| "The future is made of virtual insanity. Now we always
seem to be governed by this love we have for useless twisting of our new
technology. Oh, now there is no sound for we all live underground." -Jamiroquai (Virtual Insanity) |
| Definition |
Playstation 2 is
a electronic home video gaming console from Sony Corporation. The PS2 is so
powerful that it has been classified as a weapon of war in some countries.
This powerful machine is not only capable of playing PS2 games, but
also DVD's. Dolby Theatre Sound
is also integrated in this neat little box. Additional hardware is
available for the PS2 such as a 40 GB hard drive, 8 and 16 MB memory cards
for saving games, a four player multi-tap, and a network adapter which
allows users to game online. |
| Market |
| While users of the Playstation 2 are younger males there is a faction of older and female gamers. Sony has been a staple in the video game market since it debuted the first Playstation in September 1995 selling over 100,000 units in it's first two days on the shelves at $299 U.S. dollars. The PS2 will continue to be, argueably, the king of the video game market with it's extensive, always-growing game library, the increasing popularity of DVD, and the evolution of the system. | 
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| Illustrations |
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| Manufacturer |
Sony Corporation of America, based in New York City, is the U.S. subsidiary
of Sony Corporation, headquartered in
Tokyo. Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications, and
information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.
Its music, motion picture, television, computer
entertainment, and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive
entertainment companies in the world. Sony's principal U.S. businesses include
Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment
Inc., and Sony Computer
Entertainment America Inc. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of
over $56.9 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002, and it employs
168,000 people worldwide.-From Sony.com |
| Specifications and Features |
| Processor - 128 bit Emotion Engine
@ 300 MHz RAM - 32 MB RDRAM Graphics - Graphics Synthesizer Video output - 128-bit 2D/3D graphics acceleration Disk Drive - CD-ROM and DVD-ROM Playstation Memory bus bandwidth - 3.2 Gb/sec Resolution - 1280 x 1024 pixels |
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| Pricing |
| When the PS2 was first released in America, it was priced at $299. Today the Playstation 2 is listed at $199 on Yahoo! Shopping. Games for the console are priced anywhere from $20 to $65. With online gaming on the rise, one may wish to purchase a network adapter for $30-$50, depending on where it's purchased. |
| Brief History |
| The Sony
Playstation 2 was released in the U.S. in 2000 and has sold 11.3 million
units since. It's release was highly anticipated by hardcore gamers.
There was a shortage of 500,000 units from the initial shipment to
the U.S. from Japan that was supposed to contain 1,000,000 units due to bad
chips in the console. The PS2 ruled the gaming market for an entire
year until Nintendo and Microsoft came out with rivaling systems, the Gamecube
and Xbox, repectively. News is circulating that a Playstation 3, which
would use a radically new processor, is in the works. |
| Market Penetration |
| North America - 11.3 million
units sold Japan - 9.9 million units sold Europe - 8.8 million units sold From Playstation Reporter |
| The Latest |
| Advantages and Benefits |
| A main advantage
of the PS2 is the fact that it not only plays games, but DVD's. Consumers
can save money by not having to purchase a new gaming console and DVD player
separately, especially since the price has been lowered to $199 a unit. Playstation
2 has the largest game library of any of the new game consoles. The
PS2 is arguably the best console currently available. |
| Downsides |
| Video games
have long been blamed for lazy, overweight, inactive youths. Violent
games have also been scapegoated for likewise behavior. Addiction to
video games can be linked to poor academic performance. Siezures, muscular
and skeletal disorders, and poor posture are also linked to video games.
Focusing more on the Playstation 2, accessories for the console (network
adapter, keyboard, hard drive, etc.) are rather expensive and must be purchased
seperately. |
| Product Reviews |
| PS2 review
from Yahoo!
Shopping CNET.com user reviews Amazon.com reviews Playstation 2 PS2 Game Reviews at Gamespot.com |
| Internet Newsgroups and Mailing Lists |
| Mailing list at PS2web.com PS2 forum at Gamespot.com Ultimate Gamer Forum's Playstation 2 forum |
| Predictions |
| I predict that the
PS2 will only live until the Playstation 3 is released (possibly sometime
in 2005). In the meantime, I believe that on-line gaming will become
a huge trend in all home gaming as long as broadband availability continues
to grow. |
| Sources |
| Amazon.com Cnet.com CNN.com Gamespot.com MSN.com Ultimate Gamer Forum Playstation Reporter PS2web.com Sony.com Yahoo! Shopping |
Copyright 2003 Mike Perleberg