The best and worst of the web

As expected, the Internet is currently rife with PlayStation2 rumours and revelations. We haven't received our PSX2 yet, so we've had to make do with second-hand accounts of the system's performance.

Here are a few of our favourite unsubstantiated claims:

My PlayStation2 won't boot-up!
Some users have reported temporary boot-up problems with PlayStation2. A number of 'experts' claim that a production fault means some machines won't start properly if a memory card is inserted prior to switching on.
Future Gamer say: Unlikely.

Some PlayStation peripherals are incompatible with the new machine!
Early reports indicate that while the PlayStation GunCon works fine with PlayStation2, other peripherals, such as the NegCon, are incompatible.
Future Gamer say: Did Sony ever claim backward-compatibility with regard to peripherals?

Loading times haven't disappeared entirely!
It seems that some gamers were expecting zero load times on old PlayStation titles. This is not the case, although loading times are apparently reduced by around three seconds.
Future Gamer say: What did you expect?

It doesn't like standing up!
Some PlayStation2 owners have noticed minor skipping and varying volume levels when DVDs are played on a vertically-oriented PlayStation2.
Future Gamer say: Surely Sony would have noticed this during testing.
Sony say: No comment.

The games come in 'neat' boxes!
PlayStation2 game cases have a little compartment for a memory card. Some Americans fear that keeping a memory card loose in your pocket could result in memory loss, or something.
Future Gamer say: Who gives a...

So that's our pick of the best PlayStation2 rumours currently doing the rounds. We'll put them all to the test when we get our very own machine, hopefully at the end of the month. Until we've thoroughly tested the system for ourselves, these claims remain pure speculation.