Today Sony Computer Entertainment America held its annual Gamers' Day for the press in San Francisco. Sony spilled the beans on the latest PS2 hardware/software sales data, announced the price of the PS2 HDD hard drive peripheral, and demonstrated the latest builds of software.
Jack Tretton, Executive V.P. SCEA announced that the Playstation has sold more than $2 billion. Sony currently holds 64% of videogame marketshare, excluding the portable market. As announced previously the PS2 has surpassed 60 milion units in sales worldwide, while the little PSone has sold 97.24 million units worldwide.
In the summer, PS2 had a 34% sales drop this year compared to last, though Sony reiterated that the summer season represents 13% of annual system sales. The company added that the current retail configurations will be the ones used during the holiday period.
The company's in-house franchises are selling well at retail. Jak and Daxter sold 1.6 mil, SOCOM sold 2 mil, while Ratchet and Clank sold 500K.
The PS2 HDD will retail for $99 and will be available March 2004. The hard drive will take advantage of caching to minimize load times, store CDs to create a jukebox, and of course hold new downloadable content (SOCOM II and Syphon Filter are set to have DL content). The HDD rounds out with a Game Manager, Audio Manager, and Video Manager.
Final Fantasy XI will be pre-installed on the HD at purchase and will feature a 30-day trial period. Every month thereafter will be a $12.95 fee.
No details for PSP were announced, however Sony did re-touch on the previously announced specs for the company's first portable, which include 3D-CG graphics, 7.1 channel audio, and possibly GPS and digital tuner functions in the future. The unit will include a simplified control structure consisting of PS face buttons - square, x, circle, and triangle; L1, R1 triggers; and one analog stick. The first prototype will debut at the next E3, with a worldwide launch in Winter 2004 (late next year).
Games highlighted today mostly consist of first-party efforts. Ratchet and Clank 2, Jak II, SOCOM II, GT4, FFXI, NBA Shootout, Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain, and Rise to Honor.
Gamers' Day continues until the rest of today. Keep checking back for hands-on impressions from the latest builds.
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