BloodSquirrel said:
I think a large part of what the author is getting at, revolves around the fact that you don't NEED to spend all the money the 360 and PS3 require in order to get a good gaming experience. It sounds to me not like he's talking to people that just might not have the money for a few months, but that definitely wouldn't be able to afford the price it takes to be a player in the current console market. Yes, you can play with the arcade version of the xbox, and take part in all the games that come out. However, all those games are US60 bucks. Playstation 2 games? Much lower, bringing not only the point of entry down, but also staying low in the "maintenance" cycle. The point where you continue to purchase games and possibly accessories.
The Xbox360 arcade version is $200 on amazon. The PS2 is 100. Just with that cost right there, you have 100 dollars to spend on games. New games on the 360 are 60 dollars. New games on the PS2 are 40 dollars.
Just looking at that, and nothing else, it's easy to see that the PS2 is WAY better for your budget than the Xbox. Are the graphics cooler on the xbox and does it have sweet multiplayer etc? Absolutely. Hell it's probably considered a better system by everyone concerned. The author mentioned the stripped-down gaming experience. The PS2, when you buy it, can give you the complete experience the system was designed to offer, out of the box. No internet connection needed, no extra bits and pieces to buy. Yes, the Xbox comes with 4GB of on board memory... but lets be honest. How many games do you need to install so that you don't have to take a lunch break before loading screens? A lot of that gets eaten up fast.
This turned out longer than I expected to, so I'll end with this: The PS2 offers a
significant advantage for those with lower income, due to it's initial and ongoing price-point. It is also a system that thinks from 10 years ago, when not everyone had broadband internet connections. It is an excellent choice, and probably the *best* choice for people who just can't afford everything else that goes with the current console generation.
OT: My brother has my PS2 at college. When he graduates, he's never getting it again.