Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. will reportedly release its long-awaited cost-effective PlayStation 3 game console in late October, in time for late year sales. However, the new console will supposedly not be compatible with PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games at all, a significant drawback to experienced PlayStation gamers.
Documents from Best Buy retail network in the U.S. published by Engadget web-site reveal that starting from the 28th of October the retail chain will sell Sony PlayStation 3 40GB with Spider Man 3 movie on Blu-ray disc for as low as $399, the lowest price for a PlayStation 3 ever in the USA. The new “low-cost” model will also be on sale in Europe, however, its price in the region remains to be seen.
Play.com, an online store based in the UK, also lists Sony PlayStation 3 40GB model, however, it claims that the part only features 2 USB ports and “is not backward compatible with PS2 games” based “specifications supplied by manufacturer”. Besides, there are rumours that the low-cost Sony PlayStation 3 lacks Wi-Fi controller as well as memory card reader.
Alleged Best Buy document published by Engadget web-site
Given that modern PlayStation 3 60GB (PAL) and 80GB (NTSC) do not feature build-in PlayStation 2 processors for backwards compatibility, but rely on software-based approach, it is unclear why would Sony reportedly axed this feature, if PS2 games are still supported on more expensive PS3 versions. It is also uncertain whether the console will finally revitalize sales of SCEI’s latest game machine, which have been lagging behind Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox 360.
Alleged Best Buy document published by Engadget web-site
Sony PlayStation 3 console is based on the Cell processor developed by IBM, Sony and Toshiba, the RSX graphics chip by Nvidia Corp., wireless network and Bluetooth connectivity and is equipped with Blu-ray optical disk drive. There are several versions of the consoles available around the world with 60GB or 80GB hard disk drives and variable compatibility with PlayStation 1/2 games. In the U.S. PlayStation 3 80GB is sold for $599, whereas the hard-to-find 60GB model retails for $499.
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. did not comment on the news-story.
Comments currently:
13
Discussion started: 10/02/07 05:06:26 PM
Latest comment: 10/29/07 01:31:08 AM
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1.
Perhaps Sony should look at revising it's management structure, as they consistently shoot themselves in the foot. Let's see, few games for the PS3, poor uptake, loosing money, PS2 + associated games still the biggest game platform in use..."Let's make our new console incompatible with the huge in-use library of PS2 games!" Geniuses at work, for sure.
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Posted by: 
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Date: 10/02/07 05:06:26 PM]
2.
The hell with that. No way I'm buying a ps3 for at least another year and a half to two years. Even if ps2 games worked on this new variety of this ps3 it is still not worth buying right now.
Wait for the 3rd and 4th generation of 'next-gen' games that are exclusive to the ps3 and not ported to the 360, Wii and PC. Those games will be the TRUE next gen games as they didn't have to make it lesser for the lesser systems to handle them. Then it'll be worth buying and possibly be $299-349 by then also.
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Posted by: |
Date: 10/03/07 05:29:15 PM]
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Your article is wrong about the fact that the newer PS3's have software backwards compatibility, it is only partial software compatibility.
The PS2's (Emotion Engine) CPU was removed and emulated by the PS3's Cell CPU but the PS2's GS (Graphics Synthesizer) GPU was not as it was just too "weird" compared to conventional GPU's like the GeForce 7 based RSX.
If these new 40GB PS3's have no backwards compatibility then that means the final remains of the PS2 in the form of the GS have been pulled from the system
If by some chance backwards compatibility is still present and the GS has been removed then full software emulation is probably in place though I would speculate that the number titles compatible is even lower as from all accounts emulating the GS via RSX is no trivial task & was Sony's original plan which is why it never happened to date.
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Posted by: |
Date: 10/04/07 06:41:58 AM]
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