View Full Version : Problems in the future with the 40GB strategy?
Just from these boards it's obvious there are people who care about BC and people who don't. I'm a big fan of BC. Having a choice for those who don't care is fine.
But it seems the direction Sony is taking is one where we have no choice. First PAL gamers got no EE chip. US gamers soon found the 60GB with EE SKU phased out completely, nothing but 80GB EEless PS3's now.
Then the 40GB is released and PAL gamers again are the first to experience a capability reduced PS3 with US gamers to follow in about a month.
It's been confirmed for UK at least that once the 60GB stock is depleted, there will only be the 40GB(no 80GB SKU). Following previous pattern, the US will have it better than us for a while, but eventually the only new PS3, will have no BC.
Logically, I can see that, someone buying a PS3 3+ years from now, won't be buying it for PS2 games. There's plenty of criticism flying around right now to the extent of "I don't care about BC so those who do should stop crying as they must be stupid" followed by "just buy the 60/80GB" or "buy a PS2".
Buying the SKU you want? That makes sense, if you can. Buying a PS2, sure that's easy. Of course, ALL of those comments are from people who own PS3's with PS2 BC. And most of them have a high'n'mighty tone when they state that they have the higher priced model.
What happens if your PS3 brakes down? It's not common, but it could happen a number of ways, every firmware update there's some people with issues. Right now, under store warranty, I can return my PS3 to the store I bought it from and get a new one.
Or I can return it to Sony, in which case they'll send me out a replacement quick smart.
But what will I be getting? If Sony are no longer producing PS3's in my region or at all with PS2 BC. Are they going to actually fix my PS3, no matter what's wrong with it and ship it back? How long will that take?
If they send me a PS3 without PS2 BC, will they send me a free PS2?
Keep in mind, the PS2 BC will likely be phased out for PAL users over this Xmas, so this isn't far away from being a problem.
Now I buy a lot of games, too many for the time I have. Since I bought my PS3(March for PAL), I've actually bought more PS2 games than PS3 games, and have yet to complete them all. It helps that they're cheaper now. But all in all this year, the playstation brand has received at least $1200 in games since that March release. These include FFXII, KingdomHeartsII, GOWII and Okami.
Half of that would be useless if my PS3 were replaced with a different model after Xmas. Unless I pay extra get myself a PS2, which I personally believe I've already paid for when I paid for my PS3.
I really don't like console revisions. If the situation plays out the way I've described, it would be akin to a 360 owner who bought just prior to one of the 360's many revisions, but at least 360 revisions only add things, even if they're 10 times more likely to have their system replaced.
TH3 GAM3
10-09-2007, 03:47
There is no way Sony is going to leave the 40GB by itself. Sony is going to release the 80 in Europe.
I didn't really think about what it woud be like to have my PS3 break down then have to get the 40GB version. That would make me pissed.. ALOT.
Hyroyuki
10-09-2007, 03:51
what is this PAL u speak of?
id rather get the 60gig its better to me
There is no way Sony is going to leave the 40GB by itself. Sony is going to release the 80 in Europe.
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.It's already been annouced on UK.Playstation site, and there's a thread on this forum debating it already http://www.ps3forums.com/showpost.php?p=2028989&postcount=1
BTW, how's that 60GB with EE chip PS3 going?
They're not going to announce a future model now. They'll probably announce the 80GB version once the 60GB sells out in Europe. Remember, Sony PR will deny things, but that's business. Don't you remember how they kept denying rumble too? The same thing is happening here whether you like it or not, that's just how it works.
SneakerHolic
10-09-2007, 04:14
If you want the best product you got to pay big bucks! you know what i mean@@?#
They're not going to announce a future model now. They'll probably announce the 80GB version once the 60GB sells out in Europe. Remember, Sony PR will deny things, but that's business. Don't you remember how they kept denying rumble too? The same thing is happening here whether you like it or not, that's just how it works.
You're right, it's business. Whether I like it or not, BC is going to go. first the EE chip, then BC altogether.
This is due to a reduced emphasis placed on this feature by later purchasers of PS3To me, that says it's not worth the money producing that extra chippery, since all those who want it will have bought it by now.
Then in terms of business, it won't be worth manufacturing two completely different SKU's so they'll drop one.
And what are the differences now? 2/4 USB, a card reader(which you can get usb ones), hard drive space(upgradable),
So really, the only real difference is the PS2 BC, which they disregard in the above quote.
US gamers have longer to go before this happens as you did with the EE chip, but you're following the same business plan. And that is REDUCED Costs.
If you want the best product you got to pay big bucks! you know what i mean@@?#
This is either sarcasm or you didn't actually read the original post. I recommend using [sarcasm] or [stupid] tags so people know in future.
Riskbreaker
10-09-2007, 05:03
well in a year not too many people are going to care that much about BC. when was the last time you played a ps1 game on your ps2?
They'd lose more killing off Wifi, thats how they do PSP <-> PS3 connectivity.
Unlike Microsoft, removing BC only stops PS2 games from being played. It's not like you can't play next-gen games because lack of HDD.
TH3 GAM3
10-09-2007, 05:11
well in a year not too many people are going to care that much about BC. when was the last time you played a ps1 game on your ps2?
I will gaurntee by the end of spring 2008, no one will care about about BC.
kryton101
10-09-2007, 05:23
Sony have set a precedent that a console no longer needs to come with BC.
It free's them up to focus 100% on the next gen bit.
the only reason why some people hate the idea.
is now the ps3 is like the xbox360
not fully bc
most not all bc
mrnagy88
10-09-2007, 05:28
I didn't really think about what it woud be like to have my PS3 break down then have to get the 40GB version. That would make me pissed.. ALOT.
After the doom and gloom mist has settled,
maybe people will see this for what it really is:
You're PS3 is a good piece of equipment, it's not likely that it will break down...
You'll probably get an 80GB or 120GB PS3 for your second TV some day in the future, and the price will be less than the 40GB PS3 is now.
Sony wouldn't remove BC alltogether, they know that the hard-core are out there and are the ones who paid the most money for their console.
toallyrocks
10-09-2007, 05:39
I don't know how to answer your thread. Life is about decisions we make along the way. We cann't get everything we want. Sony has lost many third party support because ps3 has not been selling that well. If we want to see great games to appear on ps3, Sony has to sell more of ps3. Yes, your ps3 might break down and cann't play ps2 games. But if sony cann't manage to increase the sales of ps3, ps3 will be dreamcasted. For that to not happen, the price of ps3 has to be lowered. You can insist hanging on to ps3 with b/c but then, we will lose potential ps3 fans to other consoles. Obiously, price has been more critcal to the console sale than b/c. Now, you are a sony top executive with limited budget, what would you do?
LiveStock
10-09-2007, 05:42
Sony is not taking away BC. They are just making you pay more for it. I don't remember the exact quote, but somebody at sony said something about BC being something many want but very few use. I agree with that. I don't use BC at all, but if I did I wouldn't have a problem getting the $500 version for it. After all, if you are planning to use your PS3 for its full life cycle and plan on playing PS2 games on it, wouldn't that be worth the extra $100 bucks for everything else that comes with that? As the 360 fans like to repeat over and over, it's all about the 'option'.
Obiously, price has been more critcal to the console sale than b/c. Now, you are a sony top executive with limited budget, what would you do?
I understand the business of removing it, to reduce expense, get wider market penetration etc. It all makes sense. And what's good for Sony, will generally be good for PlayStation owners.
The issue I see, is that now there are two versions a cheap version and an expensive version. The only real difference being PS2 BC.
So you pay for the expensive one, and you happen to be in that small percentage of PS3's that either come with a fault, or develop one. (not as common as RROD but it happens every now and then) And Sony replaces your expensive one with a cheap one.:cry:
This is only a problem with Sony, because they're the only company taking capabilities permanently away from their console. In almost all cases, getting a broken unit replaced by a new one is great. Even in this case, it's only a problem if you care about BC.
I'm just curious how they'll handle it. Sony could very well just ship you back a cheap PS3 and a PS2 slim. Which would cover everything. They could probably easily afford it. Especially since this change keeps that PS2 market healthy a bit longer.:-|
But I wouldn't accept the cheap model substitute for my expensive model.
^ when a console breaks even a 360, does Microsoft just throw it away. No! they feed it back to you. When SONY fixes your system you WILL get a BC model back.
SONY is just charging for PS2 BC. Nothing more.
El Penetrator
10-09-2007, 06:40
well in a year not too many people are going to care that much about BC. when was the last time you played a ps1 game on your ps2?
That's a good point, in the 7 years I've had my PS2 I've only used BC twice. People right now are only thinking short term, Sony's thinking long term business plan..
SONY is just charging for BC. Nothing more.
Sony themselves are stating that in the UK the 40GB will be the only one left after the 60GB runs out.
They could be lying, and you could be right, I and others might have nothing to worry about.
But they phased out the EE chip to save costs, and that ended up being a worldwide standard didn't it?
Sony themselves are stating that in the UK the 40GB will be the only one left after the 60GB runs out.
They could be lying, and you could be right, I and others might have nothing to worry about.
But they phased out the EE chip to save costs, and that ended up being a worldwide standard didn't it?
when have SONY not been lying? their a bussines stopping share holders from panicking.
Their will always be the 80GB, Korea got it so why can't we? I see nothing stopping us.
when have SONY not been lying? their a bussines stopping share holders from panicking.
When they stated that when the US60GB stock was depleted the 80GB would be the only model available. That sounds familiar to me.
Just-A-Gamer
10-09-2007, 08:31
I understand the business of removing it, to reduce expense, get wider market penetration etc. It all makes sense. And what's good for Sony, will generally be good for PlayStation owners.
The issue I see, is that now there are two versions a cheap version and an expensive version. The only real difference being PS2 BC.
So you pay for the expensive one, and you happen to be in that small percentage of PS3's that either come with a fault, or develop one. (not as common as RROD but it happens every now and then) And Sony replaces your expensive one with a cheap one.:cry:
This is only a problem with Sony, because they're the only company taking capabilities permanently away from their console. In almost all cases, getting a broken unit replaced by a new one is great. Even in this case, it's only a problem if you care about BC.
I'm just curious how they'll handle it. Sony could very well just ship you back a cheap PS3 and a PS2 slim. Which would cover everything. They could probably easily afford it. Especially since this change keeps that PS2 market healthy a bit longer.:-|
But I wouldn't accept the cheap model substitute for my expensive model.
If by some small chance that your PS3 breaks Sony is probably not going to send you a 40g PS3. Sony would more than likely have you remove your hard drive and just send you just a core-like system that will be backwards compatible. Similar to what MS does with their repair program.
I have a feeling that minus the PS3 haters, alot of the people complaining about BC are doing so simply because that is the only thing that can be complained about the with the whole 40g situation. I have a question for you however, of all the people that want a PS3 (emphasis on WANT) how many do you think don't own a PS2? If by chance you are one of the two or three people in the entire world that do not own a PS2 how much is a used PS2? I don't know about Europe but they are dirt cheap here in the states.Sony could not let another holiday season go by having such a huge price gap between them and the 360, they just couldn't.
The problem I see with BC is that there are millions of people out there who have yet to convert to the PS3, this was always PS3's ace up its sleeve.
Now with BC being taken out, other than the affection for Sony Playstation, there is no longer the 'Reason' to upgrade to PS3 ( from a gaming point of view). The playing field is level and the PS2 owner will be starting from scratch with any platform he takes, PS3, 360 or Wii.
I think while this decision will help short term sales this christmas, sony will be loosing out on long-term sales as and when existing PS2 owners make the jump.
Decisions like the multiple SKU's since launch, price drops, dualshock etc, shows that Sony really didn't have its business plan set out when it released. Or maybe it is just that we analyis business decisions for more with the advent of the internet. But I don't remember such massive decisions being made about the PS1 and PS2, perhaps because they got it right then!
mattchew13
10-09-2007, 09:02
pal is a region most of europe and is asia is covered by pal. NTSC is the other one which covers America and other country's
The problem I see with BC is that there are millions of people out there who have yet to convert to the PS3, this was always PS3's ace up its sleeve.
I think while this decision will help short term sales this christmas, sony will be loosing out on long-term sales as and when existing PS2 owners make the jump.
Decisions like the multiple SKU's since launch, price drops, dualshock etc, shows that Sony really didn't have its business plan set out when it released.
I agree. But with the effort that went into BC with the hardware inclusion, then software emulation, I'm don't think it was ever a plan to release a PS3 that wasn't PS2 backwards compatible at all. Maybe to go completely with software emulation on PS3 hardware alone, but it doesn't seem that's going to happen at this point. It seems more like Sony have been forced into this tactic by market pressure.
If by some small chance that your PS3 breaks Sony is probably not going to send you a 40g PS3.
Even after Sony have stopped producing them?
The 40Gb sku is an excellent unit for it's price (for what you get).
Only problem is depending on what region of the world you live in, having this sku as your only choice (not much of a choice is it?) will leave a sour taste in the mouths of many fans. That is confirmed in Australia and probably Europe and the UK who have been given the shaft officially.
good right up...the reason i don't care about bc is because it will only be used in the begining of the consoles life...after that...i doubt i will pick up a ps2 or ps1 game...right now bc is good for me because i am playing ff12...but that is about it...i did play gow on the ps3...and that was a unlogical decision...
GameSpawn
10-09-2007, 16:43
I agree. But with the effort that went into BC with the hardware inclusion, then software emulation, I'm don't think it was ever a plan to release a PS3 that wasn't PS2 backwards compatible at all. Maybe to go completely with software emulation on PS3 hardware alone, but it doesn't seem that's going to happen at this point. It seems more like Sony have been forced into this tactic by market pressure.
Even after Sony have stopped producing them?Have you ever thought that maybe the team responsible for software BC just didn't meet the deadline. Sony was probably planning on launching the 40GB with a full software emulation option, but it flopped. Does this mean there will NEVER be a 100% software emulation option? No. And constant ranting about removal of BC in the 40GB on the official PlayStation forums will assure that there is a software option.
Have you ever thought that maybe the team responsible for software BC just didn't meet the deadline. Sony was probably planning on launching the 40GB with a full software emulation option, but it flopped. Does this mean there will NEVER be a 100% software emulation option? No. And constant ranting about removal of BC in the 40GB on the official PlayStation forums will assure that there is a software option.
That is what I think happend to, so any bets on wether a FW upgrade for this new SKU will come and give it BC within say next summer?
And by not saying it, they are buying themselves time without a lot of peope whining about when it will be released.
They managed to get PS1 fully software emulated, it will just take a bit of time.
HalfOfZero
10-09-2007, 17:02
Personaly, I couldn't give a toss. I have a 60gig console cause I had the brains to spend that extra pound n get the bigger bang.
My comment to everyone without a Ps3 but hopin to get one soon, get one NOW, before you have to buy a 40gig and then buy an extrernal (Or internal) Hard Drive along with it.
Seriously, I just don't understand all the ruckus..
Personaly, I couldn't give a toss. I have a 60gig console cause I had the brains to spend that extra pound n get the bigger bang.
My comment to everyone without a Ps3 but hopin to get one soon, get one NOW, before you have to buy a 40gig and then buy an extrernal (Or internal) Hard Drive along with it.
Seriously, I just don't understand all the ruckus..
Too late Sony dropped the bomb here! Nothing else to buy just 40Gb units :(
HalfOfZero
10-09-2007, 17:16
Too late Sony dropped the bomb here! Nothing else to buy just 40Gb units :(
This I know. And I never desputed this....
I'm sayin they can easily send 60gig Hard Drives, alone, themselves.... Not a Ps3 system with a 60gig HDD inside..
Redrider
10-09-2007, 17:20
I know that Sony has said that they are going to eliminate all SKUs in certain markets with B/C as a long term strategy but I would not count on it. IMO this is wishful thinking or merely a marketing ploy to purge old stock from the supply chain.
BubbaHotepUK
10-09-2007, 17:21
I'm going to miss the memory card slots more than BC ... I have memory sticks in & out on daily basis.
I'm almost tempted to go & buy another 60Gb machine as backup while there are still some about ;)
This I know. And I never desputed this....
I'm sayin they can easily send 60gig Hard Drives, alone, themselves.... Not a Ps3 system with a 60gig HDD inside..
I can go buy a 250Gb HDD why would I want Sony to bring in 60Gb HDD's?
I can't believe people think that Sony is gonna leave the 40Gb on its own to survive on its own. You guys will get the 80GB irregardless of what they say rite now. They just can't announce now that, "hey on December 10th, 2007 we are gonna be introducing the 120GB model for PAL territories and it will cost the same amount that the 60GB currently costs"?
Don't you guys follow the news? Remember the DVR-Sky announcement? Don't you think you are gonna need more than 40GB for that? People just needs to stop complaining and realize that the 40GB model is just Stringer saying, "Hey, our Fall line-up is not the strongest this year, what can we do to build momentum into the Spring and not Fall to far behind M$, Ninty who have big line-ups for this Fall and weak ones in the Spring?"
If anything, the 40GB is really a limited edition thing to me.
fireras,
Sony Europe, Sony Australia and the retailers here in Australia have all been informed that the 40Gb is going to be the only sku available in these regions...
Why would I go with optimism and speculation over that which has been confirmed 3 fold?
PS3fan15
10-09-2007, 21:28
There is no way Sony is going to leave the 40GB by itself. Sony is going to release the 80 in Europe.
quoted for the truth.
They aren't going to announce months in advance that a 80 gig model is coming.. or else why the hell would people buy the 60 or the 40?
A PS3 with backwards compatibility is coming.. So everyone calm down.
Talisman
10-09-2007, 22:26
I have faith in God; I will take Sony at face-value. In other words, if they say that this is the way it is, I'll take that over blind faith, until they themselves say differently.
Check out what Hisame had to say about the 40Gb, still waiting for him to prove it though...
http://ps3forums.com/showpost.php?p=2041941&postcount=43
polyviva
10-09-2007, 23:09
The problem I see with BC is that there are millions of people out there who have yet to convert to the PS3, this was always PS3's ace up its sleeve.
Now with BC being taken out, other than the affection for Sony Playstation, there is no longer the 'Reason' to upgrade to PS3 ( from a gaming point of view). The playing field is level and the PS2 owner will be starting from scratch with any platform he takes, PS3, 360 or Wii.
I think while this decision will help short term sales this christmas, sony will be loosing out on long-term sales as and when existing PS2 owners make the jump.
Decisions like the multiple SKU's since launch, price drops, dualshock etc, shows that Sony really didn't have its business plan set out when it released. Or maybe it is just that we analyis business decisions for more with the advent of the internet. But I don't remember such massive decisions being made about the PS1 and PS2, perhaps because they got it right then!
thats what i have been trying to say i feel tied to the Playstation brand. i have owned a Playstation 1,one, psp ,2 ,and 3. this make the playing field move even for the ones making the jump to a new console. if i had a PS2 now i have to think about the upgrade. before it was if you had a PS2 upgrade to a PS3, now its if you care for Blu-Ray or the better multiconsole games, or games coming out on time. it makes sense since most on the forum are thinking of the PS2 and PS3 come from different planets or something. the business plan does not seem set in stone. reduce the price without stripping Playstation features seems like the plan i thought they had.
my grammar is so bad i hope you all get it
after selling millions of PS1,and 2 the business model for a price reduction should have be in place over the years. i mean dont they pay people to analyse **** like this.
I just don't get why people so against console hardware revisions.
PS2 revise it's hardware design 3 times in it's first year of launch.
PS2 released completely new mother board design every year.
What people don't realise is PS3 is much more like media PC then console.
SCE has mention this so many times before PS3 launch,
it's only the public forced SCE to say it's selling a game console.
When in fact SCE has never intend to sell any of it's PS series just as a game console.
As for BC or not, Personally I think BC is very important for the first 3~4 years.
I for one still plays PS1 games on PS2 when 4 years after PS2 launch.
So I pay the premium and get a 60GB Jap PS3.
Frankly I doubt SCE will drop BC of PS2 completely, due to the huge number of PS2 games.
It's very possible few years down the road when PS3 games are on the track,
and their firmware team has run out of ideas, fixing up a PS2 emulator on firmware upgrade sound pretty cool.
I wanted some proof because you said they changed the drives etc... I asked for a link thats all Hisame...
Here's everything you said http://ps3forums.com/showpost.php?p=2041941&postcount=43
fireras,
Sony Europe, Sony Australia and the retailers here in Australia have all been informed that the 40Gb is going to be the only sku available in these regions...
Why would I go with optimism and speculation over that which has been confirmed 3 fold?
Do you think they can really trust the retailers after all the leaks of their SKUs and what not over the past few months?
Look at the facts facing you...the 40GB model is nothing but a contingency plan that Sony had to carry out. A 40GB model cannot sustain the upcoming DVR function...they will have 60GB models lasting thru out the year and they will introduce a new model at CES that will probably have the TV-Tuner built-in for the US...as well as the new PS3 model for PAL regions.
They have to keep extremely quiet about those kinda things rite now, because they have lost a lot of potential sales over the past few weeks because of leaked info about the 40GB SKU and all the DS3 stuff.
thats what i have been trying to say i feel tied to the Playstation brand. i have owned a Playstation 1,one, psp ,2 ,and 3. this make the playing field move even for the ones making the jump to a new console. if i had a PS2 now i have to think about the upgrade. before it was if you had a PS2 upgrade to a PS3, now its if you care for Blu-Ray or the better multiconsole games, or games coming out on time. it makes sense since most on the forum are thinking of the PS2 and PS3 come from different planets or something. the business plan does not seem set in stone. reduce the price without stripping Playstation features seems like the plan i thought they had.
my grammar is so bad i hope you all get it
after selling millions of PS1,and 2 the business model for a price reduction should have be in place over the years. i mean dont they pay people to analyse **** like this.
And in fact the very opposite can happen too.
When you talk about the "upgrade" concepte you mean people won PS2 game can still able to play them.
But in normal PC upgrade I will usually spend less then buy a new one.
In fact you don't save any money when you get a BC avaliable PS3.
However if you keep your PS2, and buy a none BC PS3, you save good $200.
I though that's more a "upgrade" then getting a BC avaliable PS3.
Fireas, for their own sake of actually coming out on top in this console war I hope you're right, I won't buy a PS3 because we only have 40Gb units here in Australia and I hate what it has on offer now I know more about it. BC means jack **** to me, PS2 was last gen it can stay in the past. I wanted choice so I'll wait until there is choice.
I wanted some proof because you said they changed the drives etc... I asked for a link thats all Hisame...
Here's everything you said http://ps3forums.com/showpost.php?p=2041941&postcount=43
Take a look any any 40GB PS3 photo there is no more SACD logo.
It's not a big deal for most people.
But why remove a function when your firmware can already run it?
So the fact is 40GB PS3 is not up to SACD standard when the old ones are.
WIth SACD you need a certain level of drive and audio parts.
Do a search SACD are very expensive stuff to own, it's like ownning a Posh in Audio world.
Hisame,
I think I understand what you're saying now... The Blu-ray drives are cheaper drives now because the DVD functions in the Blu-ray drive no longer are using SACD? Is that what you mean?
Fireas, for their own sake of actually coming out on top in this console war I hope you're right, I won't buy a PS3 because we only have 40Gb units here in Australia and I hate what it has on offer now I know more about it. BC means jack **** to me, PS2 was last gen it can stay in the past. I wanted choice so I'll wait until there is choice.
If all that you care about is features and you want a "fully featured PS3", why don't you just buy a 60GB?
Is anyone else getting slightly annoyed with the constant changes Sony make to the PS3? I mean, first it started out with a 20GB and 60GB PS3; the 20GB bites the dust; roughly six months later Sony announce they're phasing out the 60GB; now we have a 40GB and 80GB to replace the two aforementioned models, and a possible 160GB in Japan. Why can't Sony just stick to one or two models - let's just say a 60GB and 120GB both with backward compatibility - and let the production prices drop by themselves? Sony is starting to look like a fish in a barrel while Nintendo and Microsoft have double-barrel shotguns. At least that's what it feels like to me.
I've been a PlayStation fan and Sony supporter since 1995, but this is getting ridiculous. Nintendo is having a lot of success with a single Wii model without any hardware changes in any region it's sold in (to the extent of my knowledge). Call me a worry wart all you want. I do have faith in Sony and the PlayStation brand, and wish it all the success in the world; but it'll take someone extremely knowledgeable of the current situation to calm me down and bring me back to Earth. I feel like I'm on Mars right now.... Condolences please!
Estacado
10-10-2007, 01:31
I really think BC is important in the third generation of a console considering it's best games and huge library of previous for PS2 and 1.
Mistake in my opinion, but we'll see how it plays out.
Is anyone else getting slightly annoyed with the constant changes Sony make to the PS3? I mean, first it started out with a 20GB and 60GB PS3; the 20GB bites the dust; roughly six months later Sony announce they're phasing out the 60GB; now we have a 40GB and 80GB to replace the two aforementioned models, and a possible 160GB in Japan. Why can't Sony just stick to one or two models - let's just say a 60GB and 120GB both with backward compatibility - and let the production prices drop by themselves? Sony is starting to look like a fish in a barrel while Nintendo and Microsoft have double-barrel shotguns. At least that's what it feels like to me.
I've been a PlayStation fan and Sony supporter since 1995, but this is getting ridiculous. Nintendo is having a lot of success with a single Wii model without any hardware changes in any region it's sold in (to the extent of my knowledge). Call me a worry wart all you want. I do have faith in Sony and the PlayStation brand, and wish it all the success in the world; but it'll take someone extremely knowledgeable of the current situation to calm me down and bring me back to Earth. I feel like I'm on Mars right now.... Condolences please!
They did this on purpose..M$ lost alot of money on the xbox because they had to continually by 8GB HDD thruout 3 years even when nobody sold 8GB HDDs anymore that costs alot of money. All the changes we are seeing rite now are just good for the company themselves. If you already have a PS3, it affects you in no way. If you are looking at a getting a new one, you know that the model that you are getting is much more refined and that it uses less power and is possibly one with the cooler 65nm chips.
No many people really care about BC and the people who do are willing to spend extra for the function. Some people don't even know that the 60GB models can play PS2 games so it's not much of a loss. People are just being picky rite now.
RedOrb_Collector
10-10-2007, 01:34
Sony's sku situation is a mess.......exactly how much cost did they cut by getting rid of the GS? Probably nothing.
They did this on purpose..M$ lost alot of money on the xbox because they had to continually by 8GB HDD thruout 3 years even when nobody sold 8GB HDDs anymore that costs alot of money. All the changes we are seeing rite now are just good for the company themselves. If you already have a PS3, it affects you in no way. If you are looking at a getting a new one, you know that the model that you are getting is much more refined and that it uses less power and is possibly one with the cooler 65nm chips.
No many people really care about BC and the people who do are willing to spend extra for the function. Some people don't even know that the 60GB models can play PS2 games so it's not much of a loss. People are just being picky rite now.
I am one of those people looking into buying a PS3. Yes, a lot of people are being picky by whining about the 40GB's lack of backwards compatibility with PS2 games. However, I still have a PS2 Slim (manufactured in June 2006) that I'm treating with the utmost care. That would set me in the ball park if I ever get the urge to play PS2 games if and when I get bored of my future PS3 and its games. I wouldn't be able to upscale said PS2 games; but it's not like it downgrades the gameplay or anything, right?
Right now I am worried about Sony's situation with the phasing out of 20GB/60GB models and replacing them with 40GB/80GB models. Possibly even a 160GB in the near future. I'm also getting tired of people saying Sony isn't in hot water and that everything is okay. It's as if they're turning a blind eye to what Sony's doing with the PS3. We didn't see this many SKUs during the PS1 and PS2 generations respectively. Why now with the PS3? Has the industry taken a different turn in the road that Sony didn't anticipate and/or expect?
It probably is going into the area of "wait and see".
A product change is not hard since they are not really altering any designs on the spot.
In fact all it takes is a slight change to make a 80gig PAL ps3.
At this point, market research is no sufficient and, it's better to gauge the market.
If the 40gig sells like mad, why change a good thing.
If it meh, and people want BC, then back it will come.
Hisame,
I think I understand what you're saying now... The Blu-ray drives are cheaper drives now because the DVD functions in the Blu-ray drive no longer are using SACD? Is that what you mean?
Exactly, to playback SACD the drive requires much higher standard then BD.
SACD read info in half the distance of DVD, very similar to BD.
Bascially in laymen's term SACD player is red laser blu-ray player.
I really don't understand where the confusing and fustration come from.
It's natral and a must for console to have many revisions.
In the past they just got pack the same, sale in same price with a different serial number.
This time SCE now do it openly so user know what they are getting.
I remeber back in the PS and PS2 days, I was looking through pages of insight news,
try to find out which version of serial number I should buy which fits my needs.
Now SCE puts it open, and people give piss about it?!
uh ya i got a question is the 60 gig ps3 once it runs out they will only go by the 40 BUT is it only in the UK?i hope it aint in north america
If all that you care about is features and you want a "fully featured PS3", why don't you just buy a 60GB?
You didn't read the OP, and you seem to think it's an issue of hard disk space.
With this new SKU they can put any hard disk in it that they want, and price accordingly, but BC will be absent.
If you read the OP, I spent the extra money to get the "fully featured PS3" as many others did.
If they are, as they are stating, phasing out all PS3 models with BC, like removing the EE chip from US PS3's, then if anything goes wrong with your PS3,( bricking from firmware update, BR drive breaks down, these things happen) Will you receive a "fully featured" replacement?
If they have none in stock, how can they? And how will they compensate their customers?
I really don't understand where the confusing and fustration come from.
It's natral and a must for console to have many revisions.
In the past they just got pack the same, sale in same price with a different serial number.
This time SCE now do it openly so user know what they are getting.
I remeber back in the PS and PS2 days, I was looking through pages of insight news,
try to find out which version of serial number I should buy which fits my needs.
Now SCE puts it open, and people give piss about it?!
Usually the older version is the cheaper version, but here it's reversed, we're asked to pay extra for these features.
So if it breaks down and needs replacing, what do you do, if you spent hundreds on SACD's or PS2 games, plus Memory Card converter to use with these features, that you paid for, that suddenly you can't use?
Its funny how on the Microsoft side, new SKUs are coming with progressively more functionality.
On the Sony side, new SKUs are coming with progressively less functionality--rumble being the exception.
Without BC, I don't think this should be called a "PlayStation" since BC has always been part of the PlayStation's core values. This is a V1.0 gaming console that has nothing to do with PlayStation.
Usually the older version is the cheaper version, but here it's reversed, we're asked to pay extra for these features.
So if it breaks down and needs replacing, what do you do, if you spent hundreds on SACD's or PS2 games, plus Memory Card converter to use with these features, that you paid for, that suddenly you can't use?
It's how you look at it being "pay for the features" or "getting a cheaper option".
Why would you suddently uable to use them? You still got your PS2 when you bought PS3.
And the $200 is enough for you to buy 2 more slim PS2 to keep at home,
if your are so worry about your PS2 investment.
I understand where people are coming from that are worried about this. Myself, I expected them to keep two options available...one with and one without BC. Frankly, it really startles me that they removed that feature at all, especially since it's been a pillar of their marketing for so long. I can only hope they have full software emulation to introduce over the next few months or at the LEAST will introduce another SKU in areas where they will for now apparently, not have BC available. I certainly hope they don't eliminate BC here in NA as well! Yes, I already have my original 60GB with hardware emulation but I do know people who at least once in a while, if not consistently, want to play their PS2 games without hooking up another console to do or or even worse, needing to buy another console to do so. Myself, my PS2 broke about two months before the PS3 came out and I bought it in part to finish playing a few PS2 games I still hadn't finished. I don't PLAN on using BC, or at least not much, but it is nice to know it's there and POSSIBLE in case I come across a game I just MUST play that's PS2.
Hopefully Sony will do the right thing. I guess we'll see if BC IS a big deal or not with remaining consumers based on how much this price reduction really comes to in NA dollars once it's announced (I ASSUME it will be even though we're the only territory so far where it HASN'T been) and then how much sales are affected. If they pricing is down around $350 like the japanese equivalent price, etc I expect PS3 sales to really take off this holiday season. That is UNLESS BC is a bigger issue with consumers than Sony supposes. We'll see....
Its funny how on the Microsoft side, new SKUs are coming with progressively more functionality.
On the Sony side, new SKUs are coming with progressively less functionality--rumble being the exception.
Without BC, I don't think this should be called a "PlayStation" since BC has always been part of the PlayStation's core values. This is a V1.0 gaming console that has nothing to do with PlayStation.
So you don't know SCE is planing on a IPTV version of 160GB PS3.
Which will be a fullspec version like the one in E305.
Ans you seem to not known first 3 revision of slim PS2 not only has problem play most PS1 games,
even unable to play early PS2 games. It is the first software base BC PS2.
And it was never fixed, when with 40GB PS3 even though the chance is slim there is posibility it can be fixed y firmware.
So you don't know SCE is planing on a IPTV version of 160GB PS3.
Which will be a fullspec version like the one in E305.
Ans you seem to not known first 3 revision of slim PS2 not only has problem play most PS1 games,
even unable to play early PS2 games. It is the first software base BC PS2.
And it was never fixed, when with 40GB PS3 even though the chance is slim there is posibility it can be fixed y firmware.
Didn't Sony release an IPTV version in Korea already? Prior to the decision to remove BC completely. Or are you talking about the rumored specs that included 2 HDMI and 3 Network ports? because I'm highly skeptical on that.
From the statements Sony have been making about BC, it sounds similar to the "Rumble is last gen, Motion control is next gen" talk when they canned rumble for purely legal/business reasons. Now that was resolved, and it's coming back. But with BC, it's a decision on their part to produce a more expensive chipset. If they can have the same cheap chipset for all models, that's better business for them.
BTW, my PS2 died while moving house last year, I waited for PS3, which for me was delayed until March, and the PS2 BC definitely figured into my decision to pay as much as I did.
I will have to bookmark this page for when Sony announces the new model that will also be supporting PS2 BC in the coming months. I don't understand why people can't see this model for what it is.
Yes, they changed the PSOne and PS2 alot when those just came out the only difference is we didn't know about it, because internet wasn't as public then. Irregardless of what Sony wants to say about "research" and what not, I know this model is just to compete with the cheaper Wii and X360 for the christmas holidays. This was merely a contigency plan and not an original plan that they wanted to execute on. Just as I know that they might want to phrase out the 60GB to make way for a newer model which will be better suited for the DVR features due to launch soon.
BC will be there for those of you who want it, you'll only have to pay more for it. They can't announce a new model now because the current one will never sell. Its the same reason why they ain't even announce the 40GB here in the US yet. News travel much faster here and any news of a new SKU could drive business to a halt until said sku arrives.
I will have to bookmark this page for when Sony announces the new model that will also be supporting PS2 BC in the coming months. I don't understand why people can't see this model for what it is.
Yes, they changed the PSOne and PS2 alot when those just came out the only difference is we didn't know about it, because internet wasn't as public then.
Yes, clearly those revisions were done to reduce manufacturing costs, as components size and cost changed over time.
Now tell me any time Sony went backwards?