SCEA Confirms PS2 Price Drop To $99

When we learned that today's announcement couldn't possibly be a price drop for the PlayStation 3, we were about 90% certain it would instead be a price cut for the system's predecessor. And so it is.

Today, Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that as of tomorrow, April 1, the PS2 will drop to the deliciously agreeable price of $99.99. The most popular video game console in history has reached the 136 million worldwide sell-in mark, and its immense library of titles has swelled to around 1,900 in a little over 9 years. Said Jack Tretton, SCEA president and CEO:

"PlayStation 2 set the industry standard for worldwide mass market adoption and is a clear embodiment of Sony's commitment to platforms that deliver 10-year product lifecycles. It's a tribute to outstanding technology, great consumer value and unprecedented development support that we've now been able to do twice what no one else has ever accomplished. Demand for PlayStation 2 remains strong throughout the world, and the new $99 price point will bring in new consumers who will discover how PlayStation platforms are an outstanding choice for their gaming and home entertainment needs. Just as PlayStation 2 is delivering on a 10-year lifecycle and helped expand and solidify the DVD format for home entertainment along the way, we believe PLAYSTATION 3 offers the same promise by helping secure the Blu-ray format and delivering unprecedented value as the total home entertainment solution for the next decade."

SCEA says they will keep supporting the PS2 with even more new titles "that appeal to families and casual gamers looking for social entertainment experiences." If you're looking for some great deals out there, over 250 titles are now under the Greatest Hits umbrella, making them extremely cheap, relatively speaking. The press release further reminds us of the role the PS2 has played in establishing the widespread popularity of many of the leading franchises in the industry today; Metal Gear Solid, Guitar Hero, Final Fantasy, God of War, Ratchet and Clank, Gran Turismo, etc.

The release concludes by saying the PS2 "remains the most played computer entertainment system on the market." According to a December 2008 Nielsen report, the PS2 became the first console in the industry's history to hit the 50 million sell-in unit sales plateau in North America...and now that it's at $99, you will probably see the last surge of hardware sales. This is a legendary machine, indeed, and now it's at a budget price in the world of game consoles. If for whatever bizarre reason you don't have one, now's the time. Remember, your PS3 likely doesn't boast backwards compatibility for PS2 titles...and you know you still wanna play 'em.

3/31/2009 Ben Dutka

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Comments

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telly
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:32:01 AM
Reply

Lame.

9 up, 2 down

Karosso
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:34:28 AM
Reply

I second that!

5 up, 2 down

crapreviews
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:41:12 AM
Reply

people knew for almost a week that a ps2 price cut was coming.

thing is... if this is what Sony calls a "big" or "Global" announcement.... shame on them.

I mean let's be real. this ps2 price cut will help like what... couple of thousand people maybe? i mean the ps2 is 10 years old.

im sure most people want more announcements related to ps3, not ps2. I myself have no interest, no interest in all at playing ps2 games. heck, every time a new ps system came out i always sold the old one and got the new one. i've done that since Coleco Vision. (sure i spelled that wrong)

Last edited by crapreviews on 3/31/2009 10:43:56 AM

4 up, 0 down

The Stig
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:29:44 AM

Its not even global. The UK isnt getting a price drop.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:14:25 PM

Dummies did call it "global" tho

1 up, 0 down

Jordahn
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:41:55 AM
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This is great and all. But since SONY decided to make a pre-announcement, they could have at least specified that it was PS2 related to begin with. That would have cut down on the unneeded hype. It's not SONY's job to do so, but they could have very easily have done so. Nothing wrong with pushing the PS2. I just hope that this will radically push sales out the door to justify the price drop. If this were to occur, I think SONY should be obligated to repackage their 1st/2nd party games as an incentive to consumers to keep supporting the PS2. A bundled Jak & Daxter and/or a bundled Sly Cooper for $25 for three games will help the software push along with the hardware push while exposing more consumers to their franchises. I just hope the PS2 price drop will undoubtedly be justified.

1 up, 1 down

maxpontiac
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:47:50 AM
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This isn't the announcement is it?

If so, that sucks.

3 up, 0 down

Alienange
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:51:16 AM
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New prices come into effect tomorrow. This is one elaborate joke.

1 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:51:39 AM
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Everyone needs to understand something: this really ISN'T for the hardcore gamers. Obviously, it's not. The gamers already have a PS2; Sony is well aware of this.

This is for the casual gaming crowd as indicated by the part of the press release explaining the drive for more socially-oriented games on the system. There are many people out there who are just getting into video games and aren't hardcore; they don't have the money or the motivation to purchase a next-gen console. But the PS2 at $99 would be a perfect option for the millions who haven't yet tested the gaming waters too heavily.

The Wii has swelled the ranks of the mainstream casual gaming crowd around the world and in general, the vast majority of people with game systems in their homes these days aren't like you guys. You all have to realize...these days, YOU are in the vast minority. The people that actually go to video game sites and take the time to make posts. Get what I mean? ;)

Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 3/31/2009 10:52:42 AM

9 up, 6 down

Alienange
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:55:43 AM

You know, maybe that rumored Sony motion controller is for the PS2 ... then they'd have a Wii equivalent on the market for 100 bux! Now that'd stick it to the Gamecube2. Maybe this gen will be defined by PS2 and PS3 coexisting.

1 up, 0 down

crapreviews
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:57:32 AM

I'm not saying that a ps2 price drop is a bad thing for those that it will help decide on getting the system. i can understand why they would want to focus on those "casual gamers" out there into family gaming and things.

i just think Sony themselves needs to be a little more transparent. i mean if you are going to have a "global" announcement for the ps2, then make it known that this announcement is for the ps2. when Sony says "global" announcement, MOST people are going to assume it's for the ps3, which is the current system that MOST gamers care about.

3 up, 1 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:05:16 AM

You're still talking about the vast minority. 99.99% of the earth didn't know about any global announcement, and the only people who said it was big or "massive" was the media (starting with Kotaku).

As far as I can tell, Sony simply said they had some news to announce for today. As is typically the case on the Internet, it quickly got blown out of proportion.

7 up, 4 down

TheHighlander
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:07:00 AM

Exactly, and this is one of the elements of current gaming on PS3 and especially the 360 that seems to me to be a problem. Hardcore gamers want features like cross game voice chat, and multi-player online head to head or team based play (typically in fps/third person action games). But these are not the things that sell to the majority of video game player. I hesitate to use the word casual, but I think that what the industry has lost sight of is the single player game, and the multiple player on one console game. Split screen racing, or co-op on a single console. Single player elements of games have in many cases shrunk in favor of adding all these online features, that a tiny minority of players actually use. Case in point - Gran Turismo 4. A great single player game, that was absolutely castigated for lacking online play. Never mind that it offers the very best single player racing game on the PS2 and can even push progressive scan output and 1080i output - on a PS2.

I like this announcement, Sony knows that the bread and butter gamers are the ones owning PS2s and Wii consoles right now. They know that many of those people growing up will be looking to PS3 in a year or two or three. I can only hope that Sony's focus with the PS3 is the social aspects of online gaming rather than the hardcore head to head combat, and that they really push the depth of single player and multi-player on a single console types of content, because that is what these PS2 and Wii owners are looking for. Games must be what they once were, more of a pick up and play, and less of a mammoth gaming session with online buddies.

Leave Microsoft to cater to the beer swilling online multi-player shooter junkies that they essentially created with the original Xbox and Halo, the rest of the gaming market is so much more valuable and varied.

Last edited by TheHighlander on 3/31/2009 11:10:02 AM

3 up, 0 down

Jordahn
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:09:43 AM

Ben, I just gave you a "thumbs up" because sadly, true hardcore gamers are in the minority, and it seems to be getting like that more and more. I have to look at the silver lining here that if the push for PS2 support will help SONY's gaming division in general, I just hope it will allow them to push what they can on the PS3 and the PSP for the hardcore gamer.

1 up, 1 down

THEVERDIN
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:52:35 AM
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I was hoping for something concerning the PS3.

3 up, 0 down

shindelion
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:56:04 AM

I second that thought. They made it seem like it's something BIG!

3 up, 0 down

Cavan
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:52:35 AM
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my ps3 does support backwards compatibility... so am sorted, disapointing really, would of hoped for a ps3 price, i can understand the arguements of why not too, but xbox has just done another price drop, this time on the elite in the uk, there pricing range is 129 169 and 199, for the 3 models, the ps3 is 299, now i know better, so i kno with the hidden costs the ps3 is much better value but alot of parents who cas pick up the 60gb version for nearly half the price of a ps3, would surely just buy that, sony are very very lucky that MS built a crappy console ( reliabilty wise ) otherwise they would of crushed sony this gen. Sony just arnt competitive in pricing compared to the competition, until they are i expect them to trail in 3rd place for quite a while.

2 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:54:34 AM
Reply

Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

OK Sony, you dropped the price of the PS2 to it's final price point. Now, pave the way for those folks on PS2 to move on up to PS3 without losing their investment in games. Add PS2 game compatibility back into the PS3. The time is right. Perhaps not Firmware 2.7, but how's about a massive update with 3.0?

5 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:22:14 PM

Good point, it's like I said before, lots of people would rather sell that 100 dollar PS2, get maybe 50 or 60 out of it and then put that towards a PS3 if they want to upgrade. Not everyone is like us and collects consoles.

2 up, 0 down

Cavan
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:57:38 AM
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What ben just posted sorta backs up what am trying to say, for the first time gamer market, u can either buy a ps2 for 99dollas or buy an xbox arcade, and have hd gaming for a little more ( not sure on the american price for the console but i dont think its much more) the ps2 i think is in competition with the arcade for the casual market, and i think even the casual market, even young kids who are just buying there 1st console, if they ahd a choice xbox arcade or ps2, they would know the xbox is newer and therefore they would buy that when theres not much of a price diff

2 up, 0 down

slugga_status
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:00:19 AM
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This was really weak by Sony. I mean why hype it up as if it's something that will blow our socks off. Then turn around and say "hey PS2 for $99." Real lame.

3 up, 1 down

Gone
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:01:42 AM
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Wow, this is how Sony gives us backwards capability. I have a big announcement, Sony's PR department blows big chunks.

Last edited by Gone on 3/31/2009 11:04:10 AM

3 up, 0 down

The Stig
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:36:16 AM

Sony said that they wouldn't be giving us backwards compatability so how is Sony's PR blowing chunks?

0 up, 1 down

Gone
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:48:57 AM

I was being sarcastic (instead of them giving us b/c they give us a price cut on the PS2). Sony's PR or who ever said they had a big announcement and this is what they give us.

By the way, when is TG coming back on? I saw a clip with the Black Stig coming out of the ocean.

2 up, 1 down

The Stig
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 5:41:49 PM

Sorry, I misunderstood.

Dunno about TG, I haven't seen any clips about the black stig. lol, I knew he couldn't really be dead.

0 up, 1 down

Karosso
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:01:59 AM
Reply

They just want to try and still some of the Wii's thunder with the cheap PS2!
Let the PS2 rest in peace and get the PS3 on all 12 cylinders already!
I hardly see any advertising for the PS3, or any of its games. Just get your act together Sony...
This could be the year you take the crown back, don't take your eyes off the ball!

4 up, 0 down

offshore
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:03:23 AM
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This is a complete anti-climax in every sense of the word.

By announcing this announcement things were only going to culminate into the frustration of many gamers who wanted something bigger announced i.e. a PS3 drop, or an exclusive, or new firmware.

If they had just said nothing and just announced the PS2 drop out of the blue it would have been a pleasant surprise.

Granted, it probably won't have silenced the people who wanted a PS3 drop, but it only makes it worse to drum up something which does not justify a pre-announcement.

4 up, 2 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:05:40 AM

No. You're viewing this wrong. Read my previous post above.

If YOU feel let down, it has nothing whatsoever to do with Sony. It's just that you gave into artificial hype, NOT constructed by Sony.

Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 3/31/2009 11:06:32 AM

5 up, 5 down

offshore
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:18:35 AM

I've got to disagree with you Ben.

"this really ISN'T for the hardcore gamers"....then why tip a dedicated gaming site in Kotaku about it?

Hardcore gamers do read Kotaku; non-hardcore gamers probably don't, so who were/are Sony trying to reach by tipping Kotaku and Smart House and announcing things on the PlayStation Blog?

It certainly won't be non hardcore gamers.

You only have to look at the negative comments posted on the PS Blog...those gamers were well aware that something was happening...because they read about it on dedicated gaming sites.

PS2 sales may now improve, but this is a PR blunder by Sony.

3 up, 0 down

offshore
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:18:35 AM

Hopefully E3 will bring better PR and news.

Last edited by offshore on 3/31/2009 11:19:39 AM

2 up, 0 down

Jordahn
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:24:47 AM

@ Offshore

I agree that non-hardcore gamers normally do not read gaming websites. Since this is the case and using your logic, why report anything casual gaming news related on any site??? You've gotta reported it somewhere. You're making excuses.

2 up, 1 down

The Stig
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:43:02 AM

Sorry Ben, gotta agree with Offshore on this one. By Sony saying "hey, we are gonna make an announcment on tuesday" what did they expect was gonna happen. Of course the hype was gonna build. They should have just kept quiet about it til today.

2 up, 0 down

dso8515
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 12:33:10 PM

Yeah I've got to agree here too. Yes, hardcore gamers are in the minority compared to everyone else. This announcement was definitely geared towards casual gamers, we can all agree on that. Casual gamers aren't ones to search the internet every day for a possible announcement coming from Sony about a PS3 price drop or some other information concerning the PS3. Like someone else said, Sony could have just announced a PS2 price cut today without any advance info about a "big announcement" happening today. Kind of short-sighted on Sony's part in my opinion.

1 up, 0 down

Alienange
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 9:22:31 PM

You guys are all assuming that a PS2 price drop is not interesting to a "hard core" gamer. That it's a let down some how. Sorry, but "hard core" gamers are the ones who break PS2s. The ones who buy a second PS2 for the cottage. They're also the ones who talk others into getting a console of their own. Sony's PR hit the target my friends. As soon as you tell your non "hard core" friends about it, the online announcement has done it's job.

2 up, 1 down

yak4life85
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:06:34 AM
Reply

If we didnt get a ps3 price drop we should had got at least a new firmware update with new browser!

1 up, 0 down

telly
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:09:18 AM
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@Ben, no one is arguing a lower price point for PS2 sucks. We're annoyed Sony announced an announcement days in advance and that it was underwhelming when it came. Sony should absolutely take note of Nintendo's policies -- courting the casual crowd is fine, but if you go overboard like Nintendo you alienate us hardcore mofos. Get paid, Sony, get paid. But don't expect me or anyone on this kind of board to cheer lame announcements like these.

2 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:10:48 AM

Yeah, that's the thing. They DIDN'T "announce an announcement days in advance." No official representative stepped forward and said any such thing.

The info was leaked by Kotaku initially, and it spiraled from there. Sony clearly had no intention of saying anything until this press release.

3 up, 3 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:26:11 PM

But when they contacted a gomer-site like Kotaku, did they REALLY think this cat wouldn't be let out of the bag?

2 up, 0 down

Daedusian
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:11:24 AM
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I hope this is the last PS2 announcement from Sony for.ev.er.

3 up, 1 down

556pineapple
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 4:47:05 PM

There will probably be one more at least, that's when they'll announce they ceased production on the PS2, as they did with the PS1 3 years ago.

2 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:11:54 AM
Reply

Yeah, there WAS a time when ALL gamers were hardcore.

That was like...1987, tho. :(

6 up, 3 down

crapreviews
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:14:47 AM

ahhh the good old days :)

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:27:21 PM

I was so hardcore I owned every Mario, even the one on Atari!!

1 up, 0 down

telly
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:18:09 AM
Reply

Ben: so you're saying Sony DIDN'T notify the gaming press ahead of time that they would make an announcement today? because Kotaku and others sure are reporting Sony tipped them to a March 31 announcement. If Sony didn't want them to report it ahead of time, they could have merely said "embargoed" and the "news" would have stayed quiet until today.

From Kotaku:

"Sony dropped Kotaku a line to let us know that something is going down on Tuesday, March 31st. Could it be the long-rumored price cut is finally upon us?"

http://kotaku.com/5187660/what-is-sony-announcing-on-tuesday

From Smarthouse:
"Big PS3 Announcement Tipped This Week "

http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Gaming/Industry/E8V5R9D3

1 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 12:23:57 PM

You're not getting this. Sony doesn't just "drop one specific source a line" if they want to announce something. All that means is that a Sony rep let something slip; there was no official press release because that goes to every source.

The press release we got today is the first official word on the matter. That's all.

6 up, 3 down

zerostar39
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:23:04 AM
Reply

what if tomorrow they are like "April fools! The ps3 gets a price cut too!"

I highly doubt it but it'd be cool

5 up, 1 down

telly
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:25:35 AM

Now THAT'S how you do an announcement!

3 up, 1 down

crawdaddy
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:46:55 AM
Reply

As another post said, "This is lame". Everyone already knew this. It has been on every other game site for days. Besides, the whole world already owns ps2's. This is not likely to produce a jump in sales like lowering the price on the ps3 would have. A reasonable price of 299.00 on the ps3 would double or even triple ps3 sales. The whole world wants a ps3 but can't afford to pay, or are just unwilling to pay what most see as too high of a price. It should have been ps3 price drop, and not ps2 price drop.

2 up, 1 down

Ultimadream
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:47:53 AM
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PS2's past it, i havent seen a new game that looked half decent for ages.... Kingdom Hearts II was the last new game i think i got. though ive had my PS3 for a year and a half now.

1 up, 0 down

XxTotalzxX
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 11:58:38 AM
Reply

For crying out loud...
I was expecting something really special to be unveiled today; a new IP maybe, something from team ICO, maybe a firmware update, at least something PS3 related. But once again Sony has conned us all and its friggin super mega ultimate announcement is a price cut for a ten year old system you can buy second hand for 30 quid anyway. Shame on you Sony! Get your act together, and start focusing on your new...no wait - CURRENT GENERATION console rather than clinging onto the glory days of the PS2. It's over Sony, get up to date and let the PS2 die a dignified, well remembered death. Rather than drag it out until its final game is a sh**ty movie tie in like 'Shrek the fifth 2: More f***ing ogres' or 'Hannah Montana the official game of officially the most retarded show on earth'. PLEASE!!!

2 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:29:48 PM

LOL @ More effing Ogres

0 up, 1 down

XxTotalzxX
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 10:58:51 AM

Ok I think I may have gone a bit OTT...
And I am eating my words today. Sorry Ben, thought the announcement was more anticipated than it was and I guess after the announcement of the PS3 drop today I look like a bit of a fool.

0 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 12:29:16 PM
Reply

I'll try and explain this again. Some of you are being extraordinarily egocentric.

Sony executives weren't sitting around in a boardroom somewhere saying, "hey, let's tease the gamers with a huge announcement when we know a PS2 price drop isn't huge." ...none of that is logical.

It isn't Sony's job to try to counter hype generated by sources. It's your job to view the situation without being led by rumor and speculation. Kotaku and other sources said Sony will announce something on Tuesday, and so they did. Sony never once said it'd be anything earth-shattering and being part of the press, we see "so-and-so will announce such-and-such on this-and-this date" every single day.

I will always call out Sony for lame ad campaigns and things like that, but in this case, this is nothing more than a tiny group of hardcore gamers acting all peevish and sullen going, "damn, this isn't what I wanted."

...as if Sony promised anything in the first place.

4 up, 3 down

zerostar39
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:24:12 PM

haha. it's no use ben...

0 up, 1 down

telly
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:24:34 PM

We obviously disagree on this, Ben, and that's fine with me. But as a PR professional, I can assure you I never notified reporters a day before an announcement unless I thought the announcement qualified as "big." $30 off PS2 did not warrant a heads up to reporters beforehand. Sony knows damn well what will happen when they tell reporters to keep their ears open for an announcement on Day X, and what the gaming public will think when they hear beforehand of the Day X announcement. If they don't want expectations raised, they shouldn't leak a "heads up" to the press beforehand.

This is all besides the point, really. I thought the PS2 price cut announcement was lame, and there's nothing anyone can do to change my mind. You and some others think it's not fair to dislike the news for some reason. You yourself admit this was an announcement geared towards the casual gamer. As I said in an earlier post, I don't care if Sony wants to go after casual gamers. But if I think any news from any company is lame, I'm going to say so.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:30:55 PM

But wasn't the word "global" used, that kind of indicates massiveness.

1 up, 1 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 2:34:03 PM

telly: That's exactly the point you're missing. Sony didn't "announce the announcement." If this was the case, we would've had a press release for the press release. You said you wouldn't make any announcement for an announcement unless it was a big deal.

Yeah. Neither did they. I also made no mention of saying whether or not people should "like" the news. That has nothing to do with anything; I don't care one way or the other what people think of it.

Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 3/31/2009 2:35:54 PM

2 up, 1 down

Highlightreel
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:02:13 PM
Reply

Lol. These posts repeat every 6 posts or so, then Ben has to defend himself again. SONY didn't say crap to make this lame announcement a 'lie'. It's all internet hype. We all wish there was a great PS3 announcement, but it wasn't promised, so no one should blame SONY.

Last edited by Highlightreel on 3/31/2009 1:03:24 PM

1 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:37:17 PM
Reply

I get what Ben's saying, that nothing was official until today, and ultimately the announcement affects no one here but here's my reasoning for being let down:

"Global Announcement" kind of means "This is gonna be big people"

Waiting until a few days AFTER GDC to drop this news so that it doesn't get lost in other announcements reeks once again of "This is big enough that we need people to take notice"

And leaking that info to Kotaku pretty much guarantees that it will be broadcast (And I DO think that is what they wanted since announcements about announcements are popular these days)

That is how I think they sneakily DID cause hype over the announcement, even if most of the rest of it came from widespread panic across the internets.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:43:33 PM
Reply

Dear God, here's a feather for Ben's cap concerning that old article about MS needing to shut up. They are already badmouthing this price drop:

http://kotaku.com/5192250/microsoft-discounts-ps2-price-cut

2 up, 0 down

Gregory Freeman
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:46:28 PM
Reply

one sony staff slips, and you get an uproar of pissed off, toarch & pitchfork weilding h/core gaming mob forming all over the internets... lol sony should invest in duct tape like red green... "it fixes all the leaks"

2 up, 1 down

Daedusian
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 7:03:19 PM

LOL! I freaking love the Red Green Show!!

Last edited by Daedusian on 3/31/2009 7:04:37 PM

0 up, 1 down

crawdaddy
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 2:21:55 PM
Reply

Look! This is just another example that Sony doesn't have a clue what is going on. The wii is so popular for one that it is geared toward the casual gamer, and it is relatively inexpensive, and it has really good graphics (not as good as ps3 ect...) but much much better than ps2. If Sony wants to break into the casual gamer market, they should do it with something like an upgraded ps2 with really good graphics ect..., and that is relatively inexpensive like 199.00 or something. A 99.00 out of date system that everyone already owns will not do it. It will have to be a better system that does not cost much. Instead of lowering the price of the ps2, thay should upgrade the ps2, and heavily market it towards the casual gamer. Sony just don't get it!

Last edited by crawdaddy on 3/31/2009 2:37:36 PM

2 up, 1 down

TheHighlander
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 2:47:26 PM

Alright, how? Take any PS3 game that has a mandatory install. Now, to be a PS3, any 'stripped down' model must be able to play PS3 software including games with mandatory installs. Therefore the minimum specification for a ps3 is as follows;

Standard PS3 motherboard with Cell, RSX and all memory and components such as BlueTooth, USB and Ethernet. BluRay drive to play PS3 game discs, Hard disc for game installs, system updates, downloadable content and save files. Throw in a controller. That is the bare minimum specification of a PS3. That is incidentally the spec of the PS3 as it stands. No extra USB ports, no card reader, no PS2 chipset. Just the basic PS3 components and an 80GB HDD. A cheaper HDD would make zero difference since 80GB is essentially as cheap as 20GB, probably cheaper since the 20GB drives are in limited production/availability.

So, what exactly do Sony cut out of the PS3 to make it a stripped down box? Folks need to get some perspective. Xbox360 arcade has no wireless, no bluetooth, no hard disc and no HD video playback. Is it any wonder it's cheaper?

2 up, 1 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 2:52:37 PM

so 150 millions people is everyone right? i tohught more people existed in the world, oh well

0 up, 1 down

Alienange
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 9:33:35 PM

Wow TheHighlander, that's just crazy talk. crawdaddy was talking about an upgraded PS2. I kinda hear him on that. Why can't Sony have two consoles on the go? No one would waste time making casual crap games for the PS3, they could just do it for the PS2.5

1 up, 0 down

Qubex
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 9:59:53 PM

No Alienange, that would be the wrong strategy and a complete waste of money!

Q!

"i am home"

Last edited by Qubex on 3/31/2009 10:00:11 PM

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TheHighlander
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 11:51:34 PM

@Alienage

Yeah, I see that NOW, but when I wrote the reply I think I was replying to a though in another comment, and replied to the wrong one, but once you send a reply, it's not possible to edit or remove it (so far as I can see).

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slugga_status
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 2:27:33 PM
Reply

Now that I think about it Sony never said it was a PS3 announcement. Technically this announcement was global. So "technically" speaking Sony did nothing wrong.

I think WorldEndsWithMe said it best though, this should've been something announced at GDC instead of after. What really was the point of announcing this after GDC. I think that's what really made "hardcore" gamers think it would be something massive.

Even though Ben is right...it was still lame. All we can do is hope that Sony finally gives us back b/c...even though I doubt it.

1 up, 0 down

crawdaddy
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 2:47:53 PM

It's not really about the announcement. It is more like it's about the lack of an announcement. Who cares if a ps2 price dropped a whopping 30.00. Big deal! you can buy a used one just about anywhere for little of nothing.

2 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 2:54:48 PM

@crawdaddy

Oddly enough, even though we have two PS3s with BC (60GB full hardware version) in our house, I would definitely consider getting a PS2 slim now. Because at $99 it's a really cheap way of absolutely ensuring that my PS2 game favorites will remain playable into the next decade. I can just unpack it, test it works, and then box the sucker up again. That way I have it just in case the PS3s stop working. Kind of a $99 insurance policy for my PS2 game collection.

2 up, 0 down

moose88
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 4:33:35 PM

@ Highlander ... you want a PS2. I guess some people do dig that kind of thing. There are plenty of folks who don't have a PS2 yet, and I'm sure sales of the old tech will surge again. That's fair.
However, I'm not one to wake up in the morning and find I have an immediate hankering to hunker down with some gaming history.

1 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 5:36:37 PM

@moose

My old PS2 is one of the original US launch models, and the dvd has been adjusted so many times it's a miracle that it still reads any discs, let along games *and* DVDs, but one day it will die, and that will be that. I have a good game collection from the PS2, and right now my PS3 can play them. Unless Sony is kind enough to restore PS2 compatibility, that may not always be the case, purchasing a $99 slim PS2 now, or in the foreseeable future is an insurance against that, I don't relish losing access to my game library. I may not play them often, but if the mood took me to play Xenosaga, I'd be kinds disappointed if I had no way to do so. You know?

Sure not everyone is in the boat I am, I was simply pointing out that at $99 the PS2 slim is definitely edging into impulse buy territory for some, and a fairly easy to justify purchase for others. Good grief, the Wii comes with no HSS, and is not capable of pushing better graphics that the PS2 - 480p max. Now the PS2 is $99, you can afford to buy a PS2, half a dozen greatest hit games and still have enough left over to go purchase a pair of wireless controllers for your shiny new console, all for the price of a Wii. That's a pretty good deal considering that PS2 has just as many or more 'must have' games as the Wii does.

If I mask out the Xbox360 and SP3 gaming communities, then this announcement is a huge one because the competition is selling their console at $250, and as I pointed out in the previous paragraph, that $250 will get you a PS2, half a dozen games and a paire of wireless controllers.

Apparently this cut doesn't extend to the UK. That's an interesting facet of this because it absolutely confirms how Sony views the Wii. Nintendo recently bumped the price of a Wii in the UK up, so Sony has no reason to cut the price 0f the PS2 there since the competition just raised their price.

So, when evaluating this news, we should all be thinking in terms of the standard definition TV and or casual gaming market, not the high definition ands/or hardcore gaming market.

2 up, 1 down

Qubex
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:01:13 PM

I may just pick up a PS2 now!

Q!

"i am home"

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Robertson99
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 4:39:32 PM
Reply

This is the "big" announcement? I was expecting something half exciting. By the way, I heard there was an update coming this Thursday (2nd April). 2.70 or something? Is there truth behind this? And if so what does it include?

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Daedusian
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 7:12:43 PM

If it's 2.70 (which I hope it is) it may or may not include the following:

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3172880

Firmware 2.70 was supposed to release the week of GDC (last week) but they had some technical difficulties or something. So this is most likely it as they said sometime April.

Last edited by Daedusian on 3/31/2009 7:14:30 PM

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moose88
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 4:42:18 PM
Reply

I'm an older gamer (pushing 40 now).
I don't want to boot up the old TRS-80 with the tape drive and wait an hour to play a Donkey Kong clone with pixels the size of dinner plates.
I'm not keen to plug in the Apple IIe and play some LoTR in green screen.
I loved Sonic on my Mega Drive and plyed it for weeks on end without another game interrupting, but I'm not happy to stick with it now.
The PS1 ruled my world and I had a job and lots of money for games - but I don't have them know (but I still have a job)
The XBOX blew me away and Buffy and I had a special relationship - until I met my wife.
The PS2 was the jewel in gaming's crown - I managed 94.1% in GT3 - and sold that memory card at auction on a cruise ship for $200.

Now I have a PS3 (after a brief stop with the 360) and I'm happy as Larry. New games, shiny BD and all the online I have time for.

I'm not going backwards. I know that their are peeps still coming forwards and they are welcome to the PS2 greatness, and I guess that is who is being targeted by the price fix ... I mean 'drop'.

So Bully for you. But I'd rather they saved a bit longer and came to play with the rest of us.

1 up, 0 down

karneli lll
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 5:00:01 PM
Reply

Currently,Sony is like a really hot chick with a peanut for a brain. But i have to agree with ms on this one;its about the present (and future)not the past.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 5:12:08 PM

I think they are praying PS2 will be a gateway drug to the PS3.

0 up, 1 down

556pineapple
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 5:08:01 PM
Reply

This is the exact news I was expecting. A PS3 price drop would have been cool, but I already have a PS3, and even with another price drop, I wouldn't want to spend the money on a second one, because, honestly, I don't need a second one. I'd rather save that money for games or build a decent gaming/media PC.

I didn't get my hopes up for this announcement because every speculation I read on it predicted it would be the final PS2 price drop. I agree with Ben at the fact that the reason anybody here feels let down, is due to the fact that they got their hopes up and invested themselves in the hype built up by other sources. This had nothing to do with Sony misleading anybody. All that happened here was speculation by other people and sources. Sony now has a chance to expand their demographics into the casual gaming community, where Nintendo has excelled with the Wii, and I for one don't blame them for taking it.

Last edited by 556pineapple on 3/31/2009 5:09:45 PM

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kevinater321
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 5:21:19 PM
Reply

i was dissapointed about the price drop because i was really expecting something to do with a playstation 3. Anyway i already have like four PS2's so i won't benifit from this but i really think that SONY should make a alternative console. Like just a upgraded PS2 like the Nintendo DS did with the DS lite and ow the DS I (which looks really cool). But like upgrade the system so it can like match the WII or so and include a higher grade of motion sensor. Make it use DVD'd not vlueray to cut the cost and make it easy to make games on. The idea of the sixence controller looks really cool and would be very cool if playstation designed a personall console for it. But i'm pretty sure the WII would still be ahead just because it would be easier. The sales would rise quikly and sony would possible win over the WII.

3 up, 0 down

Bling Bling
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 7:30:55 PM
Reply

Alas, if only the 2 were changed to a 3.

1 up, 0 down

Robochic
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 8:21:42 PM
Reply

I agree with bens posts, i was very mislead by a website that for one said it was a BIG exciting thing and for the PS3 and then when they announced i was like what? Thank you Ben for clearing it up for me :) I'll be getting a PS2 next week i know weird but i want one just incase, i have a 20gig ps3 full B/C but stuff happens and i know i wouldn't get my system back. So for a back up plus i would rather have my 4 yr old play a PS2 or the Wii then my PS3. diego dinasours here we come LOL.

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Karosso
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 8:43:36 PM
Reply

Yeah right... for all of you talking about getting a PS2 so that you can play your old PS2 games in case your PS3 dies and you end up with a no B/C PS3, I have one question for you...
Have you try playing a PS2 game on a 42" HDTV? It looks like crap! simple as that you just can't reaqlly enjoy it at all. You better buy a CRT TV in case you can still find one and save them together for later... worthless news anyways, nothing to see here, move along, move along.

1 up, 1 down

crawdaddy
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 9:06:57 PM

Yeah! My 60 gig ps3 bricked, and I have been trying to play some ps2 games, and they do look like crap on a hdtv. They look kind of like a ps1 pixeled game. Very crappy! Not much fun!

1 up, 0 down

Alienange
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 9:41:37 PM
Reply

Now if only I could find a PS2 in stores. Who's selling them? Anybody know?

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BikerSaint
Friday, April 03, 2009 @ 5:55:52 PM

Not sure about new PS2's, but if your in the states, Gamestop had a bunch used PS2's for 79.99(before the price drop), so I would supspect that they should be even a bit cheaper than that now.
***********************************

I guess this price drop will be good for the new casual's that entering gaming.
Plus they can find a lot of good games in the bargain bins, from $9.99 all the way down to 2.99(hell, I've even manged to find a for 99 cents.

I'm a "preowned" games collector myself, always checking for used games/accessories in the bargain bins, & just picked up a bunch of PS2 stuff.
Got a pair of used Logitech wireless controllers for 9.99 each, a set of 4-person Buzz game contollers for 4.99, and another $15 got me an Eye Toy(4.99), & 2 eye toy games, ET Antigrav(3.99) & ET Groove(3.99).

The only downside I see with the PS2 pricedrop is for myself, because once all the new casual's start buying PS2's, there won't be a hell of a lot of cheap PS2 stuff left over for me to buy.

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Gone
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 9:59:53 PM
Reply

Has anyone tried the PS2 emulator for the PC?

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Qubex
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 10:03:57 PM

Lol! Yhea, that is a bright idea... and it is free!

Q!

"i am home"

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PaiNT_kinG
Friday, April 03, 2009 @ 1:43:16 AM
Reply

huh,WTF??????

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NoGood
Sunday, April 05, 2009 @ 10:31:01 PM
Reply

I am a hardcore gamer, and I think it is great that Sony lowered the price!!! This week I will be buying another PS2 to use as a back up for when my other Ps2's break.

Honestly, I think you people were foolish to rush out and buy the PS3 !!!! You spent a ton of money and have only a handful of good games to play. LOL !!!!

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