On March 4, 2000, gamers queued outside shops to get their hands on the PlayStation 2, the latest console from Sony. Five years after the release of the first PlayStation, which won the console war against Nintendo, the company was ready for its next big innovative step.
During its 13-year lifespan, the PlayStation 2 sold more than 160 million units, which makes it the best-selling console of all time despite going out of production in January 2013. With more than 4,000 games produced for the system, The National looks back at the history of the PlayStation 2 to see what made it so popular.
Bringing in David Lynch
To promote its newest console – one that was different to its first in identity and character – Sony hired the auteur David Lynch to produce an advertisement. The choice, at least initially, might seem odd and mismatched. After all, what does Lynch, a filmmaker known for his surreal art, have to do with a gaming system?
For Sony, the PlayStation 2 was not only meant as its new machine but also the next evolution in gaming. Thanks to its first console success, becoming the dominant video game company in a competitive space was a huge achievement. This meant the PlayStation 2 not only needed to replicate that triumph but surpass it.
The collaboration resulted in a one-minute video that did not showcase the console. Instead, it is practically a short film made by Lynch that could have fit in with his oeuvre. But the objective evokes a feeling, one many would not have felt before. The message is simple – prepare to experience something new.
Titled Welcome to the Third Space, the commercial refers to a place, other than home and work, where people can interact socially – hence, a third place. With this surreal commercial, gaming was about to change forever.
Queues around the block
The system launched on March 4 in Japan, while gamers in North America had to wait until October and those in Europe had to wait until November. Most of the excitement for the PlayStation 2 came from advertisements on television and reports in magazines.
On release, a more succinct slogan was used in the market: "Live in Your World. Play in Ours". On the first day of its release in Japan, the PlayStation 2 made more than $250 million in sales of the console, games and accessories, setting a record that had been previously held by the Sega Dreamcast, which took in $97 million on the first day of its release in 1998.
After its release around the world, inventory would immediately run out, making it a difficult system to purchase in the first months. Manufacturing delays and high demand only fuelled the PlayStation 2’s reputation as a must-buy.
News reports from release day in Japan show excited masses crowding into video game shops, almost creating a stampede. In the US, however, a console reservation system was put in place to avoid such crowding.
Gaming’s reigning monarch
In what is known as the sixth-generation console war, PlayStation 2's only competitor was the Sega Dreamcast. Despite being released more than a year before its rival, the Dreamcast faced issues with the quality of its console, with many users returning it due to chip malfunction. Sega discontinued the Dreamcast in March 2001.
During this time, the PlayStation 2 was the only sixth-generation console on the market. The Nintendo GameCube and the Xbox would not be released until six months after the Dreamcast was discontinued. Despite the head start, a three-way competition was still on the cards, as Xbox released a more powerful system while Nintendo had more popular exclusives.
In 2004, Sony released a slimmer, cheaper version of the PlayStation 2. It could play all the same games without suffering for its size. By that point, the larger version had sold more than 70 million units worldwide.
Despite the competition, three factors ultimately helped Sony and the PlayStation 2 remain popular – even after the release of the PlayStation 3.
The PlayStation 2 had backwards capability, at the time a first in gaming, allowing players access to the first PlayStation’s library of games. It also had a built-in DVD player, which allowed gamers to play films without needing another dedicated device.
Finally, and perhaps more importantly, the PlayStation 2 was built very well, both in its hardware and software. It was sturdy and hefty, and the console’s advanced systems allowed developers to keep innovating and pushing the envelope of what is capable for a gaming machine.
PlayStation 2's legacy
Looking back more than two decades, the PlayStation 2 felt perfect in many ways. The system kept delivering incredible gaming experiences that felt continuously improved somehow. There are still places in the world that use the console – and not as a retro experience, but one that is reliable to play any of the classic titles in its library.
This includes games such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 3, Silent Hill 2, Pro Evolution Soccer, Gran Turismo 3 and God of War. While many of these are now available on newer consoles or through emulation, it will always be special to play them on the PlayStation 2.
The first PlayStation laid down great infrastructure for Sony's future as a gaming juggernaut, but it is the PlayStation 2 that is fondly remembered by several generations all these years later.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Wonka
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
EVIL%20DEAD%20RISE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
