The Best-Selling Computer of All Time – Sort of

Sometimes, it’s good to reminisce. To look back upon what came before us, in order to better understand what lies ahead. Last week, I bought a piece of computing history I missed out on, a piece I’ve desperately been wanting to have for a long time now. I bought what is most likely the best selling computer of all time.

It’s cheating. Technically, we’re not really talking about what most of us would call a computer – yet, it was one of the first of its kind to really blur the lines between the computer and the type of appliance it was marketed as. With over 147 million units sold as of November 2010, it’s without a doubt the best selling game console of all time, and I would say that starting with the sixth generation of game consoles – Dreamcast, Xbox, Playstation 2, GameCube – they became computers as well (well, except for the GameCube, obviously).

The reason behind this seemingly anachronistic purchase is a rather simple one. I recently (two years ago) rejoined the gaming world when I bought an Xbox 360 solely for Fallout 3. Before that, I basically hadn’t really touched a video game in almost ten years, save for a short stint with a GameCube I bought because of Metroid Prime. As a result, I also started following the gaming media a little bit (which is sadly in a very depressing state, save for a few top-notch sites such as Escapist Magazine), and noted that during my 10-year absence, there’s been a wealth of games, mostly on the Playstation 2, that really pushed the envelope when it comes to gaming.

Shadow Of The Colossus. Silent Hill 2. Prince Of Persia: The Sands of Time. ICO. Killer7. Beyond Good & Evil. And more.

As a result, I decided to buy a Playstation 2 at some point in time – and that point came last week. It was my birthday, and this was a perfect gift I could ask from my parents and brothers. A second hand model caught my eye, since it was cheap and local – it was also pink. Apparently, there was a limited edition pink Playstation 2 Slimline, and I happened to stumble upon one. Let me reiterate: it’s pink. Really, really pink. Pink is not my favourite colour, but still – it’s actually kind of cool.

The purchase of older consoles and games has been made a much more rewarding experience ever since a chain of stores specialising in video games – and used games in particular – set up shops throughout the country. This way, I was easily able to locate several used classics, including a limited edition of Shadow Of The Colossus in pretty much mint condition. I’m still looking for copies of Silent Hill II, Beyond Good & Evil, Killer7, and ICO.

Other than an excuse to show off this pink machine – dubbed Princess – I also want to hear your memories of the Playstation 2 era. What games do you have fond memories of? Is there anything I absolutely must play? Any games to avoid like the plague?

You can also expect a row of reviews of classic PS2 games over the coming months, starting with Shadow Of The Colossus which I’m almost done with (sneak peek: brilliant, but somewhere along the way Team ICO forgot they were making a game).

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