Playstation Anyone here have an affinity for the original "fat" PS2?

[Interlude65]

I know that's kind of a strange/silly/geeky question (kind of like comparing pan pizza to thin crust pizza), but I wanted to start this thread mostly because:

a) as goofy and dated the original PS2 design might look to most people, there's something about it that I find to be ironically charming and nostalgic for me; I always found the "slim" PS2 design to be kind of boring and uninspired in comparison

b) the "slim" PS2 has actually been known to be more problematic than the "fat" PS2, with people encountering problems with the former faster and in greater quantities than the latter

So do any of you happen to prefer the "fat" PS2 to the "slim" ones? Or does it really matter to you? (Probably not, but hey, what the heck.... )

 

[Ilyena]

I still have my old fat PS2, though I think I ended up getting a new slim one as well. My old one stopped playing blue-disk games and I had a few that I hadn't finished yet. I do remember that seemed to be a common problem with the bigger ones. The design was fine though it was kind of heavy.

 

[MVP]

Honestly, I feel that way towards my PS1, but the PS2 is fat and lethargic and lazy. I love the original stuff, but now that I think about it I was never a huge fan of the design of it.

 

[Dionysos]

The original, chunky PS2 is the only one I ever really had any experience with. I'm not even sure if I've ever seen the slim PS2 with my own eyes except for at other people's houses, maybe, but if I did then it didn't really make an impact in my mind.

I loved my PS2. However, mine did pack in and suffer from the disc read error curse. I ended up getting a replacement (thankfully I had warranty, I think) and my replacement was another original, chunky PS2.

I never turned it on its side either. My console was always flat, so when I see images of them lifted up like a tower it always looks like a different console to me.

 

[Miko]

I've got a fat PS2 too, but more for softmod reasons that I can't really go into detail about. Plus the drive bay. Though admittedly I don't know much about the slim, I never really had to replace my PS2. I honestly prefer the style more than the slim though, but I can't say I really utilized it standing upright a bunch either. But I liked the fact that I could! I think the tiny little PS logo rotated too, for that reason

Maaaan, I still use my PS2. I have fond memories as kids just playing FFX & Kingdom Hearts on it. It's still holding on strong!

 

[Interlude65]

Our PS2 is the "slim" model, and it still works happily to this day, despite a couple of occasional hiccups. Because we were always kind of poor, we didn't get it until about late 2005 (roughly a year after the "slim" model was released), as the price for the console had dropped to a more manageable amount for us at the time.

 

[Vivi-Gamer]

Can't say I have much love for the original design, I have a PS2 Slim myself - though I don't use it much as I don't have a good way to output it on a HDTV

But the one thing I couldn't stand of the original model was the disc tray - it has that inner groove that has put a spiral scratch on a few of my games :/ Much preffer the Slim with it's flap...

 

[Interlude65]

I have a PS2 Slim myself - though I don't use it much as I don't have a good way to output it on a HDTV

You need to buy yourself an HDMI adapter that supports the PS1 and the PS2; there's a whole slew of them available for purchase on Amazon if you're interested.

 

[Mercurial]

I don't think I still own any of my previous consoles, but admittedly, as I've got older, I've moved from the original 'fat' consoles towards 'slim' versions.

During the Playstation 2 era, my answer would have undoubtedly been the fatter models. In terms of design, I don't think I've ever been overly bothered in honesty, however, there's something special about getting a new generation console for the first time, which is lost when you replace it with a newer slim version (albeit, this is only the case if you've owned both console designs). The Playstation 2 was particularly special because it was a revolutionary console.

Nowadays, I would sway towards the newer 'slim' Playstation 2 model. Back as a child / teen, gaming was simply plugging a console into a TV in your bedroom and enjoying it. As an adult, you've got to find the space in your own house and it becomes a genuine financial annoyance to replace if it breaks (PS1/PS4 aside, all my OG consoles have gone on to break - none of the redesigns have). By time the slim models are released - generally - the console-breaking issues have been fixed. Console reliability never bothered me as a child, but it does as an adult - unfortunately, wanting a fat version of the console usually means you become guinea pig for the slim version.

Ultimately, as I've got older it has become nostalgia vs. convenience / practicality; fat consoles (Playstation 2) growing up, slim redesigned consoles as an adult.