CNN: PS2 Price Cut?

[Evil Avatar]

Sony quietly revealed Thursday that it would be shipping more PS2's than originally planned this holiday season, whipping up more talk of a possible price cut at or around the time of the Xbox 360's launch. This week's Game Over column at CNN/Money (http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/27/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/) looks at the possibility of a price cut and why it might or might not happen.

The time is coming for a PS2 price cut, even if it's not this holiday season. The system has been holding at $149 since May 2004. (Sony actually didn't want to cut prices at the time, but once Xbox sales surged after a similar cut in March, it was forced to respond.)

[Heretic Machine]

...Who doesn't have a PS2 that actually wants one?

[Goronmon]

Putting the system at $99 would sell a huge amount of hardware...

[Goronmon]

...Who doesn't have a PS2 that actually wants one?
Maybe to replace a hardly/non working one, or to go for the smaller version.

[fitbabits]

...Who doesn't have a PS2 that actually wants one?
That's a good question. The only answer I can come up with is the people whose PS2s crapped out on them.

[Goronmon]

You also have parents who can't afford to spend $500 on a new console with younger kids who just want something to play on for the holidays.

[Blade]

I don't own one and perhaps would like to, for the right price.

[screwtape]

I've never owned a PS2, but there's enough games to interest me - Shadows of the Colossus, God of War and many platformers immediately spring to mind. I may get a PS2 and a bunch of games and wait until the 360 is a bit cheaper with a larger games library.

[Kefkataran]

I've never owned a PS2, but there's enough games to interest me - Shadows of the Colossus, God of War and many platformers immediately spring to mind. I may get a PS2 and a bunch of games and wait until the 360 is a bit cheaper with a larger games library.

Definitely not a bad idea, and definitely the individuals this price cut would target. Wouldn't be a bad move.

[Captain Awesome]

Is this the PS2 that comes with anti-aliasing?

[TrackZero]

...Who doesn't have a PS2 that actually wants one?

Exactly. I was almost tempted myself, to finally bite the bullet and get it just for the few choice games I've not been able to play on my Xbox/Gamecube/PC, but the guy at EB actually turned me off from it, he started explaining all the problems with the slimline PS2s. So then he goes on talking about the new silver one coming out though that should address some of those issues, to which I tell him, the new silver one isn't properly compatible with a bunch of games.

Anyways, yeah. Wooo, cheap PS2s.

[TrackZero]

Is this the PS2 that comes with anti-aliasing?

No man, it's jaggies for life. I wouldn't be surprised if the PS3 still has them.

[fitbabits]

Is this the PS2 that comes with anti-aliasing?
No, it's the one that's incompatible with a bunch pf PS2 and PS1 games.

[see colon]

Is this the PS2 that comes with anti-aliasing?
aliasing? i see no aliasing in ps2 games. everything looks just like it does in real life. are you guys saying you can't saw wood with your forarms?

[Worldcrafter]

...Who doesn't have a PS2 that actually wants one?

Recently, I've heard a fair number of people saying they are on the fence about getting a PS2. I'm sure a price drop would help that.

[rein]

Exactly. I was almost tempted myself, to finally bite the bullet and get it just for the few choice games I've not been able to play on my Xbox/Gamecube/PC, but the guy at EB actually turned me off from it, he started explaining all the problems with the slimline PS2s. So then he goes on talking about the new silver one coming out though that should address some of those issues, to which I tell him, the new silver one isn't properly compatible with a bunch of games.

Anyways, yeah. Wooo, cheap PS2s.

He is full of it... I get just as many returned Xboxs these days as I do PS2s. I get maybe one or two slimline PS2s a month returned. I sell on average 25 a month. Same thing goes for Xbox systems. We get older model PS2s returned more than anything but it is because they are old, abused, or rebuilt by someone making minimum wage.

[Heretic Machine]

I've heard the slimline has some serious issues with overheating, so I would suggest getting a regular one if that's still an option and you have no good reason to get a slim.

Also, keep in mind that if you don't have a PS2 (or Gamecube for that matter) then you should buy one now. There are great games from this generation on all the consoles, and at this price you really should have all of them.

[JediSanf]

I don't know about the rest of you but when I was a kid there was an implicit price ceiling in my Christmas wish list. If I was an enterprising 7-12 year old (And thus missed the intial release of PS2) I 'd be weighing my options against a $99 PS2 with games/other stuff or a $399 360 with 1 or 2 games and nothing else. Even as an adult I'm having to make that decision against the heady rush of a new console vs. more great games for my older equipment.

BTW, the great games faction has pretty much won. At least for now.

[Rakael]

Had I not already invested in the slimline a few months ago, I would snatch one up if they drop prices.

For those who don't own one, there are a ton of great games out there. Everything from platformers to jRPGs and beyond. Like Sony or not (I don't), their system had the most support last gen and thusly there are more great games than can be counted.

I'll actually be buying more games for the PS2/GC instead of trying to get a 360 at lauch like I had previously planned. Main reason being that I can't get an HDTV in time, and whats the point in playing a 360 on a regular TV?

[Borys]

So any bets, EAers?

$129 or $99?

Will it sell better than Xbox 360?

My bet is $129 and losing to 360 by 250-500K units.

[Rakael]

BTW, on the issues with the slimline PS2 such as overheating, I have played on mine for over ten hours straight with no overheatting issues. It just takes a bit of common sense when you place it. I'm sure if you set it on the carpet, yes it would overheat. Although, I did go on a six hour marathon one day and it was sitting on the carpet; still no problems out of it.

[The Iron Weasel]

That settles it I'm waiting for the price drop!

[JediSanf]

That settles it I'm waiting for the price drop!

And you'll get one... eventually. If not now then my money's on Q1 '06.

[Captain Awesome]

aliasing? i see no aliasing in ps2 games. everything looks just like it does in real life. are you guys saying you can't saw wood with your forarms?

hahahaha :p

[Zurik]

I'm hoping its a decent drop, as I'm getting one for my brother for christmas. I'm probably the only guy here that plays his ps2 more than xbox. In fact, I just recently sold my xbox, had almost no games for it. Still holding out on the 360, waiting to see what RPGs come out for it. Oblivion doesn't count, as I'm only interested in patchable/moddable versions of Elder Scrolls games.

[Worldcrafter]

I'm probably the only guy here that plays his ps2 more than xbox.

Nope. You've got company, especially with the last wave of good games. I think I play my gamecube more than I play my Xbox, but then again, I don't play on Live. I spend most of my time playing games on my PC.

[Venkman]

I will be getting a PS2. I have a job, but man oh man- the idea of spending $400 on a console and then up to $60 for a new game is getting harder to justify, especially when I don't know what the PS3 will truly be like. I will get one of the next gen systems when all are available in the future.

$100 for entry into the PS2 world, and all those older PS2 games I haven't played that I can now get cheap like DMC1+3, MGS3, Jak series, God of War, etc- they've convinced me.

Plus I really want Shadow of the Colossus ( I am a 3d artist, it appeals to me on an artsy level), and I want to play RE4 without getting a gamecube. I am a huge zombie fan. Having Stubbs the Zombie and RE4 in the same room will be too much for a fan like me. ;-)

I am an Xbox fanboy, but as we come to the end- all I care about is good games. And the PS2 has many that I want to play.

[bapenguin]

129.99 - gonna be close, depends on supply issues for MS, but 360 edges by 50k.

[Kelegacy]

You also have parents who can't afford to spend $500 on a new console with younger kids who just want something to play on for the holidays.

And that's why this move is extremely smart. Sony will move a shitload of units this Christmas, even though everyone in the world already owns one.

[Kelegacy]

I'm hoping its a decent drop, as I'm getting one for my brother for christmas. I'm probably the only guy here that plays his ps2 more than xbox. In fact, I just recently sold my xbox, had almost no games for it. Still holding out on the 360, waiting to see what RPGs come out for it. Oblivion doesn't count, as I'm only interested in patchable/moddable versions of Elder Scrolls games.

I play my PS2 much more as well. There are a bunch of Sony fans here on EvAv, but they are just more quiet than the MS crowd, I think. Except PumpedUp.

I still think Sony could sell more PS2s than MS will sell 360s this fall.

[Heretic Machine]

I'm betting $99, and it won't move anywhere near as many units as the 360. I think the market is too oversaturated with PS2's for this to make a big dent in the holiday season. Maybe it'll give'em a nice boost though, who knows.

In any case, if you buy a PS2 you must buy Disgaea. So says Perigon.

[Kefkataran]

I'm probably the only guy here that plays his ps2 more than xbox.

I don't even have an XBox. I know what you're thinking, how the hell did I get an EvAv membership? *Shrug*

[Kelegacy]

I don't even have an XBox. I know what you're thinking, how the hell did I get an EvAv membership? *Shrug*

You have a mouth like a Hoover, that's how.

[PSyMastR]

I dont have a PS2, and want one!
*Holds up Flame Shiled*

[Kelegacy]

I dont have a PS2, and want one!
*Holds up Flame Shiled*

You know, I ignored the consoles after the 32 bit era, because I got a PC for my high school graduation and jumped into PC gaming through college. I did buy a Dreamcast my freshman year, but it got ignored quickly, except for NFL 2k. My senior year, when I had an apartment with some friends, I bought a PS2 and it was the best console investment I've made this generation. The Xbox has grown on me over the last couple months (only owned it for a year) because the titles popping up on it are great quality (and my PC is starting to age once more). The GC would be my last choice, though it definitely has the most charm and heart of this current gen of consoles, and I've owned one only since Xmas.

So, get a friggin PS2 already. Hell, pick up all 3 consoles if they drop to 99 bucks (the GC is already there).

[Magnanimous Gnome]

...Who doesn't have a PS2 that actually wants one?


*Raises hand*

I have 5 games for the system that I picked up cheap, and many more that I want to play. I've just been waiting for the system to hit 100 dollars first. I won't buy it until then.

[mister_slim]

With a price drop I can see the PS2 outselling the 360 this Christmas (post-Christmas is another matter). I don't think the 360 has the supply chain to keep up and the PS2 would be a pretty tempting gift.