You know the PlayStation 2, that console that everyone you know - even old people and girls - have? It sold rather well. Very well in fact, with Sony Computer Entertainment today announcing that a staggering 100 million units have been shipped.
Launched five and a half years ago in Japan, the marketing that propped up Sony’s next-generation machine belied its initial lack of software, with DVD playback capabilities and the (delivered) promise of great games enough to cause frenzied interest in the console. Killing off the Dreamcast and neutering Nintendo GameCube, the PlayStation 2 has seen countless revisions, most notably the slimline version.
The breakdown of continental sales for PlayStation 2 is interesting. SCE revealed yesterday that Japanese gamers had bought 22 million, the smallest number (though easily the highest by populace) with Europeans adopting to the tune of 37 million. Gamers in the US saw fit to purchase 40 million PlayStation 2s, give or take a couple.
Since the PlayStation 2, Sony has dabbled in the handheld market, firing a Koopa Cannon across the bows of the Good Ship Nintendo with its PlayStation Portable. Although it suffered similar problems as its home console parent – early run build-quality issues and dire lack of software – adoption has been high. It is an indisputable fact of science that the PlayStation Portable is the most beautiful and adaptable piece of portable consumer electronics available at the moment.
The future sees the PlayStation 3 on the horizon, currently expected to debut in spring of 2006. This time Sony will have its work cut out for it, no longer having to merely see off a flagging Sega and delayed Nintendo. The Xbox 360 will have a strong footing in five or six months time and Nintendo is certainly planning on releasing what it sees as the alternative to traditional games machines before Sony releases its new monster. There is by no means a feeling of impending doom at Sony Computer Entertainment, though the future is unlikely to be as peachy as the current generation was for the electronics giant.
Launched five and a half years ago in Japan, the marketing that propped up Sony’s next-generation machine belied its initial lack of software, with DVD playback capabilities and the (delivered) promise of great games enough to cause frenzied interest in the console. Killing off the Dreamcast and neutering Nintendo GameCube, the PlayStation 2 has seen countless revisions, most notably the slimline version.
The breakdown of continental sales for PlayStation 2 is interesting. SCE revealed yesterday that Japanese gamers had bought 22 million, the smallest number (though easily the highest by populace) with Europeans adopting to the tune of 37 million. Gamers in the US saw fit to purchase 40 million PlayStation 2s, give or take a couple.
Since the PlayStation 2, Sony has dabbled in the handheld market, firing a Koopa Cannon across the bows of the Good Ship Nintendo with its PlayStation Portable. Although it suffered similar problems as its home console parent – early run build-quality issues and dire lack of software – adoption has been high. It is an indisputable fact of science that the PlayStation Portable is the most beautiful and adaptable piece of portable consumer electronics available at the moment.
The future sees the PlayStation 3 on the horizon, currently expected to debut in spring of 2006. This time Sony will have its work cut out for it, no longer having to merely see off a flagging Sega and delayed Nintendo. The Xbox 360 will have a strong footing in five or six months time and Nintendo is certainly planning on releasing what it sees as the alternative to traditional games machines before Sony releases its new monster. There is by no means a feeling of impending doom at Sony Computer Entertainment, though the future is unlikely to be as peachy as the current generation was for the electronics giant.
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
majin dboy 1 Dec 2005 12:16
1/1
it would be interesting to see how many of the 100million are pereat ownership. nearly everyone i know that has had the original ps2, thers has broke.