I have just had the ultimate gaming experience. Recently I received a Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2) and a mess of games from Electronic Arts (EA). The PS2 is one of the most eagerly awaited gaming systems in recent memory, even more so than the Sega DreamCast. Last November, a PS2 was selling on eBay for close to $1,200--four times the suggested retail price.
When I contacted Sony to request a review model of the PS2, the company representative was a little taken aback. Why would a geeky, business-oriented publication like ComputerUser be interested in gaming hardware, a peculiar addiction of kids and adults with too much time on their hands? My response was simple: Geeks love toys.
Nowadays, how can you tell the difference between a PC and a gaming machine? Consider the following description of the PS2: 128-bit CPU, 32MB of RAM, 3.2Gbps bus bandwidth, 6.2 gigaflops-per-second calculating speed. The machine also takes advantage of USB technology.
With all this horsepower, the PS2 mounts an aural and visual assault on the senses. The unit's graphics performance is unrivaled in home gaming or PC products; Sony compares it to 3D, real-time graphics in movies. Not being an expert on 3D, I was simply amazed. After you recover from eye-popping graphics, you notice the sound quality. The PS2's ability to accept high-quality auditory input from games makes your gaming experience complete.
The PS2 doubles as a DVD player. The DVD software on the PS2 is not as fully featured as some devices or PCs, but it worked without any tribulations, recognizing and playing movie discs with ease. Although the PS2 is not Internet-ready out of the box, it does have the infrastructure to grow into that market. Sony's press releases talk about a hard drive and network interface kit available in 2001 that would hook the Play Station into your home network. A browser for Web surfing is also under development.
Graphically advanced games from EA helped me comprehend the power of the PS2. While a full review of these games is beyond the scope of this article, I have to mention two EA Sports games--"Madden 2001" and "NHL 2001."
"Madden 2001" puts you in the thick of gridiron action an any given Sunday, and "NHL 2001" captures the speed and skill of professional hockey. Playing these games on the PlayStation 2 was like driving a Ferrari on a narrow and winding mountain road. If you're a gamer, you must get it.
