Yeah, unless the slim has backwards compatibility, I'm more likely to pick up a PS3 phat that I know I'll be able to upgrade.

The original PS3 is probably being phased out right now and there won't be any more shipments of the old units. The slim is probably cheaper to produce and technically the PS3 Slim uses less power and has all the same stuff as the PS3. Sorry for being Captain Obvious but meh.

Im a bit of a ps3 newb, so excuse my questions:

Will it still have blu ray? And backwards compatibality?

Like Xzyliac, I'm wondering what they had to cut out to make it smaller.

If its anything significant, i'll pass.

@Xzyliac - When technology improves, it's able to shrink in size, power consumption, and cost to produce. Smaller processes mean smaller PS3.

If only they were able to return the PS2 hardware into that small case, I'd buy a second PS3 to have in a another room.

now wonders what those 'the ps3 is too expensive, i'll get one when it drops $100' people are going to say now?

time to put up or shut up :P

good news for everyone, should force another x360 drop and maybe even a wii price drop. we like cheaper consoles!

also, to those who inquire about backwards compatibility; do you own HDTV or no? just curious. plus, what are those w/a ps2 going to do? sell their ps2 for what $35 used at gamestop? imo, bc is the weakest argument against not getting a ps3 at this point. did you buy a x360 to play your xbox games?

just my $.02

I'd "be" very suprised. Sorry. My engrish is not that bad.

Hmmm, it seems my wait to get a PS3 has paid off...now I have to decide if I want the slim or phat PS3, cause I seriously wanna play M.A.G.

@Cartman - All PS3 games are on Blu-Ray, so it will absolutely be able to play them. I'm 99.99999% sure it won't have any PS2 backwards compatibility, because that was removed from all PS3s to increase PS3 software sales (which is bullshit - Sony simply wants to continue selling PS2s for as long as it can).

If you don't own a PS3 yet and are interested at all, this is definitely the answer for you.

Can you still upgrade the HDD? That might be a reason to still pick up a PhatS3. I am also curious about the BC.

Can you or can't you upgrade the hard drive? That's what I want to know (because I already ordered a hard drive in anticipation of the price drop).

BC will only be coming in the form of a firmware upgrade, for all those inquiring. Sony wouldn't force you to buy a slim just to get it...at least I don't think. It IS coming sooner or later.

So a price cut and a new model are announced without a backwards compatability announcement running hand in hand? Do they want to convert the huge PS2 base or not?

To seamonkey420: a big chunk (I would risk saying a majority) of current PS2 users are kids and teenagers whose parents say, "You don't need that PS3. You have a PS2 with a zillion games already." But those kids would be able to say, "The PS3 plays all my old games, plus all the new games that the PS2 can't, AND it does Blu-Ray!" So instead of the PS3 disvaluing all of the parents' PS2 purchases, it validates them + bonuses.

I mean, how much of this demographic has a bunch of classic Xbox games lying around? Very few. The 360 basically started from scratch, with promises based on Halo 2. The PS2 practically conquered last gen's market, and the PS3 will be the console that demographic moves up to when it is backwards compatible again. And it won't happen all at once, but over a period of years as they all find out about it--much like the PS3.

On the other end of the spectrum, the serious gameplayers (i.e., follow gaming on internet blogs) already have about 5 consoles hooked up to their TV. A backwards compatible PS3 would maintain that equilibrium. The PS2 isn't worth trading in; it's a convenience factor, at least for me.

@rsquad: They have promised BC in a firmware update? Sorry, I missed that. I'll go search for that, thanks.

@The Reborn - .........wow.

Wow, just converted the Price to AUD to get a rough idea. The PS3 in America costs less then what I payed for my wii at launch. At a conversion to 360ishAUD, and a wii costs 400AUD RRP.

Now that says something. I think it will be aobut 450-500AUD when it launches. But still, wow. Katamari Forever, you are now within my reach!

@The Reborn - .........wow.

They did the same thing when they phased out the 60GB. That was a little different because you were paying the same for less with the 80GB, but they packed Motorstorm in with the 80 to lure in some suckers. Though in the defense of those suckers, if you didn't want full BC it is significantly quieter than a 60.

I'd expect expanded bundling with the current 80GB to move stock once the Slim hits, at least on the retailer level if not as an official Sony mandate. The Uncharted bundle is definitely going to need to come down more if they want to move it, though. Maybe they'll throw KZ2 and MGS4 in to make that pot a little sweeter at $399, but I'd expect those to sit around for a little longer at that price. A 120GB hdd can be had for under $50 and a copy of Uncharted is now officially $30, so it's an even less attractive option than it was a month ago when it had already not sold well for most of a year.

Should be interesting to see how the Xbox fanboys complain about the price now.

STOP TALKIN' ABOUT SONY!
There are other companies at Gamescom you know?

There's no port to upgrade the hard drive in any of the pictures. That's what the Phat has over the Slim.

On the bottom of what, praytell? The picture of the bottom of the system is smooth as butter. At most the only possible location it could be is on the front of the system where the logos are.

The slim already has a damn good price point, it'll certainly help sell the consoles this christmas, especially considering that (I belive at least) the PS3 now has enough exclusives to stand on its own.

I've been pretty good with paying for Sony consoles this generation anyway. My PS3 cost only £80, and I got a PSP for just £35 with a bunch of games. Pretty fortunate :)

Cbunn, the controller is paired with your ps3's specific system.

The HDD bay is under the bluray drive, and it's removable, you can see it.

Reborn: Don't make fun of my jimmles, and use my name in the same sentence or i'll cut you. Making fun of someone for their weight is pretty low, considering it has nothing to do with his journalism abilities, in fact, it might mean he's a better one ;)

But yes, I think its there underneath the bluray drive. The panel is the only peiece of plastic that looks detachable.