Sega boss: PS2 could sell for three more years

by Kyle Orland { Sep 26th 2007 at 3:53PM }

Did you know that Nintendo didn't stop making the NES until 1995? Or that the original PlayStation remained in production until last year? Given all that, it's not that surprising to hear Sega president and COO Simon Jeffrey tell MCV that he expects the PlayStation 2 to have "shelf life for another two or three years at least."

In the full interview, Jeffrey goes on to say that "PS2 high profile titles, especially 'wide market' and licensed titles, will absolutely be part of the Sega portfolio going forwards." He's not alone ... a quick GameStop search shows dozens of games coming to the system through the end of January. Sure, that list includes shovelware like Pet Horsez and World Championship Cards, but also major franchises like Crash of the Titans, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, The Simpsons Game, and Guitar Hero III.

With a user base of well over 100 million, continued strong sales and a relatively strong lineup of holiday games, you can expect the leader i nthe last generation to continue to be a player in the current one for a good long while.

Tags: future, longevity, PS2, sales

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Frank @ Sep 26th 2007 4:00PM

They mentioned Gamestop!! EVERYONE QUICKLY!! Tell us how much you hate Gamestop!!

fwacce @ Sep 26th 2007 4:14PM

How about if we just tell you how much we hate you.

AstroZombie @ Sep 26th 2007 4:18PM

I hate Gamestop SO MUCH...

I reserved a copy of EVERY GAME COMING TO PS2 UNTIL JANUARY, just so I could use the receipts to WIPE MY ASS!

vinny @ Sep 26th 2007 4:02PM

sony's better off just ditching the ps3 and sticking to the ps2 and psp

Jon @ Sep 26th 2007 4:05PM

The PS2 is still pretty strong, especially with a localised Yakuza 2 still to look forward to.

Slinks @ Sep 26th 2007 4:09PM

Since when was crash bandicoot a major franchise anymore?

deadpool @ Sep 26th 2007 7:02PM

i would like to point out that your question doesn't make sense.

thomasLogic @ Sep 26th 2007 4:11PM

This Sony future proof in action. Good article. The PS2 is a great piece of technology. The PS3 is also a great piece of technology, just in it's infancy. It will take up the fight when it is called upon.

ill trooper @ Sep 26th 2007 5:13PM

"Hello. What's Shakin™? Why, the new TriShock, of course!. You reached the mighty PS3. I'm out until springtime. Sorry I missed your call..."

I'm just kidding, I've been loving the demos and Warhawk lately.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Sep 26th 2007 4:13PM

Of course it will. It's already the cheapest console still supported, and can only get cheaper as time goes on. It'll never again sell the most consoles (monthly), but if developers continue to release games it will sell at a decent clip.

It is probably Sony's only defense against the Wii. Hell, they should probably revive and create party packages with Singstar, DDR, Guitar Hero, etc.

They are damned lucky that they kept the PS2 in circulation. It's probably the only thing that staved off disaster as the Wii climbed so fast. I say "lucky" because they didn't anticipate the retail success of the Wii. Aside from motion control the PS2 fills the same niche as the Wii.

AstroZombie @ Sep 26th 2007 4:23PM

"Hell, they should probably revive and create party packages with Singstar, DDR, Guitar Hero, etc."

http://www.4colorrebellion.com/archives/2007/09/23/new-pstwo-has-a-wii-personality-disorder/

Too late.

Bidoof Protection Military @ Sep 26th 2007 4:24PM

How can it be a "niche" if it's the largest market of gaming? :P

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Sep 26th 2007 4:35PM

"How can it be a "niche" if it's the largest market of gaming? :P"

Heh. I'm using the original meaning of the word. The PS2/Wii fills a specific role withing the ecosystem.

Bidoof Protection Military @ Sep 26th 2007 4:49PM

Fair enough. :)

Although, I think PS2 doesn't fit a specific role, as it has a very vast array of types of games available. Whatever your taste in gaming is, there's something for you on PS2.

And Wii is following that path, too. Yes, there are "casual" games, but there are "hardcore"/"normal" games as well.

gregory mitchell @ Sep 26th 2007 5:39PM

until the wii gets a real racing game....or at least a game with real cars....I dont see how its catering to everyone. Mario kart is cool but i kinda grew up on gran turismo so i have oto have at least 1 semi realistic game for me to consider it as for "everyone" racers represent millions which is why forza and Gt sell so many copies.

FrankTheCrank @ Sep 26th 2007 4:17PM

125 million stong and still selling...

It's just amazing. And it's not a bad system. The graphics still hold up.

Oreo @ Sep 26th 2007 4:19PM

I found this true, and funny.

Didn't every major person say that the PS3 and 360 would fight it out and that the Wii would sell less because it's "new gen" but not "next gen" and the Wii is outdated tech and in 5 years, when the next gen comes out, it will be showing it's age. I find it funny that the PS2, the worst in hardware is still selling well, still selling games and so on. Just further proves that people don't care about tech as long as it has the games.

Sony should have just stay with the PS2 for another year or so instead of releasing the PS3. That way the cost would go down and they could figure out what the hell they were doing. Plus if they waited until this year or next to have released the PS3 Sony could have copied more of Nintendo's ideas!

NATO_Duke @ Sep 26th 2007 4:20PM

Just an FYI to the Nintendo fanboys without a PS2, don't worry, Pet Horsez 2 for the DS is available for pre-order.

http://www.amazon.com/UBI-Soft-16371-Pet-Horsez/dp/B000QTD04I

Description: "Congratulations; you have been selected to join a prestigious academy where you learn to train horses to make them into champions"

Wow, how can you not want it? Shovelware? Pfft!

bm @ Sep 26th 2007 10:15PM

Wait, you're bashing the DS? On its games? HAHAHA! hahahaha oh man....

Tahiri @ Sep 29th 2007 4:32PM

Why is that so odd? DS has the singular worst library of any console post-NES. I have more virtual boy games than DS games. DS is too, casual.

Mike @ Sep 26th 2007 4:21PM

Why do some people hate the PS3 so much? It feels like the US is only hating on PS3 because they have the 360 now. Personally, I think this is less about the two consoles. It's more of a country's pride dispute. NA doesn't want to support the new Sony console since Asia does not buy the 360.

You guys are forgeting, that it's great to have choices in this world. Specially when it comes to gaming.

Here's the deal...if you're not a fan of the system (whether its PS3 or 360) or don't make enough cash to afford one of the other. Just don't buy it! Give it the blind eye. It appears to be a trend just to bash the PS3 console.
"That's getting pretty old."
Everyone's a player hater now a days.

License to ill @ Sep 26th 2007 4:36PM

Ok check your facts a little, PS3 sales are higher in the US then they are in japan...

Bidoof Protection Military @ Sep 26th 2007 4:42PM

PS3 hit a million in America sooner than in Japan.

Right now, sales hover about 1.5 million in North America, 1.3 million in PAL territories, and 1.1 million in Japan.

Myke @ Sep 26th 2007 5:18PM

I agree wit you entirely!

M$: U.S.

Sony: Mainly Asia

Mike @ Sep 26th 2007 5:37PM

I never said anything about sale numbers. I'm no analysis, or gaming executive...I'm just a gamer. These numbers doesn't matter much to me. I just want to be entertained with some good titles, when I'm not to busy working.

Why are these numbers so important to this generation of gamers anyways? MS have made this business a political charade.

Personally, I feel that both systems have their ups and downs.

My whole point was that the whole bashing thing was getting pretty old.

NATO_Duke @ Sep 26th 2007 5:41PM

No, MS has made this business a business.

I dont know about this whole asia v us logic. The reason my PS3 annoys me is that it sits there with hardly anything to do. Thats it. Even if it were made in Denmark, it would still annoy me that I don't have good games to play on it.

Andrew @ Sep 26th 2007 4:22PM

This is what Sony means when they say they have a 10-year plan for the PS3. 4-5 years of being the primary console, and another 5 years of steady backburner sales.
The PS2 sales numbers at this late point in the game are amazing, but I wonder how many of those are replacements?

Joshua @ Sep 26th 2007 4:22PM

Nintendo was making the Famicom in Japan all the way until 2003. That's 20 years!

Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 26th 2007 8:25PM

I was walking down the street in Akihabara, and walked by a video game store, and on the outside there was a TV playing some DVDs of a whole series about Japanese guys mastering old Famicom games like Ghosts and Goblins and such. It's STILL huge over there, as it should be.

Joshua @ Sep 26th 2007 8:53PM

Yeah, the Famicom had huge shortages back in the day even worse than today's Wii shortages. It makes sense that everyone still remembers it, and that it's still popular.

vidGuy @ Sep 26th 2007 4:23PM

See, this is perfectly rational considering the current install base, game library, and price. On the other hand, Sony's insistence that the PS3 will create the same lifespan is completely irrational, IMO. I understand Sony is wanting to ride the PS2's wave down for a few years as the PS3 picks up in popularity. That may work out, cash-stream wise.

The problem is that the PS2 started at $300 and sold pretty well from launch. By creating an install base early, Sony encouraged developers to join, thus creating a cycle that we should all understand by now [install base -> developers -> install base ---> profit!]. Sony isn't making this happen thanks to their reliance on BluRay and other high-end tech. So, enjoy the PS2, Sony. Hopefully some of that money will help right the ship.

Ska Oreo @ Sep 26th 2007 4:38PM

exactly. People seem to forget that the ps2 was an exception. Even if the ps3 does manage to beat out the 360, there is no way in hell sony is keeping that thing alive for 10 years.

Matt B (SDF ) @ Sep 26th 2007 7:04PM

Whether or not you feel that the PS3 will live ten years isn't the issue. Sony said they have a 10 year plan for the PS3. It's refreshing to see a company say this about their product. What is MS or Ninty's long term plan for their consoles? It's just nice to know that the PS4 won't be out for another 7-10 years or more. I bet we will see wii2 and the 720 within the next 5 years.

Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 26th 2007 8:33PM

You think that Sony's gonna skip the 8th generation entirely just because they tried to do 2 generations at once? The next systems from Microsoft and Nintendo will have huge launches and Sony will just put out a press release saying "hey look guys, we're still here for 5 more years!" They want more generation overlap, but in reality they skipped the 7th generation with all these mistakes. The PS4 will come out with all the new systems.

SAME AS IT EVER WAS...

Ska Oreo @ Sep 27th 2007 1:31AM

@Matt

But this was said during the time when Sony thought, like their other sony consoles, that the ps3 was going to dominate the gaming market and sell like crazy like its ps2 counterpart. Well we all know the rest of the story. The fact is, there is no way that after the ps3's performance so far is Sony still planning to go through with its 10 year plan, regardless of what they say. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if sony is already making plans for the ps4.

Matt B (SDF ) @ Sep 27th 2007 9:53AM

It's probably good that you are not head of a major corporation. Only a fool would not stick by his longterm product based on the performance of the first 10 month of its life cycle. I know you guys have your Sony success blinders on, but there is a bright future for the PS3.

Mr Khan @ Sep 26th 2007 4:24PM

Indeed, historical precedent says that the console that blows the competition out of the water will survive quite some time after its generation is done

License to ill @ Sep 26th 2007 4:37PM

PS2 is a great system, Ive already moved on...

Ska Oreo @ Sep 26th 2007 4:39PM

same here.

HB96st @ Sep 26th 2007 4:34PM

Forreal, thats not good for the PS3. You have millions of PS2 owners who feel that they dont have to buy a next-gen system yet. I was just asking a freind who I havent seen in years about Halo.. He just looked at me like "I dont have a 360, I still play the PS3." He's not jumping into next gen until the prices come down.. If they keep making the games he plays (which are mostly sports games) he wont jump ship.

Cartman86 @ Sep 26th 2007 4:48PM

lol give it till this x-mas then its done. It will still sell, but it won't be ahead of the next gen consoles next year. 1-2 years at most.

Ialwayschangemyname @ Sep 26th 2007 4:45PM

I know the sales of ps3 are 125 but how many of those are individual owners??? Quite frankly just about everyone I know that has a ps2 has had to replace it at least once. In my opinion the ps2 sales are inflated by the fact that the laser sucks. My estimate is probably like 60-70 million actual owners. Which is still impressive but not quite so.

ill trooper @ Sep 26th 2007 5:18PM

You don't know me, but until I got my PS3, my launch PS2 was still doing ok, and was only put away to save shelf-space. Your numbers are totally gnarly, I doubt it's been that bad.

Matt B (SDF ) @ Sep 26th 2007 7:09PM

I had a 2nd year PS2 and I just sold it in a rummage sale this summer. It was in perfect working condition. I know of at least 10 others that have their original PS2's with no issues still working hard today. I don't doubt you had issues as do all things mass produced, but I think your numbers are skewed a little.

Norm @ Sep 26th 2007 4:44PM

I still use PS2s for Tournament play, and plan on buying a few more in the Near future. They will be supported by the fighting game community for a long time, I'm sure, just like the dreamcast has been for games like Marvel vs Capcom 2.

Currently, I run tourneys on Guitar Hero, Street Fighter 3 3rd strike, And Capcom vs Snk2 all on PS2. I know this is a niche market, but for us in the GH and the Fighting game communities, PS2s are our best option. With Xbox 360, it is a pain to use custom built joysticks, and with PS3, you have adapters that work ok, but you are dealing with input lag and can't really play PS2 Guitar Hero with the current usb adapters, though you can calibrate lag in the game.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Sep 26th 2007 4:48PM

This bodes well for the Wii...said I sarcastically.

I don't think there are any PS2 games coming out now or anytime in the near future that I'm interested in at this point, though.

ruibing @ Sep 26th 2007 4:50PM

I wonder what would have happened if they did was Microsoft did and discontinued their PS2 line for the PS3. On one hand, it forces people who want to play any PS games to get a PS3, so obviously their sales would have gone up, but then again they would be accused of abandoning loyal fans. Balancing acts are always so hard...

HB96st @ Sep 26th 2007 5:17PM

"lol give it till this x-mas then its done"

Are you kidding me?? It's gonna be $99.00 for Christmas!
-I might buy one!

-Naaaah..

Evan @ Sep 26th 2007 7:25PM

Unfortunately Sony pulled most of their own developers, and 2nd party developers (e.g. Insomniac), away from the PS2 to focus on the PS3. Sony could have concluded the God of War trilogy on the system it started on! Personally, I'm a Sly Cooper fan, and I know many Sly fans would like to play the next installment of that series without having to buy a new system.

If Sony updated the PS2 more, and offered downloadable PSN games on the PS2, the PS2 could be a Wii-killer and a viable playform for this generation!