PS3's Back-Compat Loss Explained, Analyzed 266
The news came down last week that future low-end PS3s won't have any backwards compatibility features, and that surprised a lot of onlookers. In response, Sony UK's Ray Maguire has attempted to clarify their logic. Essentially, in Sony's view, the money spent on back-compat features is better spent on developing new games or reducing the price of the console. "When PS3 first launched, Sony felt that backwards compatibility was an important feature as there were relatively few games for the new system, Maguire explained. 'So it was a big decision," he said of facility's removal, 'and we know it is a very emotive subject as lots of people think that backwards compatibility is high on the agenda and yet few really use it.'" For more on this, Joystiq has a few words on the implications of Sony's decision, while Kotaku says the 40GB unit will be arriving in the US on Nov. 2nd. For those of you who already own PS3s: would you have purchased a unit if it didn't have BC? If you don't have one yet, does the removal of BC make you less likely to buy one?
If PS3 had decent games, maybe... (Score:5, Interesting)
Microsoft and Nintendo, for all their faults, have at least recognized one basic fact: games first, everything else (e.g. Blu-Ray) second. Not the other way around.
give me BC or give me (PS3) death! (Score:2, Interesting)
I want to play GoW1&2, MGS2, Shadow of the Colossus, etc... upscaled!!
And what happens if Blu-ray doesn't win the format war?? it's possible that Sony could be in for a major train wreck up ahead.
I've been waiting for cheaper, but not at the sacrifice of important features.
To paraphrase the Simpsons... (Score:5, Interesting)
Makes sense to me.
Re:If PS3 had decent games, maybe... (Score:0, Interesting)
I agree the main problem is lack of games, I mean, its pretty much a joke at this point. iv had the machine for a very long time and theres one game iv enjoyed playing on it, and thats only good for multi player (FN3). Thats probably the main thing that makes BC an important thing for PS3, the only games you want to play on it are ps2 games.
Sony keep saying "we're dropping this feature to focus on new games, we're ignoring this area to focus on new games." I just wish they'd actually goddamn do it instead of simply using it as an excuse to be lazy or cut the price. I've already got one! I dont care about price cuts!
You cant just get the console to the consumer and then forget about it, your jobs not done yet. but sony seems to think they just need to sell as many consoles to new buyers as possible and it will be a success.
$30 HW Cost Difference (Score:4, Interesting)
Add-on? (Score:3, Interesting)