Sony cuts PlayStation 2 price to $100

March 31, 2009 Sony is cutting the price of its older generation PlayStation 2 (PS2) videogame consoles to 100 dollars

Sony is cutting the price of its older generation PlayStation 2 (PS2) videogame consoles to 100 dollars (US) in a move prompted by tough economic times and a desire to lure fans to the platform.

Sony is cutting the price of its older generation PlayStation 2 (PS2) videogame consoles to 100 dollars (US) in a move prompted by tough economic times and a desire to lure fans to the platform.

Sony Computer Entertainment America said the price of a PS2 console will drop 30 dollars beginning April 1 but that it is not trimming the price of its latest-generation PlayStation 3 consoles.

PS2 consoles have remained strong sellers despite the launch in late 2006 of a more powerful PS3 version with built-in Blu-ray high definition disk player.

PS3 consoles came with high price tags, a version with an 80-gigabyte hard drive costs 400 dollars.

Sales of PS3 consoles have lagged behind those of market-ruling Nintendo Wii hardware and Microsoft's Xbox 360, which hit the market in 2005.

Launch of high-end PS3 consoles revived the popularity of PS2 models that became comparative bargains in the marketplace.

Sony reports selling more than 136 million PS2 consoles since they were launched in 2000.

"Demand for PlayStation 2 remains strong throughout the world," said SCEA president Jack Tretton.

"The new 99-dollar price point will bring in new consumers who will discover how PlayStation platforms are an outstanding choice for their gaming and home entertainment needs."

Sony hopes that beefing up the ranks of PS2 users will eventually translate into loyal fans that upgrade to PS3 models.

Analysts have gone on record saying they believe it will take a PS3 price cut to breathe new life into sales of the consoles.

Microsoft saw Xbox 360 console sales rise last year after the US technology giant trimmed about 50 dollars from price tags.

Wii consoles are priced at 250 dollars each and have dominated the market since their launch in late 2006.

Rate this story - 1 /5 (2 votes)

rank
1
2
3
4
5

view popular

Move the slider to adjust rank threshold, so that you can hide some of the comments.

Display comments: newest first

Egnite - Apr 01, 2009
- Rank: not rated yet
Do the same with the PS3 and I may buy one :-P
- report abuse
- - Current rank
  - 1
  - 2
  - 3
  - 4
  - 5
jonnyboy - Apr 01, 2009
- Rank: not rated yet
Interesting to be sure but how is this related to physics news?
- report abuse
- - Current rank
  - 1
  - 2
  - 3
  - 4
  - 5
holmstar - Apr 01, 2009
- Rank: not rated yet
Interesting to be sure but how is this related to physics news?

It's not. It's from the technology subsection, but I agree that they should stick to technology news that relates to novel physics.
- report abuse
- - Current rank
  - 1
  - 2
  - 3
  - 4
  - 5

Other News

Robotic clam digs in mudflats

Electronics / Robotics

4 hours ago | 5 / 5 (1) | 0

To design a lightweight anchor that can dig itself in to hold small underwater submersibles, Anette (Peko) Hosoi of MIT borrowed techniques from one of nature's best diggers -- the razor clam.

South Koreans to get Apple's iPhone this week

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

13 hours ago | not rated yet | 0

(AP) -- Apple Inc's iPhone is coming to South Korea this week, a local carrier announced Sunday, bringing the iconic communications device to one of the world's most sophisticated mobile phone markets.

'Rationalizer' bracelet tells traders when they're stressed

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

Nov 17, 2009 | 4.3 / 5 (6) | 4

(PhysOrg.com) -- Philips Electronics and the Dutch bank ABN AMRO have joined forces to develop a "Rationalizer" bracelet system that detects stress levels and displays a warning to help day-traders avoid making ...

Qualcomm's next e-book to use a mirasol display

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

Nov 20, 2009 | 4.7 / 5 (11) | 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- Qualcomm subsidiary Mirasol is developing a new e-book reader with a color display that uses ambient light. The reader will be capable of displaying video smoothly, but the new features will ...

Oak Ridge 'Jaguar' supercomputer is World's fastest

Electronics / Hardware

Nov 16, 2009 | 4.5 / 5 (13) | 2

An upgrade to a Cray XT5 high-performance computing system deployed by the Department of Energy has made the "Jaguar" supercomputer the world's fastest. Located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Jaguar is ...