Sony unveils new look PlayStation2

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Well, here it is, Sony's new, sleek PlayStation 2 boasting rather sexy looks and slipping onto shelves in Europe and the US on November 1 and Japan on November 3. Recommended retail price for Europe is 149 euro (approximately £100), for the US $149 and for Japan it's "open price", meaning retailers can set their own price point.

Internal architecture has been redesigned for the new PlayStation 2, resulting in a slimmer (as you can see from the pics on this page) and less weighty design. Apparently, internal volume has been reduced by 75 percent, it weighs around half that of the original PS2 and, by the way, the 'face' is only 2.8cm, as opposed to first PS2's 7.8cm. In our first test run we'll chuck one out the window to see if it floats gently on the breeze.

Read more for the specs & pics!

News source: Computer and Video Games

Plus, the redesigned model features a built-in ethernet port for network gaming. And the US version comes with an extra modem port too. Here's some statistic breakdown stuff for the new US and European PlayStation 2:

Product Outline (for Oceania, UK and Europe Models)

Product Name - PlayStation2
Colour - Charcoal Black
Product Code - SCPH-70002 CB (for Oceania)/ SCPH-70003 CB (for UK)/ SCPH-70004 CB (for Europe)
Release Date - November 1st, 2004 (Monday)
Recommended Retail Price - 149 Euros
Dimensions - Approximately 230 mm (W) ×28 mm (H) ×152 mm (D)
*internal volume about 23% of the current model
Weight - Approximately 900g
*weight about 45% of the current model
Power requirements - DC 8.5V
Electrical current consumption (power consumption) - Approximately 5.3A(approximately 45W)
Compatible format - PlayStation format CD-ROM
PlayStation 2 format CD-ROM
PlayStation 2 format DVD-ROM
Audio CD
DVD-Video*
DVD-RW (VR mode)

The term "DVD-Video" is used to refer to DVD-R, DVD-RW (Video mode), DVD+R and DVD+RW discs.
Interfaces Controller Port x 2
MEMORY CARD slot x 2

USB connector x 2
NETWORK connector x 1 (100BASE-TX/10BASE-T)

DC IN 8.5V connector x 1
AV MULTI OUT connector x 1
DIGITAL OUT(OPTICAL) connector x 1
Included PlayStation 2 console x 1
Analog Controller(DUALSHOCK2) x 1
AV Cable (integrated audio/video) x 1
AC Adaptor (AC power cord included) x 1
Euro-AV Connector Plug x 1 *SCPH-70003 CB, 70004 CB only

Separately Sold Accessories (for Oceania, UK and Europe Models)

Product Name - Vertical Stand (for PlayStation2)
Colour - Charcoal Black
Product Code - SCPH-70110 ECB
Release Date - November 1st, 2004 (Monday)

Product Name - Multitap (for PlayStation2)
Product Code - SCPH-70120 E
Release Date - November 1st, 2004 (Monday)

(9 replies) #1 Oneill on 21 Sep 2004 - 13:05

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Did i meantion haha?

Thats gotta be the ugliest thing ive EVER seen.

#1.1 BeeJAyP on 21 Sep 2004 - 13:15

You've never seen an X-BOX?

#1.2 Solarix on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:08

must be blind dude, this is a space saver man so much thinner, they should just engineer the PS2 with a laptopscreen now lol

#1.3 rIaHc3 on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:52

(Im a Xbox user):

Oneil STFU its very nice and slim. The design is great too. Sony has made a good product to fight Halo 2 and further help sales from GTA: SA

BeeJAyP you STFU also. Xbox itself has a great design too. If you complain about to size it is because Xbox has more powerful componets (sp?) then PS2. It needs for space to breathe.

#1.4 kitchenutensils on 21 Sep 2004 - 15:54

original was sexier

#1.5 Oneill on 21 Sep 2004 - 16:05

rIaHc3 you need to grow up, i have the right to my opinion just like you do, IMO i think its ugly, you might think its not, no reason for throwing "STFU"s about. Child.

Xbox needs more space because its just a PC motherboard in a box, NOT because they are more powerful/

#1.6 SecretAgentMan on 21 Sep 2004 - 16:27

I agree Oneill, the new look PS2 is even uglier than the original one but you are wrong about the Xbox. It is a more powerful console.

#1.7 i like chips on 21 Sep 2004 - 16:46

heh, although you are free to express your opinion freely, I am going to excercise mine and say that you my friend have no taste.

#1.8 sdkaneda on 21 Sep 2004 - 18:16

Sony did well to design a console that looked more like a fancy piece of stereo equipment than a kid's chunky plastic black-and-neon-green plaything. Though I wish they came up with something a little more original for this new slim design than just a regurgitation of the old design. The slats look strange when the console is that thin.

#1.9 SecretAgentMan on 22 Sep 2004 - 06:40

Sure.

#2 ran93r on 21 Sep 2004 - 13:22

or the Phantom.

I think it looks pretty damn slick and I'm half tempted to replace my PS2 with the new one.

#3 SkaterAustin on 21 Sep 2004 - 13:23

lol ya i think the new design is way awesom actually... its like 3/4 the size of the ps2... wonder wat they did with the processor? maybe they put the psp processor into it?

(1 reply) #4 y_notm on 21 Sep 2004 - 13:28

incredible, they squeezed a ps2 down to like the size of a dvd case. even owning an original ps2, im tempted to trade up to this

#4.1 travis.cd on 21 Sep 2004 - 16:13

me too

#5 cpu killer on 21 Sep 2004 - 13:46

Looks slick and small - iLike

#6 Spookie on 21 Sep 2004 - 13:48

I like! I might buy a PS2 again if only for the looks

#7 Hova on 21 Sep 2004 - 13:57

Definately want one of those.

#8 Zelpus on 21 Sep 2004 - 13:58

I don't like it...

(1 reply) #9 Steffan on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:01

does it still support a hd?

#9.1 SoLiD_MasteR on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:08

hmmm yeah intresting thing

#10 Khrysller on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:01

there´s no antique tecnology, it´s just a matter of size?

will you but an nintendo 8 bits that fits in a clock and display the image in (ie) hologram?

#11 SoLiD_MasteR on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:07

LOL

OMFG super damn slim !!!

very nice work sony (I'm not sony fan btw)

#12 JOEWARE on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:11

nice nice improvment... wow............ I <3 it.

(2 replies) #13 Mikeparkie on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:27

now where is the on button

#13.1 DrZoidberg on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:58

Look at the second photo. There's three ridges running vertically up the case. The center one has the "PS" logo on it. Looks like there's two buttons on that ridge - one above and one below the logo.

#13.2 DrZoidberg on 21 Sep 2004 - 20:45

The photo here shows both buttons, as well as the DVD/CD tray.

#14 Mikeparkie on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:28

just what they did whith the PS1. now its the PS2's turrn. means the PS2's days are limited

(3 replies) #15 Zeni on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:36

Slimmer but the HDD isn't an option anymore, which is kind of a loss. Hmm.... Loss, yeah, I'm sure sony knows a thing or two about that.

#15.1 rIaHc3 on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:43

its still got USB my friend. Plug in a hard drive and thats it

#15.2 shao on 21 Sep 2004 - 15:48

please tell me it's only usb1!! heh
nice to see a proper network connection in this, although i wonder why they've opted to include that and still only 2 controller ports. Surely more people would benefit from 4x controller?

#15.3 necrosis on 21 Sep 2004 - 19:34

So that means if I need to get a new PS2 i have to spend MORE money on a adapter or the like? Funk that!

(1 reply) #16 rIaHc3 on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:47

(Im a Xbox user):

Very nice work by Sony...........It seems the firewire has been replaced for the network. Not a bad move at all by Sony. I dont understand how they slimmed it down so much. Thats what impressed me the most. If they bundled this with GTA: SA like originally stated i would buy it for 149 E.

BTW Mikeparkie made a nice point how do you turn it on? I cant see the PS2's two buttons anywhere....

#16.1 y_notm on 21 Sep 2004 - 15:01

the eject button is next to the number two card reader, and the power/reset button is at the top of the front face.

but now that you mention things being hard to see... where do you put the disc in? lol

#17 Kerm on 21 Sep 2004 - 14:57

Whats the point?

#18 PlainLazy on 21 Sep 2004 - 15:14

Its ok I guess IMO, not too sure about the logo...I prefer the old one. And to make it extra slick & cool, they should make a silver version

Doubt I'll buy it though

(1 reply) #19 rbet on 21 Sep 2004 - 15:20

pretty, isn't it?

#19.1 shao on 21 Sep 2004 - 15:52

hrmm.. i still don't like the design principle of this ps2 and pstwo. the design principles between the playstation and psone seemed different - not only to make the unit smaller but to make it look more modern. this still looks like a late 1980's attempt at a workstation, just a less powerful one. The overlapping portions on the top still look totally out of place, and are impracticle, and i don't get the phatass stand on the bottom when most people have the console on it's side anyway.

still, you can't beat the gamecube for compact design imo. if only ms would shrink the xbox and we'd all be laughing.

#20 Mx² on 21 Sep 2004 - 15:53

mwahah

I want I want I want. Damn I'm going to get that.

(1 reply) #21 winxptwker on 21 Sep 2004 - 15:58

Nice look. My sister have the old version of PS2 and I have the new version of PS1 and an Xbox. I might sell my PS1 to buy one of those new PS2. :o

#21.1 toolo on 21 Sep 2004 - 17:11

and what get 10 dollars for it? i never understand people when they say they will trade in their ancient systems. just keep it or give it to a little kid

(1 reply) #22 darkmatter on 21 Sep 2004 - 16:19

how much is it going to cost?

#22.1 blachole on 21 Sep 2004 - 16:26

If you read it it says $149.99...

#23 Mr. Apex on 21 Sep 2004 - 17:18

Oh My GOD! I LOVE it! The slimline look is fantastic!! It has on-goard network as well! Well done Sony! This is TOTALLY on my list of things i gotta buy.

#24 TooPackShaker on 21 Sep 2004 - 17:20

nice but I think I'll stick with the one I have. cant beat hdloader

#25 56kmanV3 on 21 Sep 2004 - 17:22

How much ?

(1 reply) #26 Fantmx on 21 Sep 2004 - 17:26

That looks pretty nice. But, why does everyone care about the size of a console, and how it looks so much? What difference does it really make? Although from reading the comments this is having the results Sony wants: people that already have a PS2 want to waste money on the same thing with a smaller case. Doesn't make much sense to me, but oh well.

#26.1 Galley on 21 Sep 2004 - 18:28

I care about the size because I am looking for a portable DVD solution for the car. Now if Sony can come up with an 8" 16x9 screen for $149.99 or less that attaches to the PStwo, they will have a winner!

(1 reply) #27 ShawnDude on 21 Sep 2004 - 17:45

I can't really tell by the pictures, but it looks like it may use an external power supply. Which would explain the ability to shrink the internals. External power supply = less stuff inside the box and less heat produced inside the box.

#27.1 threetonesun on 21 Sep 2004 - 18:59

It most definately does. Not all too impressive considering. I mean, imagine how small you could make a PC if it had no harddrive and external power. And that would be without custom components like Sony has access to.

Plus, I thought silver was the new black.

#28 Xenos on 21 Sep 2004 - 18:07

That is a sweet PS2......I'mma get it when its out fosho!

#29 obake on 21 Sep 2004 - 18:39

Holy crap, that looks so f***ing sweet!

#30 RGSPro on 21 Sep 2004 - 19:11

so slim I don't think you can fit a modchip in there, and I don't see where the dvd drive is... hard drive? maybe a laptop drive would fit in there.

#31 Bling3k12 on 21 Sep 2004 - 19:24

That's pretty sweet... I might have to trade my old one in.

And I don't even play my PS2

Ever.

#32 angrybrit on 21 Sep 2004 - 19:28

I want one!

(1 reply) #33 eilegz on 21 Sep 2004 - 20:14

well looks very cool slim and kinda portable (just like psone) but cnt be modded and also no HD no FF 11 will be very hard i would rather get the old one cheap

#33.1 Lord Zog on 21 Sep 2004 - 20:46

I'm sure it will be moddified when the chips shrink.

#34 Rishdeep on 21 Sep 2004 - 20:26

I didn't like the original design (thought it looked like an old radiator) and I don't much like this one either. It is better the the original design, however, I just don't like the whole rectangualar upstanding shape of either of them.

#35 jcgamer60 on 21 Sep 2004 - 20:29

LOL

#36 RDX on 21 Sep 2004 - 20:56

unless they make something external for the harddrive. am not buying this new ps2.

#37 ubelphenix on 21 Sep 2004 - 21:01

not bad looking... been waiting for this as my original ps2 died a while back... nice price too...

#38 robpears on 21 Sep 2004 - 21:22

i might be tempted to buy it

#39 zixyon on 21 Sep 2004 - 21:35

me likes

... well i care alot about the size and the look for my room ...well i just have to wait for the modchip

..btw ... where do put cds .. external ?

lol ... i cant see the slide anywhere .. and this would definitly fit so nice in my car since i dont have alot of size .. gonna get it for sure

#40 Coolme on 21 Sep 2004 - 21:54

QUOTE

Japan it's "open price", meaning retailers can set their own price point

I love compitition...

#41 Test Zero on 21 Sep 2004 - 22:00

Here's an actual photo comparing this to the old PS2: Click

(2 replies) #42 beardly on 21 Sep 2004 - 22:18

Now the Xbox needs to be redone badly. It looks like a hugh brick.

#42.1 eilegz on 21 Sep 2004 - 23:10

agree xbox its the worst looking console

#42.2 SecretAgentMan on 22 Sep 2004 - 06:46

The Xbox is fine. Nothing looks worse than the original PS2 and now this new piece of junk.

#43 invaderzim_2004 on 21 Sep 2004 - 22:26

Will this be available in the Ocenia region ( countries such as Aust./NZ for example)

#44 invaderzim_2004 on 21 Sep 2004 - 22:27

Looks quite sweltve to me-a lot thinner than before

#45 Flash on 21 Sep 2004 - 22:34

So is there a modchip for this? lol

#46 bennett on 21 Sep 2004 - 22:58

Man that is so god dam fine i am going to buy one as soon as i have the money.

#47 darkness2505 on 21 Sep 2004 - 23:19

wow..i guess the network adapter is built in too? considering htere s acable jack there?

#48 mrp04 on 21 Sep 2004 - 23:22

To me, it looks like a rack-mount server

(1 reply) #49 ArtOf_War on 21 Sep 2004 - 23:39

well it may look really cool but it's still a PS2

now if XBox were to be redone

#49.1 SecretAgentMan on 22 Sep 2004 - 06:48

There is no need to redo the Xbox with the new one coming out in the near future. It looks great just the way it is.

#50 Hova on 22 Sep 2004 - 00:15

Pre-ordered my own at ebgames

. yay!

(yay for my attention whoring)

#51 Flash on 22 Sep 2004 - 00:16

PS2 isn't a ps2 the way gran turismo 4 proves it

#52 tetuyeda on 24 Sep 2004 - 21:44

does it still do progressive scan?

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