More PlayStation 2 specs

[09.14.99] » Sony reveals more information concerning the workings of the PSX2.

   Thanks to a press teleconference call, a second wave of PlayStation 2 details has emerged, answering many of the questions left by the first.

   For those disappointed by the presence of only two controller slots, Sony pledged a multitap will be released to accomodate more players. The company also hinted that it may release additionial cables for users with higher-quality screens -- in addition to the standard A/V composite and S-Video cables, the PlayStation 2 may have special connections for VGA monitors (as the Dreamcast's VGA Cord does) or HDTV sets.

   Sony once again confirmed that DVD movies will be playable on the console -- audio DVDs, however will not. The PSX2 will support Dolby Digital for enhanced sound quality, but no remote for the DVD player will be avaiable. Presumably, the standard Dual Shock 2 controllers will be used to control movie playback.

   PlayStation 2 games will retail for about the same price than PSX 1 games do -- Gran Turismo 2000, for example, will retail for 5800 yen (about $55 US). Expect a blue bottom on PlayStation 2 CD-ROMs and the standard silver on DVD games. Sony also promises strong copy protection to prevent piracy, but the same was also said about the original PlayStation, and Sony's attempts to stomp out PSX piracy have been less than successful.

   New information was also divulged regarding Sony's online strategy. In 2001, the PlayStation will receive online support in the form of an Ethernet card and a cable modem connection (Sony did not specify whether it would provide its own cable modem access, or ally with an existing cable modem ISP). These high-speed connections will be used to purchase and download games onto the PlayStation 2 hard drives (said to be "many many gigabytes large") hitting stores the same year. The doors to online gaming are being left open, but plans in that area aren't definite yet.

   Sony refused to indulge requests for additional information on the North American launch, saying only that full details won't be released until E3 2000. The system should arrive in North America and Europe sometime in the fall of 2000, however.