Rumor Mongering Continues: 40GB PS3 'Dated' For US.
It was pretty hot news last week, the release of the 40GB PS3 in the UK. It's has been a bit of speculation for a while now that this new model has been on the horizon. Between all the insider information and the Best Buy inventory sheets, it seems the only thing left is for SCEA to actually make a press release.
While there is still no press release, The Hollywood Reporter has apparently received a juicy tip from one of its informants.
"We're hearing Nov. 2 (for the U.S.)," said one industry source. A buyer for a major game retailer cited the same date, adding that SCEA has been dropping hints that stores should do all they can to clear out existing inventory in anticipation of the new model.
I've been fiending for a reason to buy the PS3 since the day of inception. Even with all the sour grapes I've been fed by Sony in regard to this machine, I still want a reason to forgive them. I forgave Nintendo for the Virtual Boy and the constant delays of the Ultra 64. It is only fair that I treat Sony in kind. I just wish they would lose their attitude that the system is "priced right". They either need to start pushing some exclusive titles I can't live without or give me a system that isn't crippled at a reasonable price. Sony saves nothing by removing software backwards compatibility.
Sony to put cheaper PS3 in play [The Hollywood Reporter]
[via Kotaku]
Asterick
Posted to Video Games on 8 October 2007
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: backwards compatibility missing, less is still less., PS3, rumor, Sony
There's NO WAY ever I will buy a PS3 if they remove backwards compatibility.
I don't understand why everyone is getting their panties in a twist about the backwards compatibility. I'm in the range of more then a casual less then a hardcore gamer. I have a ps2, one that hasn't been used since completing God of War 2. I think I fall into the majority (+ casual gamers) that just don't play their PS2 titles over and over again or were looking forward to persona 3. If I REALLY want to play a ps2 game then I will get the ps2 out, it isn't even hooked up at the moment. I rather save 100 bucks then have backwards compatibility. But I still think there isn't anything out for it to make me have to have a ps3 (ratchet and clank is very very enticing for me though!) but when Kingdom Hearts comes out (there is one for ps3 right? I know PSP) and they are still way over priced then I would get the cheaper non backwards compatible one.
40GB? "Dated" is right. What did they do, hit overstock.com for their hard disks?
I do think that HD being smaller for the lower end versions are more of differentiating thing for the everyday consumer. The price between a 40gig HD and a 60gig HD for the amount they are buying in bulk has to be extremely small.
Here is my theory. The smaller drive and removed slots are infact a cost saving approach. The backwards compatiblity removal is most likely an attempt to make the full size more appealing. the harddrive is a user servicable part, and if you could buy a PS3 for $200 cheaper than the mega model and only lose SD support... a lot of users wouldn't get their "premium" package.
As far as "backwards compatibility" not being important... I still have a pile of PS2 games i've not finished. I love the system and I play it all the time. The problem is My entertainment center is already pretty full, and the PS3 is a bit of a behemoth. On top of that, there simply isn't that much software for it to sell me on it. I have a HDTV with HDMI, but I still don't see any real reason to get involved in high definition video until the war is over and a clear winner is out. Not to mention the fiasco with the new layer of protection they put on Bluray which can increase load times of movies by MINUTES.
I'm not going to shell out $400 for a system that I'm going to play "eventually" when good titles are out, and DVDs do me just fine.
Bravo to Sony for out doing themselves once again. Removing a completely useful feature that was extremely easy to use. [golf clap]
@ Lain1k: Not everyone owns a PS2, believe it or not. For example, someone at my office sold their ps2 to buy a psp, thinking that the ps3 would have BC fully intact. So now they still have a bunch of their favorite games and a list of ps2 games they want to play that game out after the psp (Shadow of Col, GoW2, etc.).
Right now their options are: Buy PS2 (no room in living room and it's $130 still?), Buy 60/80gig PS3 ($$$, with few games that interest him out now), or opt out and stick with a 360 without playing some very awesome games. It may not be everyone's situation, but you have to admit that it kinda sucks.
The irony here is that removing BC does not encourage people to buy more Sony products, but rather much less.