I remember back in the day when PS2 online gaming was just starting to take off. It still didn’t seem all that popular to me, even though most of the games didn’t require a monthly fee.
I always wondered why more people weren’t jumping on it. Anyone else feel the same way?
Topic Summary: PS2 vs Xbox Live debate: free vs subscription, SOCOM 2’s community, and game library diversity explored.
Topic Overview (Wikipedia):
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on March 4, 2000, in North America on October 26, in Europe on November 24, in Australia on November 30, and other regions thereafter. It is the successor to the original PlayStation as well as the second installment in the PlayStation brand of consoles. As a sixth-generation console, it competed with Nintendo’s GameCube, Sega’s Dreamcast, and Microsoft’s Xbox.
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I never heard much about PS2 online either. I had a PS2 but never bothered with the online part.
Xbox Live was way more popular where I was. I had that and it was great.
Plus, the games were awesome. PS2 online just didn’t have the same pull for me.
Okay, you guys are crazy! How can anyone say PS2 online wasn’t popular?
Compared to Xbox, PS2 had way more players online. I played SOCOM 2 all the time, and that game was just too sweet.
I’m from the UK, and no matter what time I logged in, the UK rooms were full—2 in the morning, lunchtime, whatever. You always found someone to play with.
PS2 online was huge, especially for SOCOM. So don’t tell me it wasn’t popular!
I think the Xbox had better graphics, but that’s expected since it came out later. What I didn’t like was the original Xbox controller—it was too bulky.
I grew up with Atari, NES, and PlayStation, so I was used to smaller controllers. Luckily, Microsoft released the S-Controller, which was much better.
PC gaming is obviously for the serious (and rich) gamers, but consoles let you avoid the constant upgrade cycle. That’s what I liked about console gaming—no minimum system requirements to worry about.
Anyway, just my two cents.
How does PlayStation online cost? I have a PS2 and I know there’s that cool-looking RPG that you can only play online. The name escapes me, but I saw it on TV. Can anyone tell me if it’s free or if you have to pay?
I play Resident Evil and SOCOM on PS2 online. There are no fees, and the experience is like no other.
It’s awesome that you can just hop on and play without worrying about a subscription. Plus, you don’t even need broadband—dial-up works for some games too.
PS2 online really rocked!
I’ve been following this thread with interest, and I think the PS2 vs Xbox Live debate misses a key point: the PS2’s online was a pioneer in its own right, even if it wasn’t as polished. The lack of a subscription fee was huge for casual players like me—I remember jumping into SOCOM 2 or Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 without any commitment. Sure, Xbox Live had better matchmaking and voice chat, but the PS2’s open approach meant more experimental titles like ‘Final Fantasy XI’ or ‘EverQuest Online Adventures’ could thrive. For those who haven’t tried it, the PS2’s network adapter was a game-changer, even if it required a bit of tinkering. What’s your take on the actual game libraries? Did Xbox Live’s exclusives like Halo 2 really outweigh the PS2’s diverse online offerings?
