Sony's Broken Promises: Why new PS3's no PS2 BC is great for Sony but terrible for Playstation fans

Level Up's N'Gai Croal writes:
"Last week, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced that on October 10th, it would release a new 40 gigabyte Playstation 3 for 399 euros. The company further said that it was cutting the price of its 60 gigabyte model from 599 euros to 499 euros. However, it's essential to read the fine print: the 40 gigabyte model will have no backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 games. Zip. Zero. Nada. (We asked a Sony Computer Entertainment America spokesperson for comment about the world's worst kept secret: whether we would have to buy Andre "Ozymandias" Vrignaud a steak dinner whether there were plans to release the 40 gigabyte model in North America; we were told that SCEA had nothing to announce at this time.)"

[squallsoft]

im glad I picked up my 60gig model when i did. i love playin the old ratchet and clanks on my ps3. Im all for the BC. heck, i even still play the old psone games on my ps3...

[HowarthsNJ]

If BC is what people wanted, they already got it last Nov.

[SWORDF1SH]

bc isnt important anymore because the ps3 as a strong line up and who want to play on last gen games when you got the current gen console. did anybody play on ps1 games on the ps2? and if you buy a ps3 youre ps2 aint magically gonna disapear. the fact is anybody trashin the 40g for that are tryin to give sony bad press again. end of story

@gamesisfornerds. youre in the small minority. why should sony cater for you. people want a cheap console so there giving it them. most people who are gonna buy a ps3 will have a ps2. if they dont have a ps2 then there more than likely dont care about ps2 games

[Gamingisfornerds]

I myself am still planning on getting a PS3 and BC is a must. I've never owned a PS2 so getting a PS3 with BC is a great way of playing some of the PS2 classics I've missed out on, and at a good price as well!

All these people claiming BC is obsolete are just trying to defend Sony's POOR CHOICE OF PRIORITY. BC is a must for many people out there!

The 60GB is a great deal as well, but atm I'm not considering one as there are some great 360 games going to release this year that are top priority first. Then I can start looking at a PS3 as some interesting titles release and I have some money to spend again.

But if Sony's going to phase out the 60 GB model then I might only be able to get a PS3 without BC, and if that's the case I won't get a PS3 at all!
I will not be rushed into getting a 60GB model because Sony decides to phase out BC on the PS3!

[ip-student]

Gaming... you hit the nail on the head - bubble for you.

What I don't like is that Sony basically lied about this. First Sony said BC is an important differentiator - that is why you should buy our system instead of the MS system - because we believe in and provide BC. Then Sony downgrades and then cuts it out. Sure, you can buy the more expensive system but this move basically says that we no longer care about our prior users - at least not at a price point that they most likely can afford.

Now, if you could add the BC back in by later buying a piece of hardware then I would say it is a choice - buy now or buy later. But cutting it out with no chance of adding - it just seems cold.

But from a business side Sony needs to do something and cannot afford the cost of the $400 PS3 yet so any cost they can avoid per console is critical. I love the price reduction - it puts pressure on MS (the pressure would be a lot greater if more good PS3 exclusive games were out). And games are still the problem. $400 is not really an attractive price (it is definitely an early adopter price) and the games are still in process. I suspect it is going to be a tough holiday for Sony and the gap will widen by about two million between October 1 and the end of December.

[EZCheez]

If you've never owned a PS2 then you HAVE to get a PS3 with BC because you are missing out on some of the greatest games ever made.

Honestly, I didn't know there were people alive that didn't own a PS2. How could you not own one?

[MikeGdaGod]

at least in the US, there will always be two sku's. one with bc, one without. if bc is important to you, buy the more expensive model. this is not hard to figure out.

period

[ReBurn]

I'll bet that you're wrong. Sony changed the PS3 to create the 40gb model to reduce manufacturing costs. Components were removed. I'm betting right now that they have stopped producing the motherboard that allows for BC and when the current stock of PS3's with BC is gone there won't be any more.

Think about it, they've already stopped making 60gb models. In North America the 80gb box says that it is a limited edition. I bet that after the holidays you see Sony go to a configuration where there is no BC at all. Running two different types of production facilities making two types of motherboards and two types of cases to hold them is a lot of costly overhead.

[Gamingisfornerds]

...they're not leaving us a choice anymore. If I'm not mistaking, Sony recently announced that they will be phasing out the 60GB model in Europe and since there's no 20GB model here either that leaves us with just one option: The 40GB model WITHOUT BC.

If that's the case, then that's just plain idiotic! If they introduce the 80GB model here to 'replace' the 60GB model and offer the same (imo pretty damn good) deal as with the 60GB model currently, then that's fine by me.

But as of now, Sony is basicly saying to Europe:
"Buy a 60GB PS3 which includes BC quickly before they've run out of stock or you'll be stuck with a 40GB PS3 without BC!"

And that's the attitude I'm not really digging, to put it mildly!

@EzCheez: Unless you have all the gamingplatforms out there, you're always going to miss out on some great classics. ;)

[MK_Red]

I really think Sony doesn't have a great strategy. First they defend BC so much and then totally remove it. They should have either released $400 PS2 BC-less 40Gb in the first place and the first and only model back in 2006 or have kept the BC even in the new model.

[pwnsause]

yea they seriously dont, infact they should of went for software BC before they launched the system. that would have been a cheaper option for them before launch. but I guess they didnt. hopefully someday in the future they can bring PS2 Software BC back to the 40gb PS3.

[tethered]

@ MK_Red
You said:
"First they defend BC so much and then totally remove it."

They haven't totally removed it.
Its still there in the 60 and 80GB models.

Basically they are saying you have the option of buying a 40GB without BC for less than a 60 or 80GB with BC.

See its not totally gone.
Choices....... don't ya love em?!

[lonestarmt]

well red, you still have a choice, There still is the other SKU with BC. They are just giving options out there. They had to cut cost somewhere to lower it. Where would you rather have it? Wi-fi, HDMI? blu-ray? then they would really be eating their own words. I think that if they had to get rid of something to cut cost they did the best thing. Besides they are thinking all the ps2 owners want to upgrade, so they already have a ps2.Looking at there really isn't any great ps2 games coming out anymore, its ok.

[MK_Red]

I understand what you guys mean but I really think a single model from beginning would have been much better.

[xc7x]

your statement makes no sense,how is it not a good strategy? everyone gets what they want. not everyone wants backward compatibility when most users already have it owning a PS2. if you must have it,i think it's mentioned a thousand times by everyone on the net just to buy the 80gb version,get a clue

[UnasFortuna]

The BC is not gone. It is gone in the new available model... not the only model... You can't start a flamewar on this issue. If you want BC, you have to shell out a little more money like the rest of us did. Sony isn't going back on their word... for there are still models capabable of BC. Just as the other companies have done.. they are giving the consumer more options and a cheaper route to get into the still amazing PS3. Nothing they have done to the new model have affected its technology or performance. oohhh...two less USB,, oohhh... no BC.... Like MS doesn't offer different models... Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if Sony does focus a team on the software resolution for BC (just as MS has done) in the future once they have focused on getting the basics on the PS3 taken care of (more games, extending their PSN, Home, etcc).

[ReBurn]

Red's right in my opinion. For everyone going on about choice, that choice is going to go away unless Sony releases BC via full software emulation. Sony has already said that Europe will no longer have BC once the 60gb model is gone there. The 60gb is nearly gone in the US and the 80gb is a limited edition.

If you think it through to the logical conclusion, Sony's hardware revisions will become standard across the product line. There may be multiple SKU's with different hard drive sizes, but as far as the motherboard goes the one with no BC hardware is the future for the PS3.

[Kururo]

It has already been confirmed to be released in America.

I honestly don't see a problem with this.

399 Euros for a 40gb ps3, no ps2 play back

99 Euros for a ps2

499 Euros for a 60gb ps3, has ps2 play back

[goodganja]

Sony is all about the customer. They're the only company that listens to their buyers unlike another Green company. They will but BC emulation on 40gb's for sure...BELIEVE THAT.

I got 60gb so i dont care really

Jump Out & P L A Y B 3 Y O N D

[nasim]

PS3 is a complete package. You have Blu-ray player,free online , wifi,HDMI 1.3 support

garbage box 360 has none of these and yet charges customers the same price (elite) as the 60gig ps3.

elite has no next gen DVD player. has a 2$ old dvd drive

elite has no wifi...just 44% BC support and no HDMI 1.3 support.

Just to let all VIRAL MARKETERS know that we are fully with SONY and we dont need BC.

MS ---how low do u stoop???

duping innocent xbots with a 100% low powered and defective console and then charging people for useless online with 2D text achievements. Have you no shame Bill gaates and VIRAL MARKETING GANG

[mastermindnate]

Take your stupid immature fanboyism somewhere else. Leave the comments for the grown ups.

[dale1]

i already have a 60gb model but at £299 iv,e just order the 40gb one from game for the bedroom as well, cheap as chips

[Myth]

Keep you PS2. Their competitors don't have any what so ever. At least there still making PS2 games for those fans. Original Xbox is completely dead.

[HowarthsNJ]

It isn't dead unless I kill it by getting rid of the games for it :-)

[dale1]

B.C WHO CARES KEEP YOUR PS2 PROBLEM SOLVED AND DON,T GIVE ME THAT TRADE IN SH*T,WHAT FOR £25 IF YOUR LUCKY

[gerrard]

Keep your PS2 or buy one if you want to play your PS2 games they're cheap enough!

[KingJames1906]

I have to agree with MK_Red that it seems like there is no strategy here. I also have to add I think this will make Sony's sales anemic in North America as everyone 'waits' to see if the 40GB Sku is offered. Or if another Sku is offered at a lower price than the 60 or 80 Sku's. Also, whenever you subtract something that was originally touted as 'GOOD', then people will view it as a negative.

[IntelligentAj]

Some people will view it as negative anyway so what's the point. You can't please everybody. When you have so many PS2's out there(and a cheap one for $99) why is it so important?Those who have a PS2 weren't going to throw it out anyway.

[Bloodmask]

is bc Sony has to spend "Time and Money" to have each game emulated on an "individual" basis. No more hardware from PS2 at all.

Basicly Sony is saying that their "loyal" fanbase isn't worth the "effort" or the money. Kind of like another kick in the teeth I guess.

Microsoft has taken the time and effort to emulate over 300 original Xbox games on the 360. On a game to game basis. Just goes to show you who cares about the consumer.

[Marceles]

They're "loyal fanbase" already has a ps3. All of the other "fans" keep waiting for price drops and whine when something has to be taken out of the package for it to be possible. So called fans these days seem like they would whine if Sony kept everything and the PS3 was $200, yet consumers dont whine when they have to put all of these extra attachments on their systems and pay extra. If you want to play PS1/PS2 games, just use your PS2 like you've been doing for many years. They play better on the actual system it was meant for anyway.

[jlytle1234]

no basically they are saying its time to move on from the ps2 and develope more exciting useful features to the xmb. And as far as what they think about their loyal ps2 fanbase. well atleast you can still buy a new ps2 and new ps2 games. the xbox is all but dead. MS dropped it like a rock.

[mirroredderorrim]

That's only 300 or so games, Bloody. The PS3 has Backwards Compatability with a thousand or two? There's more games for the PS1/2 than that too.

Not having B.C will only hurt Sony in the end. That is my opinion.
I don't know about Xbox, though. Are they still doing the B.C thing?

[KeMoBLUE]

WHO ACTUALLY STILL PLAYS PS2 GAMES??? geez. since having my ps3 the only ps2 game i popped in was god of war but i also had 2 ps2s in the house to use. most ps3 owners already have ps3s so if you want to play a ps2 game bring out a ps2 or borrow a friends. not many people play last gen games on next gen consoles. STOP COMPLAINING

[Ignorant Fanboy]

The best game PS3 has right now is God of War 2, to take that away would be horrible.

[Armyless]

-

[hardcorehippiez]

heavenly sword more than compensates for that genre of game

[Adamalicious]

Great article. While I've seldom used BC on my Playstations, I've always thought it was something that made the Playstation brand stand out. I hope they figure out how to get back on formula.

[IdontTakeSides]

WELL it still has some BC...i mean it plays PS1 games...and im sure Sony will eventually add ps2 support to it...they are just saying that right now it's costing too much..and alot of ppl have been complaining bout the PS3's price so it simply means if you really want a PS3 to enjoy "PS3 Games" but couldnt afford it at the current price ,here's the 40GB...and everybody here is now talking like they dont own a PS2..geez there's only so many times you will want 2 play the same game over and over...besides they're so many great games coming out who cares about an upscaled last gen..when there's games like Uncharted and Ratchet coming out..!!

How many of you guys still play PS1 games on your PS2..??

[pwnsause]

This goes out the current PS2 users thinking about jumping into the PS3, the estimate current trade in for the PS2 slim is about 36 dollars at gamestop. I trade it in for a few PS2 games just to preorder guitar Hero 3. There is no point for you guys to trade in your PS2s if you are thinking about getting a PS3. keep it, till Sony (if they do actually do this in the future) get BC for the 40GB PS3.

[ParaDise_LosT]

No~?
That theory is as impossible as 1 + 1 = 2....

well, anyway....I though PS3 fans Enjoyed Playing Upscaled Ps2 games?

[jlytle1234]

well upscaled only works on HD and that concept was novel when god of war 2 came out. but since that ps2 game is old news now and sony has a lot of great games its not so important. just like the article states that BC is important during the first months of launch. try and keep up. customers change what they want out of a console as time progresses.

[RunamukK]

Why are people even still talking about this? Who plays Ps2 games on therir PS3 anyways? What like three out of a hundred people and even they still have their ps2's. People need to understand that this was required so that MANY more people could afford a ps3 to play ps3 games. It's not like people that want to play ps2 games are getting the shaft anyways. They do and will always offera bc ps3...or you could buy a ps2. People complaining about this are just hatin cuz there is something to hate about and that makes them......HATERS.

[RunamukK]

Its not like any of their competition is offering backwards compatibility!!

[Anego Montoya FTMFW]

compare the 40gb ps3 to the "CORE" 360.

ps3-40gb:

-HHD.
-WIFI.
-BLURAY.
-little B/C.
-works.

Core-360:

-no HHD
-no WIFI
-no HD-DVD
-little B/C.
-breaks.

WHICH ONE WOULD U PICK?

anyone who complains about the 40gb is a complete whiner.

[InMyOpinion]

The core system isn't $400. Here's a more accurate comparison of what you actually (right now, no speculation) get for $400:

360:
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-...

PS3 (missing cables):
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-...

[jlytle1234]

OH NO. ps3 doesnt come with $10 hd cables. Notice how your premium has hdmi noted on it. Thats because you didnt have hdmi till august of 2007. So ps3 owners may have to spring for $10 cables or use the ones from their ps2. but anyone who bought a premium before august of this year didnt even have an hdmi outlet. Wow, truly next gen standards. But i guess since your console will most likley break a few times, they will eventually send you a premium with hdmi outlets. Which hopefully the console they send you works.

[mastermindnate]

To play video games, like most people are when they buy a 360 or PS3 I am going to go with the one that 1.) is the cheapest 2.) has the best games and 3.) has a great online service.

AS OF RIGHT NOW it is un deniable to say that the 360 is 1.) cheaper 2.) has better games. ( The fact that PS3 has 2 - 3 good games is not a comparison) and 3.) has the best online service. (we all know that xbox live is successful, if paying for it really was that bad, they wouldnt have 7.5 million subscribers)

NOW.. in the future, this could change. Devs for PS3 might actually figure it out and release some crazy awesome game that blows everything else away i.e. god of war 3. They might also have a huge success for HOME as their online service. But for RIGHT NOW paying 400 bucks for some of the extras DOES NOT justify paying that when you can get a 360 for 279.99. I see Sony selling some but not alot.

[jlytle1234]

well lets see kaz in 2006 said it would be a disservice to come out with a console that didnt have backwards compatibility. and so they had BC. Studies show BC is important during the launch of a console to eleviate the lack of new games. now ps3 is getting all its games. its no long new and BC isnt important. So they cut it. where did they go back on a promise. BC is available. Its still available as we speak. And i bet if sony feels its in the best interest of the customer to offer a bc ps3 and a cheaper no-bc ps3 then they will. They have done nothing wrong. Its not like they had to extend their warranty becasue they made a halfass console. i didnt see half as many articles about the 360 needing to be recalled as i am seeing about sony making a sku without Bc. now tell me there isnt a bias going on.
edit: let me clarify "so they cut it". so they cut it makes you think they dont support BC. it should really say so they give you a choice of supporting BC or not. because they still offer BC in most of their models worldwide.

[tfur]

You have to remember a few things...

This site seems to have a large population of ADD afflicted children, who lack any sort of reading comprehension. They cannot seem to understand that other models are available, or rather just ignore the facts in order to pretend that there is some issue.

If you want the BC, spend the extra few dollars for that model, otherwise its obviously not important enough. Hey, and if you cannot afford an extra $100, then you probably should not be buying frivolous electronic purchases in general.

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

Ugh...

No BC sucks. If I buy a Ps3 I want it to have BC. I still love to play some classic Ps1 or Ps2 games.

I mean. I own 3 Ps2's. One works some of the time. The other two are paperweights that I still haven't decided on which creative way to destroy them yet...

Again. No BC sucks. I can play all my favorite Xbox games on my 360, except for Riddick: EFBB.

[xc7x]

get over it

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

No thanks.

I don't just throw cash away for no reason.

[Anego Montoya FTMFW]

"I don't just throw cash away for no reason"

so you bought a 360?

LOL.

[xc7x]

a smart person buys warranties if you don't want to keep rebuying electronics that fail.

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

Sorry I thought Sony equipment was reliable? One was bought at launch. Another a year afterward. And the final one from a Gamestop about a two years ago.

Why would I buy a warranty for reliable equipment? Shouldn't the manufacturer reimburse me, or fix it for free? Oh yea Microsoft is the only one that did that...funny too because my launch 360 is still chugging away.

I'd buy a warranty for an expensive piece of equipment, not a gaming console.

<ed.> The 360 comment was directed towards Anego_Montoya or whatever the fvck his name is.

[xc7x]

heh,if a console messed up on you twice,i think you'd been smart enough to figure a warranty is needed..guess not 0_o where did i say anything bad about a 360? i didn't so don't go saying i did a'hole!!

[Apocalypse Shadow]

all that tech the 60gig had for cheap.so sony said,

"fine."
"you want cheap?"
"here it is."
"you get no BC."

either keep your ps2(which still sells like hotcakes),

buy a ps2 for $100(very cheap for the amount of games you can play).or

get the high end models with BC built in.(you pay for having it included)

that is called a "strategy."you want BC?:pay for it or keep what you got.sony is not the "soup line."there are no give aways.the "i want it free society" need to start paying up.

mag lev.................

[Elginer]

how you Sony guys keep getting raped and it's cool with you. I swear if Sony were a person it could break into your house, @ssbang your gf right in front of you and then drink a Pepsi and you would give him a high-five! It doesn't matter you guys keep making excuses and keep bracing those ankles. Keep it up folks.

[Anego Montoya FTMFW]

raped is...........

**the core having NO HDD/WIFI.
**MS completely abandoning the original XBOX.
**the 360s breaking like dinner plates.
**no innovation(SOTC,OKAMI).
**no good action games w/o guns(Gow1/2).
**no support for the "CAMERA".
**having a $179 120gb HDD.
**NO High Def player.
**Having the biggest game of the year in 640p.
**Bungie "breaking up" w/ MS.
**paying for ONLINE
**again your system BREAKING.
**playing all of OUR ps2 games on 360.
**and once more SYSTEMS BREAKING.
**no 1080p.
**having to buy a cooling fan.
**using wet TOWELS.

thats a rape.

[bluhefner]

Dont even bother wasting energy tryna convince him, Xbots lack something called Common Sense. They backup their sh1tty console by stating how a 3rd party American Football game can run 60 FPS on their console and 30 FPS on a PS3 but their biggest exclusive can't even go HD, as Carlos Mencia would say dur dur durr! Let him play his sh1tty little console he'll jump on the Sony Bangwagon in the near future anyway all the doubters do, sad thing is its gunna be the 3rd time and they still don't get it yet.

[test123123]

I really hate company tried to reduce price by cutting down functionalities. That SH*T me. This is tried to $uck up consumer's money rather than company gave away deal to consumer.
40GB crape rather get the old model (price reduced) OR wait a bit longer when there is more better games on P$3.

[Anego Montoya FTMFW]

"That SH*T me"

LOL.

kool, down a buy a 60gb around XMAS.

trust me, until you`ve owned one you REALLY don`t know.

[dale1]

well the french seem to like ps3 its jumped up by 14,600% on amazon so it seems to have helped thats not a mistake 14,600% thats for the 60 gb figures not out yet for 40gb. that makes ps3 number 1 at amazon and the 360 not in top 100

[DeZimatoR]

I thought both the 60GB and the 80GB (not to speak about the 20GB which is still on sale in Japan) support BC? Guess I was wrong...

/sarcasm

Come on now, the only ones b!tching about no BC on the 40GB are...well, to put it simple, xbots.

If you want more USB ports, the ability to insert 'memory cards', and BC (or just a bigger HDD) just get the 60GB or the 80GB.

Its about being able to chose guys ;)

P.S. At least in Europe the 60GB is the best value: 500€ for the console + 1 extra controller + 2 1st party games, while you pay 400€ for a 'gimped' down PS3. Again, ppl can chose whatever suits them better. (I personally only used BC on my PS3 to play PES 6...)

[ironflag555]

you get what u pay for

[Slipstream]

LOL I called Sony about this problem and they are getting back to me.

[zonetrooper5]

Well BC is something that I want in the PS3 and for some reason over here in the UK we are not getting the 80gb PS3. Gonna try and get a 60gb PS3 with motorstorm and resistance for christmas.

[hardcorehippiez]

both them games are well worth the bundle price . would be wot i would go for if i didnt already own 1 lol

[Myth]

What the $399 doesn't have 120 gig, two rumble controller's, 5 blu-ray movies, a keyboard, and 3 games!! :)

[mcgrawgamer]

Kaz is a smart fellow. Think about it this way. No B/C as far as the actual games are concerned with the power of blu-ray and the hard drive one would be able to oh; I don't know download ps1 and or ps2 games from the playstation store for a price:) Brilliant move Sony. That is a business mindset at work....