If there's one thing Sony is good at, it's crazy ad campaigns. However, if Sony is good at two things, then releasing a whole host of SKUs to the point where I am confused and frightened has to be the second. Still, following the sales spike that the 40GB PS3 caused in the UK, who can blame the company for bringing it Stateside ASAP?
SCEA President Jack 'Mr. Charisma' Tretton has confirmed the release of the 40GB PS3 in the US on November 2nd, retailing at $400. For those who are only interested in the future, this new model might look like a decent buy. However, the fact that it cannot play PS2 games is sure to leave a sour taste for some.
"We're choosing to focus on the PlayStation 2 consumer with the PlayStation 2, which remains incredibly relevant, and focus on the PlayStation 3 consumer with the new 40-gigabyte model and the great software coming out," Tretton said, justifying the removal of backwards compatibility. That just says "stick with the PS2 and don't bother with anything else, it's still the best console you can buy," to me.
If you want the perfect mix of Blu-ray and last-gen, however, it might please you to also know that the 80GB PlayStation 3 is enjoying a hundred dollar cut -- now available for $500. With just a 100 bones difference between the two models, is the 40GB worth it? Maybe not, but we'll see just how well it serves Sony this Christmas when less thoughtful consumers jump on the low price.
Contest:
5:53 AM on 10.18.2007
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Yay Sony.
No wonder Nintendo have moved up to 2nd, behind Toshiba in the list of most valuable Japanese companies.
Cant see why not, then they can inflict massive damage like no one before....
Or they could bring out a good game....I just bought PGR4, its amazing!
Did you miss the part where I said a lot of people are trading in their PS2s to get PS3s?? I'm keeping mine, but the majority of people wont. This could potentially kill the PS2 market from staying longer.
PS3 still supports BC for PS1 games, so tell me, which are you most likely to have still, PS1 or PS2 games. It stupid and half heaerted crap to support PS1 games and not PS2.
so it's all good.... $400 ain't bad at all... seeing how the whole PS3 has no games nonsense thrown by people goes out the window this holiday....
The Xbox 360 has pretty garbage BC too, but I don't see too many people complaining about that. Sony is releasing this cheaper sku for those whinning about the price of the PS3 (apparently using a credit card is beyond them), yet they continue to find more to whine about. Give it a rest.
On the other hand, I own around 20 PS2 games and still buy them from time to time. The same applies to my Wii and GameCube.
I'd rather not keep 5 or 6 systems attached to my TV when I can get away with just keeping three attached. That's why BC is an issue for me. As a consumer, I suppose I expect it since every other competitor with cheaper consoles has done it.
We have, and still play a lot of PS2 games, this is the price point where I'd consider buying a PS3 but I don't want to keep the PS2 around and have to add more spaghetti wiring behind the TV just so I can play those. What's more is I'd like to send the PS2 off to grandmas house so my kids (and other grandkids) can play on it when they are visiting.
Also, nixing BC is lame lame lame. I need that extra 50 to 60 bucks I could get for offing my PS2 on the way to getting a PS3.
either way i enjoy my 360 and i dont really need a ps3 right now...
100 bucks was the difference between the core and the premium...and i made sure to get the premium...so if i was getting a ps3 i'd get a 80gig...it seems that these (Sony and MS) companies are putting a crap product out for a c note cheaper just to get the more expensive one to sell...
I think overall as gaming-centric consumers the argument should apply to both MS and Sony that we want our games systems to be like they used to. One piece that didn't require upgrades. Then again, upgrading the HDD space is a useful thing with downloadable content and possible IPTV/Tivo-like uses.
I own a 20GB PS3 and it's my first Playstation. I have never used the BC. I really don't see myself buying that many older games anyway. I didn't buy my PS3 to play older games anyway. I bought it to play new ones that look pretty (and play well) on my HDTV. BC IMO seems over-rated. I've never played a GC game in my Wii either FYI. But... I have played GBA games in my DS.
But gamers bored at work/gaming nerds dont make up most of the market for consoles. You've got the "uh madden will look sweet on this" crowd that will buy the systems with no BC and never even notice.
Sony are dumb, lets face it. Why would you kill your main source of games available til PS3s library grows enough to sustain itself? Commercial suicide IMO.
Wii is in the same boat game wise now, but it has GC/WVC games to fall back on until things pick up. I understand some will keep PS2s but its really a convenience and space issue, as well as a games one.
As for 360 BC, updates for games usually appear two to three times a year. Many might say it isn't often enough, but atleast MS are addressing it.
When I first got my 360, my Panzer Dragoon Orta, Outrun 2 and Jet Set Radio Future didn't work (exactly a year ago), now they work fine. This is great, because I didn't have an Xbox til near it end, and I still get to enjoy these games, while my Xbox is packed away.
...didnt see that coming. Nooo not at all.
And if the 80GB goes to 500 bucks, then that might be enough for me to buy a PSTriple
I'm curious.
If you want BC, buy the $500 80 gig version.
Cheers!
As for the price difference I am not sure why anyone would by the 40 GB. For a hundred bucks you get a bigger hard drive and compatibly with your PS2 games. I think that Sony is just driving people to the 80 gb . It may turn out to be a smart move. Probably not though
And for those of you that continue to whine about this 40GB and lack of BC, JUST PRETEND LIKE IT'S NOT EVEN BEING OFFERED. If it's THAT big of a deal to you, then you're obviously not their target market this time. it's not like you can't still get one WITH bc. This release is awesome for a lot of people (like me, who is buying ANOTHER ps3). It seems like they built this one specifically for my taste...Everything I need, nothing I don't.
Please read more carefully before you try and discredit me in the future, otherwise you look as bad as you're trying to make me look.
Btw, nice article, Jim...well written imho.