PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2 (PS2) (Japanese: プレイステーション2) is Sony's second video game console, after the PlayStation. Its development was announced in April 1999, and it was first released in Japan on March 4, 2000. The U.S. version was released on October 26, 2000. Following a slow first year due to a lack of units built and ready, the PlayStation 2 has grown to become a popular gaming console, with over 90 million units sold.

Home development

Main article: PS2 Linux

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Sony released a version of the Linux operating system for the PS2 in a package that also includes a keyboard, mouse, Ethernet adapter and hard disk drive. Currently, Sony's online store states that the Linux kit is no longer for sale in North America. However as of July 2005, the European version was still available. (The kit boots by installing a proprietary interface, the Run-time environment which is on a region-coded DVD, so the European and USA kits each only work with a PS2 from that region).

Related Topics:
Linux - Keyboard - Mouse - Ethernet - Hard disk - North America - As of July 2005 - Run-time environment - DVD

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In Europe and Australia, the PlayStation 2 comes with a free Yabasic interpreter on the bundled demo disk. This allows simple programs to be created for the PlayStation 2 by the end-user. This was included in a failed attempt to circumvent a UK tax by defining the console as a "computer" if it contained certain software.

Related Topics:
Europe - Australia - Yabasic

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A port of the NetBSD project is also available for the PS2.

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It is also possible to listen to MP3 music and watch Divx movies with homebrew programs running in consoles that have a modchip installed.

Related Topics:
MP3 - Divx - Homebrew - Modchip

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