During the build-up to AM Show 2006 information began circulating that the Sony PlayStation 2 arcade conversion of the console system had come to its end. Victim of its own success and impact from Sony's moves towards their next-generation console, the PS2 is now ended for amusement usage.
The main users of the PS2 hardware that was focused on the ‘Emotion Engine' chip set were Namco Bandai Gaming / Banpresto, Konami Digital Entertainment, Capcom and Taito. These companies saw the console hardware as a means to compete against the expensive ‘specialist' hardware requirements – such as the SEGA Model 2 architecture.
Namco and Sony Consumer Electronics had established a close relationship after Namco licensed the original PlayStation hardware for a series of arcade architectures culminating with the System 10. The company worked closely with Sony to launch the System 246 in 2001, and developed over 16 titles on this version. Along came the Super System 256, which saw an over clocked version of the original 246 hardware finding popularity.
Banpresto is continuing to use the architecture, moving from their Capcom development partnership towards creating their games developed using System 246 hardware. It is known that through their relationship with Namco that Banpresto could be the last developer to field amusement hardware based on the system.
Like Namco; Konami had established a considerable relationship with Sony, seen in a number of platforms using the original PlayStation hardware as with the System 573. The company launched the Psyon system, but also used the system in Bemania and satellite terminal based platforms (Monsters Gate etc).
The company made the move to a license for the System 246 hardware in 2002, with the Battle Gear 3 series, and the ZOIDS combat game the last use of the system before they focused on their own architecture – the TypeX and its successor TypeX2.
Licensed their own version of the Namco System 246 architecture in 2002 with over seven games developed, the last game being the kid vending ‘Rockman EXE'. The hardware was replaced last year with the signing with Taito of TypeX licensing for their next game that looks to have been superseded by TypeX2.
The System 246 was embraced by a number of companies that wanted to break into amusement, using PS2 experience from home game development towards creating arcade content. Companies such as Hudson and Square developed arcade concept based on the platform, while Namco's European team attempted to apply 246 hardware in a SWP style title for their territory.
The reason for this sweeping defection from the System 246 and similar hardware is a mixture of technical pressure for more impressive graphical performance, the versatility of new development architecture, and the suspension of amusement licensing interest by Sony.
Concerning technical pressures; The Stinger Report was one of the first (Stinger #365) to report the issues of the restrictions placed on the European Union of the disposal of certain materials, and the legislation that has been applied under the RoC and WEE legislation. Electronic hardware that went against the ruling was to be suspended and replaced – though there was an issue of how long already established hardware that contravened the ruling could continue to be sold when the agreement came into effect during 2006. The System 246 and System Super 258 both fell afoul of this ruling.
Concerning more impressive graphical performance; as also reported in the Stinger, the industry has moved towards finally adopting the deployment of ArcadePC-based systems. Where the System 246 hardware became the platform of choice by large and small developers, Taito's PC based TypeX seems to be finding favor. An example of the success of the PS2 to find favor with amusement is the difficulty that other platforms found in establishing a market hold. The Sammy A-Wave a great example, November 06 marking the date of the closure of the AW-NET service as the company cans the platform.
The possibility that Sony would consider their next-Gen hardware (Playstation 3) for amusement application at present seemed remote, the company applying all its resources towards establishing their successor hardware under stiff competition.
The end of an era with the departure of the PS2 in amusement – but with its passing the amusement industry could be about to see its fortunes reversed and the consumer game industries popularity that allowed the Emotion Engine be so popular could be reversed to allow arcade to reach the ascendant.
There is always a strong chance that the PS3 may get an amusement début, but Sony is looking at spiraling difficulties with their core business. A financial deficit was compounded by the news that the company would be hit by millions of dollars of costs in a massive recall of laptop batteries for Apple and Dell machines after a spate of fires caused by faulty batteries manufactured by Sony – Japanese legislators having to force Sony to start an investigation into this problem. At the same time the poor reaction to the preview of the PS3 at E3, there is concern that the machine that holds the financial hopes of the giant consumer electronics manufacturers may come in short of A+ titles and of available systems as a shortage of units for its November launch forced Sony to face fans anger in suspending the European launch of the machine till Q2 2007 -- a dangerous president.
News Story with thanks to Kevin Williams, please visit
www.thestingerreport.com for the full story and others.
