Sony - "Big Bang Announcement" on Oct 12th

[mlm]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: mlm

Originally posted by: destrekor
wow. Sony is really hurting themselves this time around. I mean, sure, the price point is nice now, but some things dropped are just ridiculous. No BC, when it was software to begin with?

Actually, it's still a hardware/software hybrid (though more software than before).

What PS2 hardware is still in there?

I don't remember anymore. It used to be two components, the Emotion Engine and something else. I believe the EE was the one removed.

 

[Ackmed]

Originally posted by: CKDragon
You damn Anti-Sony fanboys better make sure you have your fun before Ackmed comes back in to regulate!

Dont be upset because I posted the truth. I dont have the time like you seem to, to post all the time. Busy life, what do you know.

There are people who simply troll sony, ms, nintendo, etc. threads. I simply pointed one out in this thread. You can find them all over.

It is pretty funny when some people troll threads, and call others fanboys, when in fact, they are one themselves. Hypocrisy at its finest.

And dont harbor bitterness, its not good for you. 😉

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Imp


On that note, this is the one I'd get once they *sigh* get some games.

That is really the hold up, though many denied the value, Blu-Ray, wi-fi, HDMI, 60gb hdd, next gen gaming, and the emotion engine were plenty for the money, but the game library has been MIA, making the next gen gaming part moot. I would have been less interested had it not had BC, as I never had a PS2, and what the hell else was I supposed to play when I was tired of Resistance? 😉

I surmise Sony's strategy is that they can not only offer a SKU at a more competitive price point, but also help stop cannibalizing PS2 sales, which are profitable. The comment about bundling the extra controller because dual shock is coming, and those sales are likely to suffer for it, makes sense to me as well. The average consumer probably is not dialed in to all the changes the last year, so these moves could be damned good ones, particularly If KZ2 and MGS4 "deliver".

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Ackmed

Originally posted by: CKDragon
You damn Anti-Sony fanboys better make sure you have your fun before Ackmed comes back in to regulate!

Dont be upset because I posted the truth. I dont have the time like you seem to, to post all the time. Busy life, what do you know.

It's a lame message board argument, regardless, but let's see...

Me - 2601 posts since 2001.01.22
You - 3971 posts since 2003.10.01

Holy crap, I wish I could just ignore reality like you.

But you keep up the good fight, sir! Clearly, with your attention to detail you could never be wrong.

 

[Cabages]

Originally posted by: mlm

Originally posted by: destrekor
wow. Sony is really hurting themselves this time around. I mean, sure, the price point is nice now, but some things dropped are just ridiculous. No BC, when it was software to begin with?

Actually, it's still a hardware/software hybrid (though more software than before).

Thats what I remember from back around launch. I havent looked into it since then.

If it is purely software, its extremely stupid. But I suspect theres a hardware reason they cant put PS2 BC in.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
I surmise Sony's strategy is that they can not only offer a SKU at a more competitive price point, but also help stop cannibalizing PS2 sales, which are profitable. The comment about bundling the extra controller because dual shock is coming, and those sales are likely to suffer for it, makes sense to me as well. The average consumer probably is not dialed in to all the changes the last year, so these moves could be damned good ones, particularly If KZ2 and MGS4 "deliver".

I don't know, I have a feeling that even with BC at the $400 price point wouldn't affect PS2 console sales. $120 for the PS2 is still a great deal with the large and now cheap library. I know I have a PS2 already but I'd rather have some upscaling with it... hell my PS2 is still sitting in a box and it hasn't been brought out since I moved. I lack component cables to hook it up and not to mention, my Samsung HDTV only supports 3 connections that can be switched to using the Source button on the remote (if I remember correctly).

 

[flashbacck]

Originally posted by: Cabages

Originally posted by: mlm

Originally posted by: destrekor
wow. Sony is really hurting themselves this time around. I mean, sure, the price point is nice now, but some things dropped are just ridiculous. No BC, when it was software to begin with?

Actually, it's still a hardware/software hybrid (though more software than before).

Thats what I remember from back around launch. I havent looked into it since then.

If it is purely software, its extremely stupid. But I suspect theres a hardware reason they cant put PS2 BC in.

The EE and GS chips were removed from the PAL region hardware in February, and backwards compatibility has been all software in those system.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/m...ay/20070226073502.html

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: Ackmed
Dont be upset because I posted the truth. I dont have the time like you seem to, to post all the time. Busy life, what do you know.

There are people who simply troll sony, ms, nintendo, etc. threads. I simply pointed one out in this thread. You can find them all over.

Actually you didn't; and when the announced truth matched fairly close with the hypothesized result, it just makes you look foolish.

 

[Queasy]

Aeropause

Sony has announced the new 40GB PS3 model for the UK, Europe and Australia so far, and it takes the cake as the worst PS3 ever and worst marketing strategy for Sony's console yet, despite being the cheapest (relatively speaking, that is, since it goes from 599 Euros to 399 Euros).

Why is the new model so bad? Just one reason: It can't play PlayStation 2 games. No, I'm not overstating issues with software backwards compatibility, the blasted thing by design will not play a single PlayStation 2 game. Joystiq gave Sony their first ever Joystiq WTF Award as a result. Here's why it's one of the worst ideas I've ever seen come from a console manufacturer.

Before I slap around this marketing and engineering effort, let me give the basic rundown on the European release of the system and its implications for us.

It is our destiny
With the region's 60GB software-only backwards-compatible model slated to leave British stores as a discontinued model at a slightly lower price than it was at, it looks like this new PS3 with just PS1 compatibility will become the standard Sony offering there, too, at least. And if the 80GB model we now, um, enjoy in the US is any indication, the 40GB model is destined to be the standard offering here in the US as well. If the rumors of it showing up in BestBuy's database are true, our destiny may arrive in a matter of days.

This also tells us a few things about Sony's firmware roadmap. Namely that we won't be seeing any new features in the backwards compatibility modes of the console -- pie-in-the-sky things I have wanted like staying hooked up to the PSN for voice chat and text messaging while playing a PS2 or PS1 game -- and that we can expect all efforts at improving software backwards compatibility to stop immediately.

Failure to launch
So why is this the worst idea to ever come from Sony? Because it basically brings the PlayStation 3 back to its absolute zero starting point with its biggest unserved fan base -- the PS2 owners who have held out because of price. By turning the PS3 into a PS3-only gaming machine, they have re-launched the PS3 with almost no draw for those people. It's no longer an "upgrade" or a "replacement" for the PS2, giving them pride in their brand loyalty, it's a brand new machine that stands alone and doesn't replace anything at all. Heck, it probably won't even replace their DVD player. It might as well have ATARI written on it instead of Sony PlayStation. Maybe we can call it the 40GB ZetaSystem?

That bears restating, so here goes: It makes the PS3 into just a separate, incompatible console in the eyes of their fan base who has held out to see the price fall. Just like the Xbox 360 and just like the Wii for PS2 owners, the PS3 is a new box that will sit next to their existing box. The Wii replaces the GameCube with full backwards compatibility. The 360 replaces the Xbox with a wide variety of popular titles backwards compatible. With relatively few exclusives and a weaker online service, the PS3 may not exactly jump off the shelves at the same price as the already-launched 360.

That's why I don't think this new PS3 is going to make a huge difference for Sony. A full slate of great games will make a difference, and the system is getting there, but not fast enough to justify cutting out PS2 compatibility. As a PS3 owner who wants more great games and features for the system I hope I'm wrong, but from the point of view of someone outside looking in, I don't think so.

 

[Queasy]

Hollywood Reporter

Sony Computer Entertainment America will unveil a $399 40GB PlayStation 3 on U.S. shores, sources said.

The release comes on the heels of an announcement by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe that a new lower-priced version of the PS3 will be launched on the continent thiscq, week of the 8th week.

"We're hearing Nov. 2 (for the U.S.)," said one industry source. A buyer for a major game retailer cited the same date, adding that SCEA has been dropping hints that stores should do all they can to clear out existing inventory in anticipation of the new model.

The new 40GB PS3 will have fewer features than the current 60GB ($499) and 80GB ($599) models, with two USB 2.0 ports instead of four, no backward compatibility for PS2 games and no multimemory card port.

But it will continue to play Blu-ray Disc movies as the PS3, despite its early struggles against Nintendo's Wii and Microsoft's Xbox 360, remains a key part of Sony's battle with consumer electronics rivals over the future of high-definition movie playback.

SCEA did not return calls seeking comment, but in making the announcement in Europe, SCEE president David Reeves said: "The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners. PS3 has always been the device of choice for the discerning gamer and entertainment seeker, and the new PS3 is more than ever the perfect high-definition entertainment system."

 

[randay]

hrmm i bet the $400 ps3 will sell well regardless. if you think about it a large percentage of the market already has a ps2, being able to replace a working ps2 with a ps3 is probably not a big selling point for them.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: randay
hrmm i bet the $400 ps3 will sell well regardless. if you think about it a large percentage of the market already has a ps2, being able to replace a working ps2 with a ps3 is probably not a big selling point for them.

I don't know.... Even though my PS2 is modded, I would rather play the games upscaled for my HDTV on a PS3. I'm pretty disappointed as if this had BC, I would buy one immediately. I'm still stuck on the fence whether or not $600 for the 80GB + Motorstorm is worth it.

EDIT: If you think about it, Sony also just cut their library significantly. It might not be all PS3 games, but if you think about it... the amount of good PS2 games offered significant value to the PS3. It's like when the PS2 came out, the idea was, "hey, we don't have many good games now, but you can just play PS1 games until the good ones come out!"

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: randay
hrmm i bet the $400 ps3 will sell well regardless. if you think about it a large percentage of the market already has a ps2, being able to replace a working ps2 with a ps3 is probably not a big selling point for them.

Agreed. This is exactly what Sony has been needing from the beginning...and I expect them to do very well this Christmas and even better once they start getting some decent games out.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
Agreed. This is exactly what Sony has been needing from the beginning...and I expect them to do very well this Christmas and even better once they start getting some decent games out.

They still lack games that will make people want to buy it. They may be having Folklore, Ratchet and Clank and Uncharted coming out... but will that be enough? I doubt it.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
Agreed. This is exactly what Sony has been needing from the beginning...and I expect them to do very well this Christmas and even better once they start getting some decent games out.

They still lack games that will make people want to buy it. They may be having Folklore, Ratchet and Clank and Uncharted coming out... but will that be enough? I doubt it.

I believe PP is right in that I expect Sony to start picking it up a bit based on this price cut. I seriously doubt it will sell well amongst the internet crowd, but time and time again we're shown that we're an unfortunately small fraction of the buying public.

A $400 PS3 may now be within the price range of uninformed parents who wouldn't know backwards compatibility from match.com compatibility.