Slashdot Mirror
Is The PS2 Your Next DVD Player?
Si V reader writes "In the Sony PlayStation2 as a DVD Player,
SE tells how to get a DVD system when you buy a PS2. They think that the DVD functionality of the PS2 is the one brilliant move Sony made in this otherwise unimpressive launch. In Japan I heard that most of the purchases were because people wanted a cheap full featured DVD." The article discusses the elitism in every industry (but specifically in home audio) and talks about the practical problems (controlling your DVD player with a remote on a wire?) to video/audio quality compared with a more expensive DVD player.
In spite of the various other complaints I've heard about the PS2, I've got to say that I think it's the best console on the market. In addition to the DVD thing, they've got better games (or will, at least) than Nintendo et al. are likely to come up with any time soon.
Got Rhinos?
- A.P.
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* CmdrTaco is an idiot.
"Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
Go buy the Component cable for $10. It just doesn't come with one since not many people will use it.
The PS2 is does NOT support progressive scan YET. Sony intends to add prograssive scan output sometime next year...
Does the PS2 DVD player offer a 16x9 enhanced mode for widescreen/widescreen ready TVs?
On the other hand, here's a game system that's so hyped it's still nearly impossible to buy. So it must be good. The "great unwashed" will buy it in droves.
But predicting that people will buy PS2s to get a cheap DVD player is looking at it backwards. Five years from now, we'll look back and it will be undoubtable that the PS2 was the single thing most responsible for legitimizing the DVD format and having it pass VHS in popularity.
Wood Shavings!
Wood Shavings!
- Godai
You missed the point. Why are people going to bother buying a $200 DVD player when their VCR works just fine (and all of the movies still come out on VHS)? However, if they buy a PS2 they might start looking at those couple of shelves of DVDs at BallBuster. Really, for most people, there is no reason to buy a DVD player yet, since their VCR works fine (and the DVD player doesn't let them time-shift (a term they don't even know)), but the PS2 is super keen an nifty, and omygosh, it can play DVDs too!
I read the internet for the articles.
Thanks all the same, but I'll be sticking with my Apex 600A. I prefer players with ways around the MPAA's unethical practices.
That said, I might look into this for games, when and if Square goes for the PS2. I do think DVD is a better format for games than the GD-ROM's we get with the Dreamcast and GameCube (forget the proprietariness; it's all about capacity).
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I doubt I'll be using my IBM Model 80 PS/2 for DVDs.
For starters, it's a 386.
For seconds, it doesn't even have a CD-ROM let alone a DVD drive (the prospect of adding more weight to this beast is... unwelcome).
And finally, the thought of having to move this hulk out of my study, downstairs to the lounge, frankly fills me (and my back) with dread. Anything with a bright yellow sticker saying "CAUTION! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO LIFT THIS GREAT BIG FSKING HUMP OF METAL ON YOUR OWN, MATEY, YOU'LL REGRET IT REAL SOON" (anyone remember the exact words?) is something that, like cast iron cooking ranges, should be put in place FIRST and the building constructed around it AFTERWARDS.
More and more on the great beasts.
(mind you, it plays Doom like a bastard so I can see how people could confuse it with a console)
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Andrew Oakley - www.aoakley.com
My motto: RIGHT TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB.
Sounds like Slashdot to me.
- A.P.
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* CmdrTaco is an idiot.
"Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
The reason I won't use the PS2 as a DVD player is that it:
a) is restricted to DVD region 1.
b) uses Macrovision to prevent me from using my VCR to switch between it and my Sega Dreamcast.
In addition, licensing fees from the PS2 go to Sony and the MPAA, who are waging a war against free speech and the Constitution every day.
Enough said.
--
What happens when you outlaw guns
A PS2 at RRP in the UK costs £299. You may have trouble getting one, and even if you do, IMHO there is only one interesting game at launch (Fantavision). The DVD player will be locked to Region 2, and there is no known software hack (there might be a hardware hack).
While the Dreamcast doesn't have a built in DVD player, Gem (Dreamcast's UK distributors) are currently pushing a bundle deal where you get a Dreamcast and a rather nice Encore DVD player together for £300. The Encore DVD player has DTS digital output, a built-in Dolby Digital decoder, and it's multi-region out of the box. You'll also be able to play Dreamcast games on one TV while playing DVDs on another. Oh, and there are dozens of really good Dreamcast games.
The bundle is available in most UK Dreamcast outlets, including places like HMV and Virgin, and online outlets too.
Plug over. I do not represent Sega, I just really like my Dreamcast. Nothing against Sony -- I'll certainly buy a PS2 when the price drops a little and the 2nd generation games start to trickle through.
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At least he had the balls to post without the AC nomenclature.
I have a PS2 - I've noticed from personal experience that the output quality (both sound and video) is as good as or a bit better than my old (mid-range) DVD player. That combined with DTS output, component output, and the support for progressive scan output in the future, is a pretty nice set of features.
However, the area where the PS2 lacks is in the area of control. It has only one speed of FF forward and back (apperas to be 2x - I'll miss the 30x from my last player!), and I've read that it has only slo-mo forward and not backwards (again, with only one speed).
Also, even with the wireless remote you are missing a few easy things. To get to a title or DVD menu, you have to go through an on-screen PS2 menu and select the menu choice from there. Same thing for numbers, you get the on-screen menu and enter numbers through that screen. There's not really a way around that either - all the remotes can really do is emulate the buttons on the controls, which have the same limitations.
For now I'm giving away my old DVD player to family, but at some point I might have to buy another DVD player. It makes a great first DVD player, but probably for anyone really serious about DVD's they'll eventually want a dedicated player.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Figure it this way...
;) ) - but the people who want BOTH are getting a treat - a cheap DVD player and a decent gaming rig.
;) )
Every new console starts out at $199.99 (mightaswell say $200)
The PS2 starts out at $299.99 (mightaswell say $300)
The extra $100 is for the DVD player. Compare it to DVD players at $100 and it's not too bad a deal. It's not going to be the best player on the market. Sony would screw themselves over if they did that (they make a couple high-end DVD players themselves).
This was marketed at LOW-END customers - ones who want a game system, and also might want a DVD player. The people who are buying it just for the DVD player are a little nuts (if all they wanted was a DVD player they could do much better with a standalone for the $$$) and many of the people who are just buying it for the game system aren't going to use the dvd player part much (if at all - I fall into this category myself - I have a standalone player that does just fine - I'd rather save the PS2's motor for games
The fact it'll replace an old PS1 and still play the old games is a nice touch, IMHO - I didn't have a free port on my switchbox for another system (4 port switch - cable/vcr on part 1, DVD on port 2, PSX on port 3, DC on port 4) so I just disconnected the old PSX, gave it to my little nephew, and hooked the ps2 up in it's place. The texture smoothing is nice on some games (Vagrant Story and Parasite Eve 2 in particular) and the CD speed increase works quite well on most games (Squaresoft games don't like it though).
All in all, a nice little upgrade to my PS1, the ability to play the new PS2 games (still waiting for MGS2 and a decent RPG - Summoner is holding me over, but there's really nothing special about it but the storyline), and a backup DVD player (when we move it'll take a while to unpack the whole entertainment system - the PS2's dvd player may get some use then, or it may not - we may be too busy with FF9
For someone without a PSX or a DVD player, it opens up a LOT of stuff for them, and for $300 it's not too bad for all it can do. Of course in a year the price will drop to $250 (the console drops to $150, the DVD stays the same) and in 2 years down to $200 (console to $100, DVD stays the same again)...
VCDs you buy are pretty much limited to Hong Kong movies, anime and cheap porn. But those of you who haven't run Windows in a while may be surprised to know that even the freebie video editing software that comes with DV camcorders and firewire cards can burn VCDs. It's quickly becoming a popular way to distribute home movies.
Shoot digital footage of the kid, edit it on your PC, and burn a couple of VCDs for the grandparents. It's easier than writing out to videotape.
If you recall, the first games for the [Insert any console system here] sucked. It takes a while for the programmers to fully utilize all that the console has to offer. Dreamcast has had over a year now, so it's games-programmers are becoming veterans with the system. So, if the graphics only 'looked no better' than your dreamcast, then wait a year. The PS2 graphics will blow Dreamcast away.
Well, I'm a Sega zealot, but I can't argue with your logic here. The obvious message you're giving is: buy a Dreamcast now, enjoy its superior gaming for a year, then when the PS2 catches up, buy one of those. It will be cheaper by then, too, and if we're lucky PS2's network functionality will have been rolled out.
I'll be buying a PS2; I can't pass by Silent Hill2, and I'll need Fantavision at some point: but it's just not mature enough yet.
By contrast, Dreamcast was streets ahead of anything (bar a PC) you could buy on its release date. I had Power Stone and Sonic Adventure on day one, both classic titles I still go back to. Soul Calibur came a few weeks later; there's nothing on PS2 that looks quite as lovely.
Um, is Metropolis Street Racer out in the USA yet? It's seriously nice, especially if you've ever been to San Fran, Tokyo or London.
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I can't argue with that one bit.
I think that both the unimpressive logistics is what made for the impressive launch. Had the PS2 been more available, everyone would be sitting at home, happy with their new PS2, but instead we keep hearing about it since everyone doesn't have and still wants one.
It's certainly nice that it plays DVDs, and a lot of people who get it as a game console will probably use it as their DVD player too.
/. reader, to buy a PS2.
But wireless remotes are third-party, and it won't play VCDs, SVCDs and so forth, as any cheap DVD player will do for half the price. Indeed, it's one of very few DVD players that can't play VCDs. Heck, for the PS2's price of $300 USD, you can get a 5-disc DVD changer from a reputable brand and have enough money left over to buy a couple of DVDs.
So it's a pleasant enough feature, but it's hardly a reaason for anyone, much less a
Actually, I remember being firmly impressed with my Playstation 1 bought on launch day, with Wipeout and Ridge Racer. Coming from a SNES and a Genesis, it was pretty cool stuff. The other Namco titles, which made up the rest of the launch titles were pretty ropey - Cybersled was nasty.
Same with Mario and Goldeneye for the N64 - got mine after the price-drop though. There haven't been many kick-ass games since for the N64, mind. Maybe Zelda and a few others.
Odd trivia for you - according to Game Over, Sony developed a 'Playstation' to compete with the NES/SNES a few years before the PSX. The 'X' on the CD Playstation was to indicate this fact - eXtended. So the new machine is either the PSX2 or the PS3 - like Rambo movies.
"don't fall into the fallacy of believing that Perl can solve social problems. Maybe Perl 6 can, but that's a ways off"
Yes, there is elitism in every community. Many Slashdotters wouldn't be caught dead using AOL. Driving enthusiasts would rather walk than use an automatic transmission. And audiophiles scoff at the notion of using a video game console as a source for music.
I consider myself a budget audiophile. I have a stereo that I feel sounds better than any of my friends'. And yes, I sometimes get caught up in the hype of what looks coolest, etc. To use computers as an example, how many Slashdotters would use an iMac even if inside was an Athlon 800 MHz with 512 MB of RAM? Ok sure, you'd use it, but don't tell me looks don't matter.
Perhaps I should get to my point. The way I see it, there are a couple of extremes in the audio world. The first is one that wants a system that sounds great and looks even better. Truly great-sounding audio systems rarely blend in to the decor of one's living room. So sacrifices have to be made. The other extreme could care less what the system looks like, as long as it sounds next-to-perfect. The latter could be placed in the genre of "audio hackers." They'll put coverings on the walls to absorb sound (I'm guilty of that one), have bags of sand to absorb vibration, and will usually have somewhat of a frankenstein system of components that don't look like they match. You won't find any remote controlled sliding glass doors with those folks.
So which of these groups would be more likely to accept a PS2 into their audio setup? Well, neither one, probably. Both groups generally have the philosophy that you should do one thing and do it right. The first group I mentioned figuratively drives the Audi TT (drives great, looks stunning). The second group drives the pieced-together Grand National (looks ugly IMHO, but hauls ass for the dollars you spend). The group that would use the PS2 drives the Dodge Caravan (wants a cheap, all-in-one box).
Sorry, guess I went a little analogy crazy.
-- "Complacency is a far more dangerous attitude than outrage." -Naomi Littlebear
That said, if you want a game console AND a DVD player, the PS2 is certianly a great value. You get to play all your PS1 games (with lower load times) all new PS2 games plus DVDs. That's pretty hard to beat for a sinlge unit. However, just remember that if movies are your thing, not games, there are cheaper options.
I have actually held off from buying a DVD player because the PS2 can act as one. I am hoping the audio/video quality is as good as a dedicated DVD player. The inclusion of DTS cinema sound is a good indication. I am awaiting the 24th of November (European launch date) to get my hands on one. It has been pre-ordered since June! :)
This is a great reason to buy a PS2. Being it is from Sony, it has both Dolby Digital 5.1 AND DTS support. IMHO, the DTS is the icing on the cake, as from personal experience, it seems that the stereo in the rear channels is clearer, and in better proportions then what the straight 5.1 can offer. Further, the moved the DVD player off of a seperate memory card, and built it into firmware. This was a biggy in Japan, with memory cards becoming corrupt as a result (something which has been fixed). If I had something bad to say, it would be the lack of an IR port on the unit. In my case, where I have a complete Sony setup, I have one remote that works all units. With the PS2, you have to use the joystick, or if you pay the extra money, a different remote that plugs into one of your joystick ports (something, as of right now, sounds buggy as the pass through isn't working as promised for some; so, in effect, you lose a joystick port). Sony would be wise to release an addon that allows my Sony remote to run the unit. Only thing I didn't like.
On a different note, I have finally had a chance to see a PS2 and its games (Madden, and 2 driving games that left no other lasting impression) and I was not impressed as it looked no better then my Dreamcast. Where are the software titles to really show off the unit?! Guess I will have to wait for Metal Gear Solid 2.
Bryan R.
Bryan R.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, or $12.50 as seen on eBay.....
I don't know what other people have experienced with the PS2 as a DVD player, but I have ben unimpressed. The PS2 system seems to have problems with several DVD's, mainly ones with special features, and also the navigation features are poorly designed, making it dificult to do things such as chapter switches and the like. As I said, I don't knwo what other people have experienced, but I would personally pay extra for a stand-alone DVD player rather than rely on a PS2
There are a lot of _other_ ~$200 DVD players out there. The only differences between them and the PS2 is that they have wireless remotes and you can actually buy one at the moment.
Sure, they won't play games, but perceiving the PS2 as providing DVD players to the "great unwashed" is incorrect. The great unwashed can already buy cheap DVD players a whole lot easier than the PS2. (I know, because I have one.)
They think that the DVD functionality of the PS2 is the one brilliant move Sony made in this otherwise unimpressive launch.
Woah, wait a minute here. Did these guys miss the PS2 selling for $5,000 on E-Bay? Did anyone else see the video of the release in Japan? The stores were packed!
Considering all of the hype that surrounded it's release (both US and Japan), I would say it was actually a very impressive. Can anyone name any other console that received this much hype at it's launch?
The goal of any journalistic organization is to report the news that is of interest to its audience. I don't need Rob or any Slashdot poster forcing his opinions down my throat. If you want to protest the MPAA by not buying DVDs, that's fine. But a personal agenda shouldn't prevent the posting of a story that has to do with DVDs.
-- "Complacency is a far more dangerous attitude than outrage." -Naomi Littlebear
I talked my wife into one pretty easily, considering the price and the number of consoles we already have....
The main selling point was the DVD player. Hey, it kills 2 birds with one stone.
I don't mean to be sexist, it just seems that the "norm" is that men want to buy these gadgets, and their other halves want to know why...
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Why try to watch "Matrix" with that controller??? I purchased a "real" remote when I got my PS2. It was only $20... http://www.gamefusion.com/game-fusion-network/gf-n ews-2/gf-news-2-archive/june-2000/1.shtm l
-- A hundred thousand lemmings can't be wrong!
-- "Hey Bob, come look! I've never seen a penguin so small!"
Hey dickhead, I paid and extra 100 dollars to get it first. Why the FUCK do you think I got 650 for it on e-bay when you can go out and buy it. Because I had one before ANYONE else.
You'd be funny if you weren't such a Moron.
Note to moderators : horrible, not socially acceptable, probably should moderate this down. Couldn't resist though. Sometimes you have can't let the little bastards get you down.
"Science is about ego as much as it is about discovery and truth " - I said it, so sue me.
The goal of any journalistic organization is to report the news that is of interest to its audience.
I so TOTALLY agree!
From the story: "the ps2 is a cheap full featured DVD" player
The problem is that they are NOT reporting the news that is of interest to the audience. The two most important features of any DVD player are that it:
1) Doesn't support an assault on the U.S. Constitution.
2) Doesn't restrict how we play DVD's in any way.
The Sony PS2 does not have either of these features, therefore it is very far from a "full-featured DVD player", like those available here.
It's not groupthink. It's FACTTHINK.
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What happens when you outlaw guns
The first VCRs had corded remotes...
,PS2 was an IBM Computer back in the day with a wierd kinda slots, but I digress...
And they were mono, had 3 speeds which no-one could figure out.
You could tune a maximum of 12 channels, which you had to turn one of 12 little nobs to adjust the tuning on each one.
And WE LIKED IT, becuase we could record, unlike these namby -pamby PS2.
heck
Also, here's a DVD advertisement circumvention procedure: Play, Stop, Play, 01 [enter]. I guarantee that this procedure does not fall under the DMCA, even though it does circumvent the stupid ad screens.
"Ancillary does not mean you get to rule the world." --U.S. Circuit Judge Harry Edwards, speaking to the FCC's lawyer
I guess your right......it provided me with a great dvd player.
"Science is about ego as much as it is about discovery and truth " - I said it, so sue me.
There at least 2 (maybe more) IR Remotes on the market that plug into the PS2's controller port and allow you to run the DVD functions with a nice little remote like you'd expect. They are both third-party products
- Saitek - Allows you to connect both controllers at once (has a pass-thru) but I've been told the IR control is weak and a couple of buttons are mis-labeled
- InterAct - Work's great but uses up one controller port (you'll need to yank it out every time you player 2P+ games) as well as blocks USB and iLink ports
If anyone knows of others let me know, I'm searching for that perfect one (Maybe sony will put one out?) I was kind of hoping my nice collection of 5 sony remotes would already do something with the damn thing (they control every other damn electronic thing in my place