40 Gig PS3 Model Confirmed for Europe...but no backwards compatability AT ALL.

[Strollymonster]

Source (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/05/40gb-ps3-official-for-europe-no-backwards-compatibility-at-a/)

This is really getting ridiculous for Sony...if I keep my count right, this makes the 4th PS3 model to be released in less than the span of a year. How is the average consumer supposed to be able to discern between all of these? I've been following gaming news forever and I have trouble keeping the separate models and features of each straight, not to mention the prices!

20 Gig
60 Gig
80 Gig
40 Gig

And just wait till the Dualshock 3 comes out, it's bound to receive a new bundle instead of just replacing the Sixaxis.

...Just freakin' ridiculous. Remember the days when everyone's model of console was the same?

[MattThomasM2B]

I remember when Sony's superior hardware backwards compatibility was used as a bullet point against the 360 and its software emulation.

Boy the PS3 is such a [expletive deleted].

Edit by Bird Boy: Watch the language.

[Hades]

Agreed. Sony is doing a fantastic job with Blu-Ray, but they have no idea what the hell they are doing with the PS3. They are just asking to lose the new console war aren't they?

[Rafeal v1.0]

From what i understand it will have ps1 backwards compatability, and ps2 will come later.

[Lord Andy]

This is a reason I think the PS3 and Xbox360 aren’t doing so well. They’re making it so confusing to purchase a game system. If you want a Wii, you walk into the store and buy one if it’s there. If you want a PS2 or a DS the hardest decision is what color you want it to be.

But no, Microsoft and Sony doesn’t want it that easy. How big of a hard drive do you want? Which one comes with HDMI? Which PS3 can play older games if I want to? Which 360s have the new cooler chips inside? What controllers do I get?

And if that wasn’t bad enough, they’re still announcing new systems and price drops left and right. Is Microsoft really getting ride of the core model for a new system pack in? Is Sony dropping prices more soon? Are we going to be surprised by yet more system packs?

I don’t know why they can’t make up their minds. My best guess is that the systems are just so expensive to make they just can’t keep up with what they want to do. I miss the days where if you wanted a system, the only thing you had to worry about were missing price drops and pack in, not whole system changes!

[Stuckey]

How is the average consumer supposed to be able to discern between all of these?

By reading about them. I mean, who doesn't research before spending that much on a console? And why should anybody worry about them if they don't?

[GWOtaku]

Well, what the hell. I read about the rumor on Penny Arcade and figured okay, good. But without compatibility, there's just no way. If they phase it in great, but why on Earth couldn't they give this "new" PS3 the same abilities as the old one?

[SAMaine]

You know, it's sad... I was debating on if I should get an Xbox 360 or a PS3 eventually... Most have similar games and experiences, but I've been a loyal Sony fan for the last 10 years. PS1 and PS2 were cool.

PS3 just plain stinks, though. It's too much like the Xbox 360 in games for it, but until now it DID have backwards compatibility with PS1 & PS2 games which would make it win out over the 360 if it were near the same price of that console. But now with backwards compatibility completely and likely irrevocably gone, what is going to keep the 100 million PS2 fanbase from buying an Xbox 360 or a Wii if not even PS3 will play their favorite PS2 games, anymore?

I can see one of two things happening with this event... Either it will kill PS2, which is doubtful because PS2 is a pretty cool console... or it will kill PS3 which is very likely and possible. At the very least, Microsoft admitted outright that yeah, Xbox 360 wasn't going to have good backwards compatibility, but it got better over the two years it has been out. As for Nintendo... They made sure THEIR backwards compatibility was awesome before they released their Wii.

The PS3 as a console choice is dead to me... It's not so much as console as a Blu Ray Player that plays games. I will not own a Blu Ray Player until HD DVD is dead or vice-versa... I shall buy an Xbox 360, as it has more games I like, and a better possiblity of getting the PS1 and PS2 games I like on Live Arcade.

[Wounded_Dragon]

But now with backwards compatibility completely and likely irrevocably gone, what is going to keep the 100 million PS2 fanbase from buying an Xbox 360 or a Wii if not even PS3 will play their favorite PS2 games, anymore?

You do realize several posts in that the 80gb model retains backwards compatability?

[Strollymonster]

By reading about them. I mean, who doesn't research before spending that much on a console? And why should anybody worry about them if they don't?

Because they're the VAST majority of console buyers...nay, consumers in general. The pretty much completely clueless parents and relatives that buy the console because little Johnny's been begging for a PS3 since Christmas LAST year. The totality of their research consists of looking through the advertising circulars and finding the one that has some sort of ad for the console that he's asking for. You'd need a bracket graph to accurately discern between the 4 models at this point, and I sincerely doubt that the buying public is willing to draw up a chart to accurately compare and contrast them when they can just buy the single model of Wii available or the two less-confusing 360 packages.

[SAMaine]

You do realize several posts in that the 80gb model retains backwards compatability?

We've had 4 SKUs in 1 year, two of which were discontinued. Who is to say that Sony won't release a 100 GB model without backwards compatibility and discontinue the 80 GB model? Europe hasn't even gotten the 80 GB model, so once the now discontinued 60 GB model is gone, Backwards-Compatibility is gone for Europe.

[Strollymonster]

We've had 4 SKUs in 1 year, two of which were discontinued. Who is to say that Sony won't release a 100 GB model without backwards compatibility and discontinue the 80 GB model? Europe hasn't even gotten the 80 GB model, so once the now discontinued 60 GB model is gone, Backwards-Compatibility is gone for Europe.

It will also dispense kittens (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/09/07).

If anyone wants a bit of irony (http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=55108) to go with their news, then enjoy this delicious morsel:



"Backwards compatibility, as you know from PlayStation One and PlayStation 2, is a core value of what we believe we should offer. And access to the library of content people have created, bought for themselves, and accumulated over the years is necessary to create a format. PlayStation is a format meaning that it transcends many devices -- PSOne, PS2, and now PS3."

"If the developer wrote the game according to our technical requirements checklist, we will have what we believe will be almost perfect backwards compatibility. There will be some exceptions, there always are, but we believe those will be very few and far between. Even less so than we saw from PSOne to PS2."


:D

[Jmanunknown]

We've had 4 SKUs in 1 year, two of which were discontinued. Who is to say that Sony won't release a 100 GB model without backwards compatibility and discontinue the 80 GB model? Europe hasn't even gotten the 80 GB model, so once the now discontinued 60 GB model is gone, Backwards-Compatibility is gone for Europe.

Actually so far no territory has officially had 4 SKU's yet that is until SCEA announces the 40GB PS3 which hasn't happened yet. Do you actually think they'll get rid of PS2 backwards compatibility? The logical reason PS2 backward compatibility isn't in the new SKU for the PS3 in europe most likely has to do with Sony's problems with PS2 software emulation. If you think logically about this instead of ranting you would realize that its weird that the new 40GB SKU is backwards compatible with PSOne games but, not PS2 games.

[SAMaine]

Actually so far no territory has officially had 4 SKU's yet that is until SCEA announces the 40GB PS3 which hasn't happened yet. Do you actually think they'll get rid of PS2 backwards compatibility? The logical reason PS2 backward compatibility isn't in the new SKU for the PS3 in europe most likely has to do with Sony's problems with PS2 software emulation. If you think logically about this instead of ranting you would realize that its weird that the new 40GB SKU is backwards compatible with PSOne games but, not PS2 games.

This is true, but wasn't it Europe who got the first PS3 without the Emotion Engine, and then the US lost it? All you have to do is wait a bit for the 60GB ones to get out of the pipeline, and you will see the $400 No BC PS3 in the USA. Japan meanwhile still has the 20GB and 60GB Hardware BC Versions, because Xbox 360 is a laughingstock in that country.

[ShadowGUN]

An explanation for no bc. (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/05/sony-explains-why-theres-no-bc-in-the-40gb-ps3/#comments)



In separate interviews today both Sony UK boss Ray Maguire and Sony Europe spokesman Nick Sharples spoke about how the 40GB PS3 lacking backwards compatibility (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/05/40gb-ps3-official-for-europe-no-backwards-compatibility-at-a/) is fine. How is it fine? Maguire tells Eurogamer (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=84831) that by this Christmas the PS3 will have a whopping 65 games and so they feel "there's sufficient choice in the marketplace and that we're still better off using that money that we'd put into backwards compatibility in either investing in new games or using that money to help support bringing the price down." Meanwhile, Sharples tells GameDaily (http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=17683), "We have made clear on many occasions that our priority is on developing innovative new features and services for PS3 and not on backwards compatibility."

65 games?? What 65 games? Most of them have been delay till 2008.

[Peter Paltridge]

Less than a hundred games within a year, many in that number delayed and not even out yet....how very N64.

And that quote from Harrison completely contradicts the Maguire/Sharples quote. Bottom line: they're going to do whatever they want, and whatever works for them is "the best choice for consumers."

[Hades]

By reading about them. I mean, who doesn't research before spending that much on a console? And why should anybody worry about them if they don't?

That is not true at all. I have been to many stores and every time I hear someone say they want a 360 or PS3, the employee asks, "Which one?" and the customer gets confused and asks what's the difference.

[River26]

Here's hoping that the U.S will get this $399 SKU model as well. As I've been wanting to play Heavenly Sword and Genji: Days of the Blade in it's full rendition.

[Jmanunknown]

This is true, but wasn't it Europe who got the first PS3 without the Emotion Engine, and then the US lost it? All you have to do is wait a bit for the 60GB ones to get out of the pipeline, and you will see the $400 No BC PS3 in the USA. Japan meanwhile still has the 20GB and 60GB Hardware BC Versions, because Xbox 360 is a laughingstock in that country.

Theres still the gimped 80GB PS3 that is backwards compatible to a degree. Since it seems each territory of Sony makes decisions on which PS3 models are released in the territory I don't think SCEA or SCEJ will go the route of SCEE. They'll keep the two SKU method going theres no way they could get away with selling only the gimped 40GB PS3 it wouldn't sell well.

[River26]

And speaking of the 40GB SKU model. It seems that SONY of Australia also confirmed that they will be getting the lesser priced system, as compared to their launch priced system.

[Katsumara]

Man, I'm sick of hearing about the PS3. I remember when the XBox360 came out and there were some issues, but good lord.. not this many. So many models released. :/

[River26]

When I look back on it. I kinda see where ya comin' from. Indeed there's been a truck load of too many SKU PS3 models. Personally, I think SONY's getting more desperate in trying to win us over. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it's working.

If I was them, I'd lower both of the current SKU models (60 & 80GB respectively) down to a more affordable price, rather than tinker with the upcoming 40GB SKU. Because with this new 40GB you can't even insert SD or any sort of memory cards, much less play PS2 games for that matter.

[Jmanunknown]

Man, I'm sick of hearing about the PS3. I remember when the XBox360 came out and there were some issues, but good lord.. not this many. So many models released. :/

The Xbox 360 still has issues like for example consoles dying but, at least they replace them for free.

[River26]

Still, none of the other systems; 360 or Wii will (for example) ever have these great games like; Final Fantasy XIII & Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Hence that these games will only be running on the PS3 hardware. And I doubt that 360 will have a port of Tekken 6 anytime soon. Since the Tekken series has been a fan fav on only SONY's system.

And these're mostly the games I'm aiming for.

[Dr. Daedalus]

I agree, this is getting pretty confusing. While I'm not buying a PS3 anytime in the near future due to its price, when the time comes, I'd like to know what would offer both the best backwards compatibility and hardware options- hopefully they don't have even MORE options by that point.

Question: Does Sony have its own department working on backwards compatibility? If not, it really should. I agree with the first industry quote in this thread- Sony has built up such a colossal base of games, it would be silly for them to abandon all that just so they can focus on programming exclusively for the PS3. Not everyone wants to keep their old systems around just to play their old games.

[SNS]

I agree, this is getting pretty confusing. While I'm not buying a PS3 anytime in the near future due to its price, when the time comes, I'd like to know what would offer both the best backwards compatibility and hardware options- hopefully they don't have even MORE options by that point.

Hope this chart helps. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3#Retail_configurations)

[Joe]

Hope this chart helps. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3#Retail_configurations)

Strange that the 40GB model is the only one without backward compatibilities. I'd buy the 20GB model somewhere down the line if it's ever brought back to the states.

[Captain Highwind]

So why is it that of all the crap that they're trying to shove into gaming systems, they keep neglecting to put in backwards compatible hardware?

I would think that should take priority over the extra storage space and the coffee maker...

[MattThomasM2B]

I might have to consider a 20 gig if that falls to $350 (and is still around to buy).

[Stuckey]

Because they're the VAST majority of console buyers...nay, consumers in general. The pretty much completely clueless parents and relatives that buy the console because little Johnny's been begging for a PS3 since Christmas LAST year. The totality of their research consists of looking through the advertising circulars and finding the one that has some sort of ad for the console that he's asking for. You'd need a bracket graph to accurately discern between the 4 models at this point, and I sincerely doubt that the buying public is willing to draw up a chart to accurately compare and contrast them when they can just buy the single model of Wii available or the two less-confusing 360 packages.


So the majority is lazy so we should be concerned about them? That's asinine. People aren't avoiding Sony because they're confused by all the versions and features. You yourself said they aren't doing research, so the features clearly don't matter that much. They're avoiding it because of the price and the fact that when they go to the store the PS3's section of games is maybe half the size of the Wii's and at best a quarter of that of the 360.

[Dark Fact]

Do I hear gunshots?


Still, none of the other systems; 360 or Wii will (for example) ever have these great games like; Final Fantasy XIII & Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Hence that these games will only be running on the PS3 hardware. And I doubt that 360 will have a port of Tekken 6 anytime soon. Since the Tekken series has been a fan fav on only SONY's system.

And these're mostly the games I'm aiming for.
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Square-Enix or Bandai Namco jumped ship due to Sony's runaway development policies.

[Conan-san]

Do I hear gunshots?


At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Square-Enix or Bandai Namco jumped ship due to Sony's runaway development policies.realy, who do they have left? Nippon Ichi?! Ok, fine, Disguia is a great game but it ain't gonna shift skipe!

Edit; huh, I typoed rather horiddly.

[SAMaine]

Theres still the gimped 80GB PS3 that is backwards compatible to a degree. Since it seems each territory of Sony makes decisions on which PS3 models are released in the territory I don't think SCEA or SCEJ will go the route of SCEE. They'll keep the two SKU method going theres no way they could get away with selling only the gimped 40GB PS3 it wouldn't sell well.

SCEJ, from what I've heard, actually did it right. They still use the 20GB and 60GB models with complete Hardware Backwards Compatibility, AND their PSN games are awesome. However, most of this dance SCEE and SCEA are doing is them trying to compete with Xbox 360, which I believe will cause them to lose enough marketshare that PS4 will be Japan-Only. This problem stems from Blu Ray... If PS3 just used DVD9 for their games and had two Models... A 20GB w/o Blu Ray for $400, and a 60GB w/ Blu Ray for $600, Sony would be wiping the floor with Microsoft, and if they managed a $300 model, they would be wiping the floor with Nintendo as well. Also, they would succeed in convincing gamers to adopt Blu Ray, and word of mouth would spead that PS3 was worth buying and that if a person has enough money, you should get the 60GB version with Blu Ray.

[Jmanunknown]

SCEJ, from what I've heard, actually did it right. They still use the 20GB and 60GB models with complete Hardware Backwards Compatibility, AND their PSN games are awesome. However, most of this dance SCEE and SCEA are doing is them trying to compete with Xbox 360, which I believe will cause them to lose enough marketshare that PS4 will be Japan-Only. This problem stems from Blu Ray... If PS3 just used DVD9 for their games and had two Models... A 20GB w/o Blu Ray for $400, and a 60GB w/ Blu Ray for $600, Sony would be wiping the floor with Microsoft, and if they managed a $300 model, they would be wiping the floor with Nintendo as well. Also, they would succeed in convincing gamers to adopt Blu Ray, and word of mouth would spead that PS3 was worth buying and that if a person has enough money, you should get the 60GB version with Blu Ray.

Theres a problem with that whole they should have just used DVD9 theory, Blu-ray is also used for games. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not High def content takes up alot of space and probably in the next 2-3 years most 360 games will be shipped on two discs and 360 games can't offer as high quality sound as PS3 games could possibly. I do agree with you though they should have just released the PS3 with a dvd drive but, it still wouldn't solve their problems with games the Cell is hard to program for.

[Dark Fact]

Theres a problem with that whole they should have just used DVD9 theory, Blu-ray is also used for games. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not High def content takes up alot of space and probably in the next 2-3 years most 360 games will be shipped on two discs and 360 games can't offer as high quality sound as PS3 games could possibly. I do agree with you though they should have just released the PS3 with a dvd drive but, it still wouldn't solve their problems with games the Cell is hard to program for.
The part you mentioned about the Cell being "hard to program for" rings bells for the days of Sega Saturn when developers also complained about it being hard to program for due to its dual processor system. Could we be seeing another Sega Saturn on our hands?

[Roman Legion]

The part you mentioned about the Cell being "hard to program for" rings bells for the days of Sega Saturn when developers also complained about it being hard to program for due to its dual processor system. Could we be seeing another Sega Saturn on our hands?At times I wonder whether or not there's more to it than just the Cell being "difficult" to program for. The Cell and the 360's CPU represent two distinct approaches to parallelization, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Question is, are the Cell's strengths representative of what the majority of developers want or need to accelerate? (I have no clue, myself.) This, then, leads me to wonder what sort of dev tools Sony's made available. The 360 at least offers parallelization more similar to what some folk might be used to on PCs.

Or maybe ease of programming is the most important thing, after all. Concurrency is tricky enough to begin with. If a company can't afford the programmer hours, that's pretty much that.

--Romey

[Dogbert]

Well, SCEE has now discontinued the 60GB model (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6180547.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;7), so those of you looking for fewer choices now have just that. Too bad Sony made the wrong choice and has essentially stopped production of backward compatible PS3 system in Europe. Rumor is (http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=25968062&sid=6180575&om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;1) that the new model will hit North America next.

I've thought long and hard about why backward compatibility is being cut. The move from hardware to software emulation makes sense to the producer and the consumer; it's cheaper, which is a concept everyone can understand. However, though it cost Sony to develop software emulation and would cost them to continue refining it, it costs them NOTHING to simply continue offering the current version. Why cut it then? There's only one answer that makes sense to me: they want to force people to buy PS3 games for their system. Between PS2 games and Blu-Ray movies, consumers have too many ways to spend their money that don't help make developing for the PS3 profitable. If people have fewer choices, they will, in Sony's mind, spend more on PS3 games. It might work, it might not. In any case, consumers are getting screwed. And not just the people who buy the new models. Anyone who bought one with software emulation will be affected because updates on that software will surely stop, those waiting for a price drop won't get the best package, and those who already bought a hardware emulating system are safe for now but will have issues should their systems break and need to be replaced. All in all, a very poor move on Sony's part if you ask me.

[MattThomasM2B]

Actually...

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/08/scee-no-plans-to-offer-ps2-backwards-compatibility-later-as-dlc/

According to SCEE, the 40 gig doesn't have the PS2's graphics synthesizer, which is what was needed to emulate off of the software. The hardware emulating PS3s had both the synthesiser and the emotion engine.

[SAMaine]

Theres a problem with that whole they should have just used DVD9 theory, Blu-ray is also used for games. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not High def content takes up alot of space and probably in the next 2-3 years most 360 games will be shipped on two discs and 360 games can't offer as high quality sound as PS3 games could possibly. I do agree with you though they should have just released the PS3 with a dvd drive but, it still wouldn't solve their problems with games the Cell is hard to program for.

Oh, the difficulty in programming for the Cell doesn't matter that much as PS2 was also hard to program for, and Sony won that battle. Also, it's not the real time game itself that causes more than one disk... it's the dang FMV cutscenes. Blue Dragon had them, and it used three disks because of all of the cutscenes. This is why Konami and Square Enix, the masters of FMV Cutscenes, love the PS3


I've thought long and hard about why backward compatibility is being cut. The move from hardware to software emulation makes sense to the producer and the consumer; it's cheaper, which is a concept everyone can understand. However, though it cost Sony to develop software emulation and would cost them to continue refining it, it costs them NOTHING to simply continue offering the current version. Why cut it then? There's only one answer that makes sense to me: they want to force people to buy PS3 games for their system. Between PS2 games and Blu-Ray movies, consumers have too many ways to spend their money that don't help make developing for the PS3 profitable. If people have fewer choices, they will, in Sony's mind, spend more on PS3 games. It might work, it might not. In any case, consumers are getting screwed. And not just the people who buy the new models. Anyone who bought one with software emulation will be affected because updates on that software will surely stop, those waiting for a price drop won't get the best package, and those who already bought a hardware emulating system are safe for now but will have issues should their systems break and need to be replaced. All in all, a very poor move on Sony's part if you ask me.

The problem is not the fact that people are buying PS2 games, but that the PS3 games out aren't worth buying so far. Until they can secure the hit that would push it above the 360, people are going to favor that as thier HD Console, and only one game has the potential to do that... Gran Turismo. Sony must put it into the mind that Gran Turismo will only EVER be on the PlayStation. If Gran Turismo 5 fails, then the PS3 as a game console will fail.

[Roman Legion]

Oh, the difficulty in programming for the Cell doesn't matter that much as PS2 was also hard to program for, and Sony won that battle.It's not necessarily that simple. :sweat:

Just because the PS2 was considered difficult to work with and the same's being said of the PS3 now doesn't mean the two challenges are anywhere remotely close to each other. Even if they were similar, the PS2's hurdles were overcome because developers felt it was worth their time. If developing for the PS3 doesn't offer the same hope of return on investment, fewer developers will be willing to step up and push the hardware.

--Romey

[River26]

lol

Also speaking of the 40 SKU model. It seems that there's word on a possible November 2nd release in North America. Unfortunately, as always-SCEA was unable to comment at this time.

Still, if the North American branch of SONY Computer Entertainment goes ahead with this project. We just may be able to play these BD-games within the next few months. With the likes of The Last Remnant, Time Crisis 4 etc...

[Squall]

It sounds like to me that Sony's long term strategy is to sell two versions of the PS3:

First, the $499 80 GB model, which has emulated PS2/PS1 backward compatibility;

Second, the $399 40 GB model, with no backward compatibility.

Not too complicated when you take out the discontinued models, which will all be sold out soon, if not already in some areas.

Microsoft's strategy for the XBox 360 sounds about the same; take out the discontinued models, and you're left with two long term choices:

First, the $449 XBox 360 Elite, with its 120 GB hard drive and HDMI inputs;

Second, the $349 XBox 360 Arcade, with its 60 GB hard drive and regular TV inputs.

I do agree wholeheartedly with everyone else here, though; too many versions of these two consoles are out there! Hopefully Sony and Microsoft have made up their minds now, and for the rest of this video game generation's life cycle (7-10 years?) we'll have the two versions of each console, the "cheap" and "expensive" one.

[Dogbert]

There's only one answer that makes sense to me: they want to force people to buy PS3 games for their system. Between PS2 games and Blu-Ray movies, consumers have too many ways to spend their money that don't help make developing for the PS3 profitable. If people have fewer choices, they will, in Sony's mind, spend more on PS3 games.I hate, strike that, love to say I told you so, but... (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6181373.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;6)

[Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack] Tretton told the paper that taking support for PS2 games out of the new system isn't dramatically cutting manufacturing costs. However, by omitting the option of playing PS2 games, Sony hopes that new customers will instead spend their money on more PS3 games.So, there you have it. Sony is cutting compatibility with PS2 games simply to force buyers to purchase what Sony wants them to buy. Apparently the only thing I didn't predict was that Sony's stupid enough to admit to it.

[Squall]

Just to make sure I understand the whole story, Sony isn't discontinuing the 80 GB PS3 model (with emulated PS2/PS1 backward compatibility), right? They're planning on having the "high end" and "cheap" models of the PS3 sit side-by-side on store shelves, to give consumers the choice.

I can live with that, as long as (1) they're not discontinuing the above model, and (2) they do something that makes the non-backward compatible model look different from its backward compatible bretheren (for example, making the non-backward compatible one silver colored instead of black colored... makes it easy to tell the difference in eBay auctions, for example).

P.S. - Also, this new non-backward compatible model still plays not just PS3 games, but Blu-Ray disks, DVDs, and audio CDs, right?

[Dogbert]

Just to make sure I understand the whole story, Sony isn't discontinuing the 80 GB PS3 model (with emulated PS2/PS1 backward compatibility), right? They're planning on having the "high end" and "cheap" models of the PS3 sit side-by-side on store shelves, to give consumers the choice.

I can live with that, as long as (1) they're not discontinuing the above modelSCEAmerica has not announced any plans to discontinue the 80GB model. However, they have a recent trend of introducing a new model and discontinuing the old, so don't hold your breath on that one.


and (2) they do something that makes the non-backward compatible model look different from its backward compatible bretheren (for example, making the non-backward compatible one silver colored instead of black colored... makes it easy to tell the difference in eBay auctions, for example).They haven't done that with any of the other models, so I would be very surprised if they did that for this one. Especially consider they probably don't want to highlight the removed features.


P.S. - Also, this new non-backward compatible model still plays not just PS3 games, but Blu-Ray disks, DVDs, and audio CDs, right?IIRC, yes, Sony is still very much interesting in presenting the PS3 as some sort of uber technology device that is capable of more than "just" gaming.

[Dark Fact]

So Sony now wants to force gamers to buy their PS3 games by cutting out backwards compatibility on the PS2? I haven't seen one single game on the PS3 that screams buy me buy me! Plus the third party titles that Sony needs for survival aren't going to be out for another year. This is risky business.

[Tommy Lawson]

So Sony now wants to force gamers to buy their PS3 games by cutting out backwards compatibility on the PS2? I haven't seen one single game on the PS3 that screams buy me buy me! Plus the third party titles that Sony needs for survival aren't going to be out for another year. This is risky business.

Video Business (http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6488196.html?industryid=47215) also suggests the $399 PS3 will be in limited supply, trying to both imitate Wii shortages, and also attempt to encourage consumers to get the $499 model with some backwards compatibility. The 60GB and best version of the PS3 to get still remains on many store shelves and will not be reduced in price by Sony. Something tells me these moves aren't exactly the signs of a company being close to the #1 console seller.

Also, note the timing of the price drop announcement - Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon, after the NPD September figures were released, Microsoft proceeded to present some sales figures (http://kotaku.com/gaming/npd/npd-numbers-the-microsoft-take-312653.php) to Sony, and then add another additional statistic about Sony's PS3 software sales in the New York Times (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/the-halo-over-xbox/?hp). I get the sense that when it's finally released next year, we may be seeing Grand Theft Auto IV 360 sales outnumber Grand Theft Auto PS3 sales by a ratio of 4:1.

[Squall]

Well, here's the official PlayStation website's FAQ:
http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/About/faq

I see no indication that Sony is going to stop producing the 80GB PS3, with its PS2/PS1 backward compatibility. As long as consumers have a choice between the "cheap" model PS3 with no backward compatibility and the "high end" model PS3 with backward compatibility, I don't have any problem with this.

(Microsoft is taking the same strategy, narrowing their focus down to the "cheap" Arcade model and the "high end" Elite model. Sony and Microsoft want "cheap" models of their consoles available to compete with the Wii.)

Sony's also said in the past that, while the 80GB PS3 doesn't offer 100% backward compatibility, that it's about 70%-75% right now, and edging slowly towards 100% with firmware updates.

Which means, my only issue with the 40GB PS3 is that there's nothing on the outside visually to differentiate it from its 80GB backward compatible cousin. (I forsee some eBay auctions going sour in the future.) Personally, I think Sony should have made the 40GB PS3s silver colored, and kept the 80GB PS3s black colored.


I get the sense that when it's finally released next year, we may be seeing Grand Theft Auto IV 360 sales outnumber Grand Theft Auto PS3 sales by a ratio of 4:1.

I've got a feeling that, by this time next year, the PS3 and XBox 360 will be on roughly an equal footing. A lot of people that either couldn't afford or didn't care about backward compatibility and passed up the 60GB & 80GB PS3 will finally get the 40GB PS3; and, 2008 is the year that many of the PS3's killer apps finally start coming out (Final Fantasy XIII, Metal Gear Solid 4, etc.)