New-look Sony PlayStation 2 in end 2007

Sony Corporation is giving a makeover to its PlayStation 2 gaming console. The new-look PlayStation 2 will be available in the winter of 2007 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.

The new PlayStation 2 bundle will be available in North America in November 2007 for a suggested retail price of US $149.99/Canadian $159.99.

Sony Corporation is now looking at winning back its gaming console fans, who are gradually opting for the Nintendo Wii gaming console. Nintendo Wii's price is comparable with that of PlayStation 2 and its wireless controllers are proving to be more alluring to gamers than DualShock analogue controllers.

Moreover, the hefty price of PlayStation 3 has made a lot of gamers veer towards Microsoft’s Xbox 360 – forcing Sony to announce a price cut before the E3 2007, held in Santa Monica.

The new, ceramic-white, limited edition 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 PlayStation 2 since November 2006, complete with two pink DualShock Analog controllers and a pink 8MB memory card, all for euros 159.99. 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 artistes, singing duets and one-on-one battles, and even singing with up to eight players in a ‘Pass-the-Mic’ social frenzy.

A report from Nielsen GamePlay Metrics shows that as much as 42% of all gaming console use was on the PlayStation 2, showing the console’s continued relevance.

According to Sony Corporation, the PlayStation 2 has an installed base of over 117 million units worldwide, with 44 million units in North America alone. A further 10 million PlayStation 2 units are expected to be sold worldwide by the end of March 2008.