Sony unveils pink PS2

By Paul Loughrey Published 21 August, 2006

To appeal to a wider audience.

Sony has announced the launch of a new limited edition pink PS2 console, designed to capitalise on the success of titles such as SingStar and Buzz and capture a wider gaming audience.

Confirming the news at the Leipzig Games Convention today, the new PS2 will ship complete with two pink DualShock Analog controllers and a pink 8MB memory card. In the UK, the bundle will be available with karaoke party game, SingStar Pop, for a recommended retail price of GBP129.99 (159.99 Euro elsewhere).

"PlayStation 2 is the accessible, affordable way to enjoy new social, communal and interactive entertainment experiences, through software titles like SingStar, Buzz and EyeToy", said Dan Hill, PlayStation 2 European Brand Manager.

"The Pink PlayStation 2 is funky, fresh, and fashionable, and will further broaden the console’s continuing popularity and relevance with a fun new twist," he concluded.

Sony has confirmed that its limited edition pink PS2 bundle will be launching throughout the UK and Europe on November 1st, timed perfectly to capture the Christmas season shoppers who aren't yet looking to step up to the next-generation of hardware with the considerably higher priced PlayStation 3.

Picture of Paul.

About Paul Loughrey

Read more articles from Paul by visiting the Paul Loughrey archive page.

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Comments (60) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • stuarty_2003 #1 6 years ago

    Failure

  • Stickman #2 6 years ago

    "The Pink PlayStation 2 is funky, fresh, and fashionable"

    Someone shoot him now.

  • alpha-0ne #3 6 years ago

    Ill tell you what save the expense of making it pink and sell it cheaper..
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/06 @ 15:52

  • smelly #4 6 years ago

    Ditto to alpha-one

    and i'll buy a tin of pink paint with the money i saved.

  • skillian #5 6 years ago

    I can imagine the crestfallen faces of girls across the country when they tear off the wrapping only to realise their boyfriend has bought them a PS2 for Christmas...

  • smelly #6 6 years ago

    and them wishing said bfriend had spent the money on a wii instead?

  • Dark_Stranger #7 6 years ago

    A pink PS2, just what i've always wanted, hello sailor x

  • skillian #8 6 years ago

    and them wishing said bfriend had spent the money on a wii instead?

    That's what Ninty might think, but I'm sure they'd all be happier with an expensive bracelet or a new pair of breasts :p

    /chauvinism
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/06 @ 16:08

  • Scientist #9 6 years ago

    "new social, communal and interactive entertainment experiences"

    like people haven't been sat around a screen playing multiplayer games for years!

  • captainrentboy #10 6 years ago

    "The Pink PlayStation 2 is funky, fresh, and fashionable, and will further broaden the console’s continuing popularity and relevance with a fun new twist,"

    OORRR.''Bloody hell that pink NDS didn't do half bad for Nintendo,with a fair whack of female/young girl gamers out there all wanting one.And well,we wanted in on a slice of the action,''
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/06 @ 16:12

  • rudedudejude #11 6 years ago

    Chav it up!!1

    Wow the UK Chavettes are gonna lap these bad boys up!

  • asphaltcowboy #12 6 years ago

    image?

  • Nikanoru #13 6 years ago

    Now, I'm not one to go "oh they ripped pink from Nintendo". It's not like Nintendo own the color pink. But it's Sony acting as if it's something completely new and unheard of that gets to me. Like with anything else they do, btw.

  • gth #14 6 years ago

    Oh captain, Sony already released a pink-ish PS2 some time ago....
    [link url=htt p://www.consolecolors.com/images/ps2sakura.jpg
    ]http://ww w.consolecolors.com/images/ps2s...[/link]

  • skillian #15 6 years ago

    Link is borken, but I believe you anyway...

  • aldo_14 #16 6 years ago

    Ah, the good old gender demographic targeting theory; "make it pink and girls will buy it".

  • captainrentboy #17 6 years ago

    gth the link isn't working :/ I wasn't aware they had already released one,but saying that it couldn't have been on that large of a scale,in the UK anyway...I'm not ripping in to Sony in any way,but what I originally posted is what it all smells like to me.
    And aldo_14 if they aren't releasing a pink ps2 to target it specifically at females,then who else would it be targeted at?Other than the same group of people that Singstar Anthems was aimed at.(Admitted by Sony themselves btw)
    Edited by 2 at 21/08/06 @ 16:29

  • Daryoon #18 6 years ago

    Does it smell of roses?

  • chupachups #19 6 years ago

    "Ah, the good old gender demographic targeting theory; "make it pink and girls will buy it"."

    ...as opposed to "make it black/silver and blokes will buy it".

  • Golgo #20 6 years ago

    ...will the innovation never end?!?!
    whatever next?
    A motion sensitive controller?!

  • wattoo #21 6 years ago

    what's the 'fun new twist'?

    what is 'fun' about it being a different colour?

    how am i going to have a different type of 'fun' with this new ps2?

    herd all these brand manager marketing pillocks into the showers and spray them with poison.

    And do it quick before they get jobs at EA.

    "Make things happen" Dear Lord!

  • kangarootoo #22 6 years ago

    Oh come on you lot. Its clearly not for us. I know at least two girls who would buy this and I'm sure they aren't the only ones.

    As for the "fun, funky, fashionable" business. Its marketing, they have to say that stuff, its what they do. Again, its not supposed to appeal to us.
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/06 @ 17:03

  • jellyhead #23 6 years ago

    ... and of course they were planning on doing this Loooong before Ninty did it.
    Ninty copies Sony Potential(tm) yet again! ;)

  • thinktank #24 6 years ago

    Sony dipshit 1: Why don't more girls play games???

    Sony dipshit 2: I don't know, they like shooting things, racing cars, and sports games, like the rest of us don't they?

    Sony dipshit 1: Of course they do every 1 does! Besides even if they don't we have barbie's horse adventure they'll love that!!!

    Sony dipshit 3/ busts into the room very excited: I've got it, I've got!!!!!! Lets make the PS2 Pink, i'm sure if we simply change the colours girls will instantly buy it.

    Sony dipshit 2: OMG your right, that will soooo work

    Sony dipshit 1: Yeah and its not even patronising or anything!

    Sony dipshit 2: Thats almost as good as when you came up with the name "emotion engine".

    Sony dipshit 3: I know am i on a roll or what!!!!!!!!

  • tonynibbles #25 6 years ago

    What about if they did a Pink PS3?

  • smelly #26 6 years ago

    Sony dipshit 2: Thats almost as good as when you came up with the name "emotion engine".


    The sad thing is.. that worked!

  • simiankid #27 6 years ago

    "What about if they did a Pink PS3?"

    Nice idea, shame it looks like the back end of a cadillac.

    Edit - flippin' tags
    Edited by 2 at 21/08/06 @ 17:52

  • Beano #28 6 years ago

    "you know, whole rooms full of people have debated how to get more women buying games... who knew a patronising color change was the answer? "

    Or maybe it's to make it more appealing to the younger female audience who play with Barbie dolls. Can't see how what's "patronising" when't it's a CHOICE.

    I guess only Nintendo are allowed to release pink consoles.. gee!!
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/06 @ 18:01

  • thinktank #29 6 years ago

    Its patronising because they think thats all it takes, as if all the other reasons such as the platforms content, the sterotype of games being a male past time are not the REAL promblem. No its because their isn't a pink PS2!

    /sarcasm

    Think of all the marketing that goes into a metal gear game, where to place the adds, who they should appeal to etc

    Yet their marketing approach for girls is "make it pink"

    Thats why is patronising beano.
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/06 @ 18:11

  • Beano #30 6 years ago

    Yes I get why you think it's patronizing... but then all pink produkts are patronizing.

    But I quess this only bad when Sony does it.

  • Stormflood #31 6 years ago

    Come one Beano, do you really think Nintendo would so obviously target girls in such a blatant way? Only teh evil Sony would stoop so low...

    [link url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000670IGS/2 02-9491026-3913409>Pink Nintendo Gameboy SP</a>

    <a href=]Pink Nintendo Gameboy Micro[/link]

    Pink Nintendo DS

    Pink DS wiv cute ickle puppy doggies

  • aldo_14 #32 6 years ago


    ...as opposed to "make it black/silver and blokes will buy it".

    Oooh, do you work for Sony marketing?

  • captainrentboy #33 6 years ago

    Personally my lil dig earlier wasn't stating that only Sony are guilty of releasing a pink unit knowing that it'll attract more females,I know Nintendo did it for exactly the same reason,but the big difference is that the NDS has a lot of software that is either clearly aimed at males and females or occasionally even targeted directly at females(Animal crossing,Nintendogs).Whereas Sony having a pink ps2 isn't as effective as they have so very few games that could be enjoyed by your stereotypical girl gamer,unless of course they particularly enjoy karaoke.
    Edited by 2 at 21/08/06 @ 18:45

  • thinktank #34 6 years ago

    No, ok i'l break it down.

    It's patronising because they assume that in order to make a product appealing to a femine audience all that is required is to make it pink and NOTHING else.

    For example the pink ds ships with nitendogs, a game where you look after a puppy!! on a machine with a screean you can stroke and a mic you can talk into. The nintendo brand itself distances it'self from violent games and liceinced sports games, things girls arn't interested in. The sytem itself is more femine, most nintento products seem almost unisex, all their product logo's are non threating in colour or font, unlike any thing in the playstation range. Which is dark and sharp. Then look where all the marketing has taken place in certain gossip mags and after programs with strong female audiences(regarding nintendogs).

    Nintendo have sat down and THOUGHT about what would interest a girl and how best market the product towards them, All aspects of the product. Where as sony have simply made it pink despite how much they target a male audience, and nothing else. Thats literally all they have done as if thats all it takes!

    I really can't make it any more simple, does any else not get what i'm saying??
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/06 @ 18:49

  • captainrentboy #35 6 years ago

    ^^^^^I wanted to say that,but couldn't be arsed to type it all out.The guy is 100% correct on the difference between the two companies though.

  • monkey_man #36 6 years ago

    Hey, maybe now I can get the missus those metal tampons so I don't feel my manliness being compromised when I see them in the bathroom cupboard...

  • Phreez #37 6 years ago

    Garbage

  • HIGHVOLTAGE #38 6 years ago

    MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmm they're after the pink pound too. Proper! Gay! Boy! Action!

  • yagisencho #39 6 years ago

    Hm...wasn't there a pink Hello Kitty Dreamcast?

    Indeed there was:
    http://www. federico.biz/dc-hellokitty.jpg

  • mattigan #40 6 years ago

    You can check out an image, and an opinion of it that is scarily identical to mine.

    On http://www.idiottoys.com

  • steoc4 #41 6 years ago

    What exactly is wrong with this?

    Lots of companies do it. It worked for Motorola, it worked for Nintendo, it will probably work for Sony. At least they've backed it up by bundling Singstar pop with it and with the other Singstar games and things like Buzz also available I can name quite a few people I'd know who'd buy this...

    It does look horrible though, the colour doesn't suit a PS2 in the slightest. But hey why not make it available, it's not the first time they've brought them out in different colours.

  • Lex_Luthor #42 6 years ago

    "What exactly is wrong with this?"

    Sony are doing it. Don't worry though, It'll be hailed as genius and revolutionary as soon as Nintendo release a pink Wii.

  • JaysonG #43 6 years ago

    Awesome

  • Steroyd #44 6 years ago

    Nintendo have sat down and THOUGHT about what would interest a girl and how best market the product towards them, All aspects of the product. Where as sony have simply made it pink despite how much they target a male audience, and nothing else. Thats literally all they have done as if thats all it takes!

    erm... the UK version of the Pink PStwo comes bundled with Singstar if that helps...

  • Isonic #45 6 years ago

    I can see it now,girls will ditch barbies and handbags to play the new exiting ''PINK'' ps2.Dont do it sony,think of the children

  • Kami #46 6 years ago

    Okay, let's put it this way.

    First off, the colour. It's more than just the colour of choice, but also the tone you use as well as the design of the machine. Yes, Nintendo did a pink DS but the tone used for the DS was soft, light and pastel in shade (And I remember we bitched over that one too, so the pink machines debate has been raging for some time now). The DS used a delicate, light tone of pink that wasn't too in-your-face. This PS2 isn't soft or light in the slightest. It's shocking nigh-luminescent pink, with all the hard edges that it has. It's just not a pretty sight at all.

    Secondly, the timing. Nintendo did the pink DS last year and did very well for themselves it seems, it was marketed right, had the right kind of game to propel sales (Nintendogs) and was just generally the right idea at the right time. Whether Sony has missed the boat on the pink scene is debatable, but coming so long after the first impact they will quite rightly be seen as imitators. And judging by the tone of pink, they'll be seen as poor imitators I'd wager...

    Next, shifting units is not just about colour. It's about property to propel sales at the right time. The DS was not long into its life when the pink version came along, that coupled with the hot property of Nintendogs was enough to boost unit sellthrough. Right product, right design, right time. The PS2 is nearing the end of its natural lifespan, and is using Singstar and the idea that it's a girls game to hopefully sell these bright pink PS2 units. It's hard to judge how much sellthrough they expect, but I'd doubt its anywhere near what they'll be expecting. People who want a PS2 now HAVE a PS2. A price drop was the only sensible thing I've heard from them to try and shift a few last units before the PS3 hits home - a new colour isn't really going to change that, any extra sellthrough I'd wager will be due to the price drop, and I'd also wager very little of that sellthrough will be as a result of a pink PS2.

    Of course, there is marketing (something Sony hasn't been so hot at recently) and other games to come but in all honesty, it's hard not to look at that PS2 and NOT collapse in a heap, crying of laughter.

    I'm sure Sony hating is popular these days, but I think that's because Sony really have lost the plot a little, and it's ended up alienating customers. The likes of Microsoft and Nintendo have all but stolen the thunder that Sony boasted they had a couple of years ago, with good marketing, good games, good design, innovation and above all, some good business sense. Sony have become rather complacent with their position in the market, relying on the Playstation brand to conquer all. But the market has been changing rapidly the past couple of years - it's evolving and is still rapidly changing around us, and Microsoft and Nintendo have both been in prime positions to capture that shift in the currents. Call it luck, skill, clever business or whatever takes your fancy, they've really made a killing from it. Sony also have, yes, but not in the same way and not with the media coverage that Microsoft and Nintendo have managed to cream from it.

    The problem for Sony is the same reason why that PS2 in pink just doesn't work. It's marketing has been so successful in pushing some types of games that it has all but become a blokes machine. From GTA onwards, it's extraordinary success at selling these games has actually annihalated any real femininity that it may have once had. A pink PS2 is like dressing up a gangster in GTA in a frilly pink tutu. It's comedic, it's sad and it's a little disturbing to be honest. It's Sony begging for our attention because we're looking elsewhere and thinking, "Mmm... that's nice." It's a desperate move to try and gain some more column inches, be they good or bad.

    In that last respect, Sony made it work, but I think the column inches will end up on the bad side... pink CAN work. Just got to be the right shade of pink... this ain't it...

    I just do cringe at the term "limited edition"... do we really buy that fucking line in this day and age?
    Edited by 1 at 22/08/06 @ 01:37

  • Daikon #47 6 years ago

    My girlfriend's DS is pink and she loves it to bits.
    That's just the thing, it's her DS. We got a second one so we'd be able to play two player games together.
    We certainly don't need another PS2 in the house, even if it's pink.

  • Stormflood #48 6 years ago

    Kami, Thinktank and others - you can try your hardest to put forward a reasonable and articulate argument against Sony selling a Pink PS2, but it doesn't hide the fact that you hate it because it's a Sony PS2, and it will sell by the fucking truck load, and you do not like that fact.

    My god, are you really objecting because it's the wrong shade of pink? Or that Pink is no longer fashionable? Are you really perturbed by the limited edition craze that's no more than a cynical ploy to make us buy yet another version of the same console?

    Look, I hate pink. I didn't even go through the gay phase of buying pink shirts that many of you trendy boys thought was a good idea at the time. But there's absolutely nothing wrong with Sony selling a pink PS2. And there's nothing clever or thoughtful when Nintendo sell pink consoles like the brand new pink DS Lite.

    Both Sony and Nintendo want your cash, and if a few more girls (or 'trendy' boys) buy a console because it's a certain colour, then so be it. That's why cars are different colours, that's why clothes are different colours, that's why just about everything comes in different colours. There's nothing wrong with it. Chill out. Step off the Sony-hating bandwagon.

  • valli #49 6 years ago

    I didn't even go through the gay phase of buying pink shirts that many of you trendy boys thought was a good idea at the time.

    :D +1

  • chupachups #50 6 years ago

    The pink DS didn't sell well just because it was pink, it sold well because there was a range of mass-appeal games like Nintendogs, Animal Crossing etc available for the DS. The pink might have enhanced that appeal, like the icing on the cake, but you still need a cake!

  • JediMasterMalik #51 6 years ago

    ^Of course the PS2 hasn't got any mass market appeal what-so ever... huh?

  • peterfll #52 6 years ago

    And can I just point out that if you're male and you already own a pink console, or any item of pink clothing, or have ever been attracted to the colour pink, then you are definitely gay.

    Also, the release of a pink PS2 will go down well with all the gay boys. I believe GAME will be swamped with queens on the day of release as they toss their pink pounds at the GAME tills with gay abandon.

    Of course, a handful of you on this forum are so clever you already know all of this so I guess I'm coming to the party late.

  • Riggers #53 6 years ago

    When the PSOne was launched, it was sold mainly to the parents of younger children that wanted a console for their child, but didn't want to fork out for a PS2 or Xbox. I remember working at Game during my uni years, and the PSOne was still selling huge amounts - mainly with the dancemat games of the time (Dancing Stage Euromix and the like). Perhaps that's what Sony are doing now, aiming their console at young girls who do have a fondness for the colour pink. I certainly can't think of any female over the age of 11 who would want a flamingo pink console under their telly, anyway...

    But then again, I like killing Ashley execution style in Resident Evil 4, so I guess I'm not a real girl... :(

  • thinktank #54 6 years ago

    @ storm flood

    I don't hate sony or the PS2 far from it, the idustry is where it is today because of them and thats a good thing.

    My odjection is that this is more evidence of thier market leader arrogance and ignorance. Their is no denying this is an after thought in much the same way that FIFA might make footballs pink therefore girls will play more.

    My objection comes more from the point of view they (sony) don't provide enough for their customers because they don't have to. The gamecube was suppported by ninty's AAA stuff and microsoft pushed live wuth the xbox but PS2 is byfar the run away leader, and what special input has sony put into that or provided you? They have all the third party support and the playstation logo, why bother doing any more eh? Due to this sony just don't seam to have the motivation to provide quality in the same way as the other two are forced to due to their market position. They quite happy churning out movie spin offs and crappy sequels(B4 u start screaming at me i know all three do this but % wise there is a lot more tat on the PS) they are not reducing the price of the machine despite the inferior hardware, they arn't impliment the online service they promissed. They are not doing any of this because they don't have to they've dominated the market, now there putting in minimal effort and quality into their product and reaping massive reward.

    The latest example of this is, lets just paint it pink and bundle it with a singstar for the girls. Minimal effort, maximum reward. job done.

    Its a farcry from the approach nintendo took. Don't get me wrong i know all the big three just want my cash, but the other two seem to be trying harder and offering more because they have to.

    Thats all im saying, I dont hate the PS2, it has some of the best games this generation, but that doesn't mean I suddernly loose all rational to be able to judge them and the arrogant attitude they have towards their consumers. If didn't do that then i would be a fanboy.

  • bloodflowers #55 6 years ago

    [link url=http://www.s ystem11.org/temp/so_pink.jpg
    ]http://www.s ystem11.org/temp/so_pink.jpg
    [/link]

    "Sakura Edition" - limited edition Japanese only model, they made two batches, the second batch were better, based on a later PS2 revision, just before the Gundam (gold) one came out, which was just a month before the slimlines started to appear.

    I wonder if they'll be that colour - it's not really pink as such, nothing like the pink DS.

  • Kami #56 6 years ago

    @ Stormflood;

    I think you really misread people. I do NOT hate PS2. Just feel let down by Sony (I've been through nearly a dozen faulty PS2s - many of them never worked from the moment I turned them on. Feel let down much like I have by Sony?) but I love the games on the PS2 and don't hate it in the slightest.

    I put forward an articulate and thought-out argument because it makes SENSE to put forward such an argument. If you want to stand there and toss around statements proclaiming anyone who can rationalise the stupidity of releasing a limited edition hot pink PS2 at the very end of the consoles lifespan is a Sony hater, then I feel very sad for you and recommend a less complicated forum where you don't have to read into the posts much.

    Put in the bluntest terms, I think a pink PS2 is a stupid idea, I don't think it will sell and it looks so hideous I hope the idiot who dreamed it up is fired. From a cannon.

  • Perry #57 6 years ago

    Kami are you serious? A dozen faulty PS2's. I've got about 20 mates with a PS2 and NONE have had a problem. I've had mine for years and it still works a charm.

    Either you are lying to beef up your story, or you are the unluckiest person I know.

  • Riggers #58 6 years ago

    My mate's on his fourth PS2 (two of the original ones, a silver one, and now a slimline one), and mine doesn't sound too healthy, but only crashes occassionaly. My Playstation was a nightmare towards the end of its life though, I had to prop it up at 45 degree agles to get it to load anything.

  • Lex_Luthor #59 6 years ago

    "Either you are lying to beef up your story, or you are the unluckiest person I know."

    lol, Perry, I think you might be misjudging Kami here. He really is just unlucky :)

  • thinktank #60 6 years ago

    This debate is as dead as a man in a pink shirt in Newcastle on a friday night.