So now Sony’s fire sale, disaster-averting, feature-stripped 40GB PS3 doesn’t have backwards compatibility at all, despite this:
“Backwards compatibility, as you know from PlayStation One and PlayStation 2, is a core value of what we believe we should offer. And access to the library of content people have created, bought for themselves, and accumulated over the years is necessary to create a format. PlayStation is a format meaning that it transcends many devices — PSOne, PS2, and now PS3” – Phil Harrison, Sony, December 2006.
TOP TIP: It’s not the hardware configuration, it’s the lack of games.
October 5th, 2007 on 7:37 pm
I FOUND THAT FIRST!!
http://www.game.co.uk/PS3/Hardware/~r332728/Sony-PlayStation-3-Console-40GB/
You big bastard…
But yeah, isn’t it just superb
October 5th, 2007 on 11:29 pm
In what way can they justify not having software emulation? It’s not like it’s cheaper to exclude it?
Christ, the ability to play the two PS2 games I actually feel like I missed out on last generation was the only non-MGS4 reason I’d ever want to own a PS3 at all.
October 6th, 2007 on 12:53 am
it’s not 100% software emulation, that’s why.
as it stands, while the early ps3s had all the necessary bits, the uk ones contain less ps2 hardware, but are still not emulating the ps2 100% in software – they emulate the processor in software but the graphics chip is still present.
i think the us 80gb model will also have sw/hw emulation like the uk machines.
the thing is, i seem to recall reading somewhere that all ps3s manufactured after march or whatever would have sw/hw emulation, which is why the earlier ntsc models became more sought-after…
October 6th, 2007 on 1:05 am
Yeah but… What the fuck! Surely if this wasn’t meant to be the case Sony would’ve said “No PS2 compatibility YET” rather than a strict no.
It’s just a ploy. People at Christmas will see £299 and go omg I want one!
Then go well, the £1k model has all the bits, lets just go there!
October 6th, 2007 on 5:57 am
…but you will be able to play PS1 games…
…and that’s all, because the other versions will be phased out. OMG they’re so stupid.
HINT TO SONY: Remove useless things like bluray (75€), hard drive (30€) and if you strip some PE from the cell, I’m sure nobody will notice.
October 6th, 2007 on 1:10 pm
why do people insist all the other versions are going to get phased out by the 40gb model?
did the 60gb get phased out by the 20gb?
of course not
just relax. if you’ve got a ps3 already, give it a hug and remind it that you’d NEVER trade it in for a slimmer model.
if, like me, you’re only gonna get one when MGS4 comes out, well then we’ll see how the market looks in april or whenever it is.
as for emulation, i doubt they’ll get round to a 100% software solution like MS with the 360. if anything, the lack of bc further separates the 40gb’s £300 tag from the 60gb’s £425 and gives more of a distinction between the models.
i mean, we’re already wondering how the flip 20gb less hdd and two less usb ports works out at a £100 saving…
wwkna: sony – the whole darned lot of them
October 6th, 2007 on 2:28 pm
Apparently the current PS3s still have the PS2 graphics chip in them and just emulate the other parts of it. I guess that the new 40gb version has everything stripped out.
In addition to that, Sony are probably able to get blu-ray drives a bit cheaper than before, and there may also be some other cost saving measures going on under the hood.
Shame PS3 still has no games worth buying. Nice price as a blu-ray player though… but I still don’t have HDTV :/
October 6th, 2007 on 7:30 pm
Surely repeatedly coming up with new hardware configs and changing production facilities to make them is expensive? Or is it just a case of not soldering a the chip onto the mobo at some point on the production line and changing the BIOS? Is this how cutting the Emotion Engine worked? Was the PS3 hardware originally designed for this kind of feature slashing “just in case”?
Surely if it was any more than that they could have gone down the PS3 SLIGHTLY SLIMMER EDITION route, as with the PSP to push the sales a bit more/sucker idiots into buying it twice in six months?
Also surely 40gig drives must be more expensive now than bigger ones because they’re not exactly in mass production any more?
Help me, I don’t understand!
October 6th, 2007 on 7:48 pm
Neither do Sony.
Too much debate, not enough Sony bashing in these here comments!
October 6th, 2007 on 8:59 pm
GET THOSE SONY BASTARDS
LEAVE NONE STANDING
FOR HONOUR AND GLORY
in other news, yeah i was also wondering how cheap they’d get 40gb hard drives for.
for all the potential hassles of different motherboard configurations and that, i’m pretty confident they’re just finding thigs to cut out of it that, on their own, only save a few quid probably, but their combined absence makes it appear more budget and hence makes the 60/80gb packs seem more ‘elite’.
October 7th, 2007 on 12:27 am
Maybe they’ll eventually release a £100 version that only plays MGS4. I’d buy it.
October 7th, 2007 on 1:11 am
Maybe they should just forget it and release a slimmed down slimmed down PS2.
Or say sorry and manufacture some Dreamcasts.
October 7th, 2007 on 1:40 am
Sorry but, who the fuck are all these people trying to discuss Sony business models as though this were gamefaqs?
hwpbecwo – My indian name.
October 7th, 2007 on 1:43 am
It mentions on their website that the 60gb version will be phased out and replaced with the 40gb version only.
In the UK and Ireland, a Value Pack consisting of a 60GB PS3 with extensive backwards compatibility and two first party titles will be on sale at a price of €499 (£349). Remaining on sale while stocks last, the 60GB model represents outstanding value for the keen gamer wishing to upgrade to the High Definition capabilities of PS3. Once stocks are exhausted the new 40GB model will be the only one available in the SCEE territories.
You can stick your cheap ass blu-ray player where the sun don’t shine.
October 7th, 2007 on 1:51 am
I can see it becoming quite confusing for dear Mum and Dad when they want to buy little a Charlie the latest games console this Christmas. Does it play PS2 games? What size of hard-drive is in it? What the fuck is Blu-Ray? Bollocks to this he’s getting an X-Box 360. Confusion and lies I don’t think Sony know whats happening anymore and have lost the plot. Trying to give away a console no one wants and with half the features, just to try and gain some ground.
October 7th, 2007 on 9:28 am
I bet next Ps3 doesnt play Games at all!
October 7th, 2007 on 3:48 pm
Why does Sony continually make even worse decisions than the previous ones? The most ridiculous part is the phasing out of the 60GB model… Now do I buy the £349 version quickly for a model that plays my PS2 games and MGS4 or the £299 model in early 2008 that just plays MGS4? Why oh why couldn’t Konami just release it on the Xbox 360…
October 8th, 2007 on 12:03 am
Sony should get a oscar or something. I’ve been following this ps3 and it’s the stuff of legends. It has some simulated highs, a lot of lows and some more lows. Drama at it best. I’m still waiting for the moment a ps3 comes up to me and say: “I’m your father. Now buy me. My other sons have abondoned me… they discoverd i deceived them when they were young and went to play atari jaguar. My only hope is left in people with to much money and no interest in games and who only want to impress friends”
October 8th, 2007 on 12:54 pm
Any news on Tekken? Now with 40% more sweat? Wasn’t that a launch title?
Hah. Tekken
October 8th, 2007 on 2:28 pm
Could somebody please get Sony a big fucking ladder so they can climb out of this HUGE fucking hole they keep digging themselves in?
Wankers.
You nice people. You see my funnysite.
celebritygreetingscards.blogspot.com
October 8th, 2007 on 7:31 pm
The chavs won’t buy PS3 because it doesn’t do their latest craze – all those quiz games and games wot need pretend music instruments, innit. It’s like the greatest thing since that dog game on the DS, yeah?
The screeching pubeless Americans won’t buy PS3 because… well… the PS3 doesn’t let you call people fags and then veto the game so it changes to something shit, and then quit while screeching how everyone is a ‘nib’ (aka Halo 3)