Sony Playstation 2
Generation: 6
Processors: 64-bit/128-bit "Emotion Engine"
RAM: 32mb system, 4mb embeded video
Graphics Resolution: 256x224 to 1280x1024
Colours: 16, 24, or 32-bit
Sound: 48 channel ADPCM and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound, DTS (Full motion video only)
Media Format: DVD-ROM, optional hard disk
Control and Input Methods: Dual-shock 2 controller, Eye-toy, dance mat, steering wheel, etc...
The Sony Colossus continued to tower over the competition in the sixth generation with the PS2, proving that the original Playstation was not a mere aberration but a permanent shift of focus away from industry stalwarts Nintendo and Sega. The killer move played by Sony with the PS2 was adding backwards compatibility with the PS1, this gave existing PS1 owners an added incentive to choose the PS2 over its rivals. Despite pushing many times the polygons of either the Gamecube or the XBox, the PS2 had no hardware anti-aliasing meaning every one of those computer generated polygons looked like a computer generated polygon complete with jagged edges, all of which really hampered the visual appeal of an otherwise highly capable machine.
Emulator
PCSX2 - The best attempt at a PS2 emulator so far, many games are playable but it's still got a long way to go.
Links
Official Sony PS2 Site - Everything you'd expect from an official site.
PS2 Five Years Later - An article charting the history of the PS2.
