PAL PS3 Backwards Compatability Gimped ?

[panamajoe]

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Announces Hardware Specification of PLAYSTATION®3 for Europe

 

London, 23 February 2007 - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced that PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) to be launched in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia on 23rd March 2007 would utilise a new hardware specification.

 

The European PS3 will feature the Cell Broadband Engine™, 60 GB hard disc drive, Blu-ray Disc player, built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, SIXAXIS™ wireless controller. It also embodies a new combination of hardware and software emulation which will enable PS3 to be compatible with a broad range of original PlayStation® (PS) titles and a limited range of PlayStation®2 (PS2) titles.

 

http://kotaku.com/gaming/sony/pal-ps3-back...ability-gimped-[update]-239076.php

 

WTF??!

[Shannon]

After all the flack they gave Mickeysoft?

 

Not only that but what's up with the australia PS3 prices?

 

On top of that Sony has yet to set up their store so PSP titles can be downloaded directly to a PSP. Are they having bandwidth issues?

[Jess Ragan]

It gets worse. According to some of the posters in that thread, Sony is planning to remove the PS2 hardware from ALL future Playstation 3 units; not just Europe's. I can't imagine why they'd do this... yes, removing the chips from the PS3 will reduce the cost of each unit, but writing software emulators for select PS2 games is going to soak up any money Sony would save in manufacturing costs... and make the system seem a lot less appealing in the process. It's just idiotic!

 

JR

[MCHufnagel]

Well, I did read that Sony was planning on getting rid of PS2 chips in favor of software emulation, when they had it right. But this doesn't sound like they have it right yet. Maybe this will spark a run on current build PS3's that still have the PS2 hardware? Quite a scam by Sony though. Scare people off from importing other region consoles into Europe with lawsuits and then offer a console that isn't quite as good with a higher price tag!

[+remowilliams]

I guess with the insane sales of the PS2, they figure everyone who wants to play a PS2 game is buying PS2s.

[Jess Ragan]

For many customers, PS2 backward compatibility was all the Playstation 3 had going for it... well, that and Blu-Ray playback.

 

Sony could pull this kind of crap several years down the line, when people really DO stop caring about the Playstation 2 and its games. But now is a very bad time for them to remove functionality which could be the deciding factor in a purchase.

 

Sony's made the claim that they're removing the PS2 architecture from the Playstation 3 because they're too focused on the future to consider the past. However, looking toward the horizon won't do them any good if they're not paying attention to the stumbling blocks directly under their feet.

 

JR

[+remowilliams]

For many customers, PS2 backward compatibility was all the Playstation 3 had going for it...

I think we all know by now that Sony is hardly infallible, but that's just being silly.

[ManShowBoy]

Glad I got a PS3 now before Sony starts hacking parts out of it PS2 games are getting the most play on my PS3 ATM

[Jess Ragan]

For many customers, PS2 backward compatibility was all the Playstation 3 had going for it...

I think we all know by now that Sony is hardly infallible, but that's just being silly.

 

What else is there right now? You've got Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Resistance: Fall of Man. And oh yeah, Virtua Fighter 5, but that will be coming to the Xbox 360 soon enough.

 

JR

[Albert]

That sucks. Many people have a large collection of PS2 titles that I'm sure they'd like to play on the PS3. Strange how they'd make changes to the hardware even before they've completed their worldwide launch of the system. Nuts, man!

 

I already have a PS2 so this would not stop me from buying a PS3 if I was interested in one (I'm not). But it would be convenient to use one system to play PS3, PS2 and PS games. I have a ton of Gamecube games, so the backwards compatibility in the Wii is a blessing.

 

..Al

[Shannon]

Almost makes me wish they will lose the high definition DVD battle. But I think blu-ray is gonna end up winning. Now the question is whether it will manage to supercede DVD.

[Albert]

Almost makes me wish they will lose the high definition DVD battle. But I think blu-ray is gonna end up winning. Now the question is whether it will manage to supercede DVD.

This is off-topic, but I don't plan on buying into Blu-Ray or HD-DVD until there is a clear victor. I don't see a lot of enthusiasm for either format in the general marketplace, and I've yet to see more than four feet of shelf space dedicated to movies in either format in stores. I did see a combo player advertised today (in either Best Buy's or Circuit City's flyer) for $1200, oh boy, sign me up! For most people there really isn't too compelling a reason to upgrade from DVD. It's going to be a hard sell for people even when they buy an HD television set or projector--it seems most people don't care about the increased resolution the formats offer. I certainly do, but I'd only be interested in replacing a few DVDs, such as the Lord of the Rings movies. And I don't like the additional DRM baggage the formats entail. I believe both formats are going to have a tough time making inroads against DVD, and even if one format eclipses the other, even then it will be an uphill battle.

 

..Al

[CPUWIZ]

Almost makes me wish they will lose the high definition DVD battle. But I think blu-ray is gonna end up winning. Now the question is whether it will manage to supercede DVD.

This is off-topic, but I don't plan on buying into Blu-Ray or HD-DVD until there is a clear victor. I don't see a lot of enthusiasm for either format in the general marketplace, and I've yet to see more than four feet of shelf space dedicated to movies in either format in stores. I did see a combo player advertised today (in either Best Buy's or Circuit City's flyer) for $1200, oh boy, sign me up! For most people there really isn't too compelling a reason to upgrade from DVD. It's going to be a hard sell for people even when they buy an HD television set or projector--it seems most people don't care about the increased resolution the formats offer. I certainly do, but I'd only be interested in replacing a few DVDs, such as the Lord of the Rings movies. And I don't like the additional DRM baggage the formats entail. I believe both formats are going to have a tough time making inroads against DVD, and even if one format eclipses the other, even then it will be an uphill battle.

 

..Al

 

You really should sit down in front of a nice 1080p set and watch an entire movie, on Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, doesn't matter.

[Albert]

Almost makes me wish they will lose the high definition DVD battle. But I think blu-ray is gonna end up winning. Now the question is whether it will manage to supercede DVD.

This is off-topic, but I don't plan on buying into Blu-Ray or HD-DVD until there is a clear victor. I don't see a lot of enthusiasm for either format in the general marketplace, and I've yet to see more than four feet of shelf space dedicated to movies in either format in stores. I did see a combo player advertised today (in either Best Buy's or Circuit City's flyer) for $1200, oh boy, sign me up! For most people there really isn't too compelling a reason to upgrade from DVD. It's going to be a hard sell for people even when they buy an HD television set or projector--it seems most people don't care about the increased resolution the formats offer. I certainly do, but I'd only be interested in replacing a few DVDs, such as the Lord of the Rings movies. And I don't like the additional DRM baggage the formats entail. I believe both formats are going to have a tough time making inroads against DVD, and even if one format eclipses the other, even then it will be an uphill battle.

 

..Al

 

You really should sit down in front of a nice 1080p set and watch an entire movie, on Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, doesn't matter.

I did not say *I* would not appreciate the difference between 480p and 1080p, just that I am not buying into either format until there is a resolution in this stupid format war.

 

..Al

[CPUWIZ]

Why not buy both?

[Albert]

Why not buy both?

LOL, right.

 

..Al

[darklord1977]

For many customers, PS2 backward compatibility was all the Playstation 3 had going for it... well, that and Blu-Ray playback.

 

Sony could pull this kind of crap several years down the line, when people really DO stop caring about the Playstation 2 and its games. But now is a very bad time for them to remove functionality which could be the deciding factor in a purchase.

 

Sony's made the claim that they're removing the PS2 architecture from the Playstation 3 because they're too focused on the future to consider the past. However, looking toward the horizon won't do them any good if they're not paying attention to the stumbling blocks directly under their feet.

 

JR

 

the playstation 3 is a terrific system. and im really enjoying it ..but i have to say they are really screwing up their marketing and manufacturing of the console.. (they should take some lessons from microsoft or even Nintendo) now removing the concept of backwards compatibility this is just another slap in the face to gamers/and future purchasers ... and just to mention..NOT ALL playstation 2 games will work on the ps3 same with the playstation one games...my advice..hold onto your playstation 2 systems..you'll need it still.. i have my ps3 and ps2 right next to each other...

 

remember, when the ps2 came out...they had problems also...but not as bad as this..sony should take notice on what made the ps2 such a success and use that knowledge for the ps3,'s marketing and manufacturing process but once again it boils down to the stupid corporate mentality of sony ...sure the ps3 is a wonderful system..a all in one system if you prefer.. but the bottom line, consumers look at the price tag like it or not and the super hugh price still turns people off where i work i remember we always ran out now we have so many 20 gb and 60 gb and we cant get rid of them now its like i want a ps3 ok, how many do you want ? but if you notice..the xbox 360 still sells really well and even the nintendo wii

 

sony says that there will definetly be a playstation 4 system...lets hope that it has a smoother launch than the ps3

 

...i know people that have the cash and would rather get a xbox 360 (i also have one and its a great system) or gasp even a wii (dont know why though...the wii is pathetic nintendo dropped the ball with that one)

 

someday, i wont be surprised if sony eventually comes out with a totally" revamped" version of the ps3..meaning a even more stripped down model with no blu ray /dvd or anything... just the purpose of playing the ps3 games...mabey sony should have done something like this from the start..it sure would have kept the price down..

 

but if you are like me and have a ps3...relax and enjoy what you got. its a well built system and a lot of fun and the best games are yet to come (spider man 3 anybody:) ..if you dont have one...i say wait a while.

[MCHufnagel]

Why not buy both?

Maybe because 99.9% of the world can't afford or find the room to collect for two different formats. Very few people want to risk wasting money on a player that won't have movies for it in a few years.

[Shannon]

It's my experience that how well a movie looks all boils down to the mastering process. So even a blu-ray/HDVD movie can look like crap if it is not processed properly.

 

I don't need both. If I get both and then one wins I'm stuck with a portion of my movies all of a sudden becoming outdated. Brings back to many memories of the beta/vhs days.

 

I already got a PS3 so I'm kinda covered on the blu-ray anyways. I picked up one blu-ray movie just to check it out and that is gonna be the only one until there is a clear winner.

 

As far as Sony removing the blu-ray drive. Forget it. They've already committed to it and their games are released in that format. It'd be kinda hard to recall all those games and replace them with a different format.

[Jess Ragan]

Yeah, there's that... plus there aren't a whole lot of films for EITHER format at the moment. I'd like to see HD-DVD win and Blu-Ray lose, because that would be most advantageous to Microsoft, but I'm not going to shell out big bucks for a new format and library of films when there just isn't that much to buy.

 

I waited until 2002 to get my first DVD player (the Playstation 2, ironically) and I can wait just as long to invest in the next video format. This is one of those cases where you don't lose points for hesitation.

 

JR

[Shannon]

The general public pretty much held onto VHS for a pretty long before they even accepted DVD. I wouldn't be surprised if Hi-Def DVD does not catch on anytime soon.

[Bilnick]

Why not buy both?

Maybe because 99.9% of the world can't afford or find the room to collect for two different formats. Very few people want to risk wasting money on a player that won't have movies for it in a few years.

 

 

I would guess a large majority of the members of this forum have multiple machines for different videogame formats.

 

I wouldn't worry about buying the "losing" HD video disc player. By the time a clear leader is determined there will likely be players that can play both formats for under $200. I wouldn't think that either format will take off until the players can be bought for under $300.

[MCHufnagel]

I would guess a large majority of the members of this forum have multiple machines for different videogame formats.

I wouldn't call the members of AA "typical" consumers though. You're right about the $300 price point, but I really don't think two different HD formats can survive. Not many people will buy two different systems even at $300 each, just to watch certain studios movies. As soon as one format pulls ahead, studios will "jump ship".

 

The war between Beta and VHS is a perfect example. Unit prices didn't go down much and sales didn't go up much until VHS was becoming the winner. Look at Laser Discs. Their prices never did go down that much (compared to VHS prices) and so they never became mainstream. Video player system buyers are a bigger and cheaper demographic than video game system buyers. And there won't be a large user base for HD players until there is a winner.

[Gabriel]

OK, now European gamers can fully claim that Sony hates them.

 

To try and glean some significance to this, it means three things:

 

1) Sony is trying to cut costs because of lower than expected sales.

 

2) Like Microsoft, Sony does not feel that backwards compatibility is a major factor for a new console.

 

3) They may be trying to spur sales of the hardware to the hardcore with this news. Get the good ones before they're gone!

 

It's sad, because Sony had done backwards compatibility so well both with the PS3 (after a brief and easily correctable launch mishap) and it's predecessor.

[darklord1977]

Why not buy both?

Maybe because 99.9% of the world can't afford or find the room to collect for two different formats. Very few people want to risk wasting money on a player that won't have movies for it in a few years.

 

i second that...why not get both:) i got my ps3 and my hd dvd add on for my 360..im all set.