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PS2 is one of the biggest-selling video game consoles of all time, with over 160,000,000 consoles sold worldwide since 2000

Killjoy-NL

Gold Member
They stopped making ps2s a decade ago.
Edit:

Yeah, never mind. You're right I overlooked the number on the last model made.

Or rather, I forgot about that Tweet.
 
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160 million dvd players. Not saying that it wouldn’t have done well without it. But the first entree level lowest priced dvd player during first launch years at the time helped a lot. Some individuals just bought it for that, not a game machine.
Why do people keep pushing this stupid myth? DVD didn't help the PS2. PS2 helped DVD.

And no, PS2, which launched at $299 was not the lowest priced DVD player. In 2000, you could get a DVD player for around $100, cheaper models for less. Within a year or two, they dropped to $50. It also has a higher attach ratio for games than the Switch.

It's time for this myth to die. PS2 was the most popular game console for gaming, not as a cheap DVD player. Deal with it.
 

Robb

Gold Member
I'm referring to as of late, when profits fell 60%.
You keep throwing this statistic around but it makes no sense for your case if you’re trying to argue that the Switch is not a victory relative to Nintendo’s past efforts.

This is a year-on-year figure, I.e. related only to past sales of the Switch itself the previous year.

You’d have to compare the profits they made here with the profits they made during year 8 of, say, the Wii/DS. They could see a 60% YoY decline and still have made more profit compared to year 8 of Wii/DS combined.
 

nordique

Member
Why do people keep pushing this stupid myth? DVD didn't help the PS2. PS2 helped DVD.

And no, PS2, which launched at $299 was not the lowest priced DVD player. In 2000, you could get a DVD player for around $100, cheaper models for less. Within a year or two, they dropped to $50. It also has a higher attach ratio for games than the Switch.

It's time for this myth to die. PS2 was the most popular game console for gaming, not as a cheap DVD player. Deal with it.

I think early it helped some sales, obviously not later on when ps2 was simply a beast for gaming

But I mean early on, 2000-2002 before it had the tens of millions

My dad got me and my siblings one after I sold him on it playing dvd’s too. At least in Canada at that time, it was one of the “cheaper” dvd players. Yes it helped dvds but that sale wouldn’t have happened if it only played games. At least for my household

I remember being so pumped when we got one.
 
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nordique

Member
Lol at people arguing they are fudging their numbers.

I don't think anyone inside Sony cares that much about the Switch selling as much or more.
and neither does Nintendo

It’s really just fans that care


The companies just care about profits and Sony is happy today from that perspective. Nintendo could stop production of the switch tonight and they’d be proud of the coin it’s made them.
 

nordique

Member
I was a Nintendo, Xbox and PC kid during the PS2 era; if I were to pick it up now what top 10 games should I get with it?

It’s going to be different for different folks. So many games that everyone had diff tastes. Hard to just pick 10

Why don’t we go with series?

1) GTA (San Andreas, Vice city, gta3….also had ports of liberty city stories and vice city stories)

2) MGS 2 & 3

3) Jak & Daxter Series (esp 1-3…naughty dog before uncharted and last of us)

4) Ratchet & Clank series (1-3, esp up your arsenal)

5) God of War (1 & 2) some of the best games of the gen

6) capcom hits: Okami (my fav capcom game on ps2), Devil may cry 1-3 (esp 3), viewtiful Joe, resident evil 4 for extra content (although gamecube was the definitive version, the extra missions were nice on ps2)

7) ico

8) shadow of the colossus

9) katamari Camado

10) bully

If you like racing sims, add gran turismo 3 & 4 on the list.

If you like rpgs, there’s a whole other list you can make including ff10, 12, dragon quest 8, persona, xenostuff…. Kingdom hearts games


Basically every well rated major third party game from tekken to soul Calibur to splinter cell to beyond good & evil to tony hawks to burnout to Star Wars stuff


Edit: and I forgot sly cooper. One of my fav ps2 era game series.
 
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nordique

Member
But how many were actually sold, vs produced and shipped numbers!?!?!?!?
Sony has a pic of the last produced unit and it’s like 160.68 something million, someone posted it in the thread, can presume it still sold after they stopped reporting numbers until that last unit.

Switch should get close. I think switch is the closest thing to ps2 in terms of goat status in terms of sheer quality of what you can play on it.

Will be interesting to see how close they get to 161….If they hit their 12.5 million forecast they’ll get just under 154 million (about 153.8)
 
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SweetTooth

Gold Member
Nintendo fanboys right now


200.webp

Yup, Autism aggression and squealing kicked in
 
You keep throwing this statistic around but it makes no sense for your case if you’re trying to argue that the Switch is not a victory relative to Nintendo’s past efforts.

This is a year-on-year figure, I.e. related only to past sales of the Switch itself the previous year.

You’d have to compare the profits they made here with the profits they made during year 8 of, say, the Wii/DS. They could see a 60% YoY decline and still have made more profit compared to year 8 of Wii/DS combined.
Is the Switch's performance getting better or worse year after year?
 

Robb

Gold Member
Is the Switch's performance getting better or worse year after year?
Worse. But if you’re arguing if it’s a “victory” or not for Nintendo you have to assert if it’s becoming worse than their previous heights.

In FY8 DS and Wii sold a combined of 2.8M units. Switch is estimated to sell 12.5M million units.

This will be the best FY8 of any Nintendo console ever made.
 
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Why do people keep pushing this stupid myth? DVD didn't help the PS2. PS2 helped DVD.

And no, PS2, which launched at $299 was not the lowest priced DVD player. In 2000, you could get a DVD player for around $100, cheaper models for less. Within a year or two, they dropped to $50. It also has a higher attach ratio for games than the Switch.

It's time for this myth to die. PS2 was the most popular game console for gaming, not as a cheap DVD player. Deal with it.
Myth? I know people that did exactly that. Deal with that I guess.😀

Did people buy ps2 for dvd players during launch window because it was cheaper?

ChatGPT said:


Yes, many people bought the PlayStation 2 (PS2) during its launch window in 2000, partly because it was a cost-effective DVD player. At the time, standalone DVD players were relatively expensive, often costing more than $300-$400. The PS2, priced at $299 at launch, offered not only the ability to play DVDs but also a next-generation gaming console.
This dual functionality made the PS2 particularly attractive to early adopters of DVD technology. Sony’s decision to include DVD playback as a standard feature was a significant factor in the PS2’s massive success. It appealed to both gamers and non-gamers alike, broadening its market reach. By effectively combining gaming and home entertainment, the PS2 helped accelerate the adoption of DVDs as a new media format.
 
Myth? I know people that did exactly that. Deal with that I guess.😀

Did people buy ps2 for dvd players during launch window because it was cheaper?

ChatGPT said:


Yes, many people bought the PlayStation 2 (PS2) during its launch window in 2000, partly because it was a cost-effective DVD player. At the time, standalone DVD players were relatively expensive, often costing more than $300-$400. The PS2, priced at $299 at launch, offered not only the ability to play DVDs but also a next-generation gaming console.
This dual functionality made the PS2 particularly attractive to early adopters of DVD technology. Sony’s decision to include DVD playback as a standard feature was a significant factor in the PS2’s massive success. It appealed to both gamers and non-gamers alike, broadening its market reach. By effectively combining gaming and home entertainment, the PS2 helped accelerate the adoption of DVDs as a new media format.
Appealed to both gamers and non-gamers alike.....reminds me of the Wii except it did a much better job at it.
 

consoul

Member
If you two want to believe that in 13 years of production that Sony didn't replace, lose, have damaged in transport, stolen or gave away any more than 636,884 consoles allowing them to sell at least 160,000,001 consoles then that's fine.
PS2 consoles had a high hardware failure rate over their whole lifetime, but Sony's warranty on them was only for one year and even then they had service centres doing repairs/refurbs where possible instead of new replacements.

So it's not unthinkable that they only had to do warranty claim replacements on less than 0.4%.

Anyway, everybody counts made as sold in these figures so the comparisons are apples and apples.
 
PS2 consoles had a high hardware failure rate over their whole lifetime, but Sony's warranty on them was only for one year and even then they had service centres doing repairs/refurbs where possible instead of new replacements.

So it's not unthinkable that they only had to do warranty claim replacements on less than 0.4%.

Anyway, everybody counts made as sold in these figures so the comparisons are apples and apples.
I wouldnt be surprised if a considerable portion of Switch sales came from repeat customers who broke their Switches from dropping them and had to buy a replacement as it's the most fragile Nintendo console ever made, unlike the Gameboy which was built like a tank. They're also easy to lose when traveling as it is a portable.
 

Woopah

Member
chokotoureiki chokotoureiki

Just so I can understand your original argument, you're saying that if Switch crosses 160 million at some point in the future it won't be a success/victory, because the 3DS isn't being manufactured anymore and Nintendo had a drop in profits in FY25.

Is that accurate?
 

Mozza

Member
No price drops? What about the Switch Lite? Or the bundles? There's like 3 SKUs with the Switch and several limited editions, many of which are sold to repeat buyers like myself. Being a 'games only' machine? So what? That makes the public perception of it being a toy. I don't see how that's a good thing. Does that make it better than the PC too? Making more money than PS2? Couldn't be any more wrong, esp as their profits have shrunk drastically last quarter by 60%. I guess when you heavily rely on a formula of doling out ports like Mario Kart 8 and Mario All Stars Bundle plus charging full prices for 10+ yr old rehashes and their mindless fans gobble them up like lapdogs...yay for capitalism I guess? Trust me hun, going from 2 pillar to 1 pillar ain't a humongous victory, esp when they're providing you underpowered hardware that can barely compete with last gen consoles.
I wonder how many people had the DVD drive fail on the PS2. then bought another one. The sales figures for both the PS2 and Switch are very impressive, whichever way you slice it.
 
It’s going to be different for different folks. So many games that everyone had diff tastes. Hard to just pick 10

Why don’t we go with series?

1) GTA (San Andreas, Vice city, gta3….also had ports of liberty city stories and vice city stories)

2) MGS 2 & 3

3) Jak & Daxter Series (esp 1-3…naughty dog before uncharted and last of us)

4) Ratchet & Clank series (1-3, esp up your arsenal)

5) God of War (1 & 2) some of the best games of the gen

6) capcom hits: Okami (my fav capcom game on ps2), Devil may cry 1-3 (esp 3), viewtiful Joe, resident evil 4 for extra content (although gamecube was the definitive version, the extra missions were nice on ps2)

7) ico

8) shadow of the colossus

9) katamari Camado

10) bully

If you like racing sims, add gran turismo 3 & 4 on the list.

If you like rpgs, there’s a whole other list you can make including ff10, 12, dragon quest 8, persona, xenostuff…. Kingdom hearts games


Basically every well rated major third party game from tekken to soul Calibur to splinter cell to beyond good & evil to tony hawks to burnout to Star Wars stuff


Edit: and I forgot sly cooper. One of my fav ps2 era game series.
Love this. Thanks for this well thought out list - totally forgot about Jak and Dexter - I remember seeing ads for this as a kid! Definitely going to do Rachet snd clank.

I’m really curious about MGS 2 and 3 since I love splinter cell and replay them frequently and since I played starting with MGS4 (omg the cutscenes were longer than the gameplay) and MGS5.

I’ve heard great things about shadow and ico but don’t know them well.

Also really curious about the kingdom heart series.

Thank you again!
 

Soltype

Member
Why do people keep pushing this stupid myth? DVD didn't help the PS2. PS2 helped DVD.

And no, PS2, which launched at $299 was not the lowest priced DVD player. In 2000, you could get a DVD player for around $100, cheaper models for less. Within a year or two, they dropped to $50. It also has a higher attach ratio for games than the Switch.

It's time for this myth to die. PS2 was the most popular game console for gaming, not as a cheap DVD player. Deal with it.
A $100 DVD player would not have been a good one especially in 2000. You could have gotten better dedicated DVD players for maybe around $200. The PS2 was one of the cheapest Sony DVD players you can buy in 2000.

 
chokotoureiki chokotoureiki

Just so I can understand your original argument, you're saying that if Switch crosses 160 million at some point in the future it won't be a success/victory, because the 3DS isn't being manufactured anymore and Nintendo had a drop in profits in FY25.

Is that accurate?
3DS? You mean PS2? I guess you can call it breaking a record but the Switch and PS2 aren't competing since they're both from different generations, and the PS2 has long been retired. Just like you wouldn't say Mike Tyson or Floyd Mayweather was victorious over Muhammad Ali, bc they never fought or competed directly against each other, and Ali has long since been dead.

I'm not denying the Switch is successful, and even if it beats PS2's record, it still doesn't take away from PS2s own success.
 
I wonder how many people had the DVD drive fail on the PS2. then bought another one. The sales figures for both the PS2 and Switch are very impressive, whichever way you slice it.
Not very many enough to make a difference. Any console is prone to failure. GC also had failures, as well as Xbox.
 

Woopah

Member
3DS? You mean PS2? I guess you can call it breaking a record but the Switch and PS2 aren't competing since they're both from different generations, and the PS2 has long been retired. Just like you wouldn't say Mike Tyson or Floyd Mayweather was victorious over Muhammad Ali, bc they never fought or competed directly against each other, and Ali has long since been dead.

I'm not denying the Switch is successful, and even if it beats PS2's record, it still doesn't take away from PS2s own success.
No I mean 3DS. You originally said the handheld market had been shut down, and when I pointed put it hadn't, you linked to an article about the 3DS ending production.

When it comes to records, I wouldn't say generations matter.

The GameBoy took the highest selling console record from the NES, but it didn't takeaway from the NES' success. The same happened when PS2 took it from the GameBoy, and likewise if/when something takes it from the PS2.

If Switch does take the record, Nintendo's financial performance in H1 FY25 won't be something the effects it.
 
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PS2 has been selling for 24 years and at a discount for much of that time. Try doing it Nintendo style with no discount, during a crap economy and in 7 only years. Sony really is stupid if they think this somehow overshadows the Switch's success. With all the success of the PS5 and Sony still trying to save face with a lame numbers update for the PS2. Someone's insecure I think.
 
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Woopah

Member
PS2 has been selling for 24 years and at a discount for much of that time. Try doing it Nintendo style with no discount, during a crap economy and in 7 only years. Sony really is stupid if they think this somehow overshadows the Switch's success. With all the success of the PS5 and Sony still trying to save face with a lame numbers update for the PS2. Someone's insecure I think.
This isn't them "saving face" or anytging to do with Switch. PS2 crossed 160 million in 2012.
 
I was a Nintendo, Xbox and PC kid during the PS2 era; if I were to pick it up now what top 10 games should I get with it?
Some other PS2 recommendations

> The Matrix: Path of Neo - Surreal action game where you play Neo in the films.


> Tekken 4 - The most stylish and smooth 3D fighter on the system.


> From Russia With Love - The most stylish Bond adaptation in videogame format.


> Soul Calibur III - An exclusive medieval weapon fighting game with tons of content.


> Jet Li: Rise To Honor - John Woo style action with kickass choreography and a cool story.


> Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 - One of the best arcade skateboarding games of all time.


> Onimusha 3 - An action game with a gun/whip-wielding Frenchman fighting demons in feudal Japan while his Japanese counterpart does the same in modern day Paris.


> Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban - Best version of the last great entry of the action/puzzle platformer.


> True Crime: New York City - Best version of over-the-top open-world cop adventure with bullet time action and a fight club.


> ObsCure - Best version of 2000's Lovecraftian prep school horror perfection.


*If you are a weeb, do not miss out on Blood Will Tell, Way of the Samurai, and Kengo II: Legacy of the Blade.
Blood%2BWill3.jpg


way-of-the-samurai-1000x500.jpg


SLPS25107shots.jpg
 

Azelover

Titanic was called the Ship of Dreams, and it was. It really was.
This isn't them "saving face" or anytging to do with Switch. PS2 crossed 160 million in 2012.
Hmm.. if that's true then I wonder why they saved the information for twelve years. I don't believe it, sorry. A third party body has to clarify this for us. Sony's way of accounting was atrocious for many years. The PS2 inherited some of it. Not that it matters anyway. That generation is long gone. It won't change anything.
 

Woopah

Member
Hmm.. if that's true then I wonder why they saved the information for twelve years. I don't believe it, sorry. A third party body has to clarify this for us. Sony's way of accounting was atrocious for many years. The PS2 inherited some of it. Not that it matters anyway. That generation is long gone. It won't change anything.
Up until the end of March 2012, Sony reported separate numbers for each platform. But after that they combined their home console and portable console numbers.

From April 2012 to March 2013, they shipped 16.5 million PS3s and PS2s, and 7 million PSPs and PS Vitas.

We knew PS2 had shipped several million after March 2012, but we didn't know exactly how much of the 16.5 million were PS2s. Now we know 5 million of them were PS2s.
 
No I mean 3DS. You originally said the handheld market had been shut down, and when I pointed put it hadn't, you linked to an article about the 3DS ending production.

When it comes to records, I wouldn't say generations matter.

The GameBoy took the highest selling console record from the NES, but it didn't takeaway from the NES' success. The same happened when PS2 took it from the GameBoy, and likewise if/when something takes it from the PS2.

If Switch does take the record, Nintendo's financial performance in H1 FY25 won't be something the effects it.
There's still demand for handhelds, yes, but Nintendo for the longest time had 2 pillars, even going for 3 at one point with the Gameboy Micro which didn't do too well. When Nintendo realized that dedicated handhelds weren't so hot anymore with disappointing 3DS sales, that's when they pulled the plug, which brought an end to Nintendo's long held tradition. Whether or not it was a good move can be debated, but it was quite obvious the pressure from the emergence of smartphones was too much for Nintendo to handle.

As for records, yeah I'll give you that. Records can be broken regardless of generations. PS4 beats GBA. Xbox 360 beats NES. PSP beats N64. Etc. If you can make the case for Switch and PS2 then you can make the same for every scenario.
 
PS2 has been selling for 24 years and at a discount for much of that time. Try doing it Nintendo style with no discount, during a crap economy and in 7 only years. Sony really is stupid if they think this somehow overshadows the Switch's success. With all the success of the PS5 and Sony still trying to save face with a lame numbers update for the PS2. Someone's insecure I think.
Discounts are now a bad thing? Were you salty back then when Wii dropped it's price from $250 to $130 in 2012? 7 years isn't really a flex when you have so many things going for it like smartphones, Amazon, TikTok, social media influencers, eSports, digital storefronts, etc that gave Switch a push. Let's not forget that stimulus checks were given too during a crappy economy so guess where that money went??? Entertainment, yeah exactly. PS2s success is way more impressive considering it didn't have ANY of these perks, plus wages in 2001 were like what? $6/hr? Get out of here.
 
Funny how this number comes out of nowhere, as the switch slowly creeps into the 150 million territory.
It's the 30 yr anniversary, that's why they updated the numbers. They also have website up that shows the Playstation legacy. They're not insecure about anything. That's just Nintendo fans projecting their insecurities since they're scared the Switch may fall short just like DS suddenly fell short of beating PS2. They seem to be making a huge deal about this as if it's going to mean anything. Kinda like Jake Paul beating a senior citizen.
 

MarkMe2525

Gold Member
It's the 30 yr anniversary, that's why they updated the numbers. They also have website up that shows the Playstation legacy. They're not insecure about anything. That's just Nintendo fans projecting their insecurities since they're scared the Switch may fall short just like DS suddenly fell short of beating PS2. They seem to be making a huge deal about this as if it's going to mean anything. Kinda like Jake Paul beating a senior citizen.
Nintendo fans projecting? What are you talking about? I saw the headline and formed my own opinion. I like a Zelda game, just as much as the next guy, but I'm no "Nintendo Fan". I think they punch down and have developed a shitty corporate culture of striking out against people who don't deserve it (many of times, their biggest fans).
 
Nintendo fans projecting? What are you talking about? I saw the headline and formed my own opinion. I like a Zelda game, just as much as the next guy, but I'm no "Nintendo Fan". I think they punch down and have developed a shitty corporate culture of striking out against people who don't deserve it (many of times, their biggest fans).
You sounded rather dubious like "funny how this number came out or nowhere" rather than doing your own research. I didn't say you were a Nintendo fan, I was saying in general. That's why I said "they". Interesting how you didn't pick up on that.
 

MarkMe2525

Gold Member
You sounded rather dubious like "funny how this number came out or nowhere" rather than doing your own research. I didn't say you were a Nintendo fan, I was saying in general. That's why I said "they". Interesting how you didn't pick up on that.
edit: i'm just taking the piss out of them. I have no evidence that the number's aren't close to accurate.
 
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I have to say, if you weren't attempting to group me in with said group, then I don't know why you brought all that up. It is highly irrelevant to my personal take on the situation.

edit: i'm just taking the piss out of them. I have no evidence that the number's aren't close to accurate.
I'm sorry you were offended, but you did bring Switch even tho the OP was only talking about the PS2, which for some reason attracts hordes of Nintendo fans like a swarm of cockcroaches bc they want to turn everything into a pissing contest.
 

Woopah

Member
There's still demand for handhelds, yes, but Nintendo for the longest time had 2 pillars, even going for 3 at one point with the Gameboy Micro which didn't do too well. When Nintendo realized that dedicated handhelds weren't so hot anymore with disappointing 3DS sales, that's when they pulled the plug, which brought an end to Nintendo's long held tradition. Whether or not it was a good move can be debated, but it was quite obvious the pressure from the emergence of smartphones was too much for Nintendo to handle.

As for records, yeah I'll give you that. Records can be broken regardless of generations. PS4 beats GBA. Xbox 360 beats NES. PSP beats N64. Etc. If you can make the case for Switch and PS2 then you can make the same for every scenario.
But they didn't pull the plug. The released the Switch as a follow up to both the Wii U amd 3DS, and now have one pillar that is more profitable than the previous two combined.

The casual audience that got the DS to 150 million has gone to mobile and isn't coming back. But the 80 million audience that bought the 3DS or Vita still exist, and that's part of the audience that's buying the Switch now.

For decades Nintendo made money from selling dedicated video games devices that could be used portably, and publishing first party games on those devices. They are still doing that.
 
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MarkMe2525

Gold Member
I'm sorry you were offended, but you did bring Switch even tho the OP was only talking about the PS2, which for some reason attracts hordes of Nintendo fans like a swarm of cockcroaches bc they want to turn everything into a pissing contest.
oh Jesus, offended? You speak of others "insecure projection", and yet here you are.
 
But they didn't pull the plug. The released the Switch as a follow up to both the Wii U amd 3DS, and now have one pillar that is more profitable than the previous two combined.

The casual audience that got the DS to 150 million has gone to mobile and isn't coming back. But the 80 million audience that bought the 3DS or Vita still exist, and that's part of the audience that's buying the Switch now.

For decades Nintendo made money from selling dedicated video games devices that could be used portably, and publishing first party games on those devices. They are still doing that.
But Switch is an entirely different brand from 3DS and Wii U. It's neither carrying the DS or Wii name just like 3DS carried it's name from DS and Wii U from Wii as to indicate fans that this is a direct successor from a successful brand name. Everything is different from the logo design to the color scheme to the advertising. It's not a follow up to anything so much as converging two markets together. 3DS was targeting children and diehards. Wii U was targeting those same diehards and the nongamers that loved Wii. Switch marketing involved young adults, which was entirely different from before.
 

Topher

Identifies as young
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