The Gaming Revolution !
At the heart of the PlayStation 2 is the 128-bit Emotion Engine processor, which combines lightning-fast gameplay and unprecedented graphics power with DAT-quality stereo sound. The system was designed as an improvement on the original PlayStation's design; the disc-based software and Dual Shock 2 controllers will be immediately familiar to PlayStation devotees. Also, owners of the original PlayStation need not discard their existing game collection, because the PS2 is designed to be compatible with the software for the original PlayStation.
The PS2 builds on its home-entertainment value by doubling as a DVD player, which allows it to play thousands of feature-length movies and other video programmers, and outdo the VHS format in both audio and video quality. Most DVD movies allow you to select alternate audio tracks, supplemental footage and a host of extra features. Like the original PlayStation, the PlayStation 2 also will play audio CDs.

The PlayStation 2 was designed with future expandability in mind. The unit comes with two USB ports and a Type III PCMCIA expansion slot--the latest standards in PC communications. It also comes with Sony's own i.Link interface, which can connect it to a variety of high-tech Sony products--from digital cameras to notebook computers.

Features
PlayStation®2 brings the best of the worlds of gaming, music and movies straight to your living room. Its unique Emotion Engine technology delivers ultra smooth 3D graphics, while Dolby Digital and DTS provide impressive 3D sound effects.
The Hard Disc Drive Unit (HDD) for PlayStation2 includes a high-speed network interface (Ethernet) for connection to broadband network infrastructure and a large capacity hard disc.
The unit will connect to PlayStation2 via the PC Card terminal interface for the Japanese model. Using this device, it will be possible to form a high-speed, high bandwidth connection with networks such as CATV or DSL for the direct download of digital content (e-Distribution).
In the future, software titles can be a fusion of disc-based content and network entertainment - with additional data accessed over the network and stored on the HDD. Examples of this might be extra tracks in driving games, new adventures and characters for RPG titles or participation in leagues for sports titles and other real time multiplayer games.
The addition of the HDD allows for certain aspects of the system to perform at even higher data rates, overcoming some of the conventional constraints of existing disc-based media, such as swapping discs in a multiple disc set - since all the data can be pre-loaded on the HDD. The broadband network connection and HDD will allow for new forms of software and will radically change the way we enjoy interactive content. Titles can have extra content available in regular episodes stored on the HDD, with perhaps the most popular series continuing for many years.
Because of the powerful digital media interfaces on PlayStation 2, it is possible to store and manipulate still pictures from digital cameras, video from digital camcorders, and high quality digital broadcast. The firmware control program of the HDD can be upgraded to further expand functionality in the future