Talon Posted September 21, 2004 #1 Share Posted September 21, 2004 Sony shrinks PlayStation console The best-selling PlayStation 2 games console has been given a makeover, with a new slimmed-down, lightweight model due to go on sale in November. The new PS2 is about half the size of the existing model and will sell for the same price of 149 euros (£99). Sony has launched it in an attempt to widen the console's appeal and prolong its shelf-life. Sales of the original PlayStation were boosted when Sony introduced a smaller version, dubbed the PSOne. Going after sales The redesign is part of Sony's strategy to maintain the PS2's lead over rival consoles. Some 24 million machines have been sold in the PAL territories - Europe, the Middle East and Africa - since its launch November 2000. The PS2 accounts for two-thirds of the consoles in these regions, according to Sony. But traditionally console sales start to slip after they have been around for a few years and the PS2 is no exception. Sony Computer aims to sell 14m PS2s in the year to March 2005, down from the peak sales of 22.52m units sold in 2003. But Sony is determined to keep the PS2 alive. In August it dropped the price to £99, resulting in a jump in sales. It is now hoping the thinner, sleeker design will tempt more people to buy a console, especially in the run-up to Christmas. David Reeves, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, told BBC News Online that Sony was hoping that the price cut and redesign would increase PS2 sales worldwide by 15% by March 2005. He said Sony was flying in more than four million new PS2s into the PAL territories straight from the manufacturing plant in Shanghai to meet expected demand. Thinner, lighter The new PS2 is mostly identical to current models. But the internal volume has been reduced by 75%, meaning it is half the weight and less than half the thickness of the existing console. This has been partly by using an external power supply. It also now comes with a built-in Ethernet port to allow gamers to play online. The redesigned console is due to come on sale on 1 November, at the same price as the current model. Sony is expected to unveil its next generation PlayStation at the annual E3 video games trade show in Los Angeles in May 2005. It has not said when the new games machine will go on sale, but the PS2 went on sale in Japan almost a year after it was first unveiled. Rivals Microsoft and Nintendo are also working on new consoles, which could also be unveiled at E3 show. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3675700.stm OH MY GOD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janiel Posted September 22, 2004 #2 Share Posted September 22, 2004 how on earth.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing_Dumplings Posted September 22, 2004 #3 Share Posted September 22, 2004 how the hell!?!? nu uh lol thats not possiable!! thats like a piece of cardboard!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackTheStripper Posted September 22, 2004 #4 Share Posted September 22, 2004 (edited) I dont get why they are doing this when PS3 is gonna come out sometime soon (within the next 2 yrs.) That is SOOOO thin.... Edited September 22, 2004 by JackTheStripper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janiel Posted September 22, 2004 #5 Share Posted September 22, 2004 exactly, it's just pointless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackTheStripper Posted September 22, 2004 #6 Share Posted September 22, 2004 PS3 is gonna be better than PS2 will ever be, so why waste money on a mod PS2???? It just doesnt make sense... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janiel Posted September 22, 2004 #7 Share Posted September 22, 2004 (edited) well, sony DOES have the money to do it.... Edited September 22, 2004 by Janiel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackTheStripper Posted September 22, 2004 #8 Share Posted September 22, 2004 thats true but its still stupid TheJack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seraphina Posted September 22, 2004 #9 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Wow...I'm glad I got the origonal....if I got the new one, I'd break it I've got thicker CDs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtemperate Posted September 22, 2004 #10 Share Posted September 22, 2004 *cough* Its not the size that counts its how you use it.. *cough* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurnSide Posted September 22, 2004 #11 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Holy crap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonzowalker Posted September 22, 2004 #12 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Now if Microsoft could only slim down the xbox, then it might weigh less than my Grandfather's anvil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted September 22, 2004 Author #13 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Now if Microsoft could only slim down the xbox, then it might weigh less than my Grandfather's anvil. Can't see that happening, I thin Bill Gates is trying to compensate for something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boff Posted September 22, 2004 #14 Share Posted September 22, 2004 haha, that was good. I read that it was called the PStwo I think. Seems rather stupid..but meh..w/e gets sales! Also, I think there doing this, because thats just a few days after GTA SA comes out. Just an idea tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curiosity Posted September 23, 2004 #15 Share Posted September 23, 2004 I like my ps2 thank you very much. It's sturdier... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SillySprout Posted September 23, 2004 #16 Share Posted September 23, 2004 I think it's a great little peice of kit. Shame about the external power supply though. It's gonna make Xbox look even bigger though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janiel Posted September 23, 2004 #17 Share Posted September 23, 2004 but just remember, it's not the size that counts, it's how you use it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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