With the aging PlayStation 2 platform having
no trouble besting its big brother in sales every month (not to mention the Xbox 360), Sony has their eyes aimed squarely at the one home console that everyone seems to want: the Wii. This November, they're giving the normally black or silver PS2 a Wii-styled whitewashing, controller and all, and jamming a copy of casual supergame,
SingStar Pop, along with two mics into the box. And exactly how much would you expect to spend on this incredible bundle? $300? No! $200? No!
You'll get it all for the low, low price of $150 US ($160 CDN). With casual games like
Buzz! and crossover hits like
Guitar Hero, the PlayStation 2 SingStar bundle should prove to be quite an attractive option for those families hunting for the undoubtedly
still-suffering-from-shortages Wii this November.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TRUTH @ Aug 29th 2007 3:57PM
Thanks, but No Thanks...
Jerk Face @ Aug 29th 2007 3:59PM
Ha ha... I was just about to put:
"Yeah, I'm good. Thanks though!"
Who wants to buy a PS2 new anymore, right?
borland502 @ Aug 29th 2007 4:49PM
"Who wants to buy a PS2 new anymore, right?"
Considering that the sales of the PS2 are second only to the Wii most months...quite a few people. It's half the cost of a Wii and has a games library equal to all three nex-gen consoles combined.
Personally, the PS2 is the only thing that makes me think that Sony means its "10 year" declaration. It is a dying system, but for gaming on the cheap it'll live for a few years yet.
t_m @ Aug 30th 2007 10:18AM
I was strongly considering buying one.. they are cheap now, and i could catch up on a big backlog of classic games i never got to play. Rez, Guitar hero, Ico, Shadow of the colossus, Disgea, God of War, Metal Gear, etc...
Luckily my mate just got a ps3 and gave me his old (white but bigger) ps2 for free. It throws out the occasional disc read error, but its pretty sweet!
Its probably true, the only thing the Wii has to fear right now is the PS2...
LAboy @ Aug 29th 2007 4:01PM
Ewwww, Not only does it look disgusting but who would buy a ps2 when newer, better consoles are already out? (p.s sorry for does who do or did)
TK00 @ Aug 29th 2007 9:35PM
Maybe because the new consoles cost a ton more then the PS2? Some day you'll have to look at prices when your mommy stops buying everything you cry for.
samfish @ Aug 29th 2007 4:03PM
Well, you've gotta hand it to Sony – they have faith in SingStar...even though they have absolutely no reason to.
I don't see this doing much for PS2's sales, though. to be honest.
BNinjaC @ Aug 29th 2007 4:13PM
"even though they have absolutely no reason to"
Singstar is a huge franchise in Europe
/getting sick of correcting fud and sounding like a fanboy while doing it
samfish @ Aug 29th 2007 4:15PM
Yeah. I know. Europe isn't the USA. Hasn't been that way for over 200 years.
Sorry to break it to you.
BNinjaC @ Aug 29th 2007 4:21PM
dude, the point is it's already proven itself and frankly with the Americanisation of the western world I think it's safe to say if a casual game can sell in Europe than it can sell in America.
Not a huge jump.
As for my opinion on Singstar, it's great for getting ladies in the mood. Seriously. Other than that? It's crap.
konajinx @ Aug 29th 2007 4:29PM
Getting ladies in the mood for what? Finding a dude who doesn't play shitty video games and would rather pay attention to her? Awww yeah. Oh wait, we're talking about Europe, then? Sorry, I forgot. You can't find anyone with good teeth over there. Awwww yeah.
BNinjaC @ Aug 29th 2007 4:34PM
@ konajinx
you win this internet round...
*slow clap*
samfish @ Aug 29th 2007 4:35PM
Yes, but Sony has tried in the past and failed to market it successfully in the US. It appears to be a cultural thing more than anything else.
Could a karaoke game take off in the US? Sure. Will this? Probably not, given it's past performance.
vidGuy @ Aug 29th 2007 4:40PM
Um, Singstar is already here and selling like shit so that logic doesn't really work, BNinjaC.
BNinjaC @ Aug 29th 2007 4:43PM
@ samfish
"Probably not, given it's past performance"
that's a fair point and one of the reasons (I'd assume) Sony are putting this bundle out at that price.
Christmas time and bundles have a weird effect on the weak minded consumer.
Anyway, that's for keeping it civil. I'm off to scrub the Sony taint off me.
clo1_2000 @ Aug 29th 2007 4:06PM
If Sony tries to bite off Nintendo's style any harder they won't have any teeth left.
Yuccadude @ Aug 29th 2007 4:30PM
Man, a white console is so Nintendo's style when the 360 came out a year before the Wii, and Ninty had no white consoles before that...
Yuccadude @ Aug 29th 2007 4:33PM
Yeah, Sony stole it off of Nintendo because the Wii is white. Wait, isn't the 360 white as well? And it came out a year earlier you say? Why I would say that despite those facts, changing a product's color doesn't change what the product is, so this PS2 doesn't have waggle and doesn't rip off Nintendo at all.
Sam @ Aug 29th 2007 4:08PM
i guess they're thinking white consoles sell better than black consoles
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 29th 2007 4:16PM
That must have been the reasoning in their PSP marketing.
The Boo @ Aug 29th 2007 5:54PM
You dirty racist.
Word of the street. @ Aug 29th 2007 8:30PM
The boo isn't that Hitler in your avatar?,LOL.
Those awful pseudo racist PSP ads,They still haunt me.
IMO The Big N copy it from apple,Who started with the white devices?,Apple.
Apple started with the "White is the new Silver/Black" thing.Also wasn't the Dreamcast white and what about the PSone?,I clearly remember a white PSone.
awiifemale @ Aug 29th 2007 4:08PM
From "gimmick" to "mimic" lol. Keep trying, Sony!
Tahiri @ Aug 29th 2007 4:37PM
Singstar is older than the Wii
If anything, Wii is just mimicking eyetoy.
Night Elve @ Aug 29th 2007 4:11PM
Well it is all about tastes. My PS2 is 5 years old maybe is time to replace it with a PS2 Slim and this color looks great.
jamma @ Aug 29th 2007 4:16PM
It's strange how the Wii, 360, PSP, DS and even PS3 can look good in white(sony showed one at E3 years ago), yet that looks really really bad somehow. And compared to the silver and black PS2s, who would seriously go for that? (no offence to anyone that has)
samfish @ Aug 29th 2007 4:24PM
I think it's the black buttons, the general ugly design of the PS2 over all and the fact that it's sporting a matte finish, as opposed to a more glossy one.
Especially those black buttons. Yuck.
Captain Jody Anthony XVIII @ Aug 29th 2007 4:21PM
i think it looks good, but my 2002 fat ps2 is still running like a champ.
konajinx @ Aug 29th 2007 4:31PM
This is actually white, then? 'Cause really from the pic, it just looks like the classic PS1 grey color and controllers. Funny how Sony went with the sexy design this gen and it completely failed them. Maybe they should make the PS4 look like another shit brick like the original PS2 (of which mine's still running great as well, btw) to sell some more systems.
vidGuy @ Aug 29th 2007 4:42PM
It's definitely white and definitely ugly. I'm sure it'll help spike PS2 sales but it's not really going to help Sony in the long run.
Give me a sub-$300 PS3 with a decent pack in game and then we'll talk.
warioswoods @ Aug 29th 2007 4:49PM
"Rather than recording a backing track without vocals for the purpose, SingStar features unaltered audio tracks by the artists who recorded the song, complete with their original vocal." (Wikipedia)
Ugh, I enjoy Karaoke games, but one thing that I absolutely cannot stand is games where you are unable to turn off the original vocals, since they have used the original recording rather than a cover with the tracks split. That's not karaoke at all. You have to actually go for it and let your voice carry the song if you're going to do it at all.
BPM @ Aug 29th 2007 4:49PM
I guess I have no ill will towards a white PS2. Console color has never been that big of a deal to me.
However, if I can get anything in blue, I will.
[proudly displays his Suicune Blue GBA and Enamel Navy DS Lite, and hopes to someday get a Felicia Blue PSP-2000]
Spirit @ Aug 29th 2007 5:16PM
I've been a few big bulky PS2s myself, 3 I think, but the one I'm on has lasted for a decent bit, a few years, although its had to be opened up for a fixing once. As an RPG player, I love my PS2, and I don't see any console surpassing it for RPGs any time soon. Hopefully it doesn't break, I need my hard drive!
Dan @ Aug 29th 2007 5:22PM
Hey guys look! It comes with a white PS3 controller!
ThornedVenom @ Aug 29th 2007 5:26PM
I'm SO going to get killed for saying this, but it NEEDS to be said!
[non-specific fanboy mode]
... so, for the same processing power and paintjob, should I get a 250$ wii or a 150$ PS2? At least one of them has a nice library of hardcore games...
[/fanboy]
phattie @ Aug 29th 2007 5:31PM
You talking to a group who thinks that Metroid is hardcore.
vidGuy @ Aug 29th 2007 5:33PM
"same processing power"
Glad you put that in fanboy-mode quotes 'cause that's very far from the truth, sir. As for your questions, it depends on what you are into. Are you looking for a large library of games, 10% of which are worth owning and can be found for $10-$30? Or are you looking for this generation's leader, a console that can be equally fun by yourself or with a group of friends, and a slew of new hits for the next 18-24 months?
Neither has anything in the way of online, though, so you'd be better to look elsewhere if you have no friends to play with.
vidGuy @ Aug 29th 2007 5:36PM
Haha, I love you phattie. I swear you take what makes sense and just say something completely opposite it to start a chain of replies.
I'm not sure how you can get much more hardcore than a 21 year old series which has been known for leaving the player to his/her own devices. Unless you are one of the great gamers that think a game needs be-headings and boobs to be hardcore.
phattie @ Aug 29th 2007 5:49PM
Play MP3 after some time with Bioshock and you'll see that MP3 is 10 years behind the times.. ooh, Morphball.. so innovative!
vidGuy @ Aug 29th 2007 5:55PM
Guess what? I'm about halfway through Bioshock. Very cool game. Doesn't hurt Metroid in the least though. And I gotta wonder why you think 'innovation' makes a game hardcore?
BPM @ Aug 29th 2007 7:53PM
Yes, phattie, and Plasmids (aka psychic powers) are completely original, right? ;)
flcl @ Aug 29th 2007 5:41PM
actually not a bad deal if you dont already have one. im not a sony fanboy, in fact i have a wii, but the ps2 has a hell of a good library, and it's still coming out with games (persona 3, manhunt 2, etc.) plus the games are, on average, cheaper than an xbox or gamecube copy.
Vince @ Aug 29th 2007 6:36PM
wouldnt the PS3 be the PS2's little brother?
is @ Aug 29th 2007 6:54PM
Im a very poor gamer, im in the market for this. PS2 has some amazing games available, and since I never picked one up, the price is suitable to enjoy some buget classics.
Also, the white will match my wii, and I can have one console standing vertial either side of my TV.
Sign me up!
Thierry @ Aug 29th 2007 6:58PM
The box looks similar to a Wii box. I won't be surprised if some people mistake the box for a Wii and purchase it this holiday season.
Strider_J @ Aug 29th 2007 7:05PM
cool - but wonder if they'll sell the white ps2 alone?
the white color is cool. not sure if i want the sing star bundle though.
i've waited off on the slim, if they sell the white one alone, maybe i'd jump on it.
Joshua @ Aug 29th 2007 7:34PM
Ah!
There it is!
I've always wanted a white PS2 like they have in Japan (and maybe Europe, too, but I'm not so sure...)!
Too bad I have a PS3 now! Hahaha...
Will @ Aug 29th 2007 9:42PM
Sorry folks, but posting Sony "hate" just comes across as ignorant with respect to the PS2. We all know it's abilities in relation to the XBOX - it was basically the little brother. And yes, it's not as pretty as the next gen systems (though neither is the Wii). However, it's sales history AND current sales prove it's still very much alive in the market, and beating quite a few competitors along the way. Where the margin is minimal (or negative) with the next gens (except the Wii), the PS2 is pure gold for Sony. Revenue speaks louder than words.
Being a fanboy is well and good, but don't let it make you blind to common sense.
hotnutz @ Aug 29th 2007 11:50PM
Are you serious? These fanboys don't realize that they comprise probably about 5-10% of the market. Lots of people love the PS2 (115 million to be exact) and singstar is a great game. So is DDR, Guitar Hero and the eye toy.
But if it doesn't have a FPS view and a gun, then this crowd doesn't see it as "hardcore". That is why I don't take anything that is said on this board very seriously, it's like trying to debate with a one dimensional character (my console is better... all other consoles have no redeeming qualities. etc..)
The news is entertaining on this site and the flame wars bring a smile to my face.
So Will, your post is good but I'm sure it will fall on deaf ears on this stellar forum of intelligence.
Synner @ Aug 29th 2007 10:08PM
I really wish there would be more karaoke revolution games made instead of singstar... I can't get into singstar as much I just don't like the presentation.