Sony to sell smaller PlayStation 2

[SurfDrifter]

Yes, but does anyone know if it will support HDDs? I think some games are officially supported by HDD. What about them, then?

Just curious...

[Warlock]

I think i am going to buy me a new v10 before they are all gone.

[spedmetal]

Originally Posted by Warlock

I think i am going to buy me a new v10 before they are all gone.

Yeah me too. I'm going to hold on to one of these V10 pre-mods for my self. With the way PS2's have been selling out around here month to month I can see it wont be long before they are off the shelves for good.

[H|LLJD00]

I'll keep my v7 for a while. But do you think the new console will support the current modchips if u get me, will a hdd work? And is it only gonna have 2 controller ports? If so wat a pain in the ass looks a bit odd to me, lol.. too small

[MoBiUs]

hmm maybe external hdd

[Cyber Akuma]

A normal harddrive will defiantely not work in that thing, theres one of three possibilities the way I see it.

1. They will release an external adapter.

2. They will use a mini harddrive (like a laptop harddrive or the kind used in ipods)

3. There will be no HDD support altogether.

I am guessing #3, Sony really didnt give a damn about the HDD from day 1, at least in the USA. They forced many usa versions of games to remove HDD support and even purposely delayed the release of it so Everquest adventures could gain steam ahead of FFXI. Plus now they can argue that the removal of the HDD was to kill off the HD Loader (if that wasnt the reason behind this mini PS2 in the first place).

[SurfDrifter]

I was thinking external USB enclosures, but that will render the previous released titles incompatible (i guess)

I still believe that HDLoader would need an update, because, even if PSTwo supported one way or another, a HDD, the access would be different.

In PS2, it required to "hi-jack" the Network adapter, which in the case of PSTwo, it has built-in ethernet port.

[H|LLJD00]

oh well I wont be getting one of these anyways, but they better have a hdd in ps3, and be able to save games saves to it!

[lufcfan]

Damn right - but I ain't gonna buy Sony if they don't stop acting like t***s

[ihaveanosebleed]

What’s that box next to the PSTwo’s external power supply over on the right side? Is that perhaps an external network adapter/HD case? Oh no, I think it's just a multitap!

[Cyber Akuma]

I think its been confirmed now that the new PS2 will NOT support the HDD.

[bighap]

I am with Bounty. Forget the new design.... It's Gran Turismo 4!

[spedmetal]

A few things about the new design.

1) The flip top does kind of suck, but less moving parts are always better, now there is no need for a tray and tray drive motor, or circuitry to drive it.

2) The flip top does add one major benefit, now its very easy for the average user to clean the laser eye if need be.

3) The majority of PS2 games need no HDD support so for like 98% of the PS2 game titles this PS2 will be just fine. And if your one of the few that needs an HDD there will be the PS3 which I'm sure will support PS2 titles that need HDD support (or at least I'm hoping)

4) It now has the network port built right into the motherboard thus eliminating the need to buy an online bundle or the NA separately. So all the non-HDD games that are online-able are able to be played right out of the box.

5) A major draw back of the new unit is that its kind of a throw-away design. Now that everything is all on the mobo other then the laser if something gets toasted its not going to be easy to fix if at all. Like the controller port is now integrated into the mobo along with the NA.

6) It appears they have combined the emotion engine (EE) and the graphic chip (GS) into one chip on the mobo. If you look at what appears to be the EE it says right on it EE+GS and I don't see a GS on the mobo any place. Every cool!!!

7) The external power supply is going to be kind of a pain in the ass. Now we will have to have just one more transformer eating up wall space and constantly drawing power unless its unplugged. But the benefit in it is less heat the PS2 has to dissipate and a better, cooler running unit.

I wonder how long it will take until its cracked? If you look at the mobo carefully there are many similarities with the current PS2's. The bios chip looks the same although I would be willing to bet a completely new bios code is one it. I hope they invested some research and money in a quality laser this time, but since this is a stream lined PS2 that is wishful thinking most likely.

What team do you think will crack it first?

[Cyber Akuma]

But, dont they risk pissing off Square now that FFXI wont be playable anymore?

Plus theres many HDD-only games in japan too.

[crazygamelover]

Originally Posted by spedmetal

What team do you think will crack it first?

I would have to guess that a shared cracking effort will be implemented since all of the teams will be working on the same goal to make new revenues on chip sales but who knows for sure. I would bet most of the teams probably already work together behind the sceens but then again they are competitive with eachother so its pretty much a coin toss.