Sony drops backwards compatibility on new Euro sku, but what about US models?

Thank god I'm buying a 60GB soon.

 

I still find it immensely funny that at Gamestation the PS3 40GB model is £299, the same as the X360 Elite.

 

Every rumour I have read indicates that on the 30th Oct the 40GB new revision system is getting a release in the USA, in time for Spiderman 3. The 60GB version will be phased out, leaving the 40GB and 80GB SKUs.

 

The amount of confusion this is going to cause the general consumer has the chance to really sour some people toward the Playstation / Sony name.

I read a few people talking about how the Blu Ray format is going to really help the PS3 in the future since the hardware \ media is more advanced but we all know that hardware doesn't make the system case in point the Sega Saturn. A system that didn't sell well enough to get a mainstream following and thus lost games / developers and fell off the map.

 

Is there any region locking on the ps3 ? I may just opt for a HK unit.

 

Interesting perspectives, I must say. To me, backwards compatibility is not a reason I pick up a system. I don't buy up a new system to play OLD games. I buy a new system to play NEW games. Otherwise, I wouldn't buy the new system to begin with. Hence, why I have yet to pick up a PS3. If I want to play PS2 games, I play them on my PS2. Guaranteed to work...okay, maybe not...but still...

 

well dazzo0007, they say that when you do something, do it right the first time.

The Ps3 started with full b/c, then partial and now none. There's no homogenity in the product. For example, a second hand early PS3 will be more valuable than one w/o b/c . This creates a very confusing and patchy image, not unlike the PC market.

The whole purpose of consoles is UNIFORMITY! and the ps3 clearly defies that on many levels (Wifi/card-reader options, b/c).

There's just too many things wrong with their marketing strategy, their lack of games and their console revisions. I can't take Sony seriously this generation and I do hope they crash and burn for being so arrogant.

The same arguments they used to ditch other consoles in other and current generations (b/c, multiple SKUs etc) are now being all shoved up their own ass. What a sight to behold.

 

Can't say I disagree with you there, Barc0de. Hindsight is almost always 20/20 (can't say always or never). Sure, I think ideally you'd want to do something right the first time, when it comes to business. But as we know, its kind of the nature of business, the unpredictability of it. What separates the the good companies from the bad, a lot of times, depends upon how they respond to these changes in market. But, once again, ideally, you'd want to anticipate these changes and not react to them (yes, I know I went a little on a tangent)

I definitely agree about uniformity. That's one of the main reason's I like to play games on console rather than PC. Although, I do enjoy a good shooter every now and then on my ancient Gateway built in '99. lol...

For the sake of not making my post any longer, I think I'll hold off on commenting about Sony's marketing strategy. I'll just say though, that I think we share the same sentiments.

I'm almost having difficulty keeping up with so many flavours of consoles available now, especially with Sony going that route now, and of course, the 360. The only company with a simplified and direct strategy seems to be Nintendo.

 

microsoft's biggest mistake was their build quality.

Can you imagine what a hot purchase a 360 would have seemed to everyone but for the RLOD issues?

Everyone i know likes the 360's games. Its the hardware that they are afraid of - hence keeping a distance from it.

Retrospectively, when the final-tuned 360s come out, they will be ideal for countless hours of gaming - by then game prices will also have fallen.

I m sure people will look back and say it (the 360) was the best of its generation, content-wise at least.

Microsoft did real magic with online too =)

 

Indeed. With the quality of games already out (and future releases), a RROD-less 360 would probably be smokin' hot.

Fear of hardware failure, I will agree, is holding some back from their purchase. In all actuality, I say a silent prayer every time I turn on my 360. lol

But, I would say the majority could probably agree upon the content-rich library of the 360, depending on taste. I say that only b/c, one good friend of mind is not convinced about the 360. Heck, same with PS3. He's more a Nintendo kind of fellow. But, we agree that the Wii is in dire need of good games. Heck, anything. Just put out something. The library is so thin...

*edit - XBL is definitely M$'s core competancy...so long as consumers feel justified spending $60 p/year to play online.