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History of video games/Platforms/PlayStation 2

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  • An original PS2
    An original PS2
  • A PS2 slim model
    A PS2 slim model

History edit

 
PlayStation 2 logotype.

Development edit

Sony first announced a successor console to the original PlayStation on March 2nd, 1999.[1] The announcement of the PlayStation 2 alone was enough to create a small boost to stock prices.[2]

Development kits for the PlayStation 2 were said to cost around $20,000.[3]

Launch edit

 
PlayStation 2 being sold in Taipei City Mall in 2006.

The PlayStation 2 was released in Japan on March 4th, 2000.[4] An highly anticipated launch with consumers sleeping outside in line to buy the console in spite of police orders to disperse, between 1 and 2 million PlayStation 2 consoles were sold in Japan on the first day of sales.[5][6]

The PlayStation 2 saw release in the United States on October 26th, 2000.[7]

The Slim PlayStation 2 was released in September of 2004.[8][9]

In December 2010 a Sony Bravia KDL-22PX300 TV was shown, featuring an integrated PlayStation 2.[10]

Legacy edit

The PlayStation 2 was followed by the PlayStation 3. Early models of the PlayStation 3 retained backwards compatibility with the PlayStation 2, with later models slowly reducing support and later drooping this system entirely. The immense library of the PlayStation 2 was a major selling point during the early days of PlayStation 3 sales, however the high price of the PlayStation 3 lead many gamers to stick to their PlayStation 2 for some time after the launch of the PlayStation 3. This, coupled with the major prior popularity of the system, lead publishers to continue to produce major PlayStation 2 games long after the launch of the PlayStation 3.

The PlayStation 2 had strong market performance into the seventh generation of consoles.[11]

Manufacturing for the PlayStation 2 stopped in 2013, having sold 150 million consoles.[12] The console maintained enduring popularity past that point however. New unofficial hardware mods were being developed for the PlayStation 2 late as 2021.[13]

Unorthodox uses edit

A PlayStation 2 based rendering computer, the GScube, was made by Sony for production of movie CGI.[14]

Technology edit

Compute edit

The PlayStation 2 uses the 128 bit Emotion Engine processor clocked at 300 MHz.[15] The Emotion Engine includes the MIPS III architecutre CPU, two vector units, as well as DSP functions.[16][17] The Emotion Engine has ten floating point multiply accumulators that help it send approprite data to the graphics processor quickly.[18] The console's floating point unit co processor is capable of 6.2GFLOPS.[15][19]

The PlayStation 2 has 32 megabytes of RDRAM and 4 megabytes of VRAM.[15]

The PlayStation 2 had a dedicated IO processor in a MIPS R3000A processor, which was replaced by a PowerPC 405GP emulating the former on late release (~2007 and later) slim models.[20]

Hardware edit

The logo on the disk drive of the PlayStation 2 can be manually rotated for either a horizontal or vertical console orientation.[21]

Early models of the system lacked a remote control sensor.[22]

Early "Fat" PS2's had an expansion bay, using either IDE or PC Card format devices.[23]

Some smaller PS2 games were printed on CD-ROMs, rather then on DVD.[24]

Notable Games edit

 
Used PS2 Games for sale in 2009.

2000 edit

Ring of Red edit

A turn strategy game set in a unique alternate history setting where Japan is divided after World War II following Operation Downfall,[25] instead of remaining a united country as it had in real life.

Read more about Ring of Red on Wikipedia.

2001 edit

 
A yellow 2001 European Automobile Collection PS2 on display at E3 2013.

Metal Gear Solid 2 edit

This game is noted for it's deep postmodern themes, especially in relation to memetics and informatics in general.[26][27]

Read more about Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty on Wikipedia.

2002 edit

2003 edit

  •  
    Playstation at E3 2003.
  •  
    Gran Turismo 4 display at E3 2003.

2004 edit

Michigan: Report from Hell edit

A unique survival horror game made by the Japanese studio Grasshopper Manufacture. The player takes the role of a cameraman on a news team as a mysterious invasion of monsters overtakes Chicagoland.

Read more about Michigan: Report from Hell on Wikipedia.

2005 edit

Guitar Hero edit

The first Guitar Hero was a PS2 exclusive.

Read more about Guitar Hero on Wikipedia.

2006 edit

God Hand edit

A cult classic in the beat em' up genre and the final game released by Clover Studio.

Read more about God Hand on Wikipedia.

Persona 3 edit

Persona 3 notably revamped the formula for the Persona series.[28]

The game is known for it's artwork made by the Japanese artist Shigenori Soejima.[29]

Read more about Persona 3 on Wikipedia.

2008 edit

Persona 4 edit

Released late in the console's time on the market for a major title, Persona 4 proved to be an enduring Jungian JRPG. Set in the sleepy rural town of Inaba in Japan, this game is noted for its unorthodox plot revolving around investigating a series crimes which are connected to a rumored supernatural "Midnight Channel". Persona 4 featured a notably happier tone compared to it's predecessor.

Two major characters in the game sparked much interest and debate in the LGBTQ gamer community.[30][31]

Read more about Persona 4 on Wikipedia.

2013 edit

Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 / PES2014 edit

This late cross platform release was the last title officially developed for the PlayStation 2.[32] This Konami made game is a landmark release due to this fact.

Read more about Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 on Wikipedia.

Console Hardware edit

Original PS2 edit

Slim PS2 edit

Updated Slim PS2 edit

An updated slim PS2 with integrated power supply.

Other Models edit

  •  
    The PSX, a rare DVR PS2 combination unit.
  •  
    A Test PS2 used by the publication Gamepro.

Accessories edit

  •  
    DualShock 2 controller
  •  
    The PS2 Multitap
  •  
    Official PS2 Memory Card
  •  
    PS2 Eyetoy
  •  
    PS2 DVD Remote
  •  
    PS2 40GB Hard Drive
  •  
    PS2 Hard Drive and Network Adapter
  •  
    PS2 Network adapter (Modem & Broadband)
  •  
    PS2 Network adapter back

PS2 Linux Kit edit

The PS2 Linux kit was an official kit that cost $200.00,[33] including a 40 gigabyte hard drive, ethernet adapter, and keyboard.[34]

Internals edit

  •  
    30001 Motherboard
  •  
    70001 Slim PS2 Motherboard top
  •  
    70001 Slim PS2 Motherboard bottom
  •  
    HD7 lens used by the PlayStation 2.
  •  
    A disassembled PlayStation 2.

External Resources edit

 

Wikipedia has related information at PlayStation 2, PlayStation 2 models, PlayStation 2 technical specifications, PlayStation Broadband Navigator  and Linux for PlayStation 2

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: PlayStation 2

References edit

Parts of this page are based on materials from:
 Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia.
  1. ↑ "GameSpy.com - Article". web.archive.org. 21 June 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "Wall Street pulvérise son record historique" (in fr). Le Monde.fr. 7 March 1999. https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1999/03/07/wall-street-pulverise-son-record-historique_3565156_1819218.html. 
  3. ↑ Kingman, Henry. "Indrema invites gamers to become game developers" (in en). ZDNet. https://www.zdnet.com/article/indrema-invites-gamers-to-become-game-developers/. 
  4. ↑ "BBC News The Company File Sony's new weapon: Playstation 2". news.bbc.co.uk. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/445933.stm. Retrieved 28 October 2020. 
  5. ↑ "En deux jours, un million de Japonais ont acheté la PlayStation 2" (in fr). Le Monde.fr. 7 March 2000. https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2000/03/07/en-deux-jours-un-million-de-japonais-ont-achete-la-playstation-2_3684926_1819218.html. 
  6. ↑ "Playstation2 mania upsets Japan's normal reserve" (in en). The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/playstation2-mania-upsets-japan-s-normal-reserve-1.252131. 
  7. ↑ Marriott, Michel (26 October 2000). "PlayStation 2: Game Console as Trojan Horse (Published 2000)". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/26/technology/playstation-2-game-console-as-trojan-horse.html. 
  8. ↑ Falcone, John. "Sony PlayStation 2 (slim form factor)". CNET. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "The Evolution of PlayStation Consoles". GameSpot. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  10. ↑ Trenholm, Richard. "Sony Bravia KDL-22PX300 TV with PS2 built-in parties like it's 2000" (in en). CNET. https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/sony-bravia-kdl-22px300-tv-with-ps2-built-in-parties-like-its-2000/. 
  11. ↑ "Surprise Winner in the Video-Game Console Wars" (in en). NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6858229. 
  12. ↑ "PlayStation 2 manufacture ends after 12 years" (in en). the Guardian. 4 January 2013. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jan/04/playstation-2-manufacture-ends-years. Retrieved 28 October 2020. 
  13. ↑ "PS2 Gets Integrated HDMI". Hackaday. 18 February 2021. https://hackaday.com/2021/02/17/ps2-gets-integrated-hdmi/. 
  14. ↑ "Sony Unveils the GScube". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-unveils-the-gscube/1100-2606952/. 
  15. ↑ a b c "How PlayStation 2 Works". HowStuffWorks. 20 October 2000. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "Ars Technica: A Technical Overview of the Emotion Engine - Page 1 - (3/2000)". archive.arstechnica.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  17. ↑ "Ars Technica: A Technical Overview of the Emotion Engine - Page 3 - (3/2000)". archive.arstechnica.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Ars Technica: A Technical Overview of the Emotion Engine - Page 2 - (3/2000)". archive.arstechnica.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  19. ↑ "THE WAR FOR America's thumbs -- (Rebuttal)". www.gamezero.com. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  20. ↑ "PlayStation 2 input/output processor (IOP) modules". 14 July 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Did you know you could turn the PlayStation logo on the PS2?". Twitter. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  22. ↑ Byrd, Sheloman (September 14, 2005). "Pimp My Console" (in en). Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pimp-console,1117.html. 
  23. ↑ "Installing Linux on a PlayStation 2!". Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  24. ↑ "An American Tail: Fievel Goes to Video Game Hell" (in en). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--SXFB7m6mk. 
  25. ↑ "Ring of Red: Wait, This Mech Was Made By Nazis?". TheGamer. 28 July 2020. https://www.thegamer.com/ring-of-red-srpg-ps2-obscure-gem/. 
  26. ↑ Iovanovici, Zoran. "Analysis: What Metal Gear Solid 2 Teaches Us About The Information Age" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/119999/Analysis_What_Metal_Gear_Solid_2_Teaches_Us_About_The_Information_Age.php. 
  27. ↑ "Critical Close-up: Metal Gear Solid 2 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  28. ↑ "It's Always A Good Time To Play Persona 3" (in en-us). Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/its-always-a-good-time-to-play-persona-3-1846768802. 
  29. ↑ "Persona! The Art Of Shigenori Soejima" (in en-us). Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/persona-the-art-of-shigenori-soejima-477580840. 
  30. ↑ "How the Persona 4 Themes of Identity Fail Kanji and Naoto". PlayStation LifeStyle. 2019-04-16. https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/04/16/persona-4-themes-identity-crisis/. 
  31. ↑ Xu, Samantha. "Opinion: Sexuality And Homophobia In Persona 4" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112965/Opinion_Sexuality_And_Homophobia_In_Persona_4.php. 
  32. ↑ "Playing the last PlayStation 2 game ever made". VentureBeat. 2014-02-02. https://venturebeat.com/2014/02/02/playing-the-last-playstation-2-game/. 
  33. ↑ "Linux for the Sony PlayStation 2: Dilemma or Dream System? Linux Journal". www.linuxjournal.com. https://www.linuxjournal.com/article/5792. 
  34. ↑ "Linux: Xbox Got More Than Game" (in en-us). Wired. https://www.wired.com/2002/07/linux-xbox-got-more-than-game/. Retrieved 29 October 2020. 
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