SCEE ANNOUNCES HARDWARE SPECIFICATION OF PS3 FOR EUROPE
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.
“PS3 is first and foremost a system that excels in playing games specifically designed to exploit the power and potential of the PS3 system,” said David Reeves, President of SCEE. “Games designed for PS3 offer incredible graphics quality, stunning gameplay and massively improved audio and video fidelity that is simply not achievable with PS and PS2 games. Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future, company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3, truly taking advantage of this exciting technology.”
Some additional PS2 titles will become compatible on the PS3 system through regular downloadable firmware updates, which will be made available through the PLAYSTATION®Network, from www.playstation.com or via PS3 game discs, with the first update planned for the launch date of the 23rd March 2007.
Users will be able to check whether their titles are compatible with PS3 at http://faq.eu.playstation.com/bc. This site will be available on 23rd March to meet launch day.
European PLAYSTATION 3 Product Specification:
1 - A device compatible with Linear PCM 7.1 Ch is required to output 7.1 ch audio, supported by 2 - Dolby TrueHD or a similar format, from the HDMI OUT connector.
3 - This system does not support output from the DTS-HD 7.1 Ch. DTS-HD 7.1 Ch audio is output from a 5.1 or lower channel.
4 - Usability of all storage media types is not guaranteed.
5 - Certain PlayStation 2 format software titles may not perform properly on this system. Visit faq.eu.playstation.com/bc for the latest information regarding compatible titles.
One of the main reasons I am buying a PS3 is the backward compatibility with the PS2 games. This is one of the worst moves Sony have made! At the very least make the BC site available now so we can see what does and doesn’t work.
Comment by Ian — February 23, 2007 @ 11:48 am
Yes, and.. no. You have developed the backward compatibility for US and now you’ll made the same thing for Europe. There’s no excuse. And we have the right to know the number of pal supported games before the launch.
Comment by Wildy — February 23, 2007 @ 11:50 am
This is how Sony treats Europe, we pay more and receive less. Show some respect and at least make the BC site available NOW. Preorder cancelled. No price drop = no ps3.
Comment by Alex — February 23, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Why do I think that Sony have gotten rid of the EE+GS hardware in the PS3 and it only does software emulation?
I hope to hell that when they say fewer games that it is better than the XBox 360 emulation because they will be skinned alive. Emulation should be near total with a dedicated effort to make it near 100%
Comment by DrXym — February 23, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Does this mean that the PS2 hardware chips have been removed completely and replaced with software only emulation? And is the bluetooth and wifi hardware implementation now on one chip rather than two chips as the US version?
Comment by slott_hansen — February 23, 2007 @ 11:57 am
Just point out, it’s an effort to reduce costs that can - in the near future hopefully - lead to a price reduction. And getting angry will not accomplish anything - first one has to see how much “limited” the compatibility is.
Comment by ximpa — February 23, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Sony is a complete joke, they delay the European launch and then destroy one of the main features of the console, we all know they are doing this to cut costs so I wouldn’t be surprised if they start to make all the components out of cheap flimsy materials.
Comment by adam — February 23, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
I hope that BC list that opens up on the 23rd isn’t too big. I hope also hope that the updates come thick and fast & that any games that is compatible can be upscaled. It would make it easier to swallow.
Comment by Mick — February 23, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
GREAT… Just F**King GREAT!
I sold my PS2 just 1 week ago to help fund my PS3 and have just purchased FF 12 to play on my PS3 - now I have no idea if the damn game will actually work - not to mention all the other PS2 games that I have retained!
This is just plain dumb. What’s worse is that Sony are not letting you know what games will run until the PS3 is out!Why not let us know before hand. Right now I’m considering holding off getting a PS3 until I know what games will run on the damn thing.
Come on Sony, at least let us know what PS2 games will run before the PS3 is released!
This is by far the worst thing that Sony could have done running up to the launch of the PS3.
At least my Wii has 100% backwards compatability!
Comment by Bazlurgan — February 23, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
The move to remove the hardware components required for emulation and replace the entire process with a software emulation has long been floating around.
But to remove this feature and instead offer an inferior product for a higher price in order to reduce the overall cost of production is just plain wrong.
For me this means no PS3 until the exclusive titles finally start coming (MGS4, FFXIII).
Until that time: f*** off, SONY.
Comment by Dave — February 23, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
fewer ps2 titles than US or JP, more expensive ps3. INSANE!!!. Sony get your act together or lose this customer who is on the verge of cancelling his pe-order!!!
Comment by mark — February 23, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Sony just pissed a shitload of Fanboys and PlayStation devotees off.
Comment by Tom Kiss — February 23, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
As an PS-longtime- & oldschool-gamer I’m very curious to see how many of my collection of
185 PS1+2 games will ACTUALLY work on the all-so-famous “exciting” new EU-PS3 right from the start…
30% anyone ?!? ;(
The least §ony could do after this hilarious announcement is release a first compability-list BEFORE 23. March!
And I DO HOPE FOR $ONY, that they WILL work HARD on the rest of the back-catalogue’s compability despite Mr. Reeves commentary ! >:(
Comment by CoDshin — February 23, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
And what’s with the gobbledy gook talk about the 7.1 output?!
It hasn’t changed, right? 7.1 is available only via HDMI and as uncompressed Linear PCM.
Comment by Tom Kiss — February 23, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
A damn DISGRACE! I could put up with every SONY mess-up… except this one.
~100% backwards compatibility was one of the BIG reasons that I was going to get a european PS3, because I have a vast library of PS2 games that I still play (and intend to play in the future).
Read my words, SONY + ThreeSpeech, this is ATROCIOUS.
If this is not retified for (almost) all games via firmware updates in the near future, then you can kiss goodbye to me ever buying a PS3 or other SONY product again.
Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful. Shame on you Sony!
Comment by Joel — February 23, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
i don’t see what the big deal is,i sold my ps2 to fund my ps3 cause i can’t see me playing any of the ps2 games again,it’s a next gen machine ask yourself how often you played your ps1 games on your ps2 when it was released. i would say all recent games will work and that this will apply to older games only
Comment by marko — February 23, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
this sucks!
Comment by Jonsiuk — February 23, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
Im not bothered about this at all really the only PS2 game i’ll consider playing on my PS3 will be Pro Evo 6 and as that is fairly recent I’d say it would work as its fairly recent.
When I got my PS2 i didnt play any of my PSone games at all.
Comment by Stephen — February 23, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
Please, 3Speech, can we get some info about what exactly has changed in EU PS3 in comparison with US/Japan one? No EE/GS, 65nm Cell, optimised circuit, cooling system, what?
A lot of preorders are in danger right now, please, give us some info!
Comment by Kinan — February 23, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
Ok Sony, this is enough! I will cancel my PS3 preorder. The way Sony treats Europe is unbelievable! But not with me, thats it!
Comment by reTokyo — February 23, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
anyone thinking the PS3 would be 100% back compat. needs their head examining! but Sony really have messed up for those wanting to play last gen’s games.
Comment by Zed — February 23, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
To say that im P*ssed off with this move is an understatement. Not only do we have to pay a premium for the soddin console and wait longer for it. But now (spitting mad now) now we get a lesser spec machine.
This is a disgusting move and i for one will be cancelling my pre order.
Why do we get treated like second rate consumers is our money no good.
Is there anywhere official i can complain to
So disapointed in this move after all the sticking up i have done for the Sony brand i have been let down.
Comment by Scorn — February 23, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS SONY
Forgot to add that
Comment by Scorn — February 23, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
According to a post somewhere else, FFXII will surely work, for those worried about that.
Comment by ximpa — February 23, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
Well here we go again, sony yet again decide to shaft us in europe. Well I wont be lining Sony Europes pocket now they have announced this.
European PS3 pre-order cancelled.
US PS3 - ordered.
Thanks.
Comment by Bigsmoke — February 23, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
What in the love of god are you thinking SONY. I have 100 PS1 games and 250 PS2 games. A lot of those PS2 games wre very limited relese versions in PAL regions. I will SUE Sony NZ if one of them does not work and complain to the advertising standards comitty for False advertising.
Comment by Carl — February 23, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
Getting a US PS3 won’t help. PS2 games are not region free (so for me at least - all my PAL PS2 games won’t work)
Sony sure have pissed off a great many people today.
Oh, and in answer to another comment, I still play a lot of PS2 AND PS3 games, and I’m sure I’m not alone!
Comment by Bazlurgan — February 23, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Fact is Sony as a company have got too big for their boots simple as!
So in theory what they are doing here is producing a cheaper machine than in the US and Japan for us in Europe. And guess what we get charged the most for it!! and wait the longest to get it! If we buy this in droves in europe it will make us look like right egits!
Comment by Bigsmoke — February 23, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Maybe everyone needs to take a deep breath …. aaahhhh …. Surely there is someconfusion here, I mean there’s not much detail in the Press Release, I’d expect something soon to clear this one up - Where’s Phil?
Comment by maikii — February 23, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
/PAL-land bends over and assumes the position…
“Thank you SONY, may I have another?!”
Comment by Joel — February 23, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
Look-I’m in America, and I feel sorry for the folks over in Europe, as they are getting screwed on this deal something fierce…especially when it was mentioned by Sony brass more than once that gamers wouldn’t have to worry about backwards compatibility (BC) coming from Sony, and BC is something important to me as a consumer.
Honestly, if games worth owning (that aren’t out on the Wii60) come out for the PS3 and there’s a price drop (at least to $399 U.S., if not less), I’m all over a PS3, so don’t think I’m not looking as a consumer.
It’s just that Sony’s recent ‘asshattery’ as of late really needs to be nipped in the bud. Someone needs what we call a ‘Come to Jesus’ session with your staff-either pull their heads out of their rear ends, or kick them off the rambling wreck of a vehicle known as the PS3 at this point and get some folks that will be honest and do what’s best for Sony’s (fast dwindling) consumer base.
Comment by Matt — February 23, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
Come on. You can’t expect 100% backwards compatability but with an actual PS2 Emotion Engine in the machine at least then you knew that most games would be fine.
Replacing it with the emulation software, before it’s to an adequate standard, in order to save costs earlier is just plain bad.
Comment by Tom Kiss — February 23, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
Utterly disgraceful. Unless Sony give a straight answer soon as to why the EU is getting screwed over again, a lot of people are going to get annoyed.
The PAL model has had the hardware chips pulled, reducing costs. Why isn’t this passed onto the consumer? Why are we still paying £425 for a unit? I think people are going to start canceling their pre-orders.
Any idea how to get an official complaint to somebody like Phil Harrison?
Comment by cei — February 23, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
LOL @ anyone mad over this the recent and more popular games will be sure to play on the PS3 so it shouldnt be a problem. BC is really a non issue if your buying a next gen console for next gen games if you wanna play “every” single old PS2 game here’s a thought keep your FREAKIN PS2 it doesnt take a genius to figure out stop bitching its pathetic.
Comment by kaos — February 23, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Great news!
I don’t have PS2 or any games for that, so any extra hardware taken off the PS3 is great, less heat, less weight.
Maybe it was a good thing to wait half a year in order to get PS3 v1.1…
Comment by Ari — February 23, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
no “Mick” its [email protected]
Comment by kaos — February 23, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
Not arsed…Cancel you pre order at your own peril. I’m confident you’ll be looking for somewhere to buy one again before long after this has been cleared up more…
Like Ari said, less weight, less heat better life span as far as I can see…
Comment by Xeauron — February 23, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
I’m afraid to say that Sony has not been correct and clear towards its customers.
They knew this well before they announced the launch date for Europe and they’re only unveiling their cards now,after pre-orders have been taken.
They said they really wanted but couldn’t offer PS3 at 399£ in UK and now we find out that not only europe is receiving a cheaper hardware but we’re paying more than american and japanese people.Where’s our price cut Sony?
Honestly I hope many people will cancel their pre-orders, Sony is doing everything they can to make PS3 a total disaster since E3 2006.
Comment by David — February 23, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
so less bc=less costs for Sony=more money to pay in Europe
If price reduction doesnt come fast (till october) then i doubt ps3 will go well in europe.
like its not enough we have to pay consideralby more then Japan/USA
Comment by nice€€€ — February 23, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
I have just cancelled my pre-order on the basis of this news. I will wait until it is released.
Thanks a bundle Sony. BC was important to me.
Comment by RunDMC — February 23, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
i agree with kaos keep your ps2 then if it means so much to play old games,
Comment by marko — February 23, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
“[The PS3 will have] almost perfect backwards compatibility. There will be some exceptions, but we believe those will be even less than we saw from PSOne to PS2.”Backwards compatibility, as you know from PlayStation One and PlayStation 2, is a core value of what we believe we should offer. And access to the library of content people have created, bought for themselves, and accumulated over the years is necessary to create a format. PlayStation is a format meaning that it transcends many devices — PSOne, PS2, and now PS3.
“If the developer wrote the game according to our technical requirements checklist, we will have what we believe will be almost perfect backwards compatibility. There will be some exceptions, there always are, but we believe those will be very few and far between. Even less so than we saw from PSOne to PS2.”
Phil Harrison on backwards compatibility.
“I don’t believe that was backwards compatibility.”
Phil Harrison on Microsoft’s abortive attempt at backwards compatibility.
Looks like *someone* may need to eat their words.
Comment by iapetus — February 23, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
And what am I supposed to do when my launch PS2 dies?
Yea I wont be able to play the thousands of dollors of games I paid for.
Your an idiot Maro
Comment by Carl — February 23, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
The problem is that Sony stated that BC was important to them and it would be available. Even worse - it IS available to Japan and US but the EU version is seemingly crippled. I pre-ordered my PS3 on the strength that I would be able to play most if not all my PS1/PS2 games.
Comment by ID — February 23, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
I know how you guys feel… But I really think you guys should wait till the software emulation comes up and see the backup list BEFORE making any bashings or cancellations. Sony has been stating about using software emulation ages ago and perhaps they are confident enough about this move? They probably will remove the PS2 chip from US/JP PS3 as well once the software emulation kicks in so i think people should just wait and see before making any ignorant judgements.
Comment by shaselai — February 23, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Maybe there would be more confidence if Sony weren’t too scared to release the compatibility list before release date. That’s a move that positively reeks of poor compatibility.
Comment by iapetus — February 23, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
it’s marko,carl you narrow minded idiot
Comment by marko — February 23, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
This is B.S… Make Europe wait 4 months and give them a gimped system! I’m glad you didn’t give me the shaft, b/c if I were you, Euro gamers, I’d be angry as hell.
Comment by greendublin — February 23, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
Now they lost me… maybe i buy a PS3 in one or two years… As we can wait so can sony, or?
Comment by Letschki — February 23, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
Im not sure why this wasnt announced three weeks ago when preorders hadnt started.
Im not annoyed and my preorder stands, but they arent doing themselves any favours here. The thing im worried about is the console dropping like a lead balloon.
Surely the only thing stopping people importing was this and the warranty. Its easy enough to get a cheaper, wider range of blu ray films from the states too.
They need to speak out on this before people cancel their orders and import in my opinion.
Comment by TheBomb — February 23, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
SONY. What is going on? Read the threads everwhere. I am a Sony fan and have not thought of buying anything other than a PS3 (after my PS1 & PS2). I probably won’t be playing many PS2 games but I have the discs & would want to play them at some stage. I presume the changes are for the better (? upscaling of old games). People need to know exactly what they are. I also don’t feel you can justify waiting till the public have placed their orders before more details are given on the 23rd of March. I have never felt compelled but more & more, the Xbox 360 is beginning to look a better option, at least for the next few years. Please don’t let your loyal public desert you at this final stage…
Comment by Faiz — February 23, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Well, there is one upside in all this… At last we will be able to play Shadow of the Collosus without framedrops
And hopefully bigger resolution
Comment by DieH@rd — February 23, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
Oh dear…
Comment by Ben Furneaux — February 23, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
I’m starting to suspect someone is paying for spreading FUD over the internet; suddenly 99% people chose PS3 because of BC - if You recollect, software emulation wasn’t ready for launch but at the time some senior tech guy in Sony was interviewed about it, around 93% of PS2 library was working with software emulation during tests.
Comment by Martin — February 23, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Well what a tremendous kick in the balls this is!
In Europe we wait the long time for the PS3 to be released and we pay the most expensive prices.
Not only that, the machine is inferior to the Japanese and USA machines with worse backwards compatability because of cost reducing manufacturing methods.
And finally to top it all off, the manfacturing savings aren’t passed onto us the consumers but pocketed by Sony.
What ever will Sony do next to upset their dwindling base of loyal customers?
Bravo! Bravo! Encore! Encore!
*slow hand clap*
Comment by GameBoar — February 23, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
I think this is a good move.
Removing any extra hardware will help to bring the price down quicker (and perhaps help them to lose a bit less on the first release)
. I have perhaps 100 PS2 games and I will still play them on my PS2. If I buy a PS3 (in fact I am planning to buy 2), it is for the new games, not to play the old ones. So that kind of move from Sony is really ok for me.
Comment by Kryss — February 23, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
Why dont they make a usb that is basically a Dualshock2 controller that has the rumble and a memory stick port as well as all the chips that are required to emu PS2.
Comment by VP — February 23, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
This is rediculous, bad move Sony. I never thought they could screw us over any further… but look what just happened.
Here you go Europe - 4 month delay, highest price, and half assed backwards compatibility.
Sony’s PR is an absolute disaster. How many times have executives gone on about backwards compatibiltiy being an essensial feature, and dissed competitors attempts backwards compatibility?
I’ll still get one (dont think I can get my deposit back anyway) but come on Sony, whats going on here. At least tell us now which games won’t be able to be played.
Comment by Tom Eccles — February 23, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
Surely this will mean they are able to focus more on making the current gen side of things brighter and better because they won’t be dedicating so many resources on making an outdated platform function perfectly on their next gen console!!
Comment by Xeauron — February 23, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
Sony, you gotta be kidding. Not ONLY is the price higher than in the U.S., we also get cheapskate software emulation. Everybody knew they would replace the hardware PS2 compat by software somewhere down the line, but at Euro LAUNCH? And with considerably lowered compatibility rates?? Plain NUTS!
Is this your way to say “thank you” to the early adopters crazy enough to cough up 599 €?
How can anyone honestly call this “a good move”?
Consider my pre-order cancelled. It’s all amassing to an intolerable pile of greedy BS.
Comment by Tom — February 23, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
Sorry, but spin it however you like this is a case of Europe being asked to pay more money for less functionality than elsewhere. It’s bad enough that they release months late at an inflated price, but to rip out functionality that’s *already there in other regions* for the European release is adding insult to injury. They could focus perfectly happily on the current gen side of things by giving us *exactly what is already shipped in other countries*.
Comment by iapetus — February 23, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
Weird that Sony haven’t even started their European marketing yet - one month out from launch.
The optimist in me says they’ve been holding back on the marketing campaign until this awful news was announced, so they can kick off their marketing with a big surprise - a European price drop (thanks to the savings found in stripping out the Emotion Engine).
Of course, this sounds *extremely* unlikely! More like we’re paying more, and getting less. ho hum.
Comment by cobra — February 23, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
I don’t understand.
we pay more money but get less features a lot later than everyone else?
if they did this in US or japan, they would be crucified……
Comment by hamildan — February 23, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
This is an other Sony PR disaster.
Do they even realize they have made a press release to announce that they have cut the game functionalities in the console to reduce their costs, but at the same time european must pay the console more than american and japanese people??? This shows no respect of their customers.
Sony’s execution on the PS3 project has been a disaster so far, I doubt they can recover anytime soon, they have locked themselves with an expensive trojan horse for their Blu Ray format and now they don’t know what they can do to make the console affordable and competitive since sales have been a total disappointement. Third place worldwide after ten years of market leadership.That’s what Sony has accomplished with PS3.
Comment by Shinji — February 23, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
Sony should make the PS£££ £399 now as a result
I’ve been trying to justify pre-ordering a PS3 to my 360 owning mates for a long time - and it isn’t getting any easier
This is like trying to stay friends with someone who just keeps showing you up in front of your mates
Cancelling PAL PS£££ pre-order - p*ss of Sony
Comment by FU666AR — February 23, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
To play devil’s advocate.. I haven’t really played any of my PS2 games since getting the the US PS3. However, it’s definitely a nice feature to have in the PS3, to KNOW that I play them though if and whenever I feel like it with all my PS2 games. Here’s at least 1 assumption I can safely make: God of War 2 is going to be compatible.
Comment by nmc75 — February 23, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
I honestly aren’t bothered about this. I sold my PS2 about 4 years ago as i got a bit bored of it. I was hooked on PC gaming which i still am and PS2 couldn’t deliver that at the time.
I then bought an Xbox (not 360) and sold that this Christmas (£80 14 games 2 controllers - it was xmas) knowing that the Beast known as the PS3 was coming out! I Pre-Ordered mine in October last year and got ripped off but i don’t care because i’m guaranteed one on Release day.
I can see why this would annoy many people but if you look at your collection of games 90% of what you have i reckon will work. As for the BC website if the PS2 & PSone games are being tested on the software then it should be available and then updated as more games are tested.
I hope people don’t stop pre-ordering just for this emulation problem. At the end of the day PS3 games will kick ass. Look at lost planet on 360 and imagine what lost planet 2 will be like on the PS3.
I’m done!
Rich
Comment by Richard — February 23, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Sony, just WHAT are you doing with us? Again your just taking the *iss removing aspects of the unit that other countries have and continuing to charge us more for less!
I’ve had enough .. my pre-order will be cancelled.. I’m just not willing to take any more from you.
Comment by Mark Freeman — February 23, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Maybe most of you take a 5 minute break and think about this once again: what better could have happen than this? Sony finally removed that ancient piece of technology out of this high tech device now being able to deliver us those great PS2 games in even better quality.
Guess what, the folks in Japan and the US will enventually envy us for this. I would be surprised if we would find out finally that Sony even put the smaller Cell chip (65nm) into the box, making it even more silent and cooler. But I guess someone whould even complain about this: I want my 25 nm back!
Comment by Mutsch — February 23, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
I’m not particularly bothered about the PS2 emulation what I am bothered about is that the US and Japan have got it and at a lower price. Absolute p*ss take.
Comment by Sean1504 — February 23, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
Terrible news, cancelled my pre-order and the Bravia that was coming with it.
Comment by Sandy — February 23, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
“Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future, company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games…”
??
If they put a Hardware to make BC, there’s no reason to improve the firmware to reach better BC and they can focus on developing new games…!!
But now, they must focus on developing new sowfware to improve the BC!!
Incredible
f from Spain
Incredible!!
Comment by f — February 23, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
It’s not like there’s no BC, it’s just gone over to software based which we all knew was going to happen. There may even be advantages, such as upscaling… we just don’t have all the details yet.
Think about it this way, if they had said, before you pre-ordered, that the new models we were getting would have software emulation over hardware emulation - would you have not placed your pre-order?
I really don’t think it would have mattered.
Comment by Timeless — February 23, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
blah blah blah……..
I’m buying a PS3 because it PLAYSTATION 3 for crying out loud… I want to play PS3 games
If you want to play PS2 then stick with your PS2….
Oh by the way.. the only reason Wii is 100% is that its a Game Cube reboxed with a fancy controller not Next Gen.
Get over it!
Comment by farz — February 23, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
I HATE YOU SONY.
I have stood by you since day one with the Playstation. And when you promised “FULL BACKWARDS COMPITABILITY” I expected that. I expect that I will be able to play ALL games that I have bought through the years will be playable on it.
COST REDUCTION YOU SAY? Well fuck you again. How come it is cheaper here then? Are you aware that we have to pay over 850 american dollars here in europe for it?
I just put my preorder depositum in yesterday, when I expected that all was known about the console. Then you drop this shit on us?
I wanna shit down your entire company now. I wonder if I even shall buy this thing now.
The question that has me hanging, after all these complaints, you better fix the problem, so hardware revisions will be done. Shall I wait to buy the machine when it’s better and cheaper?
Comment by Marius — February 23, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Mutsch, take off the Sony-tinted glasses and apply some realism. Of course the folks in Japan and the US won’t eventually envy us for this - they’ll get all the benefits of software emulation *as well as* hardware emulation. Virtually complete backwards compatibility for *all titles* as well as any improvements that get made to the ‘limited’ number of games that work under software emulation. We, on the other hand, will *not* have that. Spinning this as an advantage for Europeans is just desperate. There is no advantage to this - it’s a cost cutting measure that won’t reduce the cost (because again we’re subsidising the other markets) and *will* reduce functionality.
Comment by iapetus — February 23, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
iapetus, sure you are probably right that the software emu works with the US and Japan spec as well. But we might also see a even more refined hardware when it comes to power consumption due to a higher integrated Cell.
This is normal business, happend to the first PS2 released in Japan. I rather want Sony to make some money with this hardware finally rather than subsidising those units.
Comment by Mutsch — February 23, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
So let’s summarize, we get:
- less
- later
- for more €
- minus the 20GB option
Thanks for the punch in the face…
Comment by Planet — February 23, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
Why are people so upset there, is no word on how many titles are BC … But I think the list needs to be up before March 23.
I didn’t realise so many people were buying an exspensive next-gen console to play PS2 games ??? Why not just keep your PS2, would mean less work for new PS3, might last longer too.
Comment by maikii — February 23, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
Wow……………………
I do find it harder and harder to have faith in sony. Really i just cant belive it.
There is only so much i can take even as a toughened ps fan. seriously i just cant belive it. More money for less of a console. Great
Is there any improvments in this design does anyone know?.. maybe that can cheer my up.
/me decides not to sell the ps2 x.x
Comment by Ricky — February 23, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
Also.. why did you annouce this after a roaring success of a pre order in uk/europe?
kick in the fucking balls to be honest.
Comment by Ricky — February 23, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
What an utter fucking farce, thanks a fucking bunch.
Just cancelled my pre-order and off to get a 360 tomorrow. Cheers for making me feel stupid for keeping the Sony faith.
Comment by Fubmaster — February 23, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
Oh God, Sony just stumble from mistake to mistake, what’s next? Someone from Sony comes round to your house if you have pre-ordered and punch you in the face.
Lame. UK consumer gets shafted again.
Comment by shinesevens — February 23, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
Mutsch, you’ll have to remind me when a major piece of functionality was removed from the PS2 - I must have missed that one (and I’ve got one of the first PS2s released in Japan, as well as more modern PAL and US models, and there’s no difference…)
Comment by iapetus — February 24, 2007 @ 12:02 am
Sony what are you doing?? I preordered my PS3 beliving it was of the same standard as the others. I am very concerned about the backward compatibility, this was one of the reasons i was buying one.
If as you said it was a cost cutting choice then i believe us customers deserve that back by cutting the price of the console. We are getting less for what we are paying for.
Didn’t sony see how successful the pre orders have been. Expect some people cancelling theirs after this announcement.
If sony pull more unwanted surprises then i may have to reconsider buying the console when it is cheaper.
Comment by Nevin — February 24, 2007 @ 12:13 am
Im stunned by Sony’s announcement, I can’t honestly believe that this machine isn’t already well into production so why tell us now that it’s got less features than USA/JP.
I’ll still pre-order as I want/need next-gen gaming and have resisted an 360 this far, had one on order when we were supposed to get it last Nov, no pre-ordering mine tomorrow but one more bit of bad press and it’s goodbye Sony, Hello 360!!!
Comment by bmaindj — February 24, 2007 @ 1:02 am
after thinking about this, im not that botherd about BC, the only PS2 game i want to play on the PS3 is Pro Evo 6.
Comment by Jonsiuk — February 24, 2007 @ 1:15 am
When the Playstation 2 was released, it played PS1 games via emulation- and overall it worked great. I dont see anything wrong with improving the PS3 chipset to reduce costs.
HOWEVER, I have a vast library of PS2 games. I only want one console under my TV. Therefore its important that Sony try and get as many games compatible as possible. Hopefully 90%.
THE NEWEST PLAYSTATION SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY ALL PLAYSTATION GAMES!
Comment by Andronix — February 24, 2007 @ 3:15 am
Sony think they are smart first we get a very very very very very very very very very very very very very late launch here in the UK / E.U then we have to pay 425 pounds for the console not including the 20 gb version they wont release yet.
Then you have to be the one of the 500,000 that have to sign up to get the blu-ray version of Casino Royale whilst the U.S get there blu-ray packaged in the console then this outrage out having less backwards compatibility for ps2 / ps1 games than the U.S and japan.
Sony just keep screwing us UK / E.U citizens over and over and over and over and over again we need to teach Sony a lesson about equal rights.
And before i forget you guys aint gonna believe this but two guys broke into a store or a place dunno which just to play a ps3 before its released in the pal territories click on this to see what im talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0S7k6lPcQw
Comment by PSM3MAGSPITZ — February 24, 2007 @ 6:08 am
Europe,
Screw you. We
Comment by Sony Fan — February 24, 2007 @ 6:58 am
This is sooooo typical…
D*mn it sony “where’s the good news”?
Comment by Akisame — February 24, 2007 @ 9:13 am
iapetus, the initial PS2 launched in Japan had a PC Card slot instead of a HDD slot. The DVD player software was part of the MemCard. The later PS2’s didn’t come with Firewire slot. The EE chips where finally melted into one. The PS2 history is full of hardware revisions. A year from now, nobody will ever recognize the difference between those PS3 units.
Comment by Mutsch — February 24, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Do Sony understand the meaning of the word INTEGRITY?
Why wait until the pre-order campaign is well under way to release this news?
Why wait until launch day to release a list a BC games?
Comment by Sean — February 24, 2007 @ 10:10 am
Now, I can appreciate that costs need to be cut. I can even understand that Europe is the test bed for this new functionality, and that there even might be some upsides to this, such as upscaling for older games (which is a godsend on the 360, as any HD-ready TV owner will tell you), but there’s a few things that I don’t quite understand here. Basically, there’s two options:
1. Whoever does the press releases for Sony needs to be fired because they consistently fail to point out the good side of all bad announcements.
2. There are no good sides, because there is no such thing as upscaling: hence the refusal to make to make the BC list known BEFORE launch. My reaction? If they’re not telling, it can’t be good. I mean, come on: they knew people would be all over them when they announced this and yet they did nothing to soften the blow.
If they had a (very) good percentage of games that would work, they would have mentioned it already.
If there was upscaling or any other fringe benefits of software emulation available, they would have mentioned it already.
That leads me to believe that the news simply won’t be good. Yeah, yeah, God of War 2 will work. So will PES6 probably. The big titles will be accounted for. But what about Rez? Guitaroo Man? Gradius V? We Love Katamari? (heh) Psychonauts? Games that didn’t sell into the millions probably will be left behind just as they are on the Xbox, and that will be a blow to people that care about these games. That we’re being asked to pay the same (adjusted or inflated, whatever view you have on that) price as in the US and Japan for a lesser box just adds to the irritation.
A lot of people waited with importing precisely for the backwards compatibility, and make no mistake, most of these are not your common GTA/PES gamers with maybe 5 to 10 games in their collection, these are the guys with the big collections that don’t like what they’re being told here at all. And all of this so close to launch, without any assurance that things will be set right in the foreseeable future. That’s not the way you want to treat your early adopters, even if Europe is Playstation territory number one.
Even if BC is that thing that every gamer asks for but none of them uses, you shouldn’t remove a feature so late in the game with no compensation unless you want to be crucified.
Comment by Pat — February 24, 2007 @ 10:32 am
about that Youtube movie: just see it as a commercial to hype things a bit more.
1 guy knows exactly where to go,where the other “acts” like he doesn’t know.
I hope that my PS2 singstar,Buzz etc works from the start ,else Sony can after this console k!55 my @ss, and i never buy a PS* again
Comment by Darkie — February 24, 2007 @ 10:47 am
Not to the dips**ts.
PS2 isnt even f***ing 100% backwards compatible. Stop f***ing crying over every little piece of bad news until you know st least the scope. Because PS2 and PS3 BC up to this point can still be considered “limited”
Comment by Cryasses — February 24, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
Hell the goal was to move to a completely software emulated BC anyway. This is just to hopefully hasten that Price drop since before this, that was all you little crybabies complained about.
Comment by Cryasses — February 24, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
As a gamer who really has enjoyed most of his gaming moments with SCE products… I must say this move is a really bad one. Come on SCE, get your logic together!
Comment by Hezz — February 24, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
Wow, can anyone point me to a rant about MS pulling their BC AFTER people bought the XBox360? Want to check if the comments thread are as long as these.
You are still getting better BC on the PS3 then on the XBox360 where all XBox games need a recompiled executable on the hard-drive.
Comment by Stef nighthawk — February 24, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
So all these muppet canceling there Pre-orders to buy a 360
BORING! BORING BORING!!!
WHY??? the 360 only has 3 or 4 games it backwards compatible with MS don’t care about gamers….
I bought the Xbox only to be told within 12 months that its obsolete and my Shiny new 360 Won’t be Backward compatible.
How the so called PS fans can call themselves supporters. Fickle Fickle Fickle…
It’ll not be long before MS drop the 360 for the next machine.. just like the xbox’s 2 year life cycle then drop it like a dead horse.
Comment by farz — February 24, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
jeez..been away for a few days then get this bloody bombshell
alot of good points being made here…
heres hoping threespeech email them to sony, to show that its a major issue with some people…if thats the case im sure they (sony) would get hard to work on future firmware updates that tackle the BC isssue….no need to jump of the deep end
Comment by seedaripper — February 24, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
Its almost like no one at Sony actually PLAYS GAMES. They’re money hungry fools who don’t know what gamers want, or more realistically, don’t care. They’re flip-flopping BC. First, it was a huge selling point. NOW its an afterthought? Total bullshit. The sad thing is that I’ve been a loyal Sony customer, and with the recent news they’ve been getting over and over and over, its hard for me to stay positive. They’re asleep at the wheel and are about to crash.
Comment by TONX — February 24, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
They could have handled this so much better.
I’m all for hardware revisions, as they usually bring in improved performance and/or reduced costs. Not in this case. In this case we have REDUCED functionality whilst maintaining an INCREASED cost!
At least reduce the price of the thing if you’re going to reduce functionality! If you want to cut costs without dropping the price, use cheaper components, or cheaper materials. No-one will know and providing you don’t compromise reliability, no-one will really care.
DON’T CUT FUNCTIONS WITHOUT CUTTING THE PRICE.
The loss in BC is not that much of an issue for most people. I’m sure most of the popular games will work fine. That’s not why I’m angry, I just don’t like being mugged more and more.
Anything else and you’ll be loosing more customers.
Comment by Silent_Shark — February 24, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
For all of those flipping out about this, there are a couple things that need to be pointed out. First and foremost, no one knows just how many games will be compatible. Could be in the tens or hundreds or even thousands. Second, Sony said all along they were going to software eventually. I would make a solid bet they wanted the full emulator done by the European launch, but that obviously didn;t happen. The question is how far along they are. The reason no list has been unveiled is because they probably are working non stop to get as many titles as possible. Finally, to all of those thinking that Microsoft is innocant on this front is dead wrong. Here are a couple quotes that prove my point: “”Our goal is to have every Xbox game work on Xbox 360. You will NOT need to purchase a new ‘version’ - your original games will work on Xbox 360.”
Not too distant future after that: “Nobody is concerned anymore about backwards compatibility. We under promised and over delivered on that.”
I still can’t play Morrowind, my favorite Xbox game, despite the fact Oblivion was the title (along with GRAW) that brought the 360 to the dance. At least you guys had fair warning that your console isn’t going to be compatible with all games. I got my 360 thinking all my games would be able to be played wihtin 6 months. 1 year later, they are still missing my favorite game(and others as well). All after my first 360 scratched disks. So, in the end, no one has heard a list yet, Sony is working on it, and things aren’t any better on the Microsoft side of things.
Comment by mega man — February 24, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
F@@K you Sony
Comment by meddow — February 24, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
When do we get to hear the game prices
Play.com all games 61 euro
Bartsmit.com 64,95€ or even 69,95€ euro for the same games
frs.nl 69,95€ for all games
Dixons majority 64,95 €
when do we get to hear the final sonyprice for the games..
Comment by Darkie — February 24, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
(Before I post this, I already posted once, but it appears to have dissappeared. Perhaps I am missing something or there was a mistake, but I will try again. Sorry if there are two posts.)
There a couple things that need to be touched on regarding the PAL console. I forget why the price is higher for those overseas, but the EU taxes and exchange rates probably have something to do with it. For instance, Canadians pay less than Americans do for the console after exchange rates, and the Japanese pay a lot less than all(around a hundred less in American dollars).
With that out of the way, on to compatibility. First and foremost, no one knows how good or bad it will be. The number of titles could be in the tens, the hundreds, or even over a thousand. A limited number of 8,500 titles could be 25%, or 2000 titles. Odds are it will be less than that, but the point is that everyone could be losing their minds over games they have never even heard of. The reason for the limited selection is probably because they wanted the emulator to match with the switch in manufacturing, but as with many things, it didn’t go right. So they had to bite the bullet and make this announcement. I have heard from those that claim to be on the inside thought it wouldn’t be done for another 5 months. And they are working on upscaling. Time will tell if that is true or not.
To those that think Microsoft is somhow different in this category, you are wrong. Here a couple statements on compatibility: “Our goal is to have every Xbox game work on Xbox 360. You will NOT need to purchase a new ‘version’ - your original games will work on Xbox 360.” And then, a couple months AFTER I purchased my 360 based on that statement, last June to be exact, Moore had this to say: “Nobody is concerned anymore about backwards compatibility. We under promised and over delivered on that.” So, even if Europeans are left with few titles, at least you guys had ample warning. Also, the likely reason no list has been released is because they will be working up to launch to get as many titles as possible. So in the end, waiting for the whole story would be wise before canceling those pre orders.
Comment by mega-man — February 24, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
“So, in the end, no one has heard a list yet, Sony is working on it, and things aren’t any better on the Microsoft side of things. ”
Why should we have to compare with the 360, when sony from the start said that the PS3 would be fully backwards compatible?! I expected to get what they promised, and now they pull this on us - one month before launch! - and they won’t tell which games won’t work untill it’s too late (ie. release day, and all who have pre-booked will sit with their console and won’t be able to play all the games they bought last generation.)
Comment by Akisame — February 25, 2007 @ 12:06 am
Hey! Sony said that they would remove the ps2 hardware inside ps3 in June 2006! So dont be so damned suprised!!!!
From IGN!!
Of course, including the extra hardware drives up costs. The magazine adds that Sony plans on removing the PS2 chipset from future revisions of the PS3 hardware once it has finished development of a proper software-based PS2 emulator. Such a removal would help bring down costs for the system.
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/711/711242p1.html
Comment by URGELOL — February 25, 2007 @ 1:24 am
No one knows how many titles will be availible. Sony has always said they would switch to software. The reason no list exists is probably because they will work on the emulator as long as possible to have a maximum number of titles ready for launch.
Comment by mega man — February 25, 2007 @ 2:18 am
I KNEW IN THE END YOU WOULD CRAWL ON YOUR HANDS AND KNEES, FACE IT THE 360 owns the ps3 now hahahaha UK is nothing but the 51st state your all gonna be in MS pocket now!!! 360 ftw
Comment by MSman — February 25, 2007 @ 7:03 am
[…] I ett pressmeddelande från Sony kom det fram ett den Europeiska Playstation 3-hårdvaran inte kommer vara lika bakåtkompatibel som de japanska och nordamerikanska motsvarigheterna. Detta beror på att enheterna vi får kommer emulera PS1 och PS2-spel via mjukvara istället för hårdvara. Något som Sony utannonserade att de skulle göra någon gång förra året. Hur mycket sämre det egentligen är är för tillfället oklart men just nu håller äldre Playstation-spel att testas och kommer att listas lagom till Playstation 3-releasen. Eftersom spelen kommer emuleras med mjukvara så kan man ju tänka sig att listan på bakåtkompatibla spel kommer att växa a la Xbox 360.https://threespeech.com/blog/?p=291 […]
Pingback by Dataspel - En blogg om dataspel, Xbox och Playstation » Blog Archive » Playstation 3-enheter i Europa har sämre bakåtkompatibilitet — February 25, 2007 @ 8:33 am
“The reason no list exists is probably because they will work on the emulator as long as possible to have a maximum number of titles ready for launch. ”
If you read the press release, you’ll understand that that is not the case:
“Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future, company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3, truly taking advantage of this exciting technology.”
Comment by Akisame — February 25, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Some people have been comparing this to the 360’s backward compat - to them I would say;
You don’t understand why people are annoyed at this. Sure the 360’s backward compat was nerfed over what they orginaly promised but the thing is everyone all over the world got the same deal and they all got the console at the same time.
People are annoyed here becuase the EU have been kept waiting for the console, are being asked to pay more AND now getting a console which in some respects is inferior to the rest of the world.
Is this the reason the Sony’s UK sales director resigned recently? Another gaff in a long line of gaffs.
Comment by shinesevens — February 25, 2007 @ 10:32 am
Sony should be working to get near 100% compatability as well as working on PS3 stuff.
Comment by Obli — February 25, 2007 @ 10:47 am
To be honest, I’m not that bothered. I want a new console to play new games. Not old ones. I have very rarely (only Halo and GTA San Andreas) play old Xbox games on my 360, the same will go for the PS3 when that arrives in my sticky mitts.
I can see why people are up in arms over it, but it is a only a small problem, and its probably not as bad as its made and quite a few games will work, unlike on my 360 where I have to unplug my VGA lead and reconnect a bog standard coax lead to play old XBox games.
I would wait and see,,,,,,
Comment by Gazza — February 25, 2007 @ 11:13 am
Once again, we have been screwed over by Sony. Ive got my system of pre-order now, but I want to cancel it. How much are we fans going to be shafted so that Sony’s execs can afford to add some silver trim to their company cars?
I say FUCK Sony. We put up with a lazy controller redesign, a useless BD player, a price tag that many of us are having to dip into our savings for, and games I could get on a Xbox 360. But this is yet another nail in the coffin. Ken Kutaguri can go lick my balls.
Comment by Reapz — February 25, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
[Dumb apologists-for-Sony are] saying that people are moaning over nothing because you can just buy another PS2 instead, and this is after people explained the practical reasons (Space, power points, connection etc) on top of the fact that Europe will be paying significantly more (Nearly 2 times as much as Japan in fact) for a machine which has had components removed and thus offers less functionality than the millions of PS3 consoles already out there. And we barely even touched on the fact that some people have already placed significantly large sums of money to secure a pre-order. So yeah, just utterly mindbending stupidity and short sightedness. “Oh I already have a chipped machine so this doesn’t matter. So they removed HDMI output? Well I don’t have a HDTV so you guys a moaning over nothing. It’s made of tin foil and cardboard in the UK? Well that doesn’t matter does it, you’re all going to buy one anyway”. F*ck’s sake.
CREDIT: Monkichi@rllmuk forum
Comment by Joel — February 25, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
Sony should provide us with a list now, even if it is not complete. We as future owners of the PS3 deserve at least that. Another point why release this statement now, after everyone has preordered, do they want people to cancel???
Hopefully threespeech can give all these comments posted here to Sony and get a reaction for us.
Comment by Nevin — February 25, 2007 @ 2:05 pm
@mega-man
It is one thing to promise full caompatiblity, i.e. “Our goal is to have every Xbox game work on Xbox 360. ” and then not provide it.
It is entirely different to provide near 100% PS2 back compat and then remove it in a hardware revision. This is compunded by the fact that no one in a PAL territory had any chance to buy the old version.
Comment by aka Bitter — February 25, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
Comment from Sony’s Ken at E3 2006 -
“…the PS3 will feature backwards compatibility with PS and PS2 games from day one. I’m emphasizing this because, from what I hear, there are some platforms that haven’t been able to completely do this. It’s costly in terms of hardware, but we’d rather [invest] firmly on compatibility from the beginning, rather than to have issues later on.”
Sony have obviously known the UK version has not BC for some time and they cant even post a list of games to appease their customers.
I can t think of any other business where an organisation would treat clients with such contempt.
An absolute shocker. We’ve been shafted once too often, my preorder is now cancelled.
Comment by Stephen Parker — February 25, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
Akisame- They say “in the future” and that could mean they will stop working next month or in years. It’s hard to debate this since we don’t know just how many titles will be availible. And a true list doesn’ exist because of what I said before. I would wait for a actual list before drawing any conclusions.
Comment by mega man — February 25, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
I think it’s great that this post is getting so many complaints, it could lead to better BC via firmware updates (since these comments will show sony that that BC is a hot issue with consumers)
I personally prefer complete software emulation because special cases can be handled so as to allow even more games to run correctly (or even better than on the original hardware)
I would love to be on the team working on the emulators - must be very challenging
Comment by RAMX — February 25, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Just to update you sony
my preorder is now cancelled.
Enjoy!
Comment by meddow — February 25, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
“I think it’s great that this post is getting so many complaints, it could lead to better BC via firmware updates (since these comments will show sony that that BC is a hot issue with consumers)”
I agree. It’s good that threespeech is semi-sony, so perhaps the word gets through and the thing about them giving up on BC won’t happen, once they realize how important it is to us customers.
Comment by Akisame — February 25, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
Here’s what I think of all this. The average gamer (not the ones that come to Threespeech or any other gaming web site) does not really know what Sony has done here. Sony’s audience is not us, the gaming media savvy audience because we simply know too damn much. We can’t be lied to because we know ever single word of every press release and conference Sony have ever done because we have an interest in this stuff.
But the average Sony Playstation customer is not us. He/she is the person that has pre-ordered the PS3 on a whim thinking that like the PS2 it will be able to play all games bearing the name ‘Playstation’ and that is all Sony care about. They, like most of the industry care little for the opinions of knowledgable gamers like us because we know they lie. We are too few to matter to them and as loud as we may yell our voices are just not heard due to our small number. No, its the average consumer they care about and it is they who will ultimately decide the fate of the PS3 and indeed Sony themselves.
But here’s the thing. Whilst the gaming community that inhabits this and many other forums turns away from Sony eventually the average consumer will also. They don’t want to throw away most of their PS2 games which is what they will face when the PS3 finally arrives. They will even return it to the store they bought it from claiming that it’s faulty not understanding anything about what has transpired over the past few days. It’s then, and only then, when Sony will take notice. They may try to do something about the pit they dug themselves but I fear it’ll all be too late by then as the gaming world will belong to the Wii60.
So long Sony! I’d say it was nice knowing you, but it really wasn’t. You bunch of arrogant, pig headed morons.
Comment by Kropotkin — February 25, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
This is the last straw. Now I’m sure that I won’t get a PS3 until some truly great games come out like HEAVENLY SWORD!
Comment by Twilite — February 25, 2007 @ 11:28 pm
“I think it’s great that this post is getting so many complaints, it could lead to better BC via firmware updates (since these comments will show sony that that BC is a hot issue with consumers)”
I think you’re right. This from Sony Computer Entertainment Australia’s Managing Director Michael Ephraim:
“Clearly cost is one of the [reasons]. If software is cheaper than the cost of the chip, then why not do that?,” Ephraim said. “We will be working on delivering backwards-compatibility through software emulation. The software emulation list will grow, and there’s a web site people can check to see what games are backwards-compatible. It will be a progressive emulation.”
” I think PS2 backwards-compatibility is important, but when you look at what PS3’s doing with new games, digital content and so on, that specific functionality may not be as important as previously felt. But then again, that is something the consumer has to decide on. We are intending to deliver backwards-compatibility-just through different means,” he said. ”
So everyone start writing to Sony!!
Comment by Tony Almeida — February 26, 2007 @ 7:24 am
I just called into my Local Game store and cancelled my pre-order he looked at me a bit strange. I explained why with the latest news etc they really dont have a clue in there.
My US machine is ordered from VG+, thats where I will buy all my ps1,ps2, blu-ray, and ps3 games!! take note sony europe! my money isnt going to you!
Comment by Bigsmoke — February 26, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Well, that was the final straw for me - We haev to pay £100 more than the US, over £150 than Asia - and for what? to get a lesser version of the machine????
I think not
I cancelled my PS3 order on Saturday and yesterday got an Xbox 360 (with Gears of War, Crackdown, Rainbow Six Vegas and Fight Night 3) - and its superb!
All that and I have £200 left from my PS3 fund!
Thanks Sony, you saved me loads of money
Comment by Maj. Adama — February 26, 2007 @ 11:20 am
anyone know how much it is to ship a ps3 over here from VG+ and what adapters are needed.
Comment by David Copley — February 26, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
anyone know how much it is to ship a ps3 over here from VG+ and what adapters are needed.
It will cost you approximately £377.00 delivered but its will depend on your credit card exchange rate. You dont need any steapdown converters as the US PS3 has a multi-voltage. You do need a figure of eight lead (the sort that you plug into your pc or a kettle) and it will work fine.
Comment by Bigsmoke — February 26, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
[…] La PlayStation 3 europea tendrá un hardware diferente Escrito por J. Sánchez Un momentito, que estamos calculando la nota global … Según hemos podido leer en el blog Three Speech, la consola que será lanzada en Europa, Australia, Oriente Medio y África el 23 de marzo, tendrá una estructura interna diferente a las japonesas y norteamericanas. La mayor diferencia entre ambas, es la exclusión de la placa "EE/GS", la cual daba soporte de retrocompatibilidad con PS2 y PS a la nueva consola, manejando este apartado desde dicha placa. […]
Pingback by La PlayStation 3 europea tendrá un hardware diferente » PSNow! - Actualidad PlayStation las “25/8″ | PSP, PS3, PS2, PSone y todo sobre el mundo PlayStation. — February 26, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
You know that Simpsons episode featuring Camp Krusty? Well, seems like Europe is Camp Sony PS3, and I’m Bart Simpson. And from the looks of it, I’m not the only Bart Simpson.
BC was important to me - it was a useful feature (less hassle, a new, fresh machine, etc) which justified the high asking price. A bit like the Mac which is more expensive than comparable PCs but has so many appealing features (design, useful gadgets) that people buy it anyway. Now even that is gone. Really, I don’t think I’ll get the PS3 at launch anymore.
I’m really disappointed this time. What’s next? A flip-flop on online services? Will we have to pay a monthly fee for them after launch? As they say, this is the last straw. Sony must respond soon and shed more light on what they have just done. Or release a preliminary compatibility list before launch. I’m pretty sure many of us will be extremely relieved if recent “killer apps” such as Okami, Final Fantasy XII, God of War 2, Resident Evil 4, etc. made the list.
But right now? I don’t trust Sony anymore. I don’t like to be played for a fool. And, bottom line: we pay MORE for LESS. There’s no logic here, except of course that Sony loses less money per unit sold…
Comment by VMerken — February 27, 2007 @ 12:47 am
THANK GOODNESS they’ve dropped the PS2 rubbish. Hanging on to that is like finding old CPM code in XP!
I enjoyed my PS2 but its time to move on - ebay here I come.
Backwards compatibility has held us back for years - people’s stubborness to ‘let go’ holding back progress as usual.
If you’re that worried about BC, keep you PS2 or buy another one - you can pick them up less than 50UKP now.
Onwards and upwards I say!
Dave.
Comment by Dave — February 27, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Isn’t this the same company, that announced that Nintendo Wii has zero backwards compatibility?
Hope they know their own product a bit better…
In any case, I’m not considering buying a PS3, and now even less. When it comes to backwards compatibility, to be honest I don’t play that many PS1 games on my PS2. But that’s only becouse I play them on PSP.
Comment by Jupp3 — February 28, 2007 @ 10:20 am
got me jap/us ps3 + motorstorm 2 weeks ago for 380 quid.. and out of me 54 ps1/ps2 games iv’e amassed - only tekken 1 wont boot up via hdmi (480p)
Comment by johnnygames — March 1, 2007 @ 11:45 am
KK can go suck one of my turds…
I dont care about BC, but I hate being shafted. We should have a price cut (OR HOW BOUT JUST F#CKEN PRICE EQUALITY) or some extra cable goodies or a bloody game…disgraceful
what a bunch of dickwads
Comment by Date — March 2, 2007 @ 4:39 am