Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. Jack's defense of Sony makes us sick

Right on the heels of Sony's recent announcement that it is creating another SKU to confuse the market comes a couple of interviews that Sony hopes will finally clear the air about its stripped down 40GB console: Enter Jack Tretton, CEO of Sony's American division. Speaking with Newsweek's N'Gai Croal and a couple suits at the Wall Street Journal, good old Jack did the usual song and dance routine that Sony is known for, when asked a few questions about the decision to lower the price point of the PS3, while simultaneously removing the one thing gamers thought they could always depend of getting from Sony -- backwards compatibility. After all, they pretty much pioneered the stuff... right?

[Mark 1]

Is scum!

[Violater]

a story approved by almost everyone on my ignore list.
Kudos, turds of a feather....

[segasage]

but not gimp it.

if this was the 60 gig model coming down in price while not introducing no new Skus that would of fared better.

no reason why you should take important functions out, OK if you add them that is fine, sony never been known to DOWNGRADE their SKu's.

well have we ever seen more than one SKU from Sony in the first place>?

Probably not confusing to hardcore fanboys on here but the less informed casual gamer. You come out with a 20 gig without wifi for $399 now you have a 40 gig without BC for the same price? while the 60 gig still around and a 80 gig will go cheaper at the same price..

Does that make sense?

funny what competition do to ya

remember I come on here and know all this stuff thats going on. it's probably not as bad as it seems but sony never been the one to need extra sku's. choice is ok but when MS did it , it was the worst thing in the world.

[sanderFVCKINcohen]

...

[PS3 Limps on and on]

"Right on the heels of Sony's recent announcement that it is creating another SKU to confuse the market"

Excuse me? I thought they were trying to make the PS3 more affordable.

Trying to screw people by putting out a $399 sku, that comes bundled with Spider-man 3 in High Defintion. How evil of them...

[Adamalicious]

Preach it man. Seriously.

[Cat]

yes, chaos will reign now that the market has been thrown in SKU confusion: people turn down lower prices in favor of a simpler, SKU-minimized universe.

[wil4hire]

The cheap ps3 has no BC. IIRC Sony still supports the PS2, and they are readily available to purchase if you really want to play PS2 games, or just buy the more expensive one.

I dont buy a honda civic expecting it to perform like an Aston martin V8 Vantage which is maxed out with options..

I dont buy an ipod nano expecting it to have more features than the Ipod touch.

I dont buy a steak at Sizzlers and expect it to be as good as Flemming's.

I dont expect people that don't even on a ps3 to understand that most people who are aware of the extensive ps2 library already have one.

I dont expect people that dont even have a ps3 to understand that the consumer that really wants to play old ps2 games would buy the more expensive version.

For F's sake were people really waiting on buying an 149.99 Dollar PS2 On the heels of a PS3 Price drop of 399.99? Like THAT is what is going to turn them away from the cheap entry ps3, that they cant play PS2 games on it..

360 owners, are you guys already done with Halo3? Stop hating on the PS3's price drop. Sony clearly cant do anything right in your eyes. The price argument has just flown oout of the window.

Wifi/Hd/Bluetooth/Bluray. 399.

[Dareaver1]

maybe everyone is not rich, and they are using their tired PS2's to put towards the purchase of a ps3. How about those customers? And let's not forget the benefits for playing PS2 games on the 60gig PS3, can we say upscaling please. Who wouldn't appreciate that. Come on now, i could understand defending the PS3, but not Sony, this is a move in the wrong direction. Especially since this was one of their highly toted promises (they knocked M$ hard for not having a complete BC.) I think those people would feel jaded.

I'm waiting to get a PS3, Uncharted has got me stoked, and R&C. Plus i still haven't played God of War 2, and i just started playin' Shadow of the Colossus (great game, watching "Reign Over Me" got me interested.) I would love to use my PS2 towards the purchase of a PS3, why have two machines when i can have one that does it 10x better. Come on.... I'm really upset, because i was looking forward to a price cut. Now i still have to opt for the $500 model.

Hey, if you DISAGREE, then let me know why. I thought my argument was very logical (well to me it makes sense.) But how can you argue the fact that one machine that does everything better, is not better than getting two machines....?

[ruibing]

I agree. I don't see why they are so upset or outraged by this, does this have that much to do with their 360 experience?

[UnasFortuna]

Putting PS2 towards the PS3 model??? Do you really expect someone to get much money from a trade-in on a PS2??? Do you know how bad people get ripped off on trading in merchandise such as that to the likes of Gamestop, etc....?

[Tsalagi]

They aren't ripping you off at Gamestop they are bending you over the counter and dry running it to you. The trade in value on a PS2 is $30 and $20 for an original Xbox. Then they pay you in crumpled up old dollar bills and throw you out on the street without even a kiss and never call the next day. 8D

*For those with no sense of sarcasm/humor - Gamestop is rip off.*

[kevin1122]

Have you ever heard of putting away some money from paychecks a few months ahead of time so you can afford what you want.

[Dareaver1]

fine, defend it all you want, but all you are showing is your own ignorance. The BC PS3s upscale the games to make them look better, i would consider that a plus, not only that, the benefit is not having to buy two joysticks for the other console, then you have space, who wants all that clutter, not only that. Sony made BC a staple in the PS3 philosophy. That is going back on your word. And then to tell me to go and buy a separate, technologically inferior machine. That is a very arrogant maneuver. Everyone can use the excuse "set aside a little money" but the world is not that perfect. Sorry if all gamers aren't as financially savvy as you are Kevin1122, but i'm being realistic. Who would want to buy a separate machine. That makes no sense no matter how you try to spin it. That still leaves the consumer jaded. keeps the clutter around, and deprives them of the enhancements it has made. I heard PS3 fans and Fanboys alike rave about the upscaling of PS2 games. Who wouldn't want that feature?

[riqued]

If people is interested in BC buy the 80Gb, Sony is not forcing customers to buy the cheaper sku

[actionjackson]

Exactly! I couldn't agree more. Frankly, I'm a bit frustrated to hear this kind of news. This is the first time, as far back as I can remember, that I hear people complain on every little move a company has made. What does Sony owe the industry? They have provided almost 15 years of great gaming experience, and for some reason, people feel that Sony has to give them all for nothing. Every corner Sony has turned, they have been bashed (and hard at that). They provided the most cutting edge console, people complained that the features weren't extensive in the XMB. They provided multiple firmware updates, people complained there are PSN lacks a lot of content. They release new content weekly, people complained there are no games. They are releasing good games, people complain the price is too high. They introduce a lowered price version of the PS3, now the complaint is it doesn't include backwards compatibiliy, oh, and it's a new SKU. Also, weren't people complaining that Blu-Ray, Hard drive, and HDMI are not needed this generation? Can you imagine what would have happened it they left one of those features out? WOW. Just a question, when does it end? If people do not like the product, then don't buy it. Frankly, Sony has repeatedly answered the cries of the public and have provided them with everything within a years time. I own two other consoles, the Wii and the X360, and wonder why Sony is always taking the heat. Why aren't other companies getting crucified like Sony does. There are two other companies in this industry. One has produced a system with great games, but the hardware has been one of the biggest catastrophes in recent hardware history (X360). The other provided a new dimension to gaming, at a lower price point, but does not have any games for it (Wii). MS provided multiple SKU's and everyone said it's all about providing options. MS caused more unprecedented confusion to this industry than ever before. For the first time in history, a company has made us consumer believe that we can worship a defective product. I thought the defect rate issue was going to be the defining news of this generation of consoles, but it's almost all but forgetten. That just floors me. Now people complain about different SKU's. Not only did MS start this whole different SKU thing, each SKU had completely different hardware in it. Then Sony removes one thing (BC) from the low end version to cut cost for the consumer (while keeping all the best features of next gen gaming), still provides BC in the high end version, and this is an issue? Seriously? Aren't there better things to complaim about than a company trying their best to provide everyone with good home entertainment experience?

[Bazookajoe_83]

Is there only one 360 Sku? are they not gonna make another one?

[SofaKingReetodded]

that's exactly what came to mind when I read that xbot garbage.

bunch of hypocrites if they are gamers, but in reality I think the most venomous xbots on this site are nothing but MS marketing trolls.

[Jrome]

Only bloodmask would find an article like this.

Anyway you guys are taking this way out of hand.

Sony PS3 - 649.99 - " OMFG THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH SONY SUCKS ROFL ROFL ROFL"

Sony PS3 made more affordable(also shows the value in the higher end models) - 399.99 - "OMFG ANOTHER SKU ROFL SO DESPERATE, THEY HAD TO DROP THE PRICE SO MUCH HAHAA WAIT B3YOND AHAHHAHA"

So, the point I'm trying to prove is; you guys will never be happy no matter what sony does. Verdict? Narrow-minded fanboys. <<< period.

I mean, what is it that would lead to such hatred of the current events, jealousy? Denial? Just respect what sony is trying to do...which is LISTEN TO THE CONSUMER and deliver a cheaper SKU.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, this whole article can suck my .....

[SofaKingReetodded]

"this whole article can suck my...."

omg that is golden, way to put these xgirls in their place.

[BlazeXXL]

INSTANT CLASSIC

XBOT = DMG CONTROL

U RECEIVE 5 POINTS

lol, way to go, you just earned yourself a bubble ;)

[kevin1122]

lol, that was funny. and it even rhymes.

[Adamalicious]

I guess Destructoid was low on hits this month.

[d3l33t]

FLAMe - BAIT

[AnalFace]

oh wow wankmask at it again, him and his boyfriends must be having such fun!

[Nameless]

The Sony Droids are not guilt free of posting this type of stuff when it comes to Microsoft & the XBOX 360. So they have no right to whine & complain.

[actionjackson]

You know what, You're Right. But the question is, how can a company be chastised for trying to provide the consumer with what the consumer have demanded? The consumer demanded a price cut and Sony gave them one. Please explain to me how this is bad? And please don't hit me with the arguement that BC means a whole lot to the people. If it meant so much, then they would either pay for it, just like eveyone else has, or keep there PS2, just like millions have. So again, how can an affordable version of something be a negative thing?

[kevin1122]

people love to complain about everything. But sony sure does get alot of attention about everything they do, which is actually good. bad press is still good press, which is something the fanboys havent figured out yet.

[Big Jim]

Sigh. How much does Microsoft pay you to keep posting this kind of garbage Bloodmask? You need to use some of that money to take an English class, your posts are always a grammatical nightmare.
There are many, many, many people out there who don't care about backward compatiblity at all. People like me. This new 40 gig is just the SKU I've been waiting for. Hello PS3 on November 2!

[OatLoops]

If people can't read the front of the box or ask a sales associate about a product that they're spending more than $50 on, then they don't need to be buying something that expensive in the first place. The same can be said about the 360's skus as well.

EDIT: Maybe I was wrong about Sony confusin the market, they just said on Attack of the Show that the 80 GB PS3 isn't BC either...but then again a lot of retards run G4.

And what is Jack Tretton supposed to do? Tell everyone they screwed up, it was a bad decision, and no one should buy their consoles? I think Destructoid is confused about Tretton's job responsibilities.

I really like how it seems that everyone is ignoring the fact that a BC 80 GB console just dropped $100.

[Snukadaman]

the 60 gig has been 499..20 extra gigs for 499 might seem like a big deal...but its not. Smoke and mirrors at its best. funny thing now is this will sell since supposedly theres no more 60 gigs in the wild. nice try anyways.

do you even read smokey...the 60 gig was 499...20 extra gigs for 499 now...technically it was a price drop but coming down too 300 would be the price cut im looking for..supposedly theres not suppose too be no 60 gig ps3s....but there are. smoke and mirrors at its best. That 80 gig doesnt have the EE in it..so BC is limited.

[SmokeyMcBear]

ahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. .. oh man, this is exactly what they were saying when the 60 gig dropped from 599 to 499, and introduced the 80 at 599 with a game.. now its the same song and dance.. ahahahah snuka.. you are a complete fool, how is this not a price cut. The highest priced sku was 599 yesterday, and now its 499.. the HIGHEST PRICE TO GET A ps3 came down 100, but this is not a price cut. So its not a price cuz when the highest price stays the same, buy they offer you more for your money, and its not a price cut when they cut the hightest price point by a hundred dollars and lower the lowest price point by a 100 dollars. When will it be a price cut?

[HateFanboys]

Shut the fack up moron! nobody wants to hear your stupid @ss opinion, because it is just a fake @ss biased @ss fanboy opinion! Therefore not valid. So shut it you phony fack! Go play your breaking down Xbox, you Xbum

[gerrard]

80 gig sku @ $499 is not a price cut?

Man! Wot planet u from?

Wot do u want sony to do, give it away with all the bells and whistles?

I suppose you want it to also play snes and megadrive games too right?

LOL get a life!

[paracardium]

40 Gig is a choice consumers have if they don't want backwards compatabilty.If they do want it grab the 80 gig there is no confusion except for xbots who have 3-4 360's to choose and 1 is obsolete.

[jonnyjd1]

I was tired of all these types of stories when the 360 changed to a new SKU (Elite) and I'm tired of all of these for the PlayStation.

You all fight/bicker/squawk over who's better. I'll play Heavenly Sword (I enjoy it) and Gears of War (I enjoy it).

...end of line...

[crck]

All these cheap @ss bloggers have been complaining about how to justify spending $600 blah blah. Sony's dropping the price $200 so you poor bastards who don't want to get a real job for a living has to come at the cost of something. So quit your damn whining. Its not call Playstation 2/3 so what's wrong with removing BC?! BC was a luxury Sony has decided to remove because all you babies do is cry about price.

[OatLoops]

It's officially a Bashstation.

[sajj316]

Thanks for the article. I'm sure the intent is to enlighten us on the error of Sony's ways. Enjoy your 360 as I do mine but reality is that it will be yesterday's news in 08. Shame on Sony for hitting a 399.99 pricepoint. Shame on Sony for settling with Immersion and getting rumble back. Shame on Sony for making difficult executive shuffles. Shame on them for getting KK out of the picture because of the negative publicity. Shame on them for pushing HD. Shame on them for still supporting the PS2. Shame on the for connecting with the PSP. Shame on Sony ...

Take your propaganda elsewhere...

[razer]

Did not write this article. If you want to complain, go complain to Destructoid. I see similar crap stories submitted about the 360 all the time here.. I don't see you actively speaking out against them.

[sajj316]

whether its the messanger or the message, its still propaganda. I think nasim is crazy but bloodmask takes it to a more methodical level. Nasim is easy to read. Blood is pushing the limits on his contributor status.

[gamesR4fun]

If you listen really good you can hear xbots trembling. 399 ps3 ftw

[wangdiddy82]

Are people still complaining about backwards compatibility???? Who the f u c % cares??? Buy a freaking ps2, xbox, ps1, nes, super nintendo, sega genesis if you want to play old games.. My ps2 and xbox are in a freaking closet collecting dust.. I have yet to play one ps2 or xbox game since i got my 360 or ps3.. Some people just cry way to damn much about some of the dumbest things in the world..

Why dont you hear people complaining about the 360 not having BC.. It only support a select few games.. Why dont you hear people complaining about Microsoft discontinuing any new software for the XBOX? The system was only out for what 2 or 3 years then next thing you know its history.. ..

People need to go shove backwards compatibility up there a$$...

[DJ]

that my games wouldn't work on the 80GB. Funny thing is, I haven't touched a PS2 game in over a month. It's kind of hard to go back after you getting your hands on Motorstorm and Warhawk.

[mccomber]

back when people were saying "I bought a ps3 to play ps3 games, who cares about backwards compatibility!"
Now it's "what happened to backwards compatibility, that was why I bought a ps3!"
You could just buy an 80gb ps3 if it matters that much to you. Or just continue to complain since that's what most of you want to do anyway. This article was obviously written with your kind in mind.

[Spike47]

destructoid is now not only considered a biased website, it is now foolish and filled with idiots.

this is a great move by Sony.

the ps3 has 3 skus with one that is soon going to be discontinued.

the 360 has the elite, arcade, and that other one I forgot.

what a bunch of turds.

360 fanboys are starting to try and steer the ship, they make headlines like "is the ps3 40gb really a bad deal" when the only ones saying it was a bad deal were 360 fanboys.

[beavis4play]

as if there weren't enough bad stories being posted by round peg, blood mask continues the trend.

could it be that blood mask and round peg are the same person? sure seems like a possibility.

[Vojkan]

For me its incredible how much hate towards is for PS3 from US media. No matter what Sony does they always twist it as something very negative. Pathetic!

[IQUITN4G]

Funny though Vojkan

[kevin1122]

but it works in sony's favor in the end tho.

[xc7x]

:-D the press is amusing hehe,do they read what they actually say?

[fopums]

aside of GOW2, I havent played a PS2 game since I got my PS3. I find it strange how all of a sudden BC is the most important aspect of a PS3 now that its gone.

IF BC is that important to you, then just buy the $499 60 gig model and STFU.

people should stop complaining, they are getting a PS3 for only 399.

[BlazeXXL]

just when I thought it couldnt get any worse, you give us this.

CHOKE ON MY **** lol, no seriously O_o

[razer]

However, Sony was the ones that came out saying "YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO PLAY YOUR EXISTING LIBRARY WITH THE PS3!" They said that and then in the same breath slammed MS for not having %100 full backwards compatibility..

They seem to love to open their mouths and bash the competition while making promises that they don't keep. It's whatever is convienent for them at the time..

But if this was the only way to make the PS3 cheaper than it had to be done. Sony needed a cheaper SKU to compete and I'm still worried for Sony because as you can see from the latest NPD that people are still buying more PS2's than PS3's. I don't think those people have any plans to upgrade to the PS3 after making a recent PS2 purchase. While Sony continues to support the PS2 with new games I just don't think the casuals want the PS3 just yet.

[DJ]

Just get the 80GB. No big deal. -shrug- The boxes for the 40GB warn that it doesn't play PS2 titles (though it still plays PS1 titles), so they're obviously not misleading anyone.

Just be happy that the system's more affordable now. =]

[gerrard]

If ps2 games are that important to you, then get a PS2 and stop b*tching about a cheapest PS3 at least it'll be able to play MGS4 KIllzone 2, free online gaming, play bluray and dvd movies.
What is it with you Xbots?

When the 60gig SKU came out at £599 the cheapest most advance bluray player and reliable (2% failure rate) you complain, you lot said no games when its launch game was resistance and you could play up to 40 people online for free and no lag you still complain. And now that you can get an 80gig sku with BC for $499 or 40gig SKU with minor sacrifices you still complain.
While M$ cannot do anything wrong can they? 33% failure rate they get praised, $40 online play with game lag they get praised, and one of the most overhyped games comparable to David Beckham they still get praised.
You lot make me laugh!

[Meus Renaissance]

This is a duplicate story. Bloodmask, who is always going on about the rules, missed this one I suppose.

[escobahr]

how predictably trash this site has become.

this site has become nothing more than PS3/360 fanboys rushing to post any anti system rhetoric and obscure marketing evidence of console supremacy.

pathetic.

we get 14 articles about the failure that sony surely and always will be.....and yet on the other hand i see also another article about the great sales halo3 had a month ago!

i cant wait for you idiots to realize when you engage these lame threads you actually responding to payed employees of microsoft who sit on the web and get cash to create anti system subterfuge

[Bathyj]

Why such a negative attitude over such a positive mood.

Oh, look who posted it.

I cant believe your dad shot a billion sperm and you were the best one.

[nevelo07]

i cant stand you, you the biggest ms d!ck rider on this site, DUDE WHY DONT YOU WANNA SEE the ps3 become a good thing all you do is bash it, xbox360 aint sh!T but a mid range easy to develop for a$$ pc thats why it has a lot of game not to mention its head start just leave the ps3 alone and play yo good enough gaming console like i do i have both but i know whats really whatsup.

[felidae]

Bloodmask is the biggest looser ever .. lolol

stupid punk

[SDS Overfiend]

Damn Sony your starting to confuse yourselves on this one.
Before you said it was'nt a problem for people who could it afford who were working class citizens who could just put in overtime. now that the system is barely staying afloat you renig on your words cause now you realize the little guy is the one who keeps you afloat huh?
make up your fuk'n mind sony.

[OatLoops]

I think it was Kutaragi who said that crap - and Sony forced him to retire, so give them a break. They can't be held responsible for what he said forever, and these "well didn't they say.." arguments are getting old since it was Kutaragi who said most of them anyways. Come up with something new plz thx.

[Bathyj]

Geeze mate, if your gonna write down every little remark that gets said over the year of course your going to find contradictions. Get over. Concentrate of the things they promise that they deliver on.

Bill Gates once said that PC's wouldn't need over 8meg of RAM. Bungie once promised deformable terrain so if you throw a grenade it would leave a crater. Those things didn't happen, but life has gone on, as you should.

[dantesparda]

and its "renege" not "renig" dumbass

[DJ]

$599 - It's too expensive!
$499 - It's still too expensive!
$399 - It's too exp-...oh, wait a minute. They're trying to confuse us!!

What a joke. Thank you..Bloodmask..for making N4G a better place for all of us. <3

[incubus5187]

they took out BC for you people crying about price and if you want a full ps3 experience there's a solution and it's called getting a job and spending the money it's worth. the xbox for a complete hi def experience cots more than the $600 full HD experience you get with PS3 get over it.

[nevelo07]

is a bill gates cok sucker

[chino3xl]

I dont get it people that dont even want a ps3 complains and yes i got a 60 gig but my thing is if you dont want a ps3 then dont get it. T he problem i have is that when the ps3 was 599 people was crying but yet you go out and buy a iphone for the same price,do you see the problem here.I have no problem with microsoft but come on now no wi-fi, no bluetooth, no hd-dvd, all this stuff is you gotta pay extra for and if you add all that up its way more than the ps3. Now here comes the 80 gig and the 40 gig , my thing is if you gonna trade in a ps2 to get a ps3 how much money you think you gonna get for a ps2. Come on people cut the crying they lowerd the ps3 to 399 get it or dont thats just it.To all the gamers out there that really game dont feed into this mess, enjoy your 360, 360 elite, your wii , your n64, your ps2 or 3 . Just have fun.

[Genki]

That's very refreshing to hear. A point I made to one of the more notorious trolls on this site many many months ago.

The trolls and fanboys make valid complaints(sometimes). The thing is, they're only valid to owners of the systems themselves. Many PS3 owners aren't complaining about the same things the trolls are, maybe save for the lack of games, and that's surely coming to an end, particularly with the holiday releases and what's mapped out for next year.

Many of the stupid little ones people forgot about don't even matter, or never did.

"Sony will nickle and dime you to death!(microtransactions/episo dic content)"

"RSX is only 500 Mhz!"

"It's only got 256MB RAM!"

"PSN will be one laggy mess!"

"Your controllers will die within months!"

"It will never sell at X price point" 5.5 million consoles later...

Let's also not forget the logical fallacies that plague these boards in droves. Ad populum, numerum, and hominem arguments abound, and of course these still rule the roost.

Anyone else remember the long and gone flames from before? Brings back bitter memories, but the realization that they were full of crap(knew that anyway) makes them bittersweet IMO.