still works, yeaaah.
It truly does.
My oringinal PS2 still works :D
MY PS2 is online, MY PS2 has an Internal HDD. MY PS2 did all.
Damn, Sony must have known what they were doing to have the PS2 survive for 10 years. Hell, Microsoft stopped making Xboxes 3 months before the 360 came out.
I remember it was sold out everywhere that Christmas, but the manager at Babbages walked in and said the K.B. Toys got 20 "bundles" in and that they were selling for $500. You got the PS2 and three games. I got the next to last system and picked up Ridge Racer 5 (love that game even today), Tekken Tag Tournament (Dad & I literally spent DAYS playing that game), and Madden 2001 (Friends and I played thousand of games and spent hours looking at the "detailed graphics" in the replays). Most fun, complete, and best game system to release so far.
Yes, Xbox killed it in online gaming, but from a pure quality AND quantity standpoint of full-immersion from a gamers stand point the PS2 was and still is the pinnacle of gaming excellence.
- John
I love my PS2. Too bad it died last year. I miss playing my PS2 games. This is why the PS3 needs BC, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DEAD PS2. RIP PS2.
Remember that thing we did that was really cool? Man, that was cool.
*opens the box
Ah?! Its a PSPGo!!!
*tear
:(
I bought my PS2 on launch day. It's still running today, I brought it into work and we have it set up in our lounge so when we take breaks we can play PS2 games.
best system ever..mine still alive and my eight year old son still playin with it..talk about quality!!! i went throught two ps3 and two 360's already...happy birthday ps2! the fat one!
I took full advantage of the hard drive slot :)
I still rock out with my PS2 since PS3 doesn't go both ways. So much quality.
LOL @ the useless vertical stand under the PS2 in the picture.
This thing was great, until i kept getting "Disc read error."
We went through 3 of those damn things, before we gave up.
Goodtimes......Goodtimes
Lets be honest here. For those of you who don't know, the PS2 sold mostly because of Sony hype. They promised everyone a "supercomputer" and so people who would have bought a Dreamcast didn't because they were waiting for the "second coming".
Also the Emotion Engine architecture actually held gaming back on the whole due to being very hard to program for. The fact that consumers chose it as the dominant console meant that developers had to work 2-3 times harder to realize their visions on the only console that was profitable to develop for. So really if a system that was easier to program for was the dominant system we would have seen gaming as a whole progress faster. Instead of worrying about how to get things to run on that finicky Emotion Engine architecture developers could have focused on more innovative game mechanics and design.
I know a lot of fans will not like hearing this, but it is the truth of the matter.