At their press conference earlier today, Sony unveiled the new 80GB PlayStation 3 "Core Pack". This latest model will have the same features as the 40GB PS3s, but with double the harddrive space and will retail for $400, the same price that the 40GB models are right now.
The 40GB models are now on their last legs and will soon be taken off the market, joining the 20GB and 60GB in the console graveyard. It hasn't really been made clear yet by Sony, but since the 80GB " ... will offer all of the features and functionality of the 40GB model", then it looks you'll have the same backwards compatibility issues. So you can play PS1 games, but no PS2 games.
What do you all think? Do you even care anymore about backwards compatibility?
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA ANNOUNCES NEW 80GB PLAYSTATION®3, LIMITED EDITION PLAYSTATION®2 BUNDLE, AND PLAYSTATION®PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT PACK AT E3 2008
Company Also Launches New PLAYSTATION®Network Video Delivery Service and Showcases More Than 140 First-Party and Third-Party Games Across All Platforms
LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 15, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) held its annual press conference today at the E3 Media & Business Summit, making a series of announcements which demonstrated the strength of the PlayStation brand across all three of its platforms and further leveraged the heritage and momentum of PlayStation’s family of products to provide consumers with more compelling entertainment options than anyone in the videogame industry.
Starting in September 2008, the newly announced PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) 80GB model will become the mainstay of the company’s hardware line-up. The 80GB model will retail for $399, and will offer all of the features and functionality of the 40GB model with double the storage to accommodate more movies, graphics, music, photos and other entertainment content – all for the same price. As with its predecessor, the new 80GB model will be a complete entertainment system comprising of a Blu-ray™ player, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, Cell Broadband Engine™ and a built-in 80GB hard-disk drive. The multi-functionality of the 80GB PS3, combined with more than 140 exclusive and third-party titles and the PLAYSTATION®Network, is a comprehensive entertainment value designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers from hard-core gamers to general entertainment enthusiasts.
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Contest:
8:58 PM on 07.15.2008
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Usually, throughout a consoles lifespan improvements are made to it. Better, faster drives, slightly different -sometimes better- chips and what not (to avoid piracy).
Improvements are made to the system, not downgrades. I will not buy a PS3 until the emotion engine is put back into it.
The PS3 is looking better every day. I better start collecting pennies if I want to get it in a few years.
Basically there will be 2 80gb models. This one and the b/c one such as the MGS4 bundle. Thats why they are calling this new pack the core pack. It has no b/c. The premium (ripping 360 terms) would be the b/c ps3 with more usbs and media card readers....
It doesn't even need explaining, but system revisions are supposed to IMPROVE functionality, not remove it. Yes, they are cutting costs, but are they aware of how many gamers they're losing by removing backwards compatibility? Those interested in the PS3 are going on ebay and buying 60 and 80 gig PS3s for it, which ultimately makes for less PS3s sold, since the ones being bought are the same ones that shipped months ago, if not years ago.
Seems like a no-brainer from here.
I don't mind hooking or unhooking older consoles, but I still see BC as a worthwhile convenience.
I seriously don't like that. But I seriously like how Moneysoft is trying to please us.
Because that would make this package very attractive.
And for the most part if you are complaining about B/C I bet 95% already own the PS2 so do what I did, keep it and USE IT! Tossing aside your old system wouldn't be very smart at all seeing as how so many people buy up all the older systems now a days, so if you toss it you will be picking it up within 10 years time anyways.
I will be tossing a 250 gig HDD in my Ps3 very, very soon :)
I've been through quite a few PS2's due to Disc Read Errors. I wanted a PS3 because of the Backwards compatibility, but I just see it as Sony milking their last Generation to make up for the money they lose on each PS3.
If they cut out backwards compatibility entirely, I'll probably never get a PS3. I might just wait until PS2s fall to about a hundred bucks. There are some great games there I don't want to miss.
And I love Sony's official response, "Just keep your PS2, silly!" That's all fine and dandy, but have you evel looked behind a gamer's TV? The wires! The wires!!