Sony ditching PS3 for its old love, a new PS2?

[MrAngryFace]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21652527/

TOKYO - Sony Corp. said it plans to launch a lighter version of its PlayStation 2 game console later this month, in a bid to drive sales of the seven-year-old machine heading into the crucial holiday season.

The new model, which has a built-in AC adaptor, weighs 720 grams, down from a combined weight of 850 grams for the previous model and its external AC adaptor.

Since the new machine's power cord comes without a bulky AC adaptor, it would be easier for gamers to enjoy the PS2 anywhere at home, Sony's game unit said on Tuesday.

Maintaining brisk demand for the PS2 is just as important for Sony as shoring up sales of its latest game machine, the PlayStation 3, as the PS2, which has sold more than 120 million units worldwide, is a cash cow for the game unit.

Sony appears set to reap larger profit from each PS2 it sells since the game unit said it had managed to reduce manufacturing costs for the latest PS2 model from those for the previous model.

The Tokyo-based electronics and entertainment conglomerate currently loses money for each PS3 it sells.

Even after the launch late last year of the PS3, which trails Nintendo Co's Wii in sales, the PS2 has staged strong sales globally due to a wide range of strong software titles and relatively low prices.

The basic version of the PS3 sells for 44,980 yen ($393), nearly three times as expensive as the PS2.

Sony aims to sell 12 million units of the PS2 in the year to March, while targeting the PS3 sales of 11 million units.

[Beezy]

$100 or bust

[Smooth Groove]

What I don't get is how the PS2 has still been selling so well this year while its game sales have dropped drastically.  Are people just replacing their old PS2s so they're not buying new games?  Are they just buying old games or have most people figured out how to pirate? 

[Mr. Gundam]

I'd love to get a cheap Japanese PS2.

[Van Cruncheon]

there's a library of 1000+ games to choose from. any new release is a drop in the ocean, and given that new adopters this late in the game often have painfully unorthodox tastes ("ford racing 3? omg!") as well as the fact that core gamers are focusing on 360/PS3 games, it should shock NO-ONE that individual new releases sell far less well this late in the cycle

[Smooth Groove]

there's a library of 1000+ games to choose from. any new release is a drop in the ocean, and given that new adopters this late in the game often have painfully unorthodox tastes ("ford racing 3? omg!") as well as the fact that core gamers are focusing on 360/PS3 games, it should shock NO-ONE that individual new releases sell far less well this late in the cycle

A customer would have a hard time finding most of these titles now.  Unless you're talking about Gamestop's used section, every store seems to have the same 50 or so PS2 games. 

[Rman]

Isn't there a rumor about Sony offering their PS2 games via PSN as digital downloads.  I think this would be great idea, especially for the games that had limited print runs--I'm looking at you, Atlus.  

[The Sceneman]

there's a library of 1000+ games to choose from. any new release is a drop in the ocean, and given that new adopters this late in the game often have painfully unorthodox tastes ("ford racing 3? omg!") as well as the fact that core gamers are focusing on 360/PS3 games, it should shock NO-ONE that individual new releases sell far less well this late in the cycle

A customer would have a hard time finding most of these titles now.  Unless you're talking about Gamestop's used section, every store seems to have the same 50 or so PS2 games. 

for some reason Buzz is really popular

[The Sceneman]

Evilbore exclusive!!!! 

I dunno if it has a sexy redesign it might be worth a look, but I just bought a pink slimline ps2 so whatevs

[bluemax]

What I don't get is how the PS2 has still been selling so well this year while its game sales have dropped drastically.  Are people just replacing their old PS2s so they're not buying new games?  Are they just buying old games or have most people figured out how to pirate? 

Gotta stock up on modded slims so that when the BC PS3s don't exist I can still play all my pirated isos!

[Vizzys]

Let me guess - GAFfots are saying "take my money , must have!!!" right ?

thats about what I remember reading in that thread