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PlayStation2: Down the Pipe
- November 29, 2000 12:20 PM PST
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Now that the Japanese have had their hands on PS2 for a few days, what can gamers in the US expect? The Freshman takes a look at the PS2's Japanese launch, and ties together some facts and rumors about the PS2's American future.
Now that the Japanese have had their hands on PS2 for a few days, what can gamers in the US expect? The Freshman takes a look at the PS2's Japanese launch, and ties together some facts and rumors about the PS2's American future.
3-2-1 Liftoff!
The PS2's Japanese launch blew previous numbers out of the water. Gamers camped out to get their hands on the long-awaited console, and Sony came just short of their projected 1 million units mark, selling 980,000 PS2 consoles in the first weekend after launch, more than ten times the sales of the PSX on its first weekend. Obviously, the hype sold the machine, but the hype looked well-founded: this is the most powerful system we've seen to date.
The system launched with a handful of games, including Ridge Racer V, Street Fighter EX3, Stepping Selection, Drumania, Kessen, Eternal Ring and a handful of Mahjong titles. Of these, Stepping Selection and Drumania look the most likely to never make it to US shores, simply because musical games have never grabbed a significant portion of the US market, but the others look almost like shoe-ins. So far, Ridge Racer V and Street Fighter EX3 look to be the most likely candidates for US release, but in this industry, things change quickly. All anyone can do at this point is speculate and tie up rumors and facts that we know are true.
The Ghost of PS2 Future
Unless you've been hiding in a cave for the past few months, you've seen screenshots of everything from Tekken Tag to Gran Turismo 2000. These titles didn't launch with the Japanese PS2, but you can rest assured that we'll see them on our shores. Extreme sports fans will want to keep their eyes on EA's Snowboard SuperX, in which you'll strap on the board of your choice and race supercross-style over some sick mountain courses. Rumors abound for everything from a new Armored Core mech game to a PS2 update to the classic NES Ninja Gaiden series.
Neener Neener!
Of course, the Japanese won't have all the fun. We can expect a handful of US-made games to hit the PS2 this winter. The name "Madden" has been batted around in conversation, and that can only mean more awesome football from EA Sports. Electronic Arts also has a WCW wrestling game in the works for PS2, one which has new ideas "never before seen" in a wrestling game. You'll want to watch out for more head turning announcements from American developers as almost every major game publisher seems to have something up their sleeve.
What does all this mean for you? It means that US gamers have a hell of a treat coming when the PS2 finally makes it here this fall. If the American launch includes even half of the great games that are in the pipe, then you can bet that the PS2 will set the US ablaze when it hits our shores.
Check out the screenshots!
