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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 | edit source]

PlayStation 2 logotype.

Development[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

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 | edit source]

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 | edit source]

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

Technology[edit | edit source]

Compute[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

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 | edit source]

Used PS2 Games for sale in 2009.

2000[edit | edit source]

Ring of Red[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

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

Metal Gear Solid 2[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

2003[edit | edit source]

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

2004[edit | edit source]

Michigan: Report from Hell[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

Guitar Hero[edit | edit source]

The first Guitar Hero was a PS2 exclusive.

Read more about Guitar Hero on Wikipedia.

2006[edit | edit source]

God Hand[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

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 | edit source]

Persona 4[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 / PES2014[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

Original PS2[edit | edit source]

Slim PS2[edit | edit source]

Updated Slim PS2[edit | edit source]

An updated slim PS2 with integrated power supply.

Other Models[edit | edit source]

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

Accessories[edit | edit source]

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

PS2 Linux Kit[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

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

External Resources[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

 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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