Death of a legend: PSX production halts
Out-priced PlayStation DVD recorder hybrid dream fades
There are reports doing the rounds today that claim the PSX, Sony Consumer Electronics’ PlayStation 2/DVD recorder hybrid was a white elephant, as news breaks that its run of production has come to an end.
SPOnG disagrees. Although wildly overpriced with an asking price of around £500, the PSX filled its place in the market perfectly. “So rich that you can afford to throw out your old PlayStation 2 and replace it with an overpriced DVD recorder and HDD? Style your prime concern? Then buy one of these!” Releasing the PSX was, in a way, Sony daring the upper echelons of electronics adopters to make a purchase that arguably was foolish and unnecessary.
And they took up the challenge in droves. Massive pre orders saw the unit sell out straight away and in spite of some well–documented issues with early reworks, initial support was strong.
However, as with every occasion the emperor gets a flashy (there’s a brilliant pun in there somewhere) wardrobe, some punk-ass kid has to shout up. Only this time he was shouting, “Look mummy, those stupid people are paying twice the price they need to for a DVD recorder and hard drive combo and they’re going to throw their PlayStations away to boot!”
There is an upside for those still lighting a nightly candle in hope of the PSX’s emergence into western territories. Sony Consumer Electronics always maintained that the device would see retail outside of Japan. Sony Stores in the UK received preliminary information on the PSX. Add this to the fact that SCE has not (yet) stated production will end forever and you’ll begin to see that actually, we’re just keeping your thin hopes alive. Some would argue rather sadistically.
If the situation changes, you’ll be the first to know.
SPOnG disagrees. Although wildly overpriced with an asking price of around £500, the PSX filled its place in the market perfectly. “So rich that you can afford to throw out your old PlayStation 2 and replace it with an overpriced DVD recorder and HDD? Style your prime concern? Then buy one of these!” Releasing the PSX was, in a way, Sony daring the upper echelons of electronics adopters to make a purchase that arguably was foolish and unnecessary.
And they took up the challenge in droves. Massive pre orders saw the unit sell out straight away and in spite of some well–documented issues with early reworks, initial support was strong.
However, as with every occasion the emperor gets a flashy (there’s a brilliant pun in there somewhere) wardrobe, some punk-ass kid has to shout up. Only this time he was shouting, “Look mummy, those stupid people are paying twice the price they need to for a DVD recorder and hard drive combo and they’re going to throw their PlayStations away to boot!”
There is an upside for those still lighting a nightly candle in hope of the PSX’s emergence into western territories. Sony Consumer Electronics always maintained that the device would see retail outside of Japan. Sony Stores in the UK received preliminary information on the PSX. Add this to the fact that SCE has not (yet) stated production will end forever and you’ll begin to see that actually, we’re just keeping your thin hopes alive. Some would argue rather sadistically.
If the situation changes, you’ll be the first to know.
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
Pandaman 23 Feb 2005 22:27
1/5
Sony PSX
2004-2005
2004-2005
kid_77 24 Feb 2005 09:00
2/5
Alan is my first name wrote:
Sony PSX
2004-2005
2004-2005
What a great legacy it leaves behind *sniff*
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LUPOS 24 Feb 2005 12:49
3/5
Alan is my first name wrote:
Sony PSX
2004-2005
2004-2005
WOW... that is an impressive legacy... almost as specaular as that of the much reviered (spelling?) Virtual Boy.
DoctorDee 24 Feb 2005 12:52
4/5
kid_77 wrote:
What a great legacy it leaves behind *sniff*
I'd still have gladly given my £500 for one, had they ever released it over here.
Stef's finger pointing at the price is drastically mistaken. A decent DVD recorder is still £250, doesn't have HDD recording, and doesn't have a PS2 built in.
The PSX was perfectly good value for money.
The problem anyone making HDD recorders for the UK market faces is Sky's closed monopoly - it is effectively impossible to compete with Sky+, because no other system enables you to have a built in Sky decoder, so no other unit can be a single box solution.
But if Sky continues to not offer a DVD recorder, thus frocing us to have two boxes, it opens the door to compeition. If we have to have two boxes, one can be an NTL/Freeview/whatever decoder and the other a combined DVD/HD recorder... That PSX still looks pretty tasty to me.
Joji 24 Feb 2005 15:22
5/5
I always felt it was too early for it anyway. Those who want to endulge can always bag one on import still, would be a nice rare gaming item with time.
Next time Sony, dont do this sort of thing with two new Sony machines (PSP and PS3) on the horizon.
Perhaps if they had waited til after PS3s launch it would have sold more and made more sense. Live and learn.
Next time Sony, dont do this sort of thing with two new Sony machines (PSP and PS3) on the horizon.
Perhaps if they had waited til after PS3s launch it would have sold more and made more sense. Live and learn.
