Slashdot Mirror
Sony Announces New PS2 Bundle
Thanks to Yahoo!/Reuters for their story describing Sony's amended PlayStation 2 hardware bundle, explaining :"...the $199 PS2, with a network adapter that allows users to play games online... [will now be] bundled with the game 'ATV Offroad Fury 2'." Sony also said "it would continue to sell the PS2 without the online hardware for $179", although it had expected to phase out this deal. However, "...demand is currently running about 20 percent for the online bundle and 80 percent for the stand-alone unit", and GameStop executives quoted in the article "... noted that they thought the $199 PS2 online package had not been selling as well as they believed Sony had planned" - seems Sony are trying to sweeten the online bundle deal.
Most people who are big on consoles aren't so big on pcs. People who aren't big on pcs don't have broadband internet connections. Most people still have dial up, remember that. These people aren't going to get broadband just to hook the ps2 up to the net. And they aren't going to buy a net adapter they don't need. This is why Nintendo is going big with it's cube lan strategy instead of the net. Cube fans have cube fan friends, and cubes are small and portable, and gbas are plentiful. 4 cubes and 16 gbas with appropriate linkage with 4tvs are more fun with more friends than one guy in his house with one cube and the net.
The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
In the article: "Previously, Sony had sold a new version of the PS2 with improved DVD functionality and the network unit for $199 and the traditional, older version of the PS2 for $179. It had intended to phase out the separate $179 offer entirely but will now continue it with the new, upgraded hardware. "
The new hardware includes support for progressive-scan DVDs. There seems be be little point in buying one without, so make sure you get the latest hardware if you buy or re-buy a PS2.
According to the Sony people, the network bundle is supposed to be the new official PS2 bundle. After the slow sales numbers, the chain of stores I work at reduced the price to sell more of the units. All chains in the area that sell it have matched the price, and most give away a game with it (although the game is either Turok Evoluton or Everquest Online Adventures, both of which are big flops).
The "normal" PS2 bundle is supposed to be discontinued, and the 179$ US (249$ CDN) price point is supposed to be a clearance price. We actually ran out of PS2s a few weeks back. They were listed as discontinued in the computer from our supplier, and the chain had to shift our on hand-PS2 units around stores in the region. We received a shipment with PS2s last week, though. I don't know if that's because Sony is acknowledging that the general public doesn't care about online with PS2, or because we had more PS2s is a wharehouse somewhere.
The bottom line is, Xbox with Xbox live and easy to do system link has a couple of great features. Of the Xboxes shipped, about 1 in 20 are online. If each person renews their Live subscription, that's about $30,000,000 CDN every year that MS gets just for running a service. 1 in 100 PS2s are currently online; Sony knows that this is partially because the games (which is why they're pushing to have 50 online titles by fall 2004), and partially because console accesories that aren't memory cards or controllers with rumble features typically don't penetrate very well. By making the network adaptor standard, they hope to catch up with Microsoft and not just hand them a potiential new market.
Of course, I think it's way too late for that with 50 million PS2 units already shipped. IMO, their best bet is to just get something ready for their next-gen console. The Sony people I know seem to think that with the HD and EyeToy, the PS2 will become a new digital media hub that will have people using the PS2 as an online video phone, TiVo, etc. The network adaptor is supposed to be the first step to all the pieces of equipment that upgrade the PS2's features. We'll see what happens when FF 11 comes out, since it's rumoured to come with the HD in North America.
--
Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
It's the price of the games that keeps me from buying new consoles. I don't mind dumping $200 on a new system, but when the games are as expensive as they are (In Canada, finding games between $70-80 is not uncommon), it's a much bigger investment. Of course, if there were more worthwhile games, then I might be less opposed to spending as much.
I'm waiting for the Gamecube price drop (The current price is fair in my opinion... but with the rumors spreading, I'll feel like an idiot if the price drops a few days after I buy one!). The games for it are getting fairly cheap, and the local EB has a lot of pre-owned games for $40 (CDN) or so. Coincidentally, this is almost the same situation that made me buy my beloved Dreamcast...
-"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -EH
Sony's online business problem is the problem, not the price of the console. Microsoft did the online "thing" right by charging one price for all online access (Phantasy Star Online is the exception, not the rule) Sony's "leave it up to the game publisher to handle the online pricing and server support" is what is hurting their online presence. Having to pay multiple monthly costs for using different services is too much to keep track of and people just aren't buying into it. IMHO, Sony needs to change their direction with the PS3 online or they will eventually be looking up to M$.
http://www.tomandemily.com
Perhaps they could bundle a damn memory card with the network bundle. It is a hell of a lot more useful than a game which I will admit is fun but has use for only a few months where the memory card will last.