Ben-DutkaJust a wee bit of personal history first: 10 years ago today, I was standing in EB with my PS2 t-shirt, handing out hardware to anxious gamers who had pre-ordered and fending off those who hadn't. One guy even offered me $500 if I'd grab one of those pre-ordered systems in the back and give it to him. Ah, good times.
It's just hard to believe that was 10 years ago. SCEA celebrates a decade of the PlayStation 2; it launched for the first time in this country on October 26, 2000. Offering consumers an unprecedented entertainment blend of DVD and CD technology, online connectivity and even the first motion-sensing via EyeToy, it was quite the phenomenon at the time. The console is still being sold worldwide: as of now, "one in every three U.S. households own a PlayStation 2 system and 146 million people around the world can attest to its incomparable entertainment value." Those are two insane stats. But lest we forget, it had arguably the most extensive and critically acclaimed library in history, ranging from Metal Gear Solid to Gran Turismo to Final Fantasy .
More than half a billion PS2 software units have been sold in the past decade and there are now over 2,000 games available. Currently priced at $99, it's still a tremendous value for the whole family. And to help celebrate the anniversary, Sony will release the Limited Edition Disney-Pixar Toy Story 3: The Video Game PS2 bundle, which will be available nationwide on October 31. You get the goodies for free, as this will hold the aforementioned standard retail price of $99. Said Jesse Divnich, vice president of capital research & communications, EEDAR:
"The PlayStation 2 was the first true home entertainment platform, enabling consumers to consolidate their entertainment desires into one console. Since 2000, the video game industry has expanded in size and demographic diversity as the trend towards consolidating entertainment options within a single platform continues, a vision that was originally initiated by the PlayStation 2 over 10 years ago."
Perhaps it's safe to say that Atari was the pioneer of the '70s, Nintendo the pioneer of the '80s, and Sony the pioneer of the '90s. What began with the original PlayStation in 1995 has become something pretty special, hasn't it?
The PS2 was the Sh..!
Was? 😉
Er…what?
For me, the PS2 is still the shitzle!!!
I still play PS2 titles almost as much as I do on my PS3 & 360.
I've now got 2 PS2's (black fattie & white slim Sing-Song bundle. And I also hope to get this new Toy Story PS2 bundle too, along with adding a silver PS2 too.
Plus, as of this morning, I've now got 328 game titles in my PS2 collection alone, & I'm continually trying to buy 2 to 4 more titles for it every week.
Just last night at GS, I picked up "Final Fight: Streetwise"($4), "In The Groove($2)" & also thought I had "Vampire Night"($4) too.
But once I got home, I realized the GS guy mistakenly put a "FF VII: Dirge of Cerberus" disc in my Vampires case instead.
But it all worked out in my favor anyway, cause they couldn't find the Vampire disc, so he gave me that FFVII:DOC(a $15 game), for the same $4 that I originally paid for Vampire Night.
Plus……since he didn't have the game disc for Vampires, he even threw in that case, manual, and art cover too.(I always save art covers, manuals, & cases for future purchase of games that might not have them included or ripped up.
plus I resell those that are doubles for a few bucks to gamers who are missing their art covers or manuals.
Anyway, except for a small handfull of titles(ICO, Fatale Frame1,2,&3,ETC, and last released games), most PS2 games are super cheap now.
So in the end, no matter when Sony actually stops supporting the PS2, I will continue to support my PS2 collection for years & years. Hell, I might not be able to get every title out into my own PS2 collection, but I WILL complete at least 1/2 to 2/3 of the whole PS2 games library, and all this being done while staying within a shoe-string budget for them.
god damn bikersaint. which bank did you rob to be able to afford all that?!?!
I still have my PS2 from launch and it still works like new. I can't believe my PS2 is still chugging along when too many people had to replace their PS3's within 3 years or so. PS2 was great. Had so many great games. I missed out on many of them because i was obsessed with the Resident Evil games coming out for Gamecube as well as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Metroid Prime. I missed out on games like ICO, SotC and God of War but i am kind of glad i did now since HD remakes of these games are coming.
you missed out on all of that? you have some stuff to catch up on. i have about 70 games for my ps2. well at least you're catching up with the hd remakes.
It's okay Jawknee, I was a GameCuber too (along with PS2 of course). Back then I was paranoid Nintendo would quit making consoles because they were in last place two generations in a row, so I bought three of the damn things. Indigo, Black, and Silver. You know, to help keep them in business. Seems so crazy now. I also had about 150 GC games. And that's my story.
Anyway, I got sidetracked. Long live Playstation!
Yea i know. I just couldn't put down my GameCube controller. The last games i bought for my PS2 before moving onto PS3 were FFXII and DQVIII. My PS2 collection is rather small for the amount of games it has in it's overall library.
EDIT: FeelsLikePants, i bought two Gamecube's as well. I still own my Silver one. Gave my Indigo one to a friend for Xmas. I just couldn't get enough of Resident Evil, Resident Evil Zero, Metroid Prime 1 and 2, TLZ: The Wind Waker etc. Oh and Resident Evil 4.
Last edited by Jawknee on 10/26/2010 4:01:57 PM
i have quite the GC collection, but my ps2 overshadowed it. i loved it for resident evil though. matter of fact i just bought another a/v cord for my GC and i plan to play it soon.
I've been playing my GameCube games on my Wii. Amazing how that disc slot will take DVD's and those mini discs the GameCube used.
to be frank though. the wii is basically a gamecube 1.5. i played twilight princess on the gamecube. i went to gamestop and tried to preorder, the guy kept telling me if i'm serious and kept telling me it was canceled. he was so confindent and arrogant….until i told him to check the computer.
I bought and played both versions. I wanted to play Link in his traditional Left Handed form. 🙂
Hes Right Handed on the Wii version.
ha i was amazed at that too. i need to buy another wii.
I don't care what anyone says about disc read errors or junk.
This is the best and will always be the best console.
Congrats on your 10th, I hope to see the 11th!
WOW Today the 26th so many things are happening.
PS Store gets updated
Kz3 Beta
Need For Speed HP Demo
Ps2's 10th B-Day
The Fight Lights Out release date ( atleast at my gamestop )
10 years thats just amazing and it's still going strong. I have a launched Ps2 and a slim ps2 both work great.
So many amazing games for this console.
Happy Birthday PS2.
I had a dream that the PS2 was part of the Google homepage and then it was discontinued.
I think SONY had a great stride in the early 00's and late 90's. Now it seems Steve Jobs want's to take over the world
That was a nightmare homie!
The apple rumor is nothing more than a rumor created by a speculative what-if statement made in an article in a financial journal. It's not because it was actually happening. the guy that wrote it was simply musing on what Apple could do with it's cash mountain if it wanted to.
Best system I've ever owned.
My first PS2 still works…the disk tray is a pain though. I wonder whether my children will ever understand what there is in gaming but for graphics when they are born and grow up
The disk tray and cleaning the laser on the PS2 is surprisingly simple. You can actually do it yourself. I did and my launch PS2 runs spectacularly. Makes me happy because I feel like I could keep it running forever if I wanted it to. The PS3 slims are the best built ps3's out right now, comparible to the quality build of the PS2.
This is awesome for sony. Congratulations!!! It'd be awesome to see the ps3 follow suit. Who knows. Next generation we might see an Apple playstation 4 in a majority of households. Can't believe Apple is thinking of buying out Sony. That's just crazy. I guess it's a great way of justifying insane mark up. LOL.
In other news, Sony finally discontinued the Walkman. LOL!
I still have my launch PS2. But I was among the unlucky ones that landed a "disc read error" model and didn't bother to hold on to the warranty. fml
never the less… so many good memories 🙂
In majority of cases that disk read error just means that the laser has collected to much debri. Once you know how to open up the PS2 and clean the top laser it will work like new. I just repaired my PS2 of 8 years like this and its amazing how slick it runs. Just like new.
Yeah i did the same. I don't even know where the original screws holding the console together are. I always kept the laser lens at quick access so I could adjust it in order to finish FFXII
Those who sold their ps2s should be ashamed.
Still have it
i should be ashamed of my self. back then i was a Xbot. didn't really play much of Ps2 came in really late on the Ps2. what did i miss.
let me tell u AAAALOOOOOTTTT of games PS2 is/was the best gaming system ever developed
you missed on of the best, if not the best, system in the history of gaming.
Uh, 1000+ critically-acclaimed games?
Final Fantasy X, God of War, Metal Gear Solid 3, ATV Offroad Fury, Tekken Tag Tournament, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, FES, AND 4, Shadow of the Colossus and ICO, Ratchet and Clank and Jak and Daxter, and so much more exclusives?
Not to mention amazing multi-plats, like Resident Evil 4 and Killer 7?
Yah, you missed those and more, nuff said =P!
If that still isn't enough my friend,
JRPGs.
ThEInFamOusgOd,
You missed playing in a 2000+ PS2 games library.
You missed playing some of the best exclusives ever made.
You missed partaking history as one of those who made the PS2 the best selling console on Planet Earth.
Man, I think you might of missed out on a solid 10 years of everything.
Just saying….
Last edited by BikerSaint on 10/26/2010 7:53:41 PM
I really liked the old PS systems better, had my ps1 since forever still working, ps2 died last year. but my Ps3 just died in less than 4 years. Companies are getting greedy TBH. just ordered my PS(move bundle) unit to Jordan from amazon(.)com. hope I don't get taxed for it (fingers crossed )
Last edited by TEG3SH on 10/26/2010 6:00:45 PM
The PS3 being less reliable than the PS2 doesn't have to with greed, but with the technology. With multiprocessors running at 3.2Ghz, they produce much more heat, which when running excessively or unnecessarily, and idle, not only warps the circuit boards quicker, thereby breaking the connections, but also attracts more dust via static-electricity (which reduces cooling and ventilation).
Also, with online gaming being the new craze, gaming habits are different, and many people are having continuous gaming sessions which was not such the case before (though i'm not implying that you had such habits).
Regarding, the Bluray drive, that is actually more reliable than DVD as it operates at less RPM, and the disc drive is less likely to break since it lacks the open closing tray, which means it has one less part to break. However, if a lens gets dirty, thats a problem with both technologies.
TEG3SH was owned big XD
Most of my video game life was on the PS2, thank you Playstation for giving me the best gaming experience!
Haha I went from NES to Sega Genesis to N64 to PS2 and now, of course, PS3. The funny thing is I won my ps2 and the only other one I actually bought myself was the PS3, the rest were gifts.
Anyway I got some great memories of playing all day and all night on that PS2. Too bad I can't still do that. Damn growing up and having to work and, you know, do other things.
Last edited by SixSpeedKing on 10/26/2010 6:31:02 PM
Congrats Sony Happy birthday PS2. I remember picking up the PS2 when it was new.
The PS2 was and still is a great machine, a lot of good memories Thanks. I can see the PS2 doing good this Christmas it is still a really good deal and their are so many games for it.
Long live PlayStation!
Sadly, no one now is the pioneer of this decade, but Sony comes close I tell ya!
My own PS2 will 7 years old four days after today (a.k.a. my Birthday!!!), and like many others here, still works like new.
I remember it fondly….10 years old, walking home from elementary school and Grade 4, going into house via house keys, seeing a really dark house, calling out "Mommy, Daddy???" after promising me they would be home all day today, all to hear "HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICTOR!!!" with a brand new PS2 under the T.V., with Ratchet and Clank and Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando, Jak and Daxter, DragonBall Z: Budokai 2, ATV Offroad Fury, Dynasty Warriors 3: Extreme Legends, and so much more that I can't remember now, not to mention my cousin, who was practically a gaming legend to me at the time, showing me the ropes on how to REALLY use the console..
Happy Birthday Playstation 2, may your legacy continue to live on not just this decade, but forever :*)
Wow, what a nice memory. Happy Birthday victor.
I loved offroad fury, The PS2 has so many great memories. again, thanks
Thanks a lot, I appreciate it Stangman80!
I remember coming home from a school camping trip to find my brother playing our brand new tank of a ps2. See if I can remember that then it had to be an important event.
On a side note the sega megadrive was my introductory console to videogaming. Talk about another tank.
Long live the King!
I'll even throw in a "Hail to the King, Baby!" in my best Ash voice.
So many great games and memories. Not a bad legacy to leave to the next generation of gamers.
Playstation: Teacher, Mother… Secret Lover 😉
Hail PS1 PS2 for giving me the best 15 years of my 22 yrs gaming life. PS2 has some of the greatest titles ever made: MGS2,3, ICO, SOTC, GOW1&2, GT3, Twisted Metal, GTA1,2,3, FF10,12, KH1,2, DMC1,2,3, and so many many JRPG classic titles, cant even list all……
Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 10/26/2010 8:08:30 PM
Victor321,
Just because Sony's not in the top sales spot with their PS3 units sold JUST YET, Sony still "IS" the pioneer of this decade, and will continue to be for future decades too.
Nintendo's Wii is STILL so low tech, they aren't a pioneer of anything, but some simple motion remote.
And M$ is just a thief in the night who's trying to conquer the world. They would rather ride everyone's else's coattails by trying to throw gigantic hernia-causing bundled money-bricks at them, than become an innovator themselves.
That's my take on it.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 10/26/2010 8:11:50 PM
I didn't think sales were the reason why I thought Sony wasn't the pioneer of this decade. To me, the reason was because of strong performances (and great blunders and mistakes) from all three companies throughout this generation so far, that in my eyes, I don't see a true pioneer coming out of this decade.
I love Sony, and you love Sony. We both know that. But what we need to also know is that Sony, despite great accomplishments (still providing unique, critically acclaimed games that just reek of quality is a good example), has made great mistakes too (a good example here is Sony's arrogant attitude during the early years of the PS3's life), although they are recovering (at least in '09, because this year, I say they are back to "PS2-Level" status, so to speak, meaning that we don't see anything from Sony or the PS3 that remotely resembled anything catastrophic or downright horrible in the first 2-3 years of the PS3's product life.
Last edited by Victor321 on 10/27/2010 4:04:04 PM
i only got the ps2 for final fantasy period… and i got my ps3 for god of war 3 period. and discovered uncharted resistance, killzone, heavenly sword, little big planet, infamous, do i seriously need to keep going? lol oh and my original fat ps2 is still working like a champ so is my dreamcast and all my segas and nintendo's and my original xbox but i have been through 4 xbox 360s
Victor321,
Oh, OK, looks like I misunderstood you.
I was thinking it as just being from a "hardware only" stand-point, as where you were probably thinking it more along the lines from the "overall company" aspect.
So from that viewpoint, you are also right.
So we should declare a tie(but if not, then how about a "best out of 17 rematch", using only sawed-off pickle forks)
Last edited by BikerSaint on 10/27/2010 8:24:38 PM