Cheaper, Smaller PS2 coming

[Queasy]

link

Redesigned model boasts built-in power supply; 25 per cent price drop likely

Thought PlayStation 2 hardware sales were going to quietly disappear after the revenue frenzy of Christmas? Think again ? Sony is preparing to introduce a new, cut-price model of the console in early 2008.

MCV can exclusively reveal that this ?compact? PS2 will hit the US at just $99 in the New Year ? a reduction of $30 from its current selling price of $129.

If a similar percentage cut is introduced in the UK, retailers can expect to sell the revamped system for just £75 ? or maybe lower.

The new version has a built-in power supply for the first time in the console?s history ? allowing the platform holder to manufacture it more economically and sell it at the bargain price.

The news will surely come as a blow to Sony rivals Nintendo and Microsoft, who have see sales of PS2 suffer somewhat due to the introduction of Wii and Xbox 360 in recent years.

PS2 this week celebrated its seventh anniversary, during which time it has sold over 120 million units worldwide. Yet this cut demonstrates Sony?s belief that the system?s market is far from exhausted.

Last month, publisher bosses from the likes of Eidos, Ubisoft and Atari suggested to MCV that a price cut on the console could massively reinvigorate its sales figures.

A Sony spokesperson refused to comment when contacted by MCV.

 

[tfinch2]

Another one? :roll:

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Another one? :roll:

yeah, how dare they make it smaller and cheaper.

 

[BoberFett]

Crazy, didn't figure it could get any smaller. That's cool though, I've been thinking about picking one up but maybe I'll just wait for this new model.

 

[Ultralight]

That's it! Sony rivals, well, Sony. They try all kinds of things to sell their PS3 and the answer is to produce more 2nd generation systems while Wii and XBox 360 continue to concentrate on their 3rd generation consoles. Brilliant.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: Queasy

The new version has a built-in power supply for the first time in the console?s history ? allowing the platform holder to manufacture it more economically and sell it at the bargain price.

I think that writer needs to do his research. The original PS2 (the fat one) has a built-in power supply.

Edit: He changed that line in the original article. :laugh:

 

[purbeast0]

they gotta make it small enough to sit next to the new 40gb PS3's that can't play PS2 games.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'm surprised they didn't go for the killing blow by including a waggle fun controller.

 

[RandomFool]

I don't understand why Sony won't let the PS2 go. If they shifted focus over to PS3 (and kept backwards compatibility) in they might actually sell more of the damn things.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
they gotta make it small enough to sit next to the new 40gb PS3's that can't play PS2 games.

please stick to the nails and coffins, you're fvkin up the rotation!

 

[Cabages]

Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Another one? :roll:

yeah, how dare they make it smaller and cheaper.

I know, especially since they still sell well. Those bastards!

I bought one about a year after it came out and it broke. Might have to finally get back into it.

 

[CPA]

I might get this just to play Gods of War and GHII: We are the 80's.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
they gotta make it small enough to sit next to the new 40gb PS3's that can't play PS2 games.

When I first heard this, that's sadly exactly what I thought.

 

[mugs]

The news will surely come as a blow to Sony rivals Nintendo and Microsoft, who have see sales of PS2 suffer somewhat due to the introduction of Wii and Xbox 360 in recent years.

Somehow I doubt that. :laugh:

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
I'm surprised they didn't go for the killing blow by including a waggle fun controller.

Why would they want to kill the PS3 entirely? Oh, did you mean the Wii? Yeah I don't think a PS2 with tacked on motion sensing would do much to the Wii.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

i might buy one for my tv in the basement. it would make a good second console since i have ps2 games and a regular crt tv downstairs.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: purbeast0
they gotta make it small enough to sit next to the new 40gb PS3's that can't play PS2 games.

When I first heard this, that's sadly exactly what I thought.

Same here.

Personally, I stopped caring about the Slim PS2s ever since I saw that uber difficult hack that you had to do to get an HD on one of those bad boys. I like using HD Loader.

 

[imported_Imp]

Well, can't blame them for milking it since they aren't putting a gun to anyones head... but come on, how many versions of everything do you need (yes, this is a stab at PS3 too).

 

[JackBurton]

I've got a REALLY small PS2...in my PS3 60GB.

Seriously, enough with the PS2. Why waste time redoing the PS2? Just sell it as is and quit investing more money in it. The people that are buying a PS2 will buy the current version just as easily as the new smaller version. Does Sony think people are going to go, "oh hell yeah, I've been holding out on buying a PS2 because it's too big. Now THIS is what I've been waiting for."

 

[RaiderJ]

Originally posted by: GundamSonicZeroX

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: purbeast0
they gotta make it small enough to sit next to the new 40gb PS3's that can't play PS2 games.

When I first heard this, that's sadly exactly what I thought.

Same here.

Personally, I stopped caring about the Slim PS2s ever since I saw that uber difficult hack that you had to do to get an HD on one of those bad boys. I like using HD Loader.

It's a pain to do but they sure look nice when they are all done! Add in one of those flip out LCD's and you have a damn cool portable console!

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Seriously, enough with the PS2. Why waste time redoing the PS2?

Because it is still making money?

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Seriously, enough with the PS2. Why waste time redoing the PS2?

Because it is still making money?

Because it would make the SAME money without a revamp?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Seriously, enough with the PS2. Why waste time redoing the PS2?

Because it is still making money?

Because it would make the SAME money without a revamp?

Actually, the PS2 console sales at $139.99 were slowing down. The revamp allows them to sell it at $99.99 and potentially get even more buyers.

 

[Tegeril]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
they gotta make it small enough to sit next to the new 40gb PS3's that can't play PS2 games.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Because it would make the SAME money without a revamp?

The new revision might be cheaper to make than the current PS2 model? If so, it could cut cost for a platform that is still doing well. The PS2 is in an entirely different price segment and should not cannibalize the PS3's target audience.

 

[Kur]

Originally posted by: RandomFool
I don't understand why Sony won't let the PS2 go. If they shifted focus over to PS3 (and kept backwards compatibility) in they might actually sell more of the damn things.

And lose their budget market? Not everyone can afford a PS3 and in reality doesn't really need it. Instead they can develop a cheaper 2nd gen console to help boost sales of the games to keep the gaming developers happy while taking in hardware sales.

I'm looking forward to this, I still have one of the original consoles from release and it's barely holding together, a $99 PS2 upgrade would be nice.