Sony Wants $99 PS2 To Snag Some Of The Wii's Market Share
See Full ImageNow that Sony has revealed the price drop for the PS2, we may be seeing the final hardware push for the aging machine. Sony also mentioned in the press release that they're looking to appeal more to the casual gaming crowd with new PS2 software - the price drop announcement itself is tailor-made for the growing number of casual gamers - which means...yep, it means it may be in direct competition with the Nintendo Wii.
Sony made specific mention of producing new PS2 games "that appeal to families and casual gamers looking for social entertainment experiences." And with the new and very attractive price tag, this could drop the PS2 into the same league as the Wii; they could be considered to cater to similar demographics. During a recent GamesIndustry.biz interview with SCEA Director of Hardware Marketing John Koller, it seems clear that Sony might want to snag a little of the Wii's market share away with this move. Said Koller:
"Yes, we do think the $99 price point could steal some share [from Wii]. From a technological standpoint, the Wii is much closer to the PS2 than it is to the next-gen consoles. It's obviously not an HD box and the software development is on a par with where PS2 development is, so that's a much more realistic and similar demographic."
Koller admits that Nintendo has done a "fantastic job of capturing young and female" gaming audiences, and if the PS2 wants to compete in that category, it has some work to do. And of course, the PS2 doesn't have that nifty motion sensing that has the entire non-gaming gadget-loving world in a tizzy. On the other hand, $99 for some great party games seems like a decent offer, and Sony is banking on that for continued success with their last-generation console.
Feel free to read that whole interview; they even talk a bit about PlayStation 3 pricing. They don't seem to mention the fact that it has already happened, though. Odd...
4/1/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (22 posts)
tu24
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 11:04:49 AM
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I just can't see any big good games coming out for the PS2 anymore. they're practically ports and those occasional JRPG's people are just waiting to come out, like Persona 4.
I know we'll end up just seeing huge greatest hits sections and collector packs at stores now. just to push the envelope on "oh we have a system at 99$ and tons of games at 20$ and 3-game packs at 30$"
which is a good idea. but as far as my PS2 is concerned, the last new good title it might see might be Okami.
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sunspider13
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 11:08:08 AM
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VinTheDean
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 11:23:57 AM
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convergecrew
Thursday, April 02, 2009 @ 3:41:16 AM
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Scarecrow
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 11:37:07 AM
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Nintendo is letting the Wii die out anyway
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crawdaddy
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 12:08:38 PM
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t think there is much of a market left for PS2.
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raztad
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 1:08:46 PM
Last edited by raztad on 4/1/2009 1:09:22 PM
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PS3addict
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 5:34:33 PM
The PS2 does look pretty good on my 50" 1080p screen with the settings slightly tweaked. My games are full screen and play, look, and sound preety good considering the age of the hardware.
Google "PS2 HDTV settings" to get it right.
I have a 500gb drive inside my PS2 that stores and plays alot of my games so I never need to switch disks.
I have close to 600 games for that system (Not all on drive), and it is always fun to jump onto memory lane and play some of the best games made. I am not one of the young guys, I have been gaming for over 25 years.
Last edited by PS3addict on 4/1/2009 5:34:54 PM
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raztad
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 7:49:14 PM
Good info there. I appreciate it.
Last edited by raztad on 4/1/2009 7:49:35 PM
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Tatsujin
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 10:53:56 PM
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bamf
Thursday, April 02, 2009 @ 10:44:33 PM
Some of the later PS2 games had 420p, like Guitar Hero 2 and with component you saw improvement on a 40" bravia. Also many later PS2 games had 16:9 aspect ratio. Is it true that he NA version of GoW 2 had 720p native or was upsaled to 720p?
I think Sony should have gone ahead with their 'magic wand' plans a few years ago. What Sony could have done is do a re-launch of a new looking model, maybe shrink it a little more or have it half the size in length but it would be double the thickness, so essentially the drive would be on top of the remaing hardware. bring out a better Eyetoy as good as the PSEye that would come with the PS2, also packed in would be the Magic Wand that you use in front of the EyeToy 2, to give you Wii type gaming controls. With a new brand of games to suit the style all at $99, I think all that would give it a good chance to get some market share from the Wii.
Many Wii owners are people who have never owned a console before and a new PS2 with the stuff above mentioned could be an attractive package.
Also 'Crawdaddy' the PS2 plays PS2 games which is bigger and way much better than gamecube games, it will also be able to play PS1 games too.
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Robochic
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 12:12:19 PM
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BeezleDrop
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 1:00:47 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 1:34:03 PM
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Oh well, to tell you the truth I hope it works for Sony and that I'm wrong about it being a failed attempt. In the end though, you just CAN'T complain about ANY console going down in price. What I can complain about is any marketing efforts that should go to PS3 games instead going to something like "PS2 Fitness".
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fatelementality
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 2:35:31 PM
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Gone
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 3:24:11 PM
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Last edited by Gone on 4/1/2009 3:27:50 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 3:58:47 PM
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End of line
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 6:02:32 PM
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Alienange
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 9:28:49 PM
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convergecrew
Thursday, April 02, 2009 @ 3:40:36 AM
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BikerSaint
Friday, April 03, 2009 @ 9:35:18 PM
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This price drop to $99 will be good for all the new casual & newbies that are now entering the gaming market.
Plus they can still find many good games(racks & racks of them still at Gamestop).
And also, in the bargain bins, priced from $9.99 all the way down to 2.99. Hell, I've even managed to find a couple now & then for 99 cents.
Since I'm a games collector myself, I'm always checking for used bargain bins for games and accessories that I don't own yet, & I've just picked up a bunch of PS2 stuff real cheap recently.
Got a pair of used Logitech wireless controllers(9.99 each), a set of 4-person Buzz game controllers(4.99), an Eye Toy(4.99), & 2 eye toy games, ET Antigrav(3.99) & ET Groove(3.99).
All the above only came to $39.96, & then another 10% got lopped off the total by using my discount card.
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The one downside I see with the PS2 price drop is for myself......but only because once all the new casual's start buying PS2's, there won't be a hell of a lot of used PS2 stuff left for me to acquire.
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Jordahn
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009 @ 11:04:15 AM