When it comes to consumer electronics, we tend to get so caught up in focusing on the latest technological innovations, proven products that have been around for years often get pushed to the side in favor of their shiny new successors.
Such is the case with the PlayStation 2 video game console, which debuted nearly 11 years ago in March of 2000, and is still going strong today. Sony announced this week that the PS2 had surpassed over 150 units sold worldwide as of January 31, 2011.
While the game system’s primary competitors such as Nintendo’s GameCube and Sega’s Dreamcast lost their relevancy years ago, the PS2 continues to have a strong following. A press release issued by Sony to address the console’s milestone in sales notes that the system maintains particularly strong consumer support in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America.
"We at PlayStation have never subscribed to the concept that a console should last only five years," Patrick Seybold, senior director of corporate communications for Sony Computer Entertainment, told CNET in a November interview. "Both the original PlayStation and PlayStation 2 had life cycles of more than 10 years, and PlayStation 3 will as well.
"The 10-year life cycle is a commitment we've made with every PlayStation consumer to date, and it's part of our philosophy that we provide hardware that will stand the test of time providing that fun experience you get from day one for the next decade," he continued.
With a low $99 price point and a catalog of over 10,000 software titles flooding the used markets, it’s easy to see why value-minded consumers are still pursuing the 11-year-old console. In contrast, a Nintendo Wii and a 4GB Xbox 360 will set you back $199, while the Xbox 360 with an HDD and the PS3 low-end model still retail at $299.
I’ve never actually owned a PS2, instead opting for Microsoft’s original Xbox and Sega’s ill-fated Dreamcast, and then moving onto the next generation consoles. It seems that I may have passed on one of the great game consoles of our time.
Do you still own and play a Sony PS2? Let us know in the comments.
