Sony announced on January 31st that the console hit the 150mil mark. Sure, it took 11 years to hit it, but the PS2 was the system to own for most of the last decade. Nothing could stand up to its might. It even outsold the PS3 for sometime partly because of the huge price gap.

The 150 million units means its currently on top of the world’s best selling gaming system. The Game Boy saw 118,690,000 sales during its life. The DS is currently sitting at 144,590,000 units sold and while the pace is slowing according to Nintendo’s consolidated sales chart, it will still likely outpace the PS2 eventually. Or maybe it won’t and the PS2 will reign supreme!

Details are sketchy (but there’s lots to learn if you read the comments), but here’s another college student DIY project. Yes, I know it’s a little old, but it’s Sunday, and this is one of those “in case you missed it” things. Anyway, a college student mounted a snowboard on wheels, added a motor, wireless remote via a PS2 controller, and made a project that pretty much rocks. Just don’t expect to see it available commercially any time soon, because from what the builder says in the comments, it’s incredibly expensive to make. So enjoy the video, and I hope you had a good weekend.

It’s the PS2‘s 10th birthday today in Japan (where’s it’s already Friday). It was originally released on March 5, 2000. Bill Clinton was still the president, Triple H was the WWE Champion, and reality TV didn’t even exist yet. The iPod was still a year and change away, and Mac OS X wasn’t even in open beta yet. Windows XP was still months away. Twitter and Facebook didn’t exist!

I got a PS2 on launch day here in the U.S. My game library consisted of Tekken Tag Tournament and Ridge Racer V. That was it. The truth of the matter is, for the first several months, I actually played PS1 games like Final Fantasy IX, Vagrant Story, and Chrono Cross on the thing. I’m trying to think, what was the first PS2 game I really played? I do believe Twisted Metal: Black holds that distinction. I was 14, what do you want from me?

The next big games on my calendar had to be Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X. I didn’t get upset about the whole Raiden-Snake switch until I read message board threads telling me to be upset. And here’s a stunning revelation: I never once finished Final Fantasy X! Maybe I’ll play it using PCSX2 one of these days.

Ten years later, that original PS2 still works! Granted, discs sometimes take a little while to boot, but she works! I still have a silver PS2 Slim sitting under the TV. I’m pretty sure God of War II is still sitting in there, which is also unbeaten I hope you recognized the pattern: I tend to buy (or get as gifts in my younger days) games but not finish them. It’s a problem.

Best PS2 gaming moment? I’m going to cop-out and say Silent Hill 2 was. Start to finish, great game.

This is the part where I ask you guys to weigh in on the PS2. Memories, best moments, least liked moments, etc.

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Tuners and posers have been putting PS2s into cars for as long as the system has been out, but Audiovox is targeting a completely new crowd. Its new VOD10PS2 system combines the gaming system that can also play DVDs with a 10.2-inch 16:9 LCD screen and packs it all into a roof-mountable package. Plus, the system comes with two wireless controllers, two fold-flat IR wireless headsets, two games, and a remote. A built-in 16 channel FM modulator can be used as long as other passengers don’t mind hearing Ratchet & Clank. Sure, the PS2 might be almost 10 years old, but who cares?

PS3 games are damn expensive and no one in their right mind would let their kids bring them on a road trip. PS2 games, however, can be had at garage sales nationwide. Or, if you’re traveling and your kids get tired of whatever the hell they are playing, stop at any Blockbuster and you can probably snag one for $5. But the system costs $949 plus installation. Yeah, that’s a lot.

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Audiovox Corporation (Nasdaq: VOXX) announced the delivery of another industry first in rear-seat entertainment, the VOD10PS2 Mobile Video PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. This category changing mobile video system is an all-in-one, overhead, drop-down that combines the best of Audiovox’s award winning overhead systems with the gaming industry’s #1 selling system, PlayStation 2. The integration of the PlayStation 2 system in the Audiovox overhead video system is seamless. No extra hardware needed, no wires draped across the back seat passengers.

“This RSE system allows the consumer to give their ‘restless’ back seat occupants options in travel; watch a DVD or play one of their PlayStation 2 games,” said Tom Malone, president of Audiovox Electronics Corp. “The PlayStation 2 system offers a huge library of more than 1,800 games for all types of interests, and now we’re making it easy to play them all in a vehicle by fully integrating PlayStation 2 into the car’s entertainment system with no wires and no extra hardware.”

The VOD10PS2 features a 10.2 inch 16:9 LCD screen with built-in dome light and includes everything you need to start gaming right out of the box two wireless game controllers, two fold-flat IR wireless headphones and two PlayStation 2 game titles (Ratchet & Clank(R): Going Commando and Hot Shots Golf(R) 3). This system (MSRP: $949.99) also includes a remote control, built-in 16 channel FM Modulator with FM transmitter function, and comes with both Shale and Pewter trim rings and snap on covers to integrate the system to the vehicles interior.

Malone continued, “PlayStation(R) is one of the most respected brands worldwide and they have built the PlayStation 2 system into one of the leading entertainment choices for people of all ages. Audiovox is the undisputed leader in mobile video and has been since the category’s inception. This combination of industry leaders gives our dealers a winning product while providing the consumer with entertainment convenience that before now was anything but convenient.”

This system is being marketed both under the Audiovox and Advent Brands and will be available for sale in North American at all major retailers at car dealerships respectively.

Think back to the autumn of 2006, right before the big PS3 launch. Expecting someone to pay five-hundred-and-ninety-nine-U.S.-dollars was (rightly) considered ludicrous, but the ability to play the entire PS2 library on the system somewhat lessened the blow. But then Sony removed the Emotion Engine chip from the PS3, thus rendering it unable to play PS2 games. (More recent models, like the one found in the Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle, used a just-sorta-okay software emulation method to grant partial PS2 backwards compatibility.) All that may well change if Sony goes ahead and executes the idea found in this recently unearthed patent.

The patent, which was filed in December, 2008, shows a method whereby Sony would harness the power of its fancy-pants Cell processor to emulate, from soup to nuts, the Emotion Engine. Emulate that, and it’s like having a tiny PS2 inside your PS3, and all that that implies.

The best part is that since every single PS3 on planet Earth has a Cell processor, every single PS3 could take advantage of this latest bit of technological wizardry.

Keep in mind that patents are filed all the time, so this is by no means any sort of “confirmation” that you’ll be able to play Final Fantasy X or Shadow of the Colossus on your PS3.

Then there’s also the issue of whether or not you’ll merely be able to use your actual PS2 discs, or whether Sony has some sort of “Classic PS2 Games!” PlayStation Network store up its sleeves.

Here’s the latest proof that the entertainment industry is creatively bankrupt. Konami has confirmed that it will remake—or, rather, “re-imagine”—the original Silent Hill. The guys who developed Silent Hill: Origins will be responsible for the game. It’ll come out for the Wii, PS2 (?!) and PSP this fall. Oh, boy.

As I mentioned earlier today, Silent Hill: Origins wasn’t terrible by any means, but the thought of handing over one of the PlayStation’s best games to Climax, its developers, is, well, a little unnerving.

What does this “re-imagining” have in store for us? We can look forward to the same storyline, thank god, but we’ll find new “clues” and “gameplay paths.” Whatever that means, right!

So yeah, right now not much in the way of facts, just the announcement itself.

Konami is hosting an event later this week in San Francisco, so hopefully more details will emerge. Chief among these details, how about an explanation as to why this “reimagining” had to happen in the first place? Let’s remake Citizen Kane or Goodfellas while we’re at it!

Also, I hereby dub the game Silent Wii. Children will snicker at the name for centuries to come.

I recall picking up my PS2 on launch day back in 2000 and I sure played the hell out of that thing. I must have played Ridge Racer and Madden for hours on end, but it wasn’t by choice. Heh. There weren’t too many titles that interested me at launch, but I played the heck out of Sunny Garcia Surfing and SoCom. I hope it still works.

Today, John Koller confirmed that the PS2’s price would drop to $99.99 starting tomorrow following the rumor that leaked out of Kmart yesterday. It’s been nine years and that console has sold over 50 million units to date. I just saw the latest batch of PS2s while I was in San Francisco for GDC and I almost didn’t recognize it because of how small it was. I wonder if the PS3 will shrink down that much. Anyone still have the original PS2?

If we’re to believe some guy working at Kmart (and why shouldn’t we!), the PS2 will finally drop to $99 on April 5. So, if you’re planning on picking one up in the next week, don’t! At least wait till April 5 comes and goes to see if this rumor holds up.

The PS2 has been priced at $129 for about three years now, and, for some reason, still sells reasonably well. Well, until quite recently, which may explain the price cut. And considering that it’s almost 10 years old, well, congrats to Sony & Co. for making a system that’s still sitting underneath my, and plenty of other folks’, TV. (I have the silver PS2 Slim, which I bought to play Final Fantasy XII while at school. I have yet to beat said game.)

So, yeah. It’s about time—provided this price cut is real and all. A minor detail.

Okay, okay, that’s a pretty rough way to look at it. He’s basically packed all the bits necessary into a portable DVD player case just big enough to hold everything: PS2 Slim, a pair of batteries, and all the connectors you’d need to plug it into the wall and the included 5″ TV — which sits on top of the console.

So it’s not really a ripoff or anything, but it really is a bit silly. And the fact that he’s selling his personal unit (comes with what are clearly his controllers and games) suggests it’s not really working that well.

I guess if you absolutely must play Dragon Quest VIII on the way to work, this is technically the only option – except for a laptop running PCSX2.

Put yourself in Sony’s shoes for a moment. You’ve conquered the three biggest gaming markets out there in Japan, North America and Europe. (The slow start of the PS3, and the still perceived lack of “any” games for it doesn’t appear to lessen Sony’s chances of selling 10 million units by the end of its fiscal year.) Where do you go next? The answer, in no uncertain terms, is Latin America.

Sony Computer Entertainment America’s vice-president of sales, one Ian Jackson, recently gave a 20-minute speech at some conference where he explained Sony’s position: Latin America is key to the PlayStation’s growth.

The reasons are obvious. The area’s population is huge at 569 million people. It has a history of being under-served by the big gaming companies (hence the prevalence of piracy). Plus there’s the language barrier, or lack thereof, as Sony would only have to localize games into two languages (Spanish and Portuguese).

What’s to stop Sony from taking its still-selling PS2 and re-introducing it to Latin American gamers, easing them into gaming?

Nothing, apparently.

Now we play the waiting game.

Everyone agrees that the Dragonball trailer looks pretty crappy, but at least Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World, a fighting game based on the famous Japanese anime/manga, looks pretty decent.

Namco Bandai promises the game, one of the biggest crowd pleasers today at the Tokyo Game Show, will hit stores worldwide on December 4th this year.

I was actually excited to see this announcement from Logitech until I saw which games it supported. Sadly, it only supports Boogie, High School Musical, Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore and Rock Band. Well, I guess I could use it for RB1. And RB2 and GH: WT come with wireless mics, so I guess I don’t really have anything to complain about. Logitech’s Wireless Microphone up to 30 feet from the USB receiver and has a 20+ hour battery life. It can all be yours for $80 in December. Oh, it supports Xbox 360, PS2 and PS3.

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So, who still likes Mortal Kombat? Bless your heart, then, for a new three-game collection has shipped to stores nationwide. It’s called Mortal Kombat: Kollection, and it includes 2004′s Mortal Kombat: Deception, 2005′s Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks and 2006′s Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. It’s for the PS2, as you can plainly see right there.

In truth, none of these games really impressed me when I first played them, but the price, $30, isn’t entirely unreasonable.

You know what’s even cheaper, though? Downloading MAME and playing the arcade version of Mortal Kombat II, by far the best in the series.

Sony hopes that by continuing to support the PS2, it will help strengthen the developing gaming markets in those areas. They are still marketing the PS3 but Sony feels that most potential gamers in that market will be more likely to pick up the cheaper PS2 experience first. After all, there are still lots of games coming out for it. They can upgrade to the PS3 if they enjoyed their experience with its little brother.

“PS2 is an entry-level console, which helps first timers to enter the gaming zone,” said Atindriya Bose, SCE country manager.

This isn’t the first time Sony has tried to tap the Indian gaming market. Over the past few years they’ve opened a gaming studio and signed 13 local game developers. Their upcoming title Bollywood Hero will have players dancing with DualShocks attached to their hips, and using the EyeToy to simulate a passionate kiss in the rain.

I thought I’d mention it in case you hadn’t taken my advice about Persona 3 to heart (shame on you) and wanted to make up for that. Also, the game is on PS2, so all the people of limited means in the world (myself included) who have been looking for another timesink for the venerable system are having their prayers answered.

Look for it in December.

Sony has shot down the “PS2 games on PlayStation Store?” rumor. For now.

The rumor started after last week’s big Sony press conference where it announced a PlayStation movie store. Some of the screens on display showed PS2 games as being on the store, but Sony chalked that up to a mistake.

At this point, we haven’t made any announcements, and there are no plans for PS2 downloadable titles on PS3.

So there you have it. I can’t imagine how Sony would get PS2 games running on the PS3 since backwards compatibility is now done via emulation.

But hey, I’m sure there’s many of you who wouldn’t mind playing some of the PS2 classics all over again, or for the first time.

If you’ve got a PlayStation 2 and you’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on Rock Band, then I can safely tell you to pull, dammit! Pull!

Amazon.com has the PS2 Rock Band Special Edition bundle for $99.99, which includes free shipping. This same bundle sells for at least $140 just about everywhere else. Again, pull!

via dealnews

Ding ding ding d!ng……

Sony’s releasing a red-colored PS2 in Japan on July 3. It’s gonna cost you ¥16,000, or around $150, for the eight-year-old game console.

Nowhere is it suggested that this model of the PS2 will be released here in the U.S.

And yes, in lieu of a PS3, I still have a PS2 connected to my TV, thank you very much.

This week in CrunchArcade: iPhones, controversy, Master Miyagi vs. Pac-Man, and Japanese high-school kids blasting their spirit-brains out in Persona 3: FES.

Gaming news: guns, boobs, and rocket noobs

The violence-in-games controversy leaned a little more toward the gamers’ side this week when Stephen King weighed in on the issue in Entertainment Weekly. He’s disgusted with the hypocrisy of policy and calls the media out on its rabid pursuit of game violence stories. And what about nudity? Why not?

In other news turns out that a quarter of online gamers are between the ages of two and twelve, according to a new study describing the world of online gaming and the opportunities remaining therein. Speaking of online games, you can now play Quake 3 against your friends on that hot new handheld, the iPhone. You use the accelerometer to move and aim (looks a little sketchy right now) and tap to fire. Not such a problem for the rocket launcher or shotgun, but if you need to snipe a fool? I don’t know.

Persona 3: FES – an excellent and different PS2 RPG for a bargain price

Because I’m a gaming Luddite, I tend to lag one generation behind when it comes to consoles. What? I’m poor! But considering that some of the best games of the last year have been on the PS2, I don’t feel any shame. Right now I’m playing Atlus’s Persona 3: FES. Persona 3 actually came out quite a while ago, and I was playing it then, but now the full “director’s cut” version with tons of extra content (seriously, like 30 hours worth) has been released, having previously only been available in Japan. The game itself is split between your days, in which you are a high school student in a small city — studying, meeting girls, playing sports — and your nights, in which you and a special team scour an enormous, ghostly tower in a randomly-generated dungeon crawl with fast-paced turn-based combat.

The story is interesting and the art and mythology are well-done as well, with Tarot being the main theme. I got super addicted to this game for several weeks, my main frustration being that the bosses are way harder than you expect and you’re in for a tough fight if you’ve been slacking off on training. The game received some flak because every time you use a summon, your characters shoot themselves in the head. For $30 the game’s a steal, as it will almost certainly absorb you utterly into its being, and considering you’re getting about twice the content as the original game for a lower price, I don’t see any reason not to do it.

Retro Sabotage

Lastly, I want to highlight a cool little website, Retro Sabotage, on which all the old games you love are being subverted into entirely different beasts. I like Incompatible Visions, in which your Tetrads are being shot out of the sky by an unseen Zapper, and True Self, in which the Pac-Man ghost Inky learns from Master Miyagi that long indeed is the path to enlightenment. And because you’re actually playing these little mutations, and it’s a kind of game-as-art-as-game intellectual exercise — they’re actually fun, though probably only my generation will get the jokes. The creator is putting out new stuff regularly, so bookmark it and tell me if something sweet comes out. Today’s update has you piloting your ship from Xevious against what appears to be a hostile light show. Someone fill me in.