backtop

Print E-mail del.icio.us 66 comment(s) - last by Wolfpup.. on Oct 22 at 3:45 PM
Canadian dollar finally acknowledged as more than just funny money

Early this morning, word of the 40GB PlayStation 3’s release date came from Jack Tretton, revealing that the new SKU will be launching on November 2. Shortly after, Sony Computer Entertainment America sent out an official press release confirming its president’s words.

As Tretton noted earlier, the 40GB PlayStation 3 will start selling on November 2 at $399. As many have been expecting, the 80GB will be priced at $499 – effective immediately.

In a move that is sure to delight Canadian gamers, SCEA is pricing its consoles nearly on par with the current U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate. Gamers in Canada who once were looking at 80GB PS3 consoles for $699 each will now be able to pick them up for $499 – the same price paid as their U.S. counterparts. The 40GB PS3 will also be available in Canada for $399.

“We're pleased to offer the consumer a lower price point without sacrificing the core technology components that make PS3 the most advanced high-definition entertainment system available. Every PS3 comes with a Blu-ray drive, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, Cell Broadband Engine and a built-in hard-drive,” said Jack Tretton, President and CEO, SCEA.

The 40GB PlayStation will be equipped with two fewer USB ports and no memory card reader, which are available on the 80GB model, as a further cost-reducing measure.

Sony’s press release also confirms that each 40GB PS3 will come bundled with the movie Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray Disc courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. From Sony’s announcement, it appears as though the movie pack-in applies only to the 40GB model. In Japan, however, the Spider-Man 3 promotion applies to new PS3 purchases of the 20, 40 and 60GB hardware.

SCEA was not shy to reveal that new 40GB PS3 will no longer play PlayStation 2 titles, and explained that the new model is “reflecting the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles.” Sony urged consumers looking for backwards compatibility to “take advantage of the limited PlayStation 2 backwards compatibility of the 80GB PS3.”

DailyTech recommends that gamers truly looking for backwards compatibility to look for a 60GB PlayStation 3, which is the by far the best choice for those looking to play PS2 games upscaled to 1080p. Retailers with remaining 60GB PS3 stock may start selling their product at a further discount.

Canadian retailer Future Shop has already reduced the price of the 60GB PS3 to $479.99, and Best Buy Canada is expected to sell the same console at $449.99 starting Friday.

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
Backward compatibility is a terrible idea.
By dtuser on 10/18/2007 5:45:58 PM , Rating: 4
I can't believe people are complaining about BC being removed because I hated it when Sony added BC to the PS2. It's a complete waste of time and money. Trying to get 1000s of old games running on a new system using software emulation is very difficult. Stuffing chips from previous systems is not an elegant solution. What are they going to do 2 or 3 generations from now? Have a whole mess of chips from previous systems in the latest system? It's just stupid. I don't care if upscales or adds nicer textures they're still old games, there's only so much you can do.

The real future of playing old games is not BC, but porting and reselling as downloads. It's easier, more reliable and profitable.




By T4RTER S4UCE on 10/18/2007 6:19:07 PM , Rating: 2
That is the most sense I have heard all week.


By GhandiInstinct on 10/18/2007 6:31:41 PM , Rating: 2
dtuser, we need your rationale and logic in the white house NOW.


By BansheeX on 10/18/2007 6:56:53 PM , Rating: 1
My feelings about BC are nearly identical. I can definitely live with my PS2 for old games if it means simplifying the PS3 and making it cheaper. Eventually, though, I would like PC emulation to replace the PS2 for its digital video quality and upscaling abilities. If only Sony released hardware documentation for the PS1/PS2 to the community. If they don't want to spend time on it, they could make it easier for others... but we all know how companies are about stuff like this.


By Oregonian2 on 10/18/2007 7:39:26 PM , Rating: 4
Depends what they want to get roasted for. If they're not BC then they'd get roasted for that too. Some folk would rather replace their old box rather than adding yet another one next to previous ones -- especially when the box is new and there's not much natively available for it yet.


RE: Backward compatibility is a terrible idea.
By ruibing on 10/18/07, Rating: 0
By afkrotch on 10/18/2007 8:32:26 PM , Rating: 3
I'd much rather have one console than a PS1, PS2, and PS3 in my living room. I use to have two PS2s. One Japanese and one US. Now I'm down to one. A US PS2 and a Japanese PS3. Add in a Japanese Xbox 360 and soon to have a US Xbox 360. The less clutter I have is a good thing.

I think having BC is a good thing, for a limited time though. There comes a point where it should just be dropped. Sony is making a good move by dropping BC from the PS3, but I think it's still a little too early. I think a better time would have been Q3 2008.


By BladeVenom on 10/18/2007 8:24:41 PM , Rating: 5
Doesn't any remember that Sony said backwards compatibility was very important and criticized the 360 for only having software emulation? You know how many Sony fans I heard repeat the same thing a year ago?

Oceania Has Always Been at War With Eurasia.


RE: Backward compatibility is a terrible idea.
By GoodBytes on 10/18/2007 8:28:31 PM , Rating: 2
Well Nintendo got it right ;)
Yes, it's hardware architecture is the same or very similar as the GameCube, but hey! it's a new console, and they made it right. And their virtual consoles works surprising well!


RE: Backward compatibility is a terrible idea.
By afkrotch on 10/18/07, Rating: -1
RE: Backward compatibility is a terrible idea.
By Spivonious on 10/19/2007 8:40:20 AM , Rating: 2
If you're playing online, why do you need four controllers?


By therealnickdanger on 10/19/2007 10:42:57 AM , Rating: 3
Four people can play Halo 3 on one box and join up to 12 other players on Live... So I can have some buds over and still play with the multitudes.


By afkrotch on 10/20/2007 2:28:03 AM , Rating: 2
Cause the Wii barely has online games, so I'm stuck having to have ppl over. Thus need all the controllers.


RE: Backward compatibility is a terrible idea.
By Ard on 10/18/2007 11:12:13 PM , Rating: 1
So we should just roll over and pay for content we already own? That's even stupider than Nintendo's Virtual Console.


RE: Backward compatibility is a terrible idea.
By Le Québécois on 10/18/2007 11:28:19 PM , Rating: 3
Well, in theory, if you already own those games, you also have the console to play them so I don't see where is the problem.

And I sure don't think it's anymore stupid then to "force" your customers to pay for additional cost for your console because you've included backward compatibility, even if some of those customers don't want/need it.


RE: Backward compatibility is a terrible idea.
By afkrotch on 10/18/2007 11:49:02 PM , Rating: 3
Estimated costs for BC hardware is at $20. I think majority would pay to keep it in. Much better than keeping old hardware around to play our games.

Which sounds like a better option? Having a PS2 and PS3 connected to your TV or just a single PS3? If it weren't for region coding on the PS2, I wouldn't even have one now. Here's what is connected to my TV.

US PS2, Japanese PS3, Japanese Xbox 360, Japanese Sega Saturn, US Sega Genesis, vcr, and dvd player. I had to drop down $50 for an A/V selector. I'm looking at getting a US Xbox 360 this holiday season.

I dumped my Japanese PS2, when I got the PS3. I like it a hell of a lot better too. No longer need to keep memory cards. I can just dump the save to my usb key.


By Le Québécois on 10/19/2007 12:35:36 AM , Rating: 2
I'm not saying that BC is a bad thing. I just think that leaving the choice to the customers, like Sony will be doing with the 40GB and 80GB, is a good idea. If you want to pay more and have the BC, you can have it. In the mean time, I could buy a PS3, and only a PS3 with no BC, for a lower price and be more than happy because I don't intend on using it to play PS2 games.


By euclidean on 10/19/2007 12:48:04 PM , Rating: 2
How many people out there have as many different consoles (both Japanese and US) as you do? Obviously not enough to warrant keeping BC in the "Cheap" PS3. You still have the option for BC, but your paying for it. Quit complaining about something that's not gone. If you want it, purchase the 80gb model and quit complaining.

ATTN! only the "40GB" model lost BC. The 80GB model STILL has it!

Does that help?


By BansheeX on 10/19/2007 1:50:18 PM , Rating: 2
Looks like in your situation, you need compatibility for a bunch of other systems in the PS3 for your point to even make sense. Your setup is going to be a mess with that many consoles regardless of whether the PS3 has BC.

You should also read the first post in this thread. Many years down the road, how many systems is Sony going to have to write emulators for or include hardware for under new architecture? What an absolute mess and diversion that will increasingly become.


By dtuser on 10/20/2007 1:57:54 PM , Rating: 2
$20 x 5 million = $100 million loss for Sony, in addition to the cost of developing it. The amount of money made from BC driven sales is small, probably only a few million (ie how many people wouldn't have bought a system if it didn't have BC). I doubt Sony, MS, or Nintendo actually break even on it. From a gamers point of view, it's easy to say "Yeah, it's nice.", but from a business standpoint there's no significant financial value to it. When the PS3 drops to $299 next year, nobody will be buying it to play PS2 games, just as nobody is buying an Xbox 360 or Wii to play Xbox and GameCube games. That means the small influence on sales BC has, only lasts about 18-24 months. It's not worth it.

Also, if the next consoles get rid of physical media, are all the people who say BC is important going to demand an optical drive?