Earlier release

Everyone always argues that PS2 is doing better then Gamecube and X-Box because it was released earlier... That doesn\'t seem to make much sense to me. Dreamcast was released much earlier then the PS2 and despite the PS2 having only 1/2 as many Console Units as they wanted to for release they blew the Dreamcast out of the market... There was not competition. Oh and don\'t tell me Dreamcast failed just because Sega was having problems with money... Regardless of money the Dreamcast was no match for the Playstation 2...

Everyone I knew dropped their Dreamcast and went for a Playstation 2. It can\'t be only due to the Playstation 2 being a better system then Dreamcast because X-Box and Gamecube are arguably better systems then the Playstation 2 in regards to the Specs... It must be the games.

Now imagine all 3 consoles launched near the same time, I bet sony wouldn\'t have the complete and utter Domination that they have now.  But I still think Sony would win this round no matter when it came out.  People were comfortable with the original PSX and the system had some incredible games and great exclusives, so many (like me) expected an upgraded version of what we saw on the PSX.  

And you have to remember that many were pissed off a Sega for the whole Saturn situation.  You could take it even further back than that and see that the Sega CD and 32X add-ons were miserable failures.  Sega lost much of its thunder since their glory days of the Mega Drive/Genesis.  

Yeah, the GC and Xbox are better systems spec wise, but I have to agree that the ps2 has so many great games, specs become a moot point.

[Bobs_Hardware]

Brand Recognition.

PS2 is still outselling XBox and GameCube to this day because of the games.

What Bob said.

Metal Gear has gone from a long-forgotten franchise to total mainstream status. Final Fantasy, once for the hardest of the hardcore.. is now as mainstream as any film. GTA was once a cult hit, now everybody knows about it!

People see Sony and they think big.  Sony is big...  People pick Sony because of the Sony name.   (well except if you have a hatred for Sony, or your like M$)

Now imagine all 3 consoles launched near the same time, I bet sony wouldn\'t have the complete and utter Domination that they have now.

Yep, and the PS2 would have been technically the best system out - although still the hardest.

Hype was also a very important factor btw...

Everyone I knew dropped their Dreamcast and went for a Playstation 2. - Plauge

Not Me. I know quite a few people who didn\'t do it either. In fact, most of the people I know bought both.. and then played their DC while the PS2 was in the middle of it\'s game drought.

I think Sony\'s success this generation was largely due to the PSX. Jus like Nintnedo\'s name was synonamous with Videogames in the 8bit era.. Sony\'s name basically = Videogames in most casual gamers eyes. Jus the fact that they now have 10x the titles that anyone else does is testament to the casuals of that fact.