Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
PlayStation (Games)

European PS3 To Play Fewer PS2 Games 150

Posted by Zonk from the give-a-little-get-a-little-more-money dept.
Mondrian_was_a_square writes "When Sony launches the PS3 in Europe, consumers there won't be getting the same thing that US and Japanese buyers picked up at launch—they'll be getting less. Sony has just announced that the new revision of the PS3 will be less backwards compatible with PS2 games. 'Sony is looking to decrease the production cost of the Playstation 3, and they have opted to replace dedicated hardware with software that will replace its functionality. The hardware had been providing full backwards compatibility of PS2 games, but Sony makes it clear that the new configuration will not offer the same level of support. Certain PlayStation 2 format software titles may not perform properly on this system, the statement reads.'"
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

European PS3 To Play Fewer PS2 Games More

European PS3 To Play Fewer PS2 Games

Comments Filter:

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Informative)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:11AM (#18122428)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • That's odd... (Score:1, Offtopic)

      by DJCacophony ( 832334 )
      The article here doesn't have a "reply" button beneath the summary. What gives?
      • You can reply by hitting the link underneath the new-fangled threshold selection bar on the left-hand side. They've done a great job of hiding it, I have to say.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
      Additionally: The mainland price is 599€. The cheaper but not much worse 499$ (would be 499€) version will not be sold in Europe.

      Now all this needs is ANOTHER press statement about how Europe is used to getting more expensive, inferior goods much later than everyone else and Operation Sell No PS3 In Europe is a full success.
    • Before I continue, want to make it clear that I'm not trolling. I'm just curious about this.

      What's to prevent you from purchasing a US version? Yes, you will most likely be restricted to purchasing games and movies from the US thanks to bullsh*t region coding, but from what I understand most TVs in the UK will support NTSC as well as PAL. Hardware like controllers or cables should work regardless of the version of the PS3, or so I would think. And when it comes to software, when I buy CDs or DVDs from

      • Re:Buy a US PS3 perhaps? (Score:5, Interesting)

        by RogueyWon ( 735973 ) * on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:41AM (#18122964) Journal
        This is exactly what I, as a UK gamer, have done. My PS3 arrived a couple of weeks ago and I've got a fairly extensive comparison of it with the other two "new gen" consoles up in my journal. The tipping point for me was when I saw the UK launch price. All told, if I were to buy the PS3 package I'd wanted in the UK, it would cost me the equivalent of about $1100. I got the same thing on import from the US for a shade over $800. What's really handy is that the PS3 just has a standard PC-style power input, meaning that I can use a standard kettle power-cable, rather than needing to buy a new step-down converter. Of course, pretty much any UK TV purchased in the last 8 or so years, barring some really, really low-end portables, is perfectly happy with either PAL or NTSC.

        Sony have promised before that the PS3 would be region-free for games. I'm now picking up some worrying rumbles that this might not be the case as far as the UK goes and frankly, this latest news doesn't bode well either. However, while it would be nice to be able to walk into a UK shop and just buy a game when I want one, I'm willing and able to import. Sad to say, the US still does get more games and get them earlier than the UK. Still, I'm also hearing that US machines may be getting an update to allow them to play European/Australian games. If this is indeed true, then my decision to buy a US machine really does seem to have been the right one.

        The only drawback right now is that I can't sign up to the online store with a UK credit card. However, once the European region is enabled on launch-day, I understand that I'll be able to sign up for the EU store from my US console.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by iainl ( 136759 )
        What's preventing us is that SCEE have something of a history about destroying any company that dare try to sell import consoles here. So the only practical option is to pick one up next time I'm in the US.

        Which is certainly the way I'd buy a PS3 if I were to get one.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by jZnat ( 793348 ) *
          They've destroyed companies that were reselling Sony products from Japan. I hear Japan doesn't have the rights to first sale or whatever it is we have here in the US. Thus, it'd be safer to import from the US because it's unquestionably legal to do so here, but not so much in Japan.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by J-F Mammet ( 769 )
        Well the biggest thing that'd prevent you from getting a US or even JP system is that Sony is actively making sure that you can't get one online. Remember lik-sang?
        I've got a japanese PS3, and it was a nightmare getting it here in France.
      • PS3 games are region-free, but PS2 games are not. If I am not mistaken, a US PS3 will reject PAL PS2 games. Wonderful, eh?

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
        Obviously, getting everything native to the UK would be infinitely more convenient for you, but if backwards compatibility is that important, would not a US PS3 be an acceptable inconvenience?

        Unless he uses that compatibility only for newly bought games a US PS3 would be even less compatible with his games than a European one, provided the lack of region lock on the PS3 does not extend to the "emulated" consoles.

        Of course with Sony complaining about trademark "infringement" for importing there's a chance yo
        • The point about backwards compatibility is true. However, given I had both US and UK PS2s and games for both, I was always going to need to keep one of them unless I wanted to buy two PS3s (which I very much don't).

          The import statement, however, is misleading. I looked into this myself before importing, as I intended to pick up the machine myself on a trip to the States that had already been arranged, and hence would be carrying it back in my hand-luggage. I didn't much feel like being arrested. Basically,

          • Re: (Score:1)

            by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
            Of course that doesn't apply if you go there yourself but who can afford making a round trip to the US for a PS3? It may be cheaper there but not THAT much cheaper.
            • Like I say, my understanding was that even if you import remotely (ie. order via the web), you're not actually at risk yourself. The importer is at risk, but unless he gets stomped between billing you and shipping your console, you are safe. I've never heard of anybody having an incoming console, that had actually been shipped, siezed.

              You will, of course, need to pay customs duty on the console. I should have made this clear before.

              It's unlikely (very, very unlikely) that I would have arranged a trip to the

      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by sebi ( 152185 )

        There are no overwhelming reasons not to get an American PS3 in Europe, but there are enough hassles not to make it worthwhile for anyone but the most dedicated. Even though the machine itself might be cheaper the games won't be. After all you're going to have to import them for as long as you want to keep playing. If you import region 1 DVDs you can still watch the ones you buy locally on the same player, and even if you couldn't DVD players aren't exactly a big investment.

        Then there is the problem of dif

        • FYI American mains voltage is 120 volts nominal. Mine is currently 119 volts, under a moderate load. In fact the supply to many buildings is actually 240v, that's just then split to two different 120v rails. You can run both to a socket and get 240v from the difference, if you want to, and there are some things that do that.

          The voltage difference isn't the big problem, a 2:1 step down transformer isn't a real problem to build. The problem is the frequency difference. US power is 60Hz, in most of Europe it's

      • Re:Buy a US PS3 perhaps? (Score:4, Informative)

        by supabeast! ( 84658 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:54AM (#18123176)

        What's to prevent you from purchasing a US version? Yes, you will most likely be restricted to purchasing games and movies from the US...
        The issue here is backwards compatibility with PS2 games. Chances are that most Brits don't have large collections of American PS2 games that would makes buying an American PS3 worthwhile.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by miro f ( 944325 )
          I don't get this. Chances are anyone with a huge library of PS2 games will still have the PS2 they played them on. Is it really that necessary to "consolidate" your consoles?

          • I don't get this. Chances are anyone with a huge library of PS2 games will still have the PS2 they played them on. Is it really that necessary to "consolidate" your consoles?
            Consoles don't last forever, not everyone has space for them, input switches only get so big, and for people with small incomes, it's nice to just sell the old one.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by LKM ( 227954 )
            I owned a Cube during last gen, and one of the reasons I wanted to get a PS3 was to play some of the games I missed - Okami, God of War, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Psychonauts, Katamari Damacy. Now I'll probably just buy a cheap PS2 instead of the PS3.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by miyako ( 632510 )
        I'm not from the UK, but I imagine the problem would be to do with the region coding for the games that they already have.
        The scenario basically is that someone has a large library of PS2 games. The European PS2 is going to have a more limited support for PS2 games as compared to the North American or Japanese systems. Since the PS3 is region coded to enforce the region locks on the games, they can't buy a North Amerian or Japanese PS3 to play those games, because those systems are region coded to their
      • NTSC is noticeably lower resolution than PAL.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by donaldm ( 919619 )
        So will PS1/PS2 European games play on a US PS3? How about if I make it easier will PS1/PS2 American games play on a European PS1/PS2 or vice-versa? I highly doubt it unless you chip it since these games as are region encoded. By providing software to read PS1 and PS2 games it may (guessing here) be possible that the regional encoding of PS1/PS2 games is ignored, so this would be a good selling point for the PS3 but could open up a can of worms in litigation.

        What I would be interested in is what PS1/PS2 gam

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by archen ( 447353 )
      I would like to point out that first of all, this doesn't sound like it's completely ruled out of the U.S. version either. As this is done in software, it will be upgradeable. The PS3 has more than enough horsepower to do this in software, and long term I doubt you'll actually see much of a difference as they tweak backwards compatibility. Well, IF they do anyway...

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Maxwell ( 13985 )
      Sony's press report says nothing about reduced functionality. And nothing about fewer PS/2 games working on PS/3. Ars apparently made that part up.

      JON
    • I'm not sure that this isn't a ploy to sell more PS3s in the US. You know, the old "better buy one now or you'll end up with an inferior one later" trick

      Bob

  • That's Sony for you. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Kirin Fenrir ( 1001780 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:11AM (#18122436)
    Is the the first time in console gaming history a launch system may be 'better' than the revisions of the same product?

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by KDR_11k ( 778916 )
      Gamecube DOL-101. That thing removed the digital out (necessary for progressive scan). Nintendo offered to replace a DOL-101 with a DOL-100 (original model) if the user sends it in but I'm not sure if you get a new or a refurbished one.

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by Itchyeyes ( 908311 )
      You could maybe count the slimline PS2. It did improve on a few things, but it also cut out the HDD compatibility. It really only affected FFXI players. Still, in those people's eyes, the slimline was probably an inferior machine.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by jandrese ( 485 )
        The first revision of the slimline had a lot of problem with the lasers though, which was a shame because Sony had finally started to get the laser quality problems under control with the v.7 fat PS2s and then made a huge step backwards with the first slimlines.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by springbox ( 853816 )
      Nope. As far as I know, the launch consoles are the best. Every Dreamcast after revision 2, for example, can't boot CD-Rs.

      • Nope. As far as I know, the launch consoles are the best. Every Dreamcast after revision 2, for example, can't boot CD-Rs.
        It was a bit more complicated with the Xbox. The first revisions were louder since they had an extra fan for cooling the video chip. The original DVD drives wouldn't read CD-Rs, but OTOH would read both DVD+/-R discs, while the later Samsung drives would do CD-R, but not DVD+R. Then again, the last revision was much more work to mod

  • A Shame (Score:3, Insightful)

    by fistfullast33l ( 819270 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:11AM (#18122438) Homepage Journal
    One of the nicest things about the PS3 in the US is its backwards compatibility. I'm basically able to buy any game from anywhere and play it without a problem using the newest firmware. Not having a PS2, this was a pretty nice feature. FFXII looks and plays really nice, as does older games like Deus Ex, which I bought specifically to test whether the PS3 would play it. Makes even less sense that they're going to do this without lowering the cost of the console for consumers.
    • My guess is when they lower the price of the console in the US, this will be the machine they are selling here as well. It definitely lowers the chance of me getting one any time soon, because I don't have room for two consoles, and for a while at least, more of my games will be PS2, specifically FFXII for now. I also occasionally like to go back and play RPGs again. Hopefully the number of games that won't work is very small.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by wev162 ( 721318 )
      It makes perfect sense from their perspective, they are trying to increase their profit margin per console sold so why would they want to lower the price to consumers at the same time and negate the drop in manufacturing cost?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by oc255 ( 218044 )
      Yeah I agree. The PS3 has great backwards play. I was severely impressed with how the PS3 creates a virtual memory card on the hard drive from the XMB. It's a great feature.

      At the same time, I wonder if they are digging a bigger hole. Have they identified cost as the major reason no one is buying the PS3? Should they not wait for MGS, GT5, FFXIII before jumping to that judgement? I think it's a lack of titles and a software cost-reduction like this is just going to force them to emulate. Now before I

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Maxwell ( 13985 )
      Sony's press report says nothing about reduced functionality. And nothing about fewer PS/2 games working on PS/3.

      So we have a rumour of a rumour on top of a purely speculative compeletly unsupported assumption that is now a fact. Sweet!

      JON

  • Ripoff Europe (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    So yet again here in Europe we get it after everyone else, pay more, and get less.

    Not that I was considering one anyone, got my Wii on launch.

    Interestingly, even though the major online retailers here in the UK sold out of their preorder allocations of the Wii within minutes of going live, I've noticed a couple stating they will remove availability of the PS3 for online ordering as soon as they are gone too... well it's been over a week now the "Buy Now" button is still available. So maybe for one people a
    • It's an interesting marketing strategy, isn't it? Late, worse and more expensive. I'm starting to wonder why any Europeans will actually bother to buy the thing.

      Let's hope that they don't.
      • I'm starting to wonder why any Europeans will actually bother to buy the thing.

        So am I. Some personal, anecdotal evidence for you: when the Wii went on pre-order on amazon.co.uk, it sold out in something like 11 minutes. The Playstation 3 went on pre-order on the same site last Thursday and at the time of writing, units were still available [amazon.co.uk].

        Now this means one of two things:
        1. Sony have sorted out supply problems in a way that Nintendo couldn't, and are shipping vast quantities to our shores to quench our d
        • For what it's worth, the specialist games store chain that I work for here in the UK is getting almost double the number of PS3 units as we got Wii for its launch. I seriously think my store might have PS3s on the shelf on Day One.

  • Cool, does that make it cheaper then? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by hattig ( 47930 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:18AM (#18122534) Journal
    Yeah, less hardware means it will be cheaper!!!

    Oh, wait, it's £425. That's $835, sure that includes 17.5% VAT, but it's still ridiculous.

    Fuck you Sony. Fuck you for ripping us off, and doubly fuck you for selling us substandard hardware compared to other countries. Fuck you for being Sony to boot.
    • All that cursing. Buy A MS XBOX 360, because we all know they have YOUR best intest in mind (sarcasm). Just make sure you buy a ZUNE and MS VISTA ULTIMATE to make sure they all work together! And be sure not to forget to subscribe to xbox LIVE at 50$+ /year (6 years = 300$!).

      You should probably just buy a wii a ps2 or wait a year or two. The PS2 is still a viable platform unlike xbox1 or gamecube.

      The PS3 is expensive because blu-ray drives are expensive.
    • That makes the pre-VAT (we have sales tax here, but it varies state to state and isn't included in the advertised price) cost of the PS3 $710, more than a hundred dollars more than the U.S. price.

      Yeah, you're getting screwed. Don't you guys get screwed on pretty much all console prices? Isn't even the Wii the equivalent of like $300 there?

      Even considering that, if Sony doesn't announce that they are also dropping the price of the EU PS3 (since they're making the hardware cheaper), then yeah, you're gettin
      • My Wii cost me 2200DKK, which is ~$385. When you subtract the 25% VAT that makes $308.

        So yeah, we're paying the equivalent of $300 before VAT.

        The release date here in Denmark was the 8th of December, but I only got it about 10 days ago, and even then, it was apparently from a Greek storehouse or something, since the manual is in Greek. And I had it pre-ordered from a while before the release.

        The Wii is selling like hotcakes here. I haven't been able to spot a single one on shelves in any of the stores I fre

  • It looks like.... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Bullfish ( 858648 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:24AM (#18122648)
    Europeans will be playing less PS3 games too... on the plus side, they will be playing a lot of Wii games.

    Right now, their biggest danger is developers changing their focus to the fast growing installed user base of Wii (and 360 though not growing as fast as the Wii). That sales potential is the main performance figure developers sweat about.

    Actually, I remember once when Sony made great products and had savvy marketing. Of late, watching their tactics has been like watching a drunk fall down a long staircase.

    • Actually, I remember once when Sony made great products and had savvy marketing.

      But then the seventies ended?

      Seriously that's the last time Sony made anything worth buying besides the original crew of walkman cassette players.

  • Oh dear (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Hennell ( 1005107 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:26AM (#18122684) Homepage
    From a manufacturing point of view it might make sense, but from a PR viewpoint its ridiculous. The only way it could have worked is if it offered the same (or better) functionality, or they passed the price-drop onto the consumer.

    People will hear 'functionally reduced - doesn't play PS2 games" no-matter of what real situation is. I think the people who were thinking of trading in their ps2 in for money off/towards a ps3 might wait their time...

    This might be a good move for sony, thats more of a bad move for sony.
  • The Good News is Sony has enough honesty to come out and say this before Europeans are royally screwed.

    The Bad News is, that really sucks.

    • Honesty? Where? Look at the comp list, (Score:5, Insightful)

      by SmallFurryCreature ( 593017 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @12:37PM (#18124746) Journal

      When exactly is Sony going to tell the europeans what exactly the capabilities are of this new system? Right now, still a month away from launch? No.

      3 weeks before launch? No.

      Two weeks? One week? 5 days? 2 days? 1 day? No.

      They say they will (no actuall guarantee) announce it on launch day. So that gives customers how much time to cancel their pre-order incase they don't find the list to satisfaction?

      That is right. NO TIME.

      Honesty? No, sorry, not this time.

      Oh but they said it now right? Well yeah, their lawyer told them too, if people had found out AFTER launch date they would have gotten their ass sued off.

      Lets not forget that this is the EU, NOT the US or japan were big money rules. Holland is the EU country that forced Sony to exchange EVERY PSP with ANY defective pixels. (A rule that by the way goes for ALL LCD's, under dutch, and EU law, a product has to be fully functional and defective (sub)pixels are not part of it)

      So they announce it now, in a queit way, hope people forget and then claim, well we had a list up on launch day to cover themselves out of deceptive sales lawsuits.

      Sony and honesty? Yeah right.

  • Until we see the actually specifics... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Mark Gillespie ( 866733 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:28AM (#18122718)
    Anything else is blowing smoke. It may be inferior to US/JAP PS3, how HOW inferior, the US machine plays close to 100% (it was 98% but many things were fixed in the 1.5 firmware). If the compatability initially drops to say 80%, and improves over time to say 90%, i don't think thats too bad. It's certainly offset by the fact I am getting a rev2 model, with for sure other hardware tweaks to improve reliability, based on the US beta test programe.. As for the price, people forget, the US price does not include any sales taxes or local taxes, the UK, and EU prices do include all taxes... Whilst it's still more expensive, it's 17.5% less than it was... Plus, EU gets 1Yr warranty minimum on all new purchases, I think the US is 90 days.. I would imagine this also has a bearing...
    • It boils down to this: PS2 compatibility is not a feature that's moving a lot of units. If people are buying PS3s, it's because either: A) They have money to burn and "must have the best", B) That want a blu-ray player or C) they're hoping to play some fun games on it.

      The PS2 is currently outselling everything but the Wii, so PS3 owners who don't have PS2s and want to purchase PS2 games are a distinct minority.

      Of course, there are those PS3 owners who want to play old PS2 games on their new machines: wel

  • The written above doesn'r mention... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by TransEurope ( 889206 ) <eniac.uni-koblenz@de> on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:31AM (#18122772)
    ...that the software emulation will allow to scale the PS2-games to 720p high def resolution.
    It doesn't mention that Sony want's to bring the backward compatbility to an level almost
    as high as the hardware emulation in the US/Japan PS3 is too. See http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/85781 [heise.de]
    (in German). Not so bad as ist sounds.

    • Re:The written above doesn'r mention... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Slashcrap ( 869349 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @11:04AM (#18123348)
      ...that the software emulation will allow to scale the PS2-games to 720p high def resolution.

      So, the current PS3 with hardware support for PS2 games plus all the extra power of the Cell isn't enough to allow you to play old games at 720p, but removing the hardware assistance will magically enable this?

      Maybe it didn't mention this because the journalists aren't fucking deluded?

      It doesn't mention that Sony want's to bring the backward compatbility to an level almost
      as high as the hardware emulation in the US/Japan PS3 is too.

      Sony would probably also like their customers to submit to anal rape whilst wearing an "I Love DRM" T-Shirt, but I can't see that happening either.

      Software emulation of XBox games on the 360 is a fucking mess from what I hear. I challenge you to explain how Sony will succeed where MS failed without saying anything retarded.

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by hexix ( 9514 )

        So, the current PS3 with hardware support for PS2 games plus all the extra power of the Cell isn't enough to allow you to play old games at 720p, but removing the hardware assistance will magically enable this?

        I'm not an electrical engineer, but I'm guessing you can't use the existing PS2 chips AND do scaling to 720p+ unless you're scaling after the 3D rendering, which would basically be useless as the TV is doing that anyway. There probably just isn't a way to use the PS3 hardware to help out without going fully into software emulation.

        However, I'm doubtful Sony even cares about making PS2 games look nicer on the PS3. One big possibility is they have been working very hard on software emulation because t

    • the software emulation will allow to scale the PS2-games to 720p high def resolution.

      I'd rather that my PS2 titles work at 480i than NOT work at 720p.

      It doesn't mention that Sony want's to bring the backward compatbility to an level almost as high as the hardware emulation in the US/Japan PS3 is too.

      And Microsoft "wants" the 360 to emulate every Xbox title flawlessly, but it doesn't mean they've been able to make it happen. They're up to what now, 60% back-compatibility?

  • When do they do this in the US? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by ivan256 ( 17499 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @10:32AM (#18122788)
    So at what point do the US models fall victim to the same fate? I want to hold off on buying a PS3 for as long as possible, but I'll probably end up with one eventually (I typically end up buying all the major consoles...) and I don't want a crippled one. I need to know exactly how long I can wait before picking one up and still be able to get the good backwards compatibility.

  • Not all bad... (Score:2, Interesting)

    by sifi ( 170630 )
    The reason that the backwards compatibility is not as good, is because the original Japanese versions of the PS3 had a PS2 chip inside to handle the backwards compatibilty.

    The newer versions of the PS3 will do the backwards compatability using emulation and not the actual PS2 hardware.

    This means that the machines might be:
    a)Quieter.
    b)A better spec machine than the original version (less H/W bugs).
    c)Less prone to breaking.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by account_deleted ( 4530225 )
      Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • I call shenanigans. Show me your Sony Employee Badge this instant! A) Quieter - How will the new spec PS2 chip used in the PS2 Slim without a fan be louder than increasing the load on the main processor(s)? B) Better spec machine - Granted there will be less manufacturing induced hardware errors, after the initial run of these new spec machines and the bugs potentially introduced at the time of changeover are worked out. Not to mention that Sony is essentially swapping 6 year old, battle proven and time

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by insanius ( 1058584 )
      since we're speculating... it could also contain cheaper/crappier hardware that is a) louder b) more prone to hardware failure judging by sony's decisions as of late, i think my speculation is closer to the truth then yours...
  • Europe doesn't mind incomplete backwards compatibility. In fact, Europe doesn't mind ____________.
  • Thew subject says it all really. I hate sony. Detest them. I was nearly going to buy a PS3. Not anymore...they've just pissed me off too much.

    Expensive AND inferior console? OMGWTFLMAOROFL!

    How in gods name can you do that sony?! You must get through a hell of a lot of horlicks in order to sleep at night.

  • the psp uses the same OS as the PS3.

    Thanks to dark alex we have a custom firmware that enables psp owners to do a lot of neat stuff.

    I wonder how long will it take to someone make custom firmwares for the PS3?

  • Numbers? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by bhunachchicken ( 834243 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @12:03PM (#18124254) Homepage

    I read this story this morning too on a number of sites but the one thing I could not find were numbers.

    All I've read is that the Euro PS3 will play fewer PS2. Exactly what does that mean?

    1 less than the US version is fewer. But so is 2, 3 or even 10.

    Does anyone know what the severity of the "issue" is and what games are likely to be affected? If it means God of War 2, FF12 and Manhunter 2 won't work now then that's pretty bad. But if it means that Red Faction or Fantavision now won't work then who honestly gives a shit?

    • >Does anyone know what the severity of the "issue" is and what games are likely to be affected?
      It would seem not. And my guess is no-one will until the console is launched and some gamers start posting game results.

      Which means your best bet is to wait to see what games work before purchase. (Also giving you the fun of getting to laugh at sony if PS3's don't sell out on launch ;)
    • All I've read is that the Euro PS3 will play fewer PS2. Exactly what does that mean?

      Well, Sony's press release said they will have a compatability list up on the EU launch date in March. They also called the system's support for PS2 games "limited", so I'm thinking that means a lot more than 1 less game (since the US/Japan PS3 supports nearly all PS2 games, at least enough that Sony has never refered to the number as "limited").

  • WTF is wrong with sony (Score:3, Interesting)

    by SmallFurryCreature ( 593017 ) on Friday February 23, 2007 @12:16PM (#18124442) Journal

    Europeans are always screwed when it comes to launch dates. We are used to that but at least sometimes this results in us actually getting a better product. Patches applied and production problems sorted out. So we get every single console after everyone else has had it but at least we usually get better systems.

    Offcourse we also pay more, even if you account for different tax systems. But hey, that is the price to pay for the rest of the world beta-testing the product right?

    Now along comes Sony, who already has enough trouble selling the PS3, and they give europe NOT only the usual long delay, the usual unexplained price difference BUT they give a lesser product AND ask us to accept an untested product (untested software emulation vs proven hardware) on top of it all?

    I actually think the PS3 might have something intresting in it because of its linux capabilities (although so far it seems Sony has made every effort to kill this possibility) but just how far do they expect people to go?

    Did Sony hire a mole from MS or Nintendo? Did they hire someone from the remains of british industry to make their decisions? Has the long japanese working week finally caught up with management and driven them utterly mad?

    Yes, in theory it makes sense to reduce costs per unit especially with the PS3 but to screw over the europeans by given them a lesser untested product months after everyone for more money just doesn't seem to make a lot of marketting sense. Especially given that PS3 games at the moment are not exactly setting new sales records.

    Oh well, Sony got a couple more weeks. They could still announce that the EU PS3 will not be able to play HD movies. Can't take any risks, can we? Must make sure this product tanks.

    Perhaps this is all a cunning plan to avoid those nasty stories about shortages and people fighting over the PS3 at launch. Make it even more expensive, still have no good games out and reduce functionality.

    Rememeber the tale of how MS won the desktop from IBM and Apple and the homecomputers? Not because MS was so brilliant but because IBM and Apple and the homecomputers all made really stupid decisions?

    That is too simple for Sony's taste. It seems determined to make every boneheaded decision themselves.

    It is pitifull. Lets face it, the hardware costs for the PS2 hardware can't be that high, but in order to save a few dollars they are willing to remove a key feature from their product. A key feature that is desperately needed as long as their are no killer PS3 games out while there are plenty of intresting PS2 games out, and in fact still being launched.

    I have seen attempts to introduce laws that require older people to take driving exams again to prove they are still fit to drive.

    Perhaps as management gets older HR should do re-hire procedures to see if they still qualify. Alternatively, maybe management that has been there longer then a decade should be just humanily put down. Put the sony leadership out of its misery.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by HappySqurriel ( 1010623 )

      Rememeber the tale of how MS won the desktop from IBM and Apple and the homecomputers? Not because MS was so brilliant but because IBM and Apple and the homecomputers all made really stupid decisions?

      I have argued (several times) that Sony was successful with the Playstation mainly because Sega and Nintendo made some massive mistakes; Sega had released several (unnecessary) upgrades (Sega-CD, 32x) and released the Saturn with no games, Nintendo offended third parties, used cartridges and gave Sony an 18 mon

  • Why have backward compatibility on a console? As I see it there are 2 reasons:
    1) As a consumer, if your console has backward compatibility you only have to have 1 device plugged in and hooked up to your TV. It helps with space issues and power issues.
    2) As a company, it's a tick mark on a "features" list.

    In order for number 1 to be useful it needs to encompass your entire library of games. If it doesn't then you still need to have your old console setup to play your old games. This defeats the purpose o
  • Lemme check.....

    Yep, Zonk is responsible.
    • How's zonk reponsible? If Sony had said they'd be giving 8 free games and 5 Blu-ray movies to all ps3 purchasers he'd have reported that. Sony have annouced something, which the people don't like = anti-ps3.

      slashdot eds report the news, not make it.

Slashdot Top Deals

A committee takes root and grows, it flowers, wilts and dies, scattering the seed from which other committees will bloom. -- Parkinson

Close