Rumour: Early 2008 arrival of new ‘compact’ PlayStation 2
With the vast majority of PlayStation rumours panning out as true as of late - following the usual default denials by Sony - it is highly likely that current Net chatter surrounding the imminent unveiling of a new ‘compact’ version of the stalwart PlayStation 2 will soon be fervently discounted by corporate suits immediately prior to its official unveiling.
According to UK-based videogame magazine MCV, a new, more compact model of the record-breaking PlayStation 2 will hit retail shelves in early 2008. Unlike the existing second-generation ‘Slim’ PS2, the ‘Compact’ model will arrive with an onboard power supply that is expected to vastly reduce production costs, which will subsequently shift the console’s pricing down by around 25 percent.
That reduction (again, if true) will see the compact edition of the long-serving PlayStation 2 retailing in the United States for around $99 USD (from its current pricing of around $129 USD), while it would reduce the UK price to approximately £75 GBP.
Perhaps more importantly, the somewhat surprising arrival of a new PlayStation 2 would certainly add significant weight to Sony Computer Entertainment’s belief that the greying console has a solid ten years of service to offer the industry.
The PlayStation 2 was originally launched in October of 2000 and has recently celebrated its seventh birthday. Across those seven glorious, market-leading years, Sony’s ever-faithful piece of gaming hardware has sold in excess of a staggering 120 million units worldwide. It has also sold around 1 billion units of PS2 software, boasts a software catalogue of more than 1,500 titles, and remains a sizeable industry presence despite the recent onslaught of overtly powerful next-generation platforms.
Between now and the end of its fiscal year in March 2008, Japanese consumer electronics giant Sony fully expects another 160 gaming titles to hit the trusty PS2, including high-profile offerings such as Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Madden NFL 2008, and Rock Band.
The more i think about this the gay-er it becomes. Shouldnt they be putting all there effort into selling the flagging ps3 instead of this. this ps2 may be a record breaking seller but if they dont pull there fingers out ps3 wont be. And as for having another 10 years in it, well the same thing applyes.
They are putting their effort into what makes them money. The ps2 is at the stage now where they are turning a profit of 8 bucks or so per every system sold, the ps3 loses money every time one is sold. By selling the PS2 like this they can reduce their total loss on gaming systems. By reducing their loss they can possibly create a profit which in the end will provide the company with more money.
By selling the system for 99 bucks they have now entered the impulse purchasing market (a market the ps3 does not even come close to) and you know if someone buys a system they will soon likely buy a memory card, extra controller and games, all of which make a profit for sony in the end.