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Smaller Networked Sony "PStwo" Officially Announced
Asriel86 writes "Tokyo Game Show has
just kicked off, and with quite a bang. Sony just
officially
announced the PStwociting a stateside release date of November 1st, 2004. The
system will be 25% smaller than the current model, will feature a sleeker
design, and a built-in Ethernet port (no adapter required). Sony also says that
there will be 120 new Playstation 2 games with online compatibility by the end
of the year. That equates to thirty games per month or about one game per day
for the rest of 2004."
One hundred-twenty new online games before January? That equates to 30 games per month, or over one game per day until the end of 2004.
Woop! I am totally calling in sick -- for the rest of the year.
AC
"Sony also says that there will be 120 new Playstation 2 games with online compatibility by the end of the year." Developers are getting to the point on the PS2 where they've got to decide between creating a game that might be for a redundant system, or creating a game that might be ready for the new system's release. The change in status of the PS2 to the PStwo is symbolic, as it was for the PSone. It means that it's getting close to the end of it's lifecycle, which can only be downhill for developers.
Does anybody else get a little annoyed by this kind of thing? 25% smaller, half the weight and an included Ethernet port... enough to be jealous when my brother buys one, but not enough to buy one myself.
Will anyone that owns a regular PS2 buy one of these?
I think all of us agree this is a good thing from a gamers perspective. After all, we all agree smaller is generally better and what not, and dialup is evil.
However, on the flip side, how many people will buy them? Most people I know who enjoy using consoles already have a PS2, and are not likely to go buy a new one just because its a bit cooler. Even me being an addict, owning ever semi-modern console, I doubt I'll purchase anything that doesnt allow me to play more games.
And 120 games! By the end of the year? Do they realize what kind of a task that is? I realize its probably been planned for a while, but we all know that game developers have a hard enough time meeting deadlines without attempting to coordinate with a console release. They'll be lucky to clear 50.
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Thats 75% smaller, not 25%. Its top loading as well. Check Gizmodo.com or engadget.com for better coverage.
I want 2D games back.
How much will these improvements increase sales? I would suspect based on the age of the PS2 that most folks who have wanted a PS2 already have one, which would diminish the value of this "new and improved" model
See a couple of pictures here.
It seems to me that Sony has always favored quantity over quality. If you go to any game store or video rental place there are many more PS and PS2 games than there are for the other consoles. And most of the PS2 games aren't all that good. I'd bet the ratio for good games to total games for PS2 compared to the GameCube and X-box is much lower.
"Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
No hard drive bay, which means no Final Fantasy XI.
Sort of similar to how they dumped the parallel port on later models of the original PlayStation, I suppose. It's interesting how support never really matierialised for the hard drive; but then again I can't think of an console expansion that has ever really flown in the marketplace.
Squenix can't be thrilled though.
The critical thing about the slimmed down version is that there doesn't appear to be anywhere to put a hard disk drive - which might well be a thinly veiled attempt by Sony to stop HDLoader or clones from being able to play copied games on newer consoles.
What about games that use or need the HDD? Final Fantasy XI in Europe? Hmm. The BBC and IGN are both running the story.
Meep meep
http://www.engadget.com/entry/8413288107686276/
Idiot, n. A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant
The PS3 will be like another year at least, maybe another two years. We won't even see first *signs* of the PS3 until March of next year. There has been zero indication whatsoever, even in the deepest depths of the rumor mill, that any developers even have the option of developing for the PS3 available to them yet.
Meanwhile unlike, say, XBox developers (and it does look possible the XBox2 may even be out before the PS3), PS2 developers have the comfort that their games will be compatible with the PS3 once it's released. For some time after the PS2 was released before the best-selling PS2 games were all PS1 games-- that's encouraging for developers of PS2 games.
External power supply
With that aggravating beauty, Lulu Walls.
I've got to say I'm suspicious of the number of games promised; the figure sounds incredibly high. However, there's no denying that Sony's greatest strength in the console market has always been their ability to get a vast number of third party titles on the shelves. The quality isn't uniformly high by any means and the PS2 probably has a higher ratio of turkeys to stars than any other platform. Nevertheless, the "shotgun" approach ensures that most gamers can find a good number of titles they like in their genre(s) of choice. I've owned all three consoles for over a year now and my PS2 is over two years old. However, I still find myself buying more games for the PS2 than for any other platform, because the sheer volume or releases means there are more titles that I want.
The alternative approach is best embodied by Nintendo (I'd say Microsoft fall somewhere in between the two). These days, Nintendo have a pretty sparse line-up of third party games. Their strategy seems to be to put out "big name" first party games on a fairly slow rotation. I won't get drawn into the argument over how good these games are; to some people they're the greatest and most innovative things ever, to other people they're insipid remakes of fifteen year old concepts. The point is that no game is going to appeal to all gamers. With a larger spread of games, the odds of you reaching the critical point at which your console becomes a "must buy" for an individual are inevitably going to be better in all sections of the market. This is why Sony have won the last two rounds of the console wars so comprehensively and why they will continue to do so (leaving aside the question of handhelds).
As many of us are aware, the youths in Asian countries, specifically Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia (in that order) are very, very, VERY into online games.
Sure, Americans play Quake and Half-life and has its fair share of NeverEndingKnights (insert MMPORG of your choice), but what many people in US and EU may not realize is the extent and length of most games here in Asia-- all leading titles are Final Fantasy-type soap operas involving complex character building or multiple levels of progress, or are extended Command & Conquer-type 2-hour long epics dramas. There is an entire channel in the basic cable TV package that is essentially GTV (GameTV) and shows nothing but tournaments of overweight acne-ridden basement-dwellers duking out C&C-type games in a studio with cheeleaders, music, commentary, and bright flashing lights (it puts Iron Chef to shame).
Even car racing games have extended season-long stories, and you must match up against your arch rivals from across town. The arcades here have point cards not unlike the comp point cards at the casinos (which came first?).
In short, launching an electronic consumer good (TV, Stereo, Monitor, stand-along HD, Game Console, Guitar Amplifier) without an ethernet port nowadays is unthinkable.
davejenkins.com |
Did they remember to put the power button on the front of the machine this time?
What's wrong with the power button on the front? I know it's not exactly the same as the physical switch on the back, but I've literally have never used that switch beyond the first time I ever turned my PS2 on (I got it a week after the original launch).
You know that you can turn off the PS2 from the front by holding down the green LED button (until it turns red), right? That's what the symbol on the button means (it's in the manual, too). This puts it in a very low-power stand-by state.
The switch in the back is only for turning off the machine for an extended period, or before you unplug it.
Here are a official press release(pdf) and some images by SCEI.
It comes smaller and slimmer: 900g weight(-55%) and 230x28x152mm size(-77% !!). It also have a new feature, a network interface(100BASE-TX/10BASE-T) as standard.
And still more, SCEI also announced PS3 will adopt blue-ray disc(pdf).
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snowy
http://slashdot.jp/~snowy/
They cost the same as the original console.
This is straight from the news wires, posted minutes ago. We'll have pictures for you shortly.
Tokyo, September 21, 2004 - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI), announced today a completely new look for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system (SCPH-70000), which will become available in Japan, North America and Europe for the year-end peak selling season. The new model will be available in stores on November 3rd in Japan, and on November 1st in North America and Europe.
While inheriting the basic functions and design philosophy of the current PlayStation 2, the internal design architecture has been completely overhauled, resulting in a slimmer and more lightweight design. Internal volume has been reduced by 75%, overall weight has been halved, and thickness trimmed down to 2.8 cm (thickness of current model is 7.8 cm). Its size is almost as small as a hardcover book, making it easier to carry around and enjoy games and DVD videos anytime, anywhere.
Equipped with an integrated Ethernet port for network gaming, the new PlayStation 2 sets new standards in the fusion of design and functionality. In North America, approximately 40% (*1) of the PlayStation 2 on-line game users connect their PlayStation 2 to the networks through analog modem and reflecting the American users' preference, North American model is equipped with both Ethernet and modem ports. During the year-end peak-selling season, about 80 on-line game titles are expected for release in Japan, and 120 titles and 65 titles respectively for North America and Europe. With the launch of the new network ready(*2) PlayStation 2, the further expansion of the world of on-line gaming is accelerated.
Gaining an overwhelming support from a wide range of users from all over the world, more than 72 million units of PlayStation 2 have been shipped as of today. Strongly supported by software developers and publishers, PlayStation 2 is indisputably the most popular computer entertainment system in the world and the new design will position it for ever greater success over the next half of its life. In the run-up towards the launch, the new PlayStation 2, will be displayed at Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's booth during the Tokyo Game Show 2004, held from Friday, September the 24th to Sunday, the 26th, 2004, at Makuhari Messe, together with a rich number of exciting and attractive new titles scheduled for release towards the end of the year.
With the new PlayStation 2, together with the lineup of forthcoming new game titles, SCEI will continue to contribute to expand the market and to create a new world of computer entertainment.
(*1) According to SCEI's DNAS (Dynamic Network Authentication System) data. (*2) Internet Service Provider and appropriate Internet access (e.g. ADSL, cable, fiber, etc.) required. For further details regarding network connection, on-line games and peripherals supported with the new model (SCPH-70000 CB), please visit our customer support website (http://www.playstation.jp/info/).
What does all this mean? Here's a summary:
PStwo will release on November 1st in America It will be 25% smaller than the current model It will also be half the weight of the current model The system will have an included Ethernet port, no need for a peripheral device Also, Sony claims there will be 120 new PS2 games with online play by the year's end One hundred-twenty new online games before January? That equates to 30 games per month, or over one game per day until the end of 2004.
-Aaron Dunlap [POSTED: 9/20/04]
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covering ears and chanting, "la la la la I'm not listening!" does not excuse the fact that Sony is turning a bling eye toward game development companies who develop PS2 games. Allowing this many to be released in such a short amount of time almost guarantees that few will ever earn a profit.
:-\
Bad times for the game industry ahead...
Personally, I think that integrated WiFi would be a better addition, either in addition to or in place of wired networking capabilities. This might make it a system-seller, but I doubt the slated feature set will sell many extras. Most likely just to the parents at Xmas time...
Sony needs to release a more advanced sdk for game developers. The PS2 isn't even near reaching it's potential and xbox games look SOOO much better simply because the authors can code in c++ and directx, which is what pc programmers have been programming in forever.
People say "graphics don't make the game" and are correct to a certain degree, but when aliased edges suspend your disbelief, it significantly reduces the amount of fun to be had in a sitting.
When you can get into the game and totally forget you're playing a game and just have fun in the "virtual world", that is when you know the developer has made a truly awesome game.
Chris
If MS were to somehow make the xbox 75% smaller, it could be about 10x more appealing. Not to mention the fact that it would make a much sexier set top box. Considering that they are already losing the big bucks on every console, it's not likely to happen though. *sigh*
The one thing that really bothers me with the original PS2 is its noisy fan. If you play for a few hours or watch a movie on the DVD-player it really is annoying.
Are those new ones just as loud or did they improve the cooling?
Are you trying to be funny or is this a serious question? There is a power switch on the back which is very similiar to the switches on most PC Power Supplies. It only needs to be turned off if you plan on unplugging the thing. The Power button on the front of the PS2 can be used to turn it on, Reset it, and if you hold the button down for 1 entire second, it turns it off.
Sony + Playstation + Games
Has always been a "quantity rather than quality" formula; the only 2 things the playstation (1 or 2) ever got right were: "have the best controller on the market" (by far), and "have the most games on the market" (by far, and in PS2's case by backwards compatibility; masterstroke!).
The first makes their machine the most comfortable to use.
The second means that any given consumer is more likely to find a game that appeals to them for that machine. (the fact that once they get the machine plus game home, the game may not live up to the appeal does not matter - now they have the machine and wil continue to buy games for it)
This combination is more than enough to tie up the console market for you, MS failed to realise this (they thought having the most impressive machine was the key, probably due to the fact that in the dramcast/n64/playstation generation, sony also just happenend to have the most impressive machine as a side issue)
I suppose, in short, what I'm saying is that more than any of their competitors, sony have understood the marketing of consoles and console games; consoles sell by being OK in and of them selves (the controller being an amazingly important aspect of that), and by having 1+ games that _any_ person in the market is interested in (i.e. not by having 1 to 3 really top flight games; by having lots of good-enough games).
Notice how quality is secondary in that...
To the 50 - "blah blah blah how will they make 120 new games in 3 months, blah blah blah".
9
Here is a copy of the offical press release: http://www.gamegossip.com/pressrelease.php?id=995
And if you don't want to RTFA:
"During the year-end peak-selling season about 80 online game titles are expected to be available in Japan, with 120 titles and 65 titles respectively in North America and Europe. With the launch of the new network-ready(*2) PlayStation 2, the company expects to continually expand the world of online gaming in this generation."
I almost prefer people just copying other peoples work when submitting a story to reading something out of context and passing it along to the masses.
Has nothing to do with style, selling more consoles, or getting more people online.
Its because Sony figured out a way they could make more PS2s, cheaper, by changing the design... and probably get more cash per-sale for the units.
This is the same reason for the PS1.
This isnt necessarily a bad thing. I rather like the new PStwo (just as i really like the PSone) but dont go fooling yourself on the reason why. Its a cost-benifit analysis. Thats all.
no
Can anyone tell me if the PStwo can, with additional software/hardware, be used as a streaming media receiver? As small as it is, I would like to be able to use it to stream music and video over my home network, as I've been doing with my modded Xbox. The Xbox worked great, but its cooling fans were kind of noisy, the case is kind of clunky and awkward, and now it also just happens to be broken.
The original Playstation 2 did not have an ethernet port, therefore consumers were required to buy an add-on adapter to enable online support.
Anyone care to enlighten me?
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I have heard from many sources that Sony released the slimmed down PSone because they had created a new chipset to allow the PS1 hardware to be integrated into the PS2 for backwards compatibility. Thus it made sense to package it as the small, inexpensive, stand-alone PSone to help revive that older market.
I wouldn't be surprised if this new PStwo stems from the exact same type of technology - a redesigned (aka smaller) PS2 chipset designed for integration into the future PS3.
Dan East
Better known as 318230.
Guess I'll have to get the chunker PS2 instead to use this unless anyone out there knows a Knoppix equivalent for the PS2/two?
If I'm going to put a network aware console into my TV I'd prefer one that I and fire up a web browser on.
Omnis amans amens
Most PS2 games are free to play online. Only the MMORPGs actually cost money to play.
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PAL is partly to blame - different frame rate, different framebuffer size (using more video ram). As a PS2 developer, doing a PAL port is a headache i'd rather not think about.
Now seriously. Why not throw in wireless support? Maybe they have and it wasn't mentioned in the /. article (I haven't RTFA yet). But this is really surprising to me.
Maybe because Sony would have to field phone helpline calls about WEP and SSIDs, and need to know the ins and outs of every Access Point that's ever been on the market.
Support is expensive, and to reduce that cost you need to narrow down exactly what you support to as small a set as possible.
Xbox Live! has a similar policy on wireless. "It works, but we don't support it".
Uh, no major game company releases their big game _after_ the Christmas rush. The 10 games a day is actually somewhat believeable if you've looked at the release charts from now until Christmas with every developer trying to get their 3/4 finished game out the door and on the shelves before mommies everywhere try to find something for their kids.
I read the internet for the articles.
Do they seriously expect to be able to compete against Infinium Labs' Phantom? Good luck!
Anything worth doing is worth doing badly -- G.K. Chesterton
Microsoft caught the entire industry napping by breaking their 5 year console cycle down to 2-3 years.
The other console makers are complaining but once xboxnext is first to market with an ATI chipset and developers onboard I think they may be too busy running scared to try and cut a deal with the big M.
Yeah, that being out early with the weakest console sure helped Sega and the Saturn!!
Think about it. If XBoxNext is out next year (and it probably is) then Sony has a year, possibly more, to add more stuff (more memory at least, and probably more powerful processors) to the standard console at the same price. Given that they also have a huge lead in market share that will propel them right out of the gate, that is a significant problem for the XBox.
Furthermore by basically saying the XBox NeXT is out next year, Microsoft is also biting into current sales. I was thinking about Halo 2 and an XBox but if the next XBox is out next year, why not wait for a PC version that will come eventually? In the meantime there's a lot of great, really unique PS2 and PC games to play.
I don't think Microsoft has a smart strategy AT ALL. It just seems hasty and short-sighted. Instead they should have released at the same time as the PS3 and made damn sure it maintained an edge in system power as that has always been its hook.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
On one hand, that's good -you can use all the outlets ont he power strip.
OTOH, that's twice as much cable getting twisted and knotted together with all the other cables.
Its one of those love/hate things. Personally I'd like to see the electronics compies standardize on a voltage, polarity and plug. That way I could just have one big power brick with a dozen DC cords running from it.
Yes, but Sony isn't going to/can't count on people to do this, they'd have to be going with the idea of people buying CF cards at current market cost. So it would seem that's a pretty steep assumption to make about Joe Average console owner.
This is assuming that CF/flash memory cards in general are the answer to playing FFXI on the PStwo, which I guess remains to be seen.
Uh, no major game company releases their big game _after_ the Christmas rush
I'm pretty sure I remember Mega Man regularly being on the cover of Nintendo Power in January. The post-Christmas seemed to be the niche for that series. After all, kids need something to spend the $50 cheque from their uncle that came a month late on.