Hey, would you look at this? It appears that the long rumored 40 GB PlayStation 3 is indeed a reality. Confirmed for Europe today (still waiting on a US confirmation), the 40 GB model will hit stores on October 10, and will cost €399.
The new model will be Wi-Fi compatible, and will have an HDMI port, as well. The 40 GB model will only two USB 2.0 ports (as opposed to four), and the mult-memory card port has been done away with as well. Sony points out that those last two features can be added at a later date with "readily available aftermarket accessories."
Wanna know something that can't be added with an aftermarket accessory? PlayStation 2 backwards computability. That's right, this new model is no longer compatible with PS2 titles, "reflecting both the reduced emphasis placed on this feature among later purchasers of PS3, as well as the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles." I think Sony worded that last sentence confusing on purpose, as to trick us into thinking that the lack of PS2 software support was a good thing. It didn't work.
No word on a US release (yet), but if we had to guesss, it's a done deal.
Contest:
11:23 AM on 10.05.2007
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Oh man, this is why i shouldn't copypasta when i'm tired.
It is called the PS2 Slim, and it will be in stores nationwide...now.
Why don't you buy one with the money you save on your PS3 'Core System!'
it only matter to us blog reader kids... the general public will see a new cheaper ps3 and not care, they will buy.
Really, who doesn't have a PS2?
I would think, after Sony finally giving people what they've been asking for (assuming the $399 p.p.), bitching about not being able to play PS2 games is just....bitching.
True, but I only have so many ports on the back of my telly, and even with a switcher, I wouldn't have room for a PS3 and a PS2.
And it seems like it would take extra effort to remove a feature your system already has? I'm sure this saves them $1.27 a console or something, but honestly? This is a dealbreaker for me, at least.
Unless it's 100%, bc is worthless. Games are a non-returnable item so I'm not going to buy something at the store if there's a chance it's not going to play on my system. Plus with emulation, "working" titles often have weird timing and/or graphics glitches. The old systems are dirt cheap refurbed, just buy one of those.
How can it have "No backwards compatibility" when the recent crop of PS3s use SOFTWARE emulation that is installed and updated through system updates?
Will this PS3 simply SKIP those updates? Seems removing sofware BC would save ZERO money AND make the system seem less valuable.
Haha, beat me to the punch on that one.
No BC is certainly not a deal breaker by any stretch of the imagination.
It is a matter of convenience however as for those with limited ports to their television who don’t want to rely on a splitter (such as myself). It is nice having to pop in a PS2 game in a PS3 or a Gamecube game into the Wii rather then getting the system out. It’s not terribly difficult to hook up other systems but having the same functionality for overall less space is nice.
Wooo-hoooo!!! With that 50 cents saved in manufacturing costs, I predict PS3 profitability in...2025. Go, Sony, go!
more like blowing your fucking face off, goddamn sony - this is fail of epic proportions
1 SKU/1 Console , stop making so many different consoles
that sucks for anyone who buys this model. a majority of the games I play on my PS3 are still PS2 games (cause there are still a shit ton of good ps2 games coming out). honestly, I actually like the ps2 games on the ps3 more. saves space, I don't have to lug out the old ps2 and hook it up everytime I want to play it, and I have shit ton of virtual memory cards so no dealing with bullcrap 20 dollar memory cards taht only have 8 megs on them.
How much does it cost to put in two USB ports vs four? Can't be that much. I have a 20GB PS3 and never missed the card reader.
******
Michael C. Sherrin
http://www.prodigeek.com/
they removed the EE ship from the ps3 but to achieve BC they still
had the graphics synthesizer and some IO chips in so they are
saving on 40 GB models
Bad move sony.
My 20 GB PS3 just got even more valuable.
The price cut does not justify less functionality. Sony why are you divebombing!
Thank you Sony for saving me from spending more money on consoles. Keep those PS2 games coming!
-A, proud owner of the PS2Wii60 PC.
no.
dude, they are releasing a cheaper model, with a redundant feature excluded. I mean seriously if you don't have a ps2 yet you're probably not even in the target audience for a ps3.