Sony PlayStation 2
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Sony PlayStation 2
Despite the fact that the Microsoft Xbox had a more powerful engine and included a hard drive, and the Nintendo Gamecube had a substantially smaller price tag, the Sony PlayStation 2 absolutely dominated the market the moment it hit shelves.
Keeping a Good Thing Going: Sales
When Sony entered the home console market with the first PlayStation, it wasn't really sure how the market would react. Well, the response was absolutely overwhelming, and so it comes as no surprise that the company's second offering was just as successful, if not more so. Indeed, when the PS2 -- as it came to be known -- hit the streets of Japan in March 2000, it sold approximately 980,000 units in its first weekend. Similar figures were had in North America, with over 500,000 PlayStation 2s being sold in the United States within the first 24 hours of its October 26, 2000 release. This resulted in a huge shortage, with PlayStation 2 machines showing up on eBay for up to 5 times the retail price.
By and large, industry experts would put the PlayStation 2 as the winner of the 6th-generation home console war, substantially outselling both the Xbox and GameCube.
One Beefy Machine: Hardware
Sony was the first to enter the "next-generation" market at the time, coming out well before the Xbox and GameCube. At launch, the price was set at $300 USD and as such, was one of the most expensive home gaming machines. However, many consumers justified the higher price because the PlayStation 2 could not only play its own games, but it could also play DVD movies and was backwards-compatible with the original PS1 titles.
Interestingly, the PS2 could also be used in a vertical orientation. Like its predecessor, this machine also came with two controller ports and two memory card slots found at the front, with all the usual AV connections in the rear. Unlike the top-loading PS1, however, the PlayStation 2 had a CD/DVD tray that came out from the front, much like many modern-day DVD players. In 2004, a slim variation was released.
Just Can't Put It Down: Games
Many of the franchises found on the PlayStation 2 went on to infiltrate mainstream popular culture. The characters, storylines, and other elements were well known to many people, including non-gamers. These titles came from a variety of titles, and as such, tapped into into a wide audience of players. Among the numerous best sellers are:
- Devil May Cry 3
- Final Fantasy X
- God of War
- Gran Turismo 4
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Kingdom Hearts
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- Ratchet & Clank
- SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy Seals
Looking Forward: Future
With the highly anticipated Sony PlayStation 3 on the horizon, it is inevitable that the over 100 million PlayStation 2s sold will soon begin to collect dust and fall into obscurity. However, its legacy is well established, and with the reported backwards compatibility of the next generation machine, the PS2's famed titles should still get some play for years to come.
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