Summary

  • A Reddit user discovered a rare start-up disc for the PS2 network adaptor at a dump, sparking nostalgia.
  • The PS2 network adaptor allowed online play with games like Star Wars Battlefront and Madden NFL.
  • The disc discovery surprised fans due to its intact condition after over 22 years.

An observant PlayStation fan made a unique and nostalgic discovery during a recent visit to the dump, uncovering a start-up disc for the PlayStation 2's network adaptor, which allowed for online play. While dirty and worn from its time in a landfill, the find is still complete, with the original disc and booklet still present inside the paper case, making it a surprising relic from the storied history of the PlayStation 2.

The PlayStation 2 was groundbreaking when it first launched in 2000, boasting a slew of original games and spawning some of the most iconic franchises in the entire gaming industry. It was also one of the first consoles to support online play using a network adaptor, letting players go head-to-head in games like the original Star Wars Battlefront titles or the Madden NFL series

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PlayStation Fan Finds PS2 Network Adaptor Start-up Disc

Reddit user cap1206 reportedly found a copy of the start-up disc required to set up the PS2 network adaptor at a dump, sharing images of the disc to the official PlayStation subreddit to spout nostalgia about the item. The user posted two images of the outer case for the disc and the inside, where the disc itself is still seemingly intact, alongside the instructional booklet.

PlayStation Fan's Nostalgic Find is a Surprising Blast From the Past

The post was accompanied by a brief caption in which the user reminisced about their time playing the classic MMORPG Final Fantasy 11 despite having a shoddy internet connection that made it difficult to stay connected. Considering the PS2 network adaptor originally released over 22 years ago in 2002, it came as a surprise to some that the disc was still relatively intact.

[The PlayStation 2] was also one of the first consoles to support online play using a network adaptor...

Online play was never as much of a selling point for the PlayStation 2 in the same way it was for the generation that followed, but it was still a prominent feature showcased in many of its games. Some major franchises got in on the online play feature, as well, with the Tony Hawk series being the first to support it, followed by various sports games and even early Call of Duty entries .

Of course, the PS2 was not the first console to support online play, as the Sega Dreamcast beat Sony to the punch with its own online service launching in 2000, two years before the PS2's network adaptor debuted. Unlike the Dreamcast, however, for which Sega had its own official servers, online play for the PS2 was the responsibility of individual game developers.

Image
PS2TagPageHeader
PlayStation 2
Display card main info widget
Brand
Sony
Original Release Date
October 26, 2000
Hardware Versions
PS2
Original MSRP (USD)
$299, £299
Weight
4.85 lb
Display card main info widget end

The PlayStation 2 was Sony's direct "sequel" to their original PlayStation and stands as one of the best-selling and most beloved consoles of all time. With a catalog of amazing games, it stood strong against the GameCube and Xbox in the sixth-generation of the console wars.

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