Sony Revamps the PlayStation 2

Sony is bringing a fresh new look to its old, but successful PlayStation 2 console, offering it for sale this winter in a richer package.
Sony plans to attract casual and non-casual gamers with a Ceramic White limited edition of PlayStation 2, bundled with SingStar Pop, the second installment in the popular SingStar franchise. Of course, for wannabe artists that would be an incomplete package without the two high-quality USB microphones Sony plans to add to the promotional wrapping.
The new PlayStation 2 bundle will be available in North America in November for a suggested retail price of US$149.99/C$159.99.
Sony is on a quest to regain its console fans, which have slowly migrated towards Nintendo Wii- console whose price is comparable with PS2’s and whose revolutionary wireless controllers are apparently more enticing than the DualShock analogue controllers. Moreover, PS3’s hefty price has determined a lot of gamers choose Xbox 360 instead, forcing Sony to announce a price cut before this year’s E3, in Santa Monica.
The new limited edition Ceramic White PlayStation 2 features the same ultra-sleek design and functions of the current Charcoal Black and Satin Silver PlayStation 2 versions as well as the DVD and CD playback capabilities, digital surround sound, two memory card slots and an integrated Ethernet port for network gaming.
Sony has also been selling a pink limited edition of PS2 since November last year, complete with two pink DualShock Analog controllers and a pink 8MB memory card, all for 159.99 Euros. The package also contains SingStar Pop as a bundle.
SingStar Pop for the Ceramic White PlayStation 2 includes tracks from renowned artists like Alicia Keys, U2, Rihanna, Ashlee Simpson, The All-American Rejects and The Clash. With microphones in hand, aspiring pop stars can put on a concert in their living rooms by performing along with their favorite artists, singing duets and one-on-one battles, and even singing with up to eight players in a "Pass-the-Mic" social frenzy.
"With our expansive library of titles for PlayStation, led by social gaming experiences such as SingStar, and Buzz!, we have an incredible offering for first-time gaming families," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. "At $149, the limited edition Ceramic White PlayStation 2, bundled with the family-friendly social gaming title, SingStar Pop, is an unbeatable value that will provide fun for everyone this holiday."
Despite the hype created around the Wii by the media these days and notwithstanding Xbox 360’s strong momentum on the market (with blockbuster titles like BioShock and Halo 3 in its back yard), the PS2 is clearly the holder of all-times record: it has an installed base of more than 117 million worldwide, 44 million PS2s having been sold in North America alone. A further 10 million PlayStation 2 units are expected to be sold worldwide by the end of March 2008. More than 160 new games are expected in North America throughout the holidays and by the end of March 2008, including Guitar Hero Encore: Rock the 80s, Madden NFL 08, NBA '08, and Buzz, as well as a back catalogue of over 1,400 games.