PlayStation 2 finally arrives in mainland market
Despite serious piracy concerns, Sony will launch the games console next month
Sony Corp has announced that it will launch the PlayStation 2 (PS2) games console in China next month, despite widespread concerns within the company about the potential for piracy of games.
Earlier reports had suggested the company would postpone the introduction of the best-selling games console in China until next year, due primarily to rampant piracy and the market disruption caused by the Sars outbreak.
'Many people said piracy problems made Sony reluctant to put PS2 in China,' Sony China chairman Hiroshi Shoda said at a press conference in Beijing. 'We have realised piracy cannot be stopped 100 per cent, not only in China, but in the rest of the world.'
Mr Shoda said Sony would encourage software developers to come up with new games for the PS2 in Chinese as part of a broader effort to tackle the persistent piracy Chinese software firms face.
'This will encourage people to fight piracy in order to protect their interests,' he said.
In addition, Mr Shoda said Sony would like to provide encouragement for Chinese software companies to foster the development of the Chinese software industry.
Sony's strategy is in contrast to that of its competitor Nintendo, which has designed its GameCube with counter-piracy technology exclusively for the Chinese market. Nintendo introduced the GameCube to China this month.
A third competitor, Microsoft Corp, has not said when it plans to introduce its Xbox games console into the Chinese market.
The new PS2 is being introduced in five cities in China - Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shenzhen - priced at 1,988 yuan (HK$1,846). The consoles will be silver, instead of the traditional black of other markets. The machines are being manufactured in Shenzhen.
