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20GB PS3 will soon be gone forever
End of the line for 20GB and 60GB PlayStation 3 consoles in Japan

PS2 backwards compatibility is going the way of the dodo bird as Sony announced today that both the 20GB and 60GB PlayStation 3 models are discontinued in Japan.

The final shipment of the 20GB and 60GB machines will be hit Japanese retailers throughout January. Sony stated in its press release, “Upon termination of the shipment, the sales of both models will be limited to stock in the market.”

Taking the place of the two original models, which were available Japan since the console’s launch on November 11, 2006, is the 40GB (CECHH00 Series) model introduced in November 2007.

Like the 40GB model that appears in other markets, the CECHH00 Series machine does without any PS2 backwards compatibility hardware, though PSone titles are still supported via full software emulation. What the 40GB model loses in PS2 ability, it gains in fashion. Available in Asia is a Ceramic White PlayStation 3 console with a matching white DualShock 3 controller.

Gamers outside Japan have been living without the original launch SKUs for at least several months. The original entry level 20GB model was first discontinued in the U.S. following a sharp decline in availability.

Following the launch of an 80GB PS3 model, Sony ceased to produce new 60GB units allowing inventory to deplete to the point of the model’s extinction.

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blah
By NullSubroutine on 1/10/08, Rating: 0
RE: blah
By stmok on 1/10/08, Rating: 0
RE: blah
By DeathFalcon on 1/10/2008 6:28:52 PM , Rating: 4
No the 40gb model drops both Hardware and Software emulation. Over in Australia we have only been able to purchase a 40gb option... which doesn't make sense, why give us the Console that supposed to make the upper tier solution look better... oh yeah its Sony


RE: blah
By stmok on 1/10/2008 6:41:06 PM , Rating: 2
I didn't know they COMPLETELY dropped backward compatibility!

Sony promised something, and took it back. People aren't gonna be happy. Trust has been broken.


RE: blah
By kyp275 on 1/10/2008 7:17:38 PM , Rating: 1
they didn't. You still have PS1 backward compatibility, they dropped the PS2 due to removal of both the EE chip AND the video processor chip


RE: blah
By jtemplin on 1/10/2008 7:41:13 PM , Rating: 1
Dude he(stmok) meant for PS2 only. He wouldn't be surprised or care if PS1 dropped. I hadn't heard that they dropped software emulation for PS2 either. They are like a sinking ship just barely kept afloat by a bucket line.


RE: blah
By Christopher1 on 1/11/08, Rating: -1
RE: blah
By StevoLincolnite on 1/11/2008 3:06:46 AM , Rating: 1
99 Bucks here for Zelda, I must admit though being a Zelda fan, that series I would probably almost pay any price for as long as I could afford it.
The other sad part is still the insane price of the PS3 here in Australia, Its the cost of a Second hand VN Commodore.


RE: blah
By jajig on 1/11/2008 10:54:08 AM , Rating: 1
A full tank of petrol is the cost of a second hand VN Commodore!


RE: blah
By BansheeX on 1/11/2008 3:35:07 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
I have a big collection of PS1 games that I have bought legally and I want to be able to play them.... I guess it's ePSXe for me until Sony gets it's head out of it's ass.


Huh? You claim to have PS1/PS2 games but not the PS1/PS2 on which to play them? Also, all PS3s have PS1 BC... why would you need ePSXe exactly? You lost me.


RE: blah
By geeg on 1/12/08, Rating: 0
RE: blah
By Christopher1 on 1/11/08, Rating: -1
RE: blah
By BansheeX on 1/11/2008 3:46:51 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
consumers, who had been told throughout the whole run-up to the release of the PS3, that they would be totally backwards compatible......


And it was, wasn't it? Where's the lie? If they drop anything, they get ragged on. If they include it, they get ragged on for price. And who's to say PS2 BC isn't going to come back via software? You have no idea.

BC is only now getting dropped in favor of the $99 PS2 option. MS is able to offer a lower cost console by making the hard drive, HDMI, wifi, and HD playback optional. And now you're ragging on Sony for separating the cost of PS2 playback? That doesn't make any sense and you know it.

quote:
That is pretty much the bottom line. The trust of the consumers


Stop speaking for other people with sensationalist propaganda. Also, what relevance does ATRAC have in the console debate? That's like bringing up Vista DRM to bash the 360. Buy a clue, please.


RE: blah
By BansheeX on 1/11/2008 10:16:16 AM , Rating: 3
quote:
No the 40gb model drops both Hardware and Software emulation.


This statement is misleading (see responses for confusion it's generated). To clarify what has happened: all models retain PS1 emulation (pure software, always has been). PS2 emulation (software/hardware hybrid) has been dropped on the 40gb model in favor of the $99 PS2. Pure software PS2 emulation has never been implemented and may or may not be in the future.


RE: blah
By MasterTactician on 1/11/2008 11:18:17 AM , Rating: 2
With current availability of PS2 emulation on the PC, it is possible that Sony is dropping hardware PS2 emulation with the plan of adding full software PS2 emulation to the 40GB (and possibly 80GB) PS3 at a later date. Remember, the software emulation on the 80GB PS3 only emulates the Emotion Engine (CPU), while relying on the PS2's GPU (hardware) to function, as BansheeX points out.


RE: blah
By mmntech on 1/10/2008 8:22:30 PM , Rating: 2
Supposedly the 80gb is only compatible with about 80% of games while the 60gb is compatible with almost 100%. The 80gb also reportedly has worse frame rates in some games. As for a list, here's a link for the US models. Just enter the game title and select your PS3 model.
http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleSt...

I still consider the 60gb the top of the line model. That's the one I have. I do play a few PS2 games on it since I never owned a PS2, so I'm trying out the must have titles. It's a shame they discontinued it. The big question now that a lot of 60gb owners are asking is what will happen if their PS3 breaks and needs to be exchanged. Does Sony have extra 60gb stockpiled for that purpose or will they send an 80gb. The latter is what a lot of people don't want.
The 80gb in reality is not cheaper but the same price when you take away the game. So your trading BC for 20gb more HDD space. Not worth it IMO.


RE: blah
By goku on 1/11/2008 4:29:40 AM , Rating: 1
Don't forget that the PS3 80GB can't even play AAA titles such as GTAIII and GT4! People generally assume that titles that aren't supported aren't big titles but in this case it isn't true.


RE: blah
By Etsp on 1/11/2008 9:11:07 AM , Rating: 2
Try using his link...The site says it has "No major problems for this title" for GTAIII either the old hardware BC, or the new software BC. Although I admit that GT4 does have problems on the software emulation side of things... but that should get resolved eventually.


RE: blah
By TALENT on 1/11/08, Rating: 0