Also, will there ever be a PS2 that is not also a DVD player? I sure hope there's a price drop by next year.

I believe Sony has a pricedrop scheduled for this fall (shortly after or before the XBox and Gamecube make their debut). It is supposed to be dropped to $199.

As far as a PS2 that is not a DVD player, that will probably never happen. Although the games thus far are not taking full advantage of the DVD format, you can bet that later (if not shortly upcoming) games will.

I'd bet on one in November so PS2 can compete in the console wars with GameCube and XBox. Actually, (I can't find it on Ign.com now, but...)in Japan, the PS2 is already being lowered to the equivalence of $270. As for a PS2 without DVD player capabilities, I doubt it. It's a bonus if anything.

in 2 years you should be able to get the ps2 for $99

I am hoping for a 199 price in a few months. 249 seems for sure, I am betting september for the drop.

as far as dvd capability. since drives are dropping down to cdrom prices why take out that feature to save 5 bucks or less- might actually raise the price since they would need to redesign it to eliminate that feature.
not smart to do in my opinion.

[Edited by gcribbs on 06-30-01 at 11:41 PM]

they pretty much have to drop the price to compete with xbox and gamecube in the fall.

I know that PSX2 in Japan has dropped its price to $280. But in the report, Sony of America says they have NO plans to drop the price anytime soon because the inventory is still moving with that price. I too want it to drop.

You could always look for a used one...

The PS2 will always technically be tied to the DVD format. If it weren't none of the current games would play. They are all on the format, movie playback is a function of the drivers.

The price of PS2 never dropped, they just included Gran Turismo 3 into the console, but the price is still JPY 34,000. But I did see the older consoles have the price of JPY 30,000
And the US$ is now trading at 126 per yen

That sounds more like what I expect them to do this fall. Since MS has matched the PS2 price at $299, my guess is that Sony will try to try to take xbox head-on as equals.

Lowering the MSRP to $199 against the xbox hurts the PS2's market position as a technology leader. More likely, they will put together a few game and/or accessory bundles and sell them at $299. That way, they can keep the MSRP and still improve the value. Other options include some kind of coupon or rebate scheme. If they do reduce the MSRP on the PS2, I'd be very surprised it if it went to any lower than $249.

I don't think Sony is bullheaded enough to try and take on a new console franchise and Nintendo at once with the same pricepoint of a year ago. I'm betting they will drop it to $249 as a 'surprise' and if they're smart, try to get a pack-in with MGS2, since that's when many people will start buying a PS2 anyway.

Well let's see, I am standing in EB last week buying Anarchy Online (boy is that a correct title) and the cashier is ranting on and on about how "the PS2 is gone because the PS3 is coming out to compete with the Xbox."

He recited a bunch of vaporware specs for the Xbox including the fact that it has a "$500.00 video card inside".

Will the price drop on the PS2. Yes!

How long will it be around is a more relevant question. And with people like this in the industry you just need to sit back and laugh!

Brian, I don't know if you can consider a minimum wage cashier "in the industry". I do agree the PS2 may not last long enough to accumulate a decent sized library of games though.

As people say, PS2 will drop like mad with the release of x-box and all the other stuff too. But I heard Sony is releasing an upgrade to the PS2 or something. Not the second gen mod that was supposed to come out awhile ago, but something to compete with Nintendo's and Microscoff's release.

I understand your point. These people are "in the industry" when they are selling these things and handing out spec sheets and making bold predictions. Some people will believe what they say and that is a shame.

That was sort of my point. While every marketing dollar that MS spends will try to position the xbox as the newer, more capable console system compared to the PS2, it'd be foolish for Sony to tacitly admit this by dropping their pants on the MSRP. Their better option is to improve the actual value of the system by bundling in accesories and/or games. So even to a sophisticated buyer who knows that the xbox is newer and more capable, the PS2 may still represent a better overall value.

i'm not buying one until they drop the price, and even then, the only game I will play is GT3

Why would you say that? PS2 is doing rather well now with the release of some great games (GT3, Twisted Metal Black, NBA Street, etc.). I'm expecting it to be around for a while. With all the support it has in Japan (which is there largely because the Final Fantasy series will continue on PS2), I don't see why not.

Just about everybody I know has decided to pick up the DC titles they missed and wait for the Cube or Box. If thats a trend third party titles will dry up.

I hope they drop it to at least $249.00. I don't like when they pack games with systems because I might not like the game, I would rather have the price drop. Currently I am saving all of my Amazon.com NextCard Visa reward points for enough gift certs to buy a PS2. I think it will be $249.00 a month before x box and gc come out. Then I think after 3 or 4 months they will drop it down again to $229.00.

I just wanted to ad that I noticed that inventory for the ps2 seemed to be slowing here, which looks good for a price drop. Most stores around here have 10+ at all times, when a few months ago you would be lucky to find one. Gameboy Advance has now become the most wanted system. I could only find one gameboy advance here where I live. Too bad it was the ugly pinkish purple color or I would have bought it(I am holding out for the indigo color)

I wouldn't worry about developer support for PS2 drying up. It has the largest installed base and even if both xbox and gamecube are huge hits, it will continue to have the largest installed base for at least another year.

The reason DC died is because it never sold well. Sure, lots of people bought the system and enjoyed it immensely, but it never made much of a dent outside of the hardcore gamer/sega loyalist/early adopter markets. I forget the exact numbers but after a year of sales, it had a worldwide installed base on the order of a few million. The PS2 passed that a month after its US release. They hit over 10 million earlier this year and expected to have twice that by the end of this year.

Okay, I'm sure you already knew all that, but my point is that game developers know that too. Even if you and your friends aren't buying PS2, there are lots of other people who are. While there are reasons it may be attractive for them to also support upcoming consoles, they will never forget who the market leader is and at least until the end of next year, that's PS2.

[Edited by belboz on 07-04-01 at 01:47 PM]

The price will drop in the Fall....I will be holding off buying one till then.....but what about those game prices?! Is there any chance those prices will be lowered also? $49.99....ouch.

Thats what bothers me, we still haven't gotten many good games and Nintendo and Sega could rely on 1st party software where Sony and Microsoft are subject to the whims of outside parties to a much greater extent. If you think about it the Gamecube can drop their price to next to nothing and KNOW they will sell software. With the PS2 if they drop to a pricepoint lower than cheap DVD players they will sell a ton of units but it may not be reflected in game sales.