Why should Sony release the HDD without a dedicated killer app?
Just wait for the killer up to come to US/Europe and you'll see HDDs popping into stores.
I only mentioned it because it was released in Japan in that fashion (well arguably it did have one application that supported it, but it wasn't a 'dedicated killer app' for it).
More interesting tho, is guessing about the distribution model SCEE/SCEA will adopt. IIRC, the HDD is sold through ISPs in Japan. You can buy it or just rent it.
Well you can still order it direct from Sony, the ISP deal was mainly to simplify the whole process for those going from nothing or switching from dial-up to broadband (it was kind've handy for those on the FTTH waiting list as could get you bumped up the queue!)...
Ehh, one can look at the 32x or a similarly priced console add-on to see how much of a dud these things are over here.
32x (and SegaCD) flopped for more reasons than just being an add-on. There have been add-ons that have failed, and those that have succeeded, obviously one would look to those that succeeded as a model to follow and not wallow in other's failure.
Moreover, releasing the HD here would just make MS grin ear to ear since the Xbox has one built in (ie: why buy a PS2 + network adaptor + HD + memory card when the Xbox has all of the above?).
Only if it totally fails to sell at all... Otherwise it's one more marketing advantage the Xbox would have had that it lost. Besides I don't think too many average consumers would choose Xbox because it has an HD, rather than getting one because of some of it's games...
also, bringing the HD over here would segment publishers SKUs... the install base of the PS2 is what makes it so attractive, and starting back at square one with a theoretical install base of 100k or so isn't very wise.
The only way it would segment is if you develop a title that requires explicit support of the HDD (one way being that you're requiring data to be streamed from both the HDD and DVD drive simultaneousl), but in most cases it'll be something that you can optionally support (e.g. detect for the HDD and enable additional features for it).
It'd just be bad business. SCEA had their chance with the online plan to go the route of SCE/BB-navigator, but choose to opt for the lowest common denominator instead (ie: 56k).
Actually the Japanese network adaptors also come with 56k too, although it makes more sense in the US as online gamers are more condensed in Japan. BB-Navigator in it's current incarnation is also more suited for the Japanese market (e.g. CD record and NetMD checkout makes more sense there due the *vastly* higher popularity of MD in Japan), so I'd imagine that it would possibly be reworked for the locale anyway.
You just put the HDD inside the bay and "close" it with the Network Adaptor.
Hehe, you can also use 'other HDDs' as well... I've used 80 and 120GB HDDs with the Linux kit (you do need to fashion your rails though), and even used the official HDD utility disc to partition half for games and half for Linux...
Also one other nifty thing, since it's an end-user installable device you can essentially take and put it in your buddies machine if you want (which I don't recommend). And if you're PS2 craps out on you (which seems to more common with the current generation of consoles), you can simply transfer your HDD to the new machine without losing any of your data (assuming the hardware failure hasn't HDD related in the first place).
As far as I know, the Playstation2 version of Everquest DOES NOT require the hard drive.
I get the same impression, although they still might offer optional features for it.