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This is the end of a chapter for Sony's videogame entertainment products.
They're pulling out one of their best features which kept the PS2 going at the start of its term when there were barely any half decent games available...
...Backwards compatibility.
There will be no more 60GB unit production and Sony will focus entirely on their new cheaper to produce (and buy) 40GB version which does not feature backwards compatibility on any of your Playstation or Playstation 2 games...
...That is unless you're willing to buy your games again on the PS3's online store.
So how have Sony awarded all you Playstation customers for sticking with them from the start? They're cutting a bloody good feature which they promised would be available...mind you, they also promised 7 bluetooth controllers on one PS3 system back in 2005 E3...
I know the backwards compatibility thing hasn't been entirely without flaws on Xbox 360, and to be fair, Nintendo have done as much as I can see reasonably possible with Wii's backwards compatibility featuring parts of the back catalogs of atleast 6 systems so far, as well as the entire GameCube back catalog. But atleast its there for all customers.
They're pulling out one of their best features which kept the PS2 going at the start of its term when there were barely any half decent games available...
...Backwards compatibility.
There will be no more 60GB unit production and Sony will focus entirely on their new cheaper to produce (and buy) 40GB version which does not feature backwards compatibility on any of your Playstation or Playstation 2 games...
...That is unless you're willing to buy your games again on the PS3's online store.
So how have Sony awarded all you Playstation customers for sticking with them from the start? They're cutting a bloody good feature which they promised would be available...mind you, they also promised 7 bluetooth controllers on one PS3 system back in 2005 E3...
I know the backwards compatibility thing hasn't been entirely without flaws on Xbox 360, and to be fair, Nintendo have done as much as I can see reasonably possible with Wii's backwards compatibility featuring parts of the back catalogs of atleast 6 systems so far, as well as the entire GameCube back catalog. But atleast its there for all customers.
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The strange thing is that I've played (and got back) a fair few Gamecube games since getting the Wii, but since getting the PS3 in June I've not bought or played any old PS2 games. I now only have 2 PS2 games and I don't see myself getting any more.
I guess for a lot of people it's a 'nice to have', just knowing that you can play old games if you really want to (and they upscale, too), and there will always be those who have favourite PS2 games that they don't want to get rid of. For me, all the old favourites I have/had like the GT series etc will be or have been superceeded already.
At the end of the day, despite being a gamble, I expect Sony have done a fair bit of market research. But, yeah, they should have included it if they could, especially if it's only software, rather than an extra chip...
I guess for a lot of people it's a 'nice to have', just knowing that you can play old games if you really want to (and they upscale, too), and there will always be those who have favourite PS2 games that they don't want to get rid of. For me, all the old favourites I have/had like the GT series etc will be or have been superceeded already.
At the end of the day, despite being a gamble, I expect Sony have done a fair bit of market research. But, yeah, they should have included it if they could, especially if it's only software, rather than an extra chip...
True, there are games that I wouldn't bother getting excited about playing again...like old Fifas.
However, there are many games I've ended up playing on my Wii since putting the GameCube away which I'm glad I can still play on a current gen system without buying it again...Super Smash Bros Melee, Super Mario Sunshine and the whole Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, etc set that you can probably download for a fee from the Wii store.
Halo 2, for a very long time until recently was the most played game on Xbox Live. Now I bet a large number of those gamers were using their Xbox 360s when playing it.
Again, I don't see BC as key to success, but to me, and a lot of other gamers, it makes a difference. I would've possibly considered a PS3 when they inevitably come down in price to replace my PS2, but I wont do that now as the games I have for PS2 and PS1 are games I will want to return to.
Not the only reason I wont be getting one mind...but a big reason for me.
However, there are many games I've ended up playing on my Wii since putting the GameCube away which I'm glad I can still play on a current gen system without buying it again...Super Smash Bros Melee, Super Mario Sunshine and the whole Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, etc set that you can probably download for a fee from the Wii store.
Halo 2, for a very long time until recently was the most played game on Xbox Live. Now I bet a large number of those gamers were using their Xbox 360s when playing it.
Again, I don't see BC as key to success, but to me, and a lot of other gamers, it makes a difference. I would've possibly considered a PS3 when they inevitably come down in price to replace my PS2, but I wont do that now as the games I have for PS2 and PS1 are games I will want to return to.
Not the only reason I wont be getting one mind...but a big reason for me.
BC is a bit meh, I buy new consoles to play new games. It wouldn't bother me terribly if I couldn't play Fifa 2001 or something.
We know it will sell to the casual gamer no matter how good/bad it turns out to be in general and that's just because of the name 'Playstation'.
This is true.
But how many people who buy the Core system are aware of that?
I'm pretty sure that the potential PS3 owner would cope with 2 less USB ports and a smaller hard drive. I still don't really agree with the lack of BC, but that's Sony's call.
I think having a larger hard drive model, as in the US, is the answer, then you can choose. If everyone chooses the most expensive one, or no-one buys one at all, then Sony would soon find out that their decision was wrong, but I'm pretty sure both would sell.
But how many people who buy the Core system are aware of that?
I'm pretty sure that the potential PS3 owner would cope with 2 less USB ports and a smaller hard drive. I still don't really agree with the lack of BC, but that's Sony's call.
I think having a larger hard drive model, as in the US, is the answer, then you can choose. If everyone chooses the most expensive one, or no-one buys one at all, then Sony would soon find out that their decision was wrong, but I'm pretty sure both would sell.
pb wrote:
> And I'm convinced they'll announce a replacement one sooner or
> later. If MS are doing so well with 3 models of 360, I can't
> see why Sony can't do the same...
The difference is Microsoft haven't released 3 different models (though the newer the purchase, the better hardware it may contain to do the same job...)
They've released packs.
Each one can be upgraded to match another pack.
The only difference is the Elite and Halo models have different colour plastic...everything else is the same.
The Playstation 3 isn't...
> And I'm convinced they'll announce a replacement one sooner or
> later. If MS are doing so well with 3 models of 360, I can't
> see why Sony can't do the same...
The difference is Microsoft haven't released 3 different models (though the newer the purchase, the better hardware it may contain to do the same job...)
They've released packs.
Each one can be upgraded to match another pack.
The only difference is the Elite and Halo models have different colour plastic...everything else is the same.
The Playstation 3 isn't...
I would think that when the new shock controllers come out, they'll do a pack with them.
About the backwards compatibility, I think it is important in the long term, for me anyway. I tend to keep every game I've ever bought so I've got games spreading many formats. Without backwards compatibility, I'd be overrun with consoles.
At the moment, I've got a setup which just about works but I can't really fit a PS3 in if I'm going to have keep my PS2. Also, in a few years time when old consoles become impossible to buy and my old console gives up the ghost, what will I do then?
Unless I'm missing something of course.
About the backwards compatibility, I think it is important in the long term, for me anyway. I tend to keep every game I've ever bought so I've got games spreading many formats. Without backwards compatibility, I'd be overrun with consoles.
At the moment, I've got a setup which just about works but I can't really fit a PS3 in if I'm going to have keep my PS2. Also, in a few years time when old consoles become impossible to buy and my old console gives up the ghost, what will I do then?
Unless I'm missing something of course.
Nin wrote:
> Stupid as it is, i was considering buying one because my PS2 is
> dying and i'll have nothing to play my old games on. I'm not
> going to buy a new PS3 and PS2 though.
But then the price has come down on the standard PS3 anyway, so you can still get one before the stocks run out (which will still be after Christmas unless Sony are really lucky).
And I'm convinced they'll announce a replacement one sooner or later. If MS are doing so well with 3 models of 360, I can't see why Sony can't do the same...
> Stupid as it is, i was considering buying one because my PS2 is
> dying and i'll have nothing to play my old games on. I'm not
> going to buy a new PS3 and PS2 though.
But then the price has come down on the standard PS3 anyway, so you can still get one before the stocks run out (which will still be after Christmas unless Sony are really lucky).
And I'm convinced they'll announce a replacement one sooner or later. If MS are doing so well with 3 models of 360, I can't see why Sony can't do the same...
They'll soon only cost around £60 if you can wait for the Christmas and New Year price cuts
Stupid as it is, i was considering buying one because my PS2 is dying and i'll have nothing to play my old games on. I'm not going to buy a new PS3 and PS2 though.
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