Trying to hide the fact Sony and the PS3 are making a comeback.

Pathetic tactics...one should be expecting them when a company like Micro$oft is in the gaming business.

Ah well, as they say, 'the dogs bark and the caravan goes on' ;)

There are an increasing level of duplicate news on this site that are focused on the negatives.

so someone who couldn't sleep decided they needed a little more attention on the links and RSS readers to type this little gem and continue to beat the horse without an ounce of life in it....

--- "The PS2's ecosystem continues to be hugely important to the software industry as a whole, and the PS2's library is still the biggest and best resource of gaming experiences for consumers. For Sony to treat compatibility with that library - and the support of that ecosystem - as a luxury feature in its new console is ludicrous, especially given the firm's own regularly cited line about PlayStation being a platform, not just a brand..." --

This comment right here contradicts everything he was trying to say. Is it not evident that Sony is actively trying to pursuade people to make a choice [re: the PS3's] and not give up their reigns on the mighty PS2? Why is this so hard to see. If they make 'everything' bac compat right now then they effectively kill the PS2 which is a move they're not ready and willing to concede right now. Why must people continue to write the idiotic self - serving articles; for the puropse of debate I suppose?

I wish I could reply to these comments on the original article.

P.S. - how does sak500 have *any bubbl3s?

I am so tired of Persons wanting something for nothing .Too cheap to pay a few extra dollars for a FANTASIC device .
Not everyone wants or needs Backwards Compatibility......SO,
happily now those consumers have an option.
This New Non B.C. model will boost the install base and it is a benefit to each and every PS3 owner. It is a Very positive MOVE >>>>>>>&g t;

IF ONE WANTS THE EXTRAS THEN PAY FOR THEM ...Its simple and fair .

I find this so funny, they want to knock Sony for no BC, Yet Xbots are already talking about upgrading (not new purchases, but buying another 360 to replace the one they have now) to the new Falcon chip, because its a better 360 it want break as much. LOL, Yea a little extra for a better system, sure that is how the free market works. Also Xbox core doesn't have a hard drive, they had to pay a bit more to get one, its the same thing Sony is doing, if you want more features then you must pay.

Also, the news about the 60gb unit, this should be well understood, this baby is the last of the Emotion engine, so in a way Sony is saying, if you want total BC get the 60gb before its gone.

So they gave us a cheaper player yay its doing what it was meant to and closing the gap.... If you want BC buy the 60+ model end of story.

This is old news, but I still have something new to say about it. Removing BC may actually be a good move for Sony in the short-term. People that want BC will be forced to buy the 60 gb models before they sell out, or they will lose the chance to get a PS3 with BC for good. This will create a big jump in sales over the holidays despite a lack of big system movers and give Sony something good to show developers that may be thinking of dropping PS3 support (ala Monster Hunter). This may not be a good move for the long term, but Sony needs big numbers now, not in late 2008-2009.

AFAIC, I'm betting there will always be a PS3 model that will have BC, like the 80 gb. So I'll take my chances and wait a bit longer for the 80 gb model to drop in price. I want one, but not badly enough to pay $400 for an unupgradeable lower model or $600 for all the bells and whistles. I'm betting the 80 gb model will be down to $400 by next May or June.

all they are doing is potently losing revenue by cutting the backwards compatibility they should have just put in the software emulation in it not like the programs not already written so now the are losing sales.
The target audience of this console won't know the difference between the two bar the HD size and would be more likely to buy PS2 games

OMG, ok ppl, get this into your head:

If you have PS2 games you also have a PS2. Right?

Then use the freaking mahcine to play them. The only persons who can't do that are the ones whose PS2 is broke (my case). But those have a smple solution: buy a 60GB, it has BC.

And its a much better deal then the 40GB.

Will it eventually run out of stock? Of course. But hey, 'early' adopters need to have some bonus for being just that, early adopters. ;)

BC IS A LUXURY!

and u owned a xbox b4 the 360 how can u live with yourself. Atleast Sony has 2 models (60GB and 80GB) that can play old azz PS2 games. Maybe this is the reason the 360 has only sold 12million units in 2 years.

anyone that really thinks this is a big deal are the same ppl that say the PS3 has no games or its only a blueray player. These are the same ppl that dont own a PS3 and the same ppl that bash anything Sony because they want the PS3 to fail. They are the same ppl that havnet played warhawk but yet they say its lame and not AAA. Look at that 6.5 review they will say.

in anycase im set. I have the 60GB and it hasnt been used for anything from PS2 cept GOW. I still use my PS2 for a couple games...

just by reading the comments here it PROVES Sony has done the right thing.

BC is a luxury, not a feature of the PS3. People cry for a cheaper SKU and the lack of PS3 games "I bought a PS3 to play PS3 games not PS2" was the battle cry of undercover xbots posing as PS3 owners for MONTHS!!!! after it came out. Now that the PS3 is starting to get a formidable list of titles releasing, sony say's "ok we understood that playing PS2 games when there were few PS3 games was important, now that we are starting to deliver on "next gen" titles let's give people the option of playing these amazing games at a cheaper entry price without some of the luxuries of the more expensive model". Now the undercover xbots new battlecry "waaaaaaah how could you sony, you are screwin us over with no BC".........STFU you idiots.

@below

well lets see, I have
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Resistance
GRAW:2
Warhawk
Heavenly Sword
FIFA 08
Fight Night Rd3
Tiger Woods 08
Motorstorm
The Darkness
Rainbow Six
FEAR
Madden
All Pro
Oblivion
LAIR
a BUNCH of PS2 titles and Bluray movies so when people say it's collecting dust that's strictly by choice. In fact you admit that you bought a PS3 just for one game MGS:4, anything console would collect dust like that.

about it since my PS2 is still in my wall unit.

BUT, I do find it kind of funny that not all that long ago all the Sony fans were sh!tting all over the 360 due to the lack of BC function and now that Sony is doing it with new SKU's, and all of a sudden "IT IS NOT BIG DEAL"

As I said, I really don't care if my PS3 has it. I plan on swapping up the 40 GB HD for a larger anyway. BUT as I said ... very funny indeed to see so many hypocrites and back-peddlers.

Just goes to show how stupid some fanboys can be when they treat a f'n console like a WAY OF LIFE that must be defended at all costs.

JUST PLAY and be happy.

I find this stupid. The worst of it all is that Sony seems to be spawning lots of SKUs of the PS3 with not so much as a name change to indicate WHAT SKU it is. 20 GB, 40 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB... why can't they just have the same models in ALL countries and give them proper names like the 360? At this rate, it IS getting confusing.
And say what you will, removing BC and discontinuing the BC SKU is just plain evil. BC is a good thing, as I shall tell you why I think so.
Considering these scenarios:
- You have just bought a $600 machine, a fancy and good looking one too. Wouldn't you want to replace your ugly, old PS2 with a slim, shiny new PS3?
- Oh say that you buy a PS3, but you don't have a PS2. You want PS2 games, because, face it, there are loads of good ones out there and more are being produced. Why do we have to get an ugly PS2 too?
- Then there's the "upscaling" that the article mentions! Another little trait the PS3 has. But oh no, we can't have that because Sony is too cheap to give it to us. We'll have to stick to SD on our HDTV instead of upscaled SDTV.

Sony is playing dirty tricks right now and screwing customers to fill their money-hungry pockets.
I believe they should also draw a line where they specify what features of the PS3 remains the same in all SKUs. It seems to me that now they seem to be cutting pretty much what they want and naming it PS3. In other words, you won't know what you're getting.

Gee, what would a day be without another twisted-logic-pretzel attempt to bash Sony? There's a simple solution if you really want BC - buy the more expensive system. Or, how about playing your PS1/2 games on your PS1/2??? Is Sony taking it away from you when you buy a PS3?

NEW RULE: Nobody gets to b!tch about BC any more unless (a) there's a game they REALLY REALLY want to play, and (b) they don't have their previous console still, and (c) buying a BC-capable PS3 is gonna take food out their kids' mouths.

Don't forget that everybody and his mom have been wailing for Sony to drop the price (I still think it's the best deal on the planet as is). So, Sony finds a way to make the console cheaper, and offer it for a lower price - all the while still subsidizing it, mind you - and it's still not enough. But that's the glory of this type of criticism, it can go on forever, no matter what Sony does. Give it all to me right now, and give it to me for free!

And the competitors get a free pass, no matter if they sell a repackaged last-gen system with a new controller, or screw their customers with DRM theft and a system that FLAT OUT DOES NOT WORK (poor Speaker Ender, et. al.).

First people say that the PS3 is too expensive, and now it is cheaper people say that (according to this article) they would be willing to pay extra for an added faeture in current models. Two statements that completely contradict themselves; if u have PS2 games then shouldnt u have a PS2 also?? Therefore; if youre really that bothered about b/c then just keep your PS2. I just think that its getting to the point now whereby people are just looking for excuses to criticise Sony.

I would recommend if it is a big deal, get 20GB online (Gamestop still has some), get a 60 or 80GB or just STFU.

eLiNeS - so please tell me how I can add HDMI to my 360 without buying a new one.

Like i even remember about ps2 games when im playing PS3 games on my PS3.....
ill just be like a normal person and use my ps2 for lesser games.. beside if i dont USE my ps2 it gets
dusty... achooo'z ick dust!

People can either keep their PS2 and get the 40GB, or buy an 80GB. PS2s are also pretty cheap, though it's cheaper to just get the 80GB and not worry about memory cards (which are pretty expensive).

Sony didn't get rid of BC; they simply eliminated it for the 40GB SKU so that it would be more affordable for people like you and I. Blu-ray, HDMI, Optical Out, and Wi-Fi are still part of the package.

I would not have bought my Wii if it wasn't backward compatible. I didn't own the original Xbox but there were some titles I wanted to play -- i.e. the Halo series on my 360 before I bought it. Without backward compatibility, I would not have bought it. Period. Now onto the PS3... I have a PS2, but I'm out of inputs on my TV and simply and not going to add another device without getting rid of another. I guess I'm a cheap bastard because I refused to even pay 399 for my 360. When I got a deal, I got one. $399 is still a bit more than I want to spend on a console, but i'd do it if the features were top notch. BC is one of those features I really, really want. So... For me, a PS3 purchase waits until the 80 gig version is 399 or less. Maybe next spring?

GAY POST. NO ONE CARES BUT BOTS

This is incredbily hilarious. The amount of repetition that exists because the same articles get posted over and over under a different name and style of writing is mind-boggling.

I find the following things interesting.

First, that no one mentioned that this is a purely SCEE move. When Kaz Hirai took over, he gave all the regional heads their own regional powers. Giving them the right to make any decisions they see fit for the regions they represent. SCEE decided to remove BC and now everyone is blaming all of Sony for this move. News flash, it's SCEE's fault. It's not Sony Corp. or SCEA's fault.

Second, the PS2 now costs dirt cheap. It's practically begging you to buy it. So BUY ONE and you won't have to worry about BC at all.

Third, if you're really going to sit there and complain that you want BC on your PS3 because of its upscaling capabilities, then that means you have an HDTV. If you have an HDTV, then you can afford a PS3 with all of its features, so STOP YOUR WHINING!!!

And finally, to the idiots comparing the PS3 to the 3FixMe, remember these quotes? "HDMI is unnecessary" (I guess not since it's included now). "1080p at 60FPS isn't needed yet" (Why are you focusing on that then?). "HD-DVD isn't something that the consumers need this generation" (Micro$oft announces the HD-DVD add-on). "60GB is ridiculous, you don't need that much memory" (Enter the Elite with 120GB). And finally, the best of the best, "Home is pathetic and will not be able to surpass Xbox Live" (Enter Micro$oft's Coolroom, google it if you want to know the details).

$399 for a game console isn't a "great deal" which is why the Wii continues to sell out nearly a year after launch. It's satisfying market demand that would have split between PS3 & Wii, likely 70/30 in PS3's favor, had PS3 launched at a reasonable price.

Yes, we know that anyone who wants a PS3 with BC can buy the 60GB SKU for $499 or the 80GB SKU for $599. Problem is that insurmountable IF translates into "consumers reject exorbitantly price PS3 in favor of reasonably priced Wii." But the PS3's problem isn't price alone, it's features at a given price. Personally, I'm not interested in a PS3 with BC over $299 & I'm not interested in a PS3 without BC at any price. It won't be long before we know whether or not I'm an anomalous consumer, because on November 2nd the rubber is going to meet the road for the 40GB SKU & by mid-November sales figures should let us know whether this is the PS3's magic number or just another speed-bump on the way to obscurity.

You people find something to complain about no matter what Sony does. BC isn't standard on 360 either. The Wii IS a Gamecube. There needed to be a cheap version of PS3 and cutting out PS2 chips was prettymuch all they could take out. Simple fact. It's perfectly fine that there's no BC because you don't have to f'ing buy it. Really the vast majority of people are not going to give a damn about anything but playing new modern games.

Cut BC and make it cheaper or leave it and keep the PS3 priced higher? Hmmm. Smart move Sony. Sales numbers will prove it.

Not having BC won't hurt the sales of the PS3 at all. BC only matters to xbox fanboys and the hardcore who try to make a big idea out of something small. The hardcore gamers are going to buy the best sku anyway. Also with all the great games coming out this winter how will you have time to go back to PS2. I have been playing Warhawk and NBA 2k8 and I have no time to finish heavenly sword.

Well I care about BC and I have alot of PS2 games I would like to play. I'm going to get a PS3 soon but I want a 60GB PS3, I think Sony is getting rid of them soon though here in the UK which is so dumb.

There's a lot of good opinions here. But I think the fact remains that if Sony wants to get it right, they should just release the whole enchilada at a reasonable price. The whole PS3 experience for 600$ is very costly. I really miss the days where there was only 1 choice. Both Sony and Microsoft should take note and learn a damned lesson from this generation. The only one who's gotten it right is Nintendo.

Backwards compatibility is an important part of the PS3 and for them to discontinue that with a cheaper version it goes against what they said about stepping up to the plate and providing the best BC they possibly can. (phasing out the ps2 or not, it's better than just abandoning it altogether. ahem. *wink*)

If it's possible to play PS2/1 games later on through firmware, then they would be giving late adopters the chance to enjoy the ps3 even more than without.

I've said it a million times, I bought the PS3 to eliminate machines from my home theater, but I also wanted next generation games, I LOVE my old games so BC was pivotal in my decision to buy this machine over Xbox360. If I would have bought an Xbox360 it would have been my 2nd one. Lastly, HD movie content.

I'm not very informed about the new SKU but I will say if you can play Blu-Ray movies and PS3 games on it; later on being able to play pS1/2 games..then I guess this is one of the best deals on home consoles out there.

I can hardly wait for the hands-on.

i think some of you guys forget one other big part of the people that sony is also wanting the ones that only have 360s right now. for me and lots of other "mes" out there who dont have a ps2 anymore or any of its games this is the perfect sku. some of us like me that only have a 360 right now may have been waiting for a cheaper version so they can decide whether to keep replacing 360s or play next gen games on a reliable console. trust me there are more of us than u think and i think sony knows that. peace

Losing BC is't such a big deal ..I wonder if they had taken out WIFI..instead would you guys still complain..YES..im pretty sure we bought a PS3 to play PS3 games and probably watch a few Blu-Ray movies also..so since they're finally releasing some good games...you shouldn't really be complainig bout can't beign able to play old ps2 game...i mean aren't there DL games on the PSN also..besides $100 extra won't kill yah if you think BC is really that important

This is a realy dumb move by Sony, it just further clarifies that Blu-Ray is more important than games even old ones. The 360 Core don't support BC but that can be worked around by buying a hard drive, wich is still cheaper than this. Realy cheap if you go the Ebay route, you can find a 360 with HD for about $250.

Backward compatibility is a desireable feature but if cutting it allows Sony to cut the price to $399 then it is a good decision.

The price of the PS3 has dropped by $200 in one year. That is remarkable.

If you have to play a PS2 game that bad you can still buy one for the amount of the PS3 price cut.

Sony must do this to move forward and capture lost sales. If you want to keep playing your PS2 games, then KEEP your PS2. It is that simple. No brainer. Game over. At this point in time, there are more than enough PS3 games to keep people from having to go back to their 480i 4:3 PS2 games. Remember, that the more consoles that Sony gets into the market, the better chance that developers will focus on the PS3 as a profit generating console.

I might sell my 60 gig PS3 (that has the EE/GS chip in it) on eBay just to rid myself of any hint of the PS2. I have a PS2 slim (v2) and don't need that additional heat generating and watt wasting circuitry in my PS3. Again, if I want to play PS2 games, I'll play them on my PS2.

Please folks, stop making backwards compatibility a mountain out of a mole hill. Let's focus on increasing PS3 sales and getting more exclusives and faster framerates, etc.

1. Why do I want to play old games?
2. All of those that gave MS crap, come up with good excuses, including MR PS father.
3. Once again, Peter Moore and MS were right.

I own 360+hd dvd, PS3 60 gig

I love how The Sony Droids are saying Backwards Compatibility is not important when Microsoft first announced that they were doing Backwards Compatibility through Emulation they bashed Microsoft to hell & back. Now Sony is refusing to completely do Backwards Compatibility & The Sony Droids say its okay. The Sony Droids are stupid idiots. Ah well if anything this shows how stupid & immature The Sony Droids are & that they are really big suck ups.

If gamers want backwards compatibility than buy the 60 or 80 gig, if not save 100 buck or so on the $399 40 gig ps3, u can't have the cake and eat it too.

isn't it fvcking hilarious how Sony droids will defend Sony even when
they've completely contradicted everything they previously built
their BC strategy on in early on marketing attempts?
I laugh at Sonysheep.
They need to knock off this blind loyalty(these are gamers like us by God).
I think this site is full of Sony sh1t personally!
Yeah,something really stinks on this site...........and it starts with an S.

Your friendly neighborhood gamer
Tom.

EDIT:
To hatchaforce below.
I never said I was leaving this site dumbsh1t.But that doesn't stop little Sonymen like you,who try to twist peples words.
You're pretty pathetic dude.
I'm glad you responded though,and I think you're full of it in
regards to owning 360s and xboxs.
Oh and poor little Sonyboy,I'm sorry you had to deal with MS
customer support 3 WHOLE TIMES(so you say).
Cry to somebody else pvssy.

It's Sonydips like YOU that have stunk up this site with your
Ps3 Blew ray nonsense.Take a shower and cool off Jr.
By the way,,,,,,,,,,,Ps3 will lose this gen,don't let it bother you too bad.
Tommy

Sony are a complete waste,it's sickening to have stood by sony for the majority of your life to find that your not being thrown a bone for being a loyal customer, your in fact worse off than the people who are buying the PS3 Simply for graphics,this is a ridiculous move and we should not be penalized for wanting to play those games that got us to buy the damn PS3 in the first place,sony,you will lose this console war big time, the only way your going to win me back is with a FFVII remake, end of.