Page 8 - Old School Gamer Magazine Issue #39 FREE Edition

was a little bummed, as it really shows how hard and rare these consoles are. Once I got home,
I was telling a friend about my experience. My friend had spent some time in Japan 10 years
ago and when they found out I was looking for any special PS2 consoles, they surprised me
with the option to purchase their complete-in-box console SCPH- 55000 GU (¥24800). This was the last console to be made before
the switch to the PS “two” model. This console was decked out to the nines with custom accessories – 2 gold matching controllers, a custom blue 8mb memory card with branded stickers, a custom- designed Gundam stand, and the game Mobile Suit Z included. The case of the PS2 is a beautiful gold that wraps around the whole unit
with a little symbol on the top left corner. After thanking my buddy for the purchase, he informed me there was an even harder PS2 to find due to its price and the fact
it tends to be broken once found. The model is called the PSX DESR- 5000 (¥79800). Compared to previous PS2 models, this unit had an upgraded CPU, RAM, internal storage up to 250GB. This unit could save media to HD, play PS1 and PS2 games. I started to look for units in America, and they start out broken for $200 up to $1000 in box and working.
EPILOGUE: A GLIMPSE INTO SONY'S COLLECTOR'S PARADISE
As I reflect on my three-week exploration through Sony's gaming havens, I'm struck by the enchanting world of gaming
culture that unfolded before me. The pursuit of rare PlayStation
2 variants transformed into a thrilling adventure, with each console serving as a unique gateway into the rich history and innovation ingrained in Sony's gaming heritage. Though the number of consoles I brought home may be modest, the journey itself was a priceless odyssey, filled with delightful surprises and the discovery of rare collector's gems. The generosity of a friend, contributing a remarkable console to my collection, alongside the joy of uncovering even rarer models, has deepened my connection to the excitement of retro gaming within Sony's diverse and enchanting collectors' community..
UPDATE
Completely done with this article I couldn’t break the habit of looking for any of the import PS2 online in my free time. While on a PlayStation group page I came across a collector named James Humphreys of the United Kingdom. James, a long-time collector, has narrowed his focus down over the years but holds “what some would say” the Ideal PS2 collector’s edition dream set up. Please enjoy a few photos of his collection.
Pictures by James Humphreys of the U.K.
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OLD SCHOOL GAMER MAGAZINE • ISSUE #39