40GB PS3 Heading to Japan, With Price Cuts and Color Change

Wired's Game|Life is reporting on the movement of the 40GB PlayStation 3 across the 'other' pond, to Japan. The Japanese 40GB will retail for 39,980 yen (about $340). This backwards-compatibility-less unit will come in the current black color, as well as 'Ceramic White'. The two current models will get price cuts as well, with the 20GB version marked down to 44,980 yen ($383) and the 60GB to 54,980 yen ($468). "This will be the first official price cut the PlayStation 3 has received since it launched last year, although Ken Kutaragi actually cut the price of the unit before it launched at Tokyo Game Show. Also on November 11, Sony will release its Dual Shock 3 controllers in Japan for 5500 yen, in white and black colors. They will not be bundled with the PS3 hardware, all models of which will continue to pack in the Sixaxis controller."

Color a good indicator

[Endymion]

While I'm in the camp that thinks axing the backwards compatibility is idiotic for Sony (like everything these days...), if you can indicate it with a color that would be very helpful for customers.

I know they are using the 40GB/60GB/80GB markers to indicate what version you have, but you can't see that by looking at the system. If they made them different colors, it'd be easy to see which ones were backwards compatible or not. Something tells me that "I have a black/white/pink PS3" will be less confusing than "I have the 40GB non-backwards compatible PS3" to most people.

Re:20 gig more expensive than the 40 gig & No

[nschubach]

I've come to the conclusion that BC isn't that important (for the majority). Sure, the hardcore gamers or those that spent a ton of money on old games might like it. (In fact, I thought it was something I would use tremendously... but I found out I only put my games in to see if they would actually work and never touched them again.) For the majority, a new system needs new games. They've already played the crap out of all those old titles and it's time to move on. Removing BC to reduce the price is going to go unnoticed or "uncared" by the majority of the people looking for a "Playstation" brand gaming console for HD games. They will only notice the sticker on the shelf.

It's the same reason people upgrade software on their PC when they get a new OS. The old software clashes with the new and groovy look.

Re:20 gig more expensive than the 40 gig & No

[fbjon]

Except it's a bad deal for those who might buy a PS3, but haven't owned a PS2. There's a lot of good games for the PS2 around, and they're cheaper too. I know that if I buy a PS3 (in a few years or so), I'd like it to have compatibility.

Re:OMG...OMG..OMG ...Colors

[p0ss]

actually, my gf refuses to let me buy one until it comes out in pink.

Re:20 gig more expensive than the 40 gig & No

[KDR_11k]

Not only that, there's still PS2 games coming out. I'd wager a lot of people won't realize the BC is missing until they put a PS2 game into the console, after all the PS2 and the early PS3 were backwards compatible so the Playstation name is kinda synonymous with BC (hell, some people thought the PSP was BC with PS1 games!).