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Supporting
both audio CD and DVD-Video formats, PS2 is equipped with a
128-bit "Emotion Engine" CPU which comprises a 300 MHz system
clock and 32 MB Direct Rambus memory. The memory bus bandwidth
is an impressive 3.2 GB per second. The system's I/O Processor
is intentionally configured with the original PlayStation's
core processor to allow for backward compatibility with all
existing PlayStation games.
Probably
the most standout capability of PS2 is its phenomenal capability
to process and provide animation to 3D graphic images. Using
a technique called Bezier surfacing, PS2 internal programming
analyzes how many 3D object pieces - or polygons - are required
to render a generated object with real-time, smoothed surfaces
to provide as lifelike an image as possible. As a comparison,
PS2 can process around 20 million polygons a second versus Dreamcast's
approximate 3 million polygons a second, Nintendo 64's approximate
150K polygons per second, and the original PlayStation's approximate
360K polygons a second. The end results are incredible images
in which flags flutter in the breeze, and hair flows in the
wind.
The
PS2 console also incorporates a new laser spindle technology
for the DVD drive, which allows the unit to read both CD-formatted
discs as well as DVD-format discs. While most of the original
offering of games will be in CD format, this will transition
to DVD discs as games of this media format continue to be developed
on a widespread basis. To further ensure compatibility with
existing original PlayStation owners, PS2 accepts all original
memory cards and controllers, including the PocketStation.
Anticipated
hardware peripherals for PS2 include a new analog controller
(termed "Dual Shock 2"), a PS2 8-MB memory card, and a PS2 "Multitap"
and hard drive - to allow for downloading of movies, music and
games from the Web. As for the picture quality of PS2, Sony
executives have gone on record to state that DVD video presentation
rivals that of dedicated high-end DVD-Video players. While most
dedicated DVD-Video players employ a hardwired video decoder
chip, the PS2 processes DVD-Video in software to present an
interlaced scanning video presentation.
Sony
intends to add much-enhanced progressive scan (525p) output
capability to PS2 within the next six months, which will make
the console a technology competitor with the very top-end existing
DVD-Video players. Using software processing will likewise make
distribution of any anticipated upgrades a relatively easy process
for PS2 owners.
The
down side: You are going to have to wait to get the product
here in North America. Sony Computer Entertainment has announced
that the product will be available in Fall 2000, with most insiders
believing that the U.S. release will occur in September.
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