PS2 extras (1 Viewer)

[Tom Pielech]

I am buying a PS2 for my son's 8th birthday and was wondering what accessories would be best. I was thinking of an extra controller and the memory card.
Also, do you connect the system to your TV using s-video and to your home theatre receiver using optical cables? Will this then allow the sounds of the games to come through your HT? I have a SVS and would love to hear the games booms through that baby.

 

[Eric Alderson]

Get a memory card. And yes, the optical cables will pump the game sounds through your receiver. Oh yeah, get a game or 2.

 

[Van Patton]

I recommended buying a remote for it. I dont use the PS2 as my primary player but as one for my bedroom. Its real handy at 2:00AM when you can turn the power off with a remote instead of getting up.

 

[Dean Cooper]

If you can find one, a logitec force GT wheel to play GT3 is great to have.
Dean

 

[Morgan Jolley]

If your son has a lot of friends, get a multitap. Dual Shock (the second version of the PS1 controllers) can work with some PS2 games, so your son's friends could bring over those controllers and play games together. If you get a game that uses a 4 player feature, get this. Extra controller, memory card, a few games, but hold out on the remote until the Sony one comes out. It should have software updates for the PS2 (from what I have heard on various websites) and will probably be better designed.

 

[Tim Markley]

IMO the essential accessories to buy would be a memory card, extra controller, S-Video cable (get the AR/Interact one) and a Toslink cable (AR also).

 

[Tom Pielech]

Thanks for the suggestions. The AR cables, are they available at an audio/video store or are they an order online cable?
I was looking into connecting it with component cables instead of the S-Video. I have a WEGA set and an extra component input available. Is this worth it or is S-Video good enough?
TIA

 

[Eric Alderson]

I also have a Vega. I use the Monster brand S-video cable and it's "hella" clear! I would have gone component, but my "real" DVD player is hooked up that way.

 

[Eric Alderson]

The AR Toslink cables can be picked up at a Best Buy. That's where I bought mine.

 

[CarlS]

Tom -
I have the s-video for my RPTV and the component for my HD set and the difference between the component and s-video isn't something that just jumps out and screams at you, but since you haven't bought either yet, I would go with the component.
[Edited last by CarlS on August 03, 2001 at 10:53 AM]

 

[Tim Markley]

Tom,
You can get the AR S-Video or Component cables for the same price. The one thing to consider is that the component cable only comes with video connections (same as the Monster cable). If you use this cable, you will have to always run your sound through your receiver via the toslink cable. Not a big deal for some but I don't always want to run my sound through the receiver (have to keep the volume down sometimes ). I have the AR S-Video cable and it works great. Same quality as Monster but a lot cheaper. You might be able to find the AR cables at Electronics Boutique but I purchased mine online at Link Removed . They have the AR S-Video and Component cables for $21.25 each.
[Edited last by Tim Markley on August 03, 2001 at 11:11 AM]