Earlier this week, Kaz Hirai pledged to make profitability a commitment for the PlayStation division. Simplifying the PS3 production line in Japan is certainly in line with this 'new' goal.
Earlier this week, Kaz Hirai pledged to make profitability a commitment for the PlayStation division. Simplifying the PS3 production line in Japan is certainly in line with this 'new' goal.
Reader Comments (46)
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:51AM (Unverified) said
Why is Sony shooting themself in the foot here?
It was bad enough they came out with 2 models that are either so-so at BW compatibility (80 GB) or none (40), but now they are only making the 40 (no BW comp) available in Japan?
It was bad enough they came out with 2 models that are either so-so at BW compatibility (80 GB) or none (40), but now they are only making the 40 (no BW comp) available in Japan?
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:00PM zsavior said
The reason is I don't think they can afford it otherwise. I don't think they have the money to keep the different SKUs out, I mean maybe I am wrong but they do cost money to produce several different types of consoles at once.
I am also guessing all the announcements of Blu-ray ending the format war Sony is banking on people pick their system up. They don't want people buying PS3s for PS2 games they want them to have to either use it for Blu-ray movies or PS3 games. Whether the decision is wise or not I don't know but I think that is Sony's position right now, make the consumer pick up the media we want to sell.
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I am also guessing all the announcements of Blu-ray ending the format war Sony is banking on people pick their system up. They don't want people buying PS3s for PS2 games they want them to have to either use it for Blu-ray movies or PS3 games. Whether the decision is wise or not I don't know but I think that is Sony's position right now, make the consumer pick up the media we want to sell.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:30PM (Unverified) said
And whose fault is it that Sony is putting all these SKU's out there? Sony. Funny, I thought they didn't want to mess with these multi-SKUs.
"
They don't want people buying PS3s for PS2 games they want them to have to either use it for Blu-ray movies or PS3 games. Whether the decision is wise or not I don't know but I think that is Sony's position right now, make the consumer pick up the media we want to sell.
"
Oh, it'd be a shame if one group of people bought it for BC, and another group bought it for Blu-ray. Why sell to two groups? Let's just sell to one. less complicated. /sarcasm
It's not like the 60 GB one DOESN'T have Blu-ray...
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"
They don't want people buying PS3s for PS2 games they want them to have to either use it for Blu-ray movies or PS3 games. Whether the decision is wise or not I don't know but I think that is Sony's position right now, make the consumer pick up the media we want to sell.
"
Oh, it'd be a shame if one group of people bought it for BC, and another group bought it for Blu-ray. Why sell to two groups? Let's just sell to one. less complicated. /sarcasm
It's not like the 60 GB one DOESN'T have Blu-ray...
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 1:19PM (Unverified) said
Quick show of hands, how many people here play PS2 games on their PS3? If you do, what is the ratio of time spent playing PS2 games to time spent playing PS3 games?
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Posted: Jan 10th 2008 2:15PM (Unverified) said
How BC the PS3 is when it is
A) Comes to a more reasonable price and
B) has more games worth buying
is a factor to me. Since the PS3 would be my first ever entry into owning a playstation, I would love to have all the perks it should have, including playing all the old PS1 and 2 games I've always wanted to play but never could. It's bad enough I have 3 consoles (modded xbox, x360, wii), it'll be plenty worse with a PS3 there, nevermind a PS2 also.
BC is a BIG necessity for new players going to the Playstation. You cannot boast about your massive library of games if they do not work well or even at all on the PS3 you just sold me for 400 bucks.
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A) Comes to a more reasonable price and
B) has more games worth buying
is a factor to me. Since the PS3 would be my first ever entry into owning a playstation, I would love to have all the perks it should have, including playing all the old PS1 and 2 games I've always wanted to play but never could. It's bad enough I have 3 consoles (modded xbox, x360, wii), it'll be plenty worse with a PS3 there, nevermind a PS2 also.
BC is a BIG necessity for new players going to the Playstation. You cannot boast about your massive library of games if they do not work well or even at all on the PS3 you just sold me for 400 bucks.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:04PM ThornedVenom said
I think that Sony is cleaning up their multiple SKU business and focusing on marketing a single SKU on the market like a traditional console business.
In other words, they probably want to aggressively attack competitors as a game console.
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In other words, they probably want to aggressively attack competitors as a game console.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:55AM (Unverified) said
Backwards compatability isn't the most important thing evar. *shrug* Lately I kind of have been thinking about getting a PS3, actually. I mean, Blu-ray is pretty much winning.. and there are some okay games out for it now. I don't know.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:55AM Jerk Face said
Backwards compatability isn't the most important thing evar. *shrug* Lately I kind of have been thinking about getting a PS3, actually. I mean, Blu-ray is pretty much winning.. and there are some okay games out for it now. I don't know.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:00PM (Unverified) said
For most people, it dosn't matter, but for most gamers it does. I have a PS2, it's a POS, if I got a PS3 you bet your sweet bippy that i'm getting one that plays PS2 games. I still want to play GTAIII and... umm... that other game i play on the PS2 ;)
It's a matter of convience, plus with games like DMCIV coming out requiring a oodles of Hard Drive space, double the space is plain old worth it.
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It's a matter of convience, plus with games like DMCIV coming out requiring a oodles of Hard Drive space, double the space is plain old worth it.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:28PM (Unverified) said
But, but... God of War, Okami, SFA Collection and numerous jRPGs!
The PS3 still doesn't have any titles that interest me. Sure, some are coming in 2009, but the ones out now are rentals or bargain-bin purchases at best. I couldn't care less about Blu-Ray (or HD-DVD or even regular DVD), either.
A lower price, PS2 backwards compatibility, and the promise of games to come would have been enough to win me over. If Sony can't deliver all three of those, I'll have to stick with my Wii360DSP combo.
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The PS3 still doesn't have any titles that interest me. Sure, some are coming in 2009, but the ones out now are rentals or bargain-bin purchases at best. I couldn't care less about Blu-Ray (or HD-DVD or even regular DVD), either.
A lower price, PS2 backwards compatibility, and the promise of games to come would have been enough to win me over. If Sony can't deliver all three of those, I'll have to stick with my Wii360DSP combo.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:28PM (Unverified) said
But, but... God of War, Okami, SFA Collection and numerous jRPGs!
The PS3 still doesn't have any titles that interest me. Sure, some are coming in 2009, but the ones out now are rentals or bargain-bin purchases at best. I couldn't care less about Blu-Ray (or HD-DVD or even regular DVD), either.
A lower price, PS2 backwards compatibility, and the promise of games to come would have been enough to win me over. If Sony can't deliver all three of those, I'll have to stick with my Wii360DSP combo.
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The PS3 still doesn't have any titles that interest me. Sure, some are coming in 2009, but the ones out now are rentals or bargain-bin purchases at best. I couldn't care less about Blu-Ray (or HD-DVD or even regular DVD), either.
A lower price, PS2 backwards compatibility, and the promise of games to come would have been enough to win me over. If Sony can't deliver all three of those, I'll have to stick with my Wii360DSP combo.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 1:08PM (Unverified) said
I LOVE my 60gb ps3. that backwards compatability is one of the main reasons i bought one. it's a fantastic system. even though my star ocean 3 keeps freezing. Lame!
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Posted: Jan 10th 2008 1:09PM (Unverified) said
I LOVE my 60gb ps3. that backwards compatability is one of the main reasons i bought one. it's a fantastic system. even though my star ocean 3 keeps freezing. Lame!
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Posted: Jan 10th 2008 8:02PM NO DOUBT GET LOUD said
I feel as if I should comment twice just to fit in.
On a side note. I like how my Wii plays all my gc games flawlessly.
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On a side note. I like how my Wii plays all my gc games flawlessly.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:47PM SoCoolCurt said
well i have a 60GB PS3 and i have only played replayed one of my PS2 games on it (some of the first Kingdom Hearts) and only one PS1 game because my aunt wanted to play Crash Bandicoot. i always made a big deal about BC before i realized that i never use it. i mean ive been getting along fine with my Nintendo consoles not doing it (i dont really count my Wii since it is essentially a souped up GC). im sure there are people out there that still like to play their old games but i believe that the mass majority of people are just making a fuss about it for the sake of making a fuss.
i mean it may be inconvenient, but you could in theory buy a 40GB PS3 and a PS2 for a little more than an 80GB PS3 if PS2 games mean that much to you. and at the same time, who doesnt already have a PS2?
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i mean it may be inconvenient, but you could in theory buy a 40GB PS3 and a PS2 for a little more than an 80GB PS3 if PS2 games mean that much to you. and at the same time, who doesnt already have a PS2?
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:56AM (Unverified) said
I find it funny they came out saying they want to make a profit. I thought they made the PS3 just for fun.
Oh yeah they made the PS3 just to push an inferior format down our throats.
Oh yeah they made the PS3 just to push an inferior format down our throats.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:58AM (Unverified) said
1) You Fail, BD > HDDVD
2) All things done are for profit of some sort, always
3) Noone is forcing you to buy a PS3
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2) All things done are for profit of some sort, always
3) Noone is forcing you to buy a PS3
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:06PM ThornedVenom said
@paragraph
I think what he meant was that Sony blackmarketed their fanbase into purchasing a next-gen console WITH their Blu-Ray drive.
Of course you don't HAVE to buy a PS3, but you HAVE to get Blu-ray if you want to play Sony exclusives.
Although the value of that last point is debated.
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I think what he meant was that Sony blackmarketed their fanbase into purchasing a next-gen console WITH their Blu-Ray drive.
Of course you don't HAVE to buy a PS3, but you HAVE to get Blu-ray if you want to play Sony exclusives.
Although the value of that last point is debated.
Posted: Jan 11th 2008 12:30AM BurntMeatloaf said
I have to admit that since I own both a 360 and a PS3, Sony's decision regarding Blu-ray probably was a good idea. The disc drive is quiet, reads just about any disc with no problems, and doesn't break every 5 minutes. Storage capacity doesn't mean much to me, but there's more advantages to data density than just quantity.
Forcing the format onto the public wasn't the problem. The problem is that the format was about 1-2 years too immature for the market. If Blu-ray didn't cost so much, nobody would be complaining about having the format "forced" onto them.
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Forcing the format onto the public wasn't the problem. The problem is that the format was about 1-2 years too immature for the market. If Blu-ray didn't cost so much, nobody would be complaining about having the format "forced" onto them.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:59AM (Unverified) said
So...BC is not that important after all....
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:01PM (Unverified) said
I'm still pretty bitter about this, as the discontinuing of the 60 gig PS3 pressured me to buy one long before I actually wanted the console.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 1:56PM Kodros said
Well that's just dumb. I love some PS2 games also but seriously, there's enough PS3 games to keep me entertained. At some point, you just need to let go and enjoy the new stuff. If you don't enjoy the new stuff, don't buy a system that plays the new stuff. You act like you are going to be playing PS2 games for the rest of your life.
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Posted: Jan 11th 2008 12:32AM BurntMeatloaf said
BC isn't that important unless a company promises BC and makes a big deal out of it... and then dumps it.
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Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:05PM Crono141 said
I think I can get away with sitting out sony for this generation. I did it with the PS1, I can do it with the PS3.
Maybe sony is going to have the star trek movie curse. Only the Even Numbered playstation consoles are worth owning.
Maybe sony is going to have the star trek movie curse. Only the Even Numbered playstation consoles are worth owning.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:32PM (Unverified) said
But we know Ken Kuturugi could never save the Blue Whale. He would, however, attack it's weak point for MAAASSSSIIIIVVVEEE DAAAMMMAAAGGGEEE!
*looks around*
Oh, what? I can't be jocular?
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*looks around*
Oh, what? I can't be jocular?
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 5:17PM (Unverified) said
Or maybe you just have shit for taste, PS1 over 100 mil systems sold, PS2 over 100 mil systems sold yeah thats the star trek curse alright. By the way how did the other competing consoles do during that time?
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Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:08PM (Unverified) said
I skipped last gen for the most part so getting a PS3 with BC was my only choice. Other than a Blu-ray player there isn't anything really compelling for me that I don't already have on my 360. Thank goodness we at least have some sort of console with BC (80gig) still available if my 60gig ever craps out on me.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:15PM (Unverified) said
I used to think BC was a big deal, and in fact I applaud Nintendo on how well they did it with the Wii/GC and the DS/GBA, but in the case of Sony it doesn't matter so much to me. The only PS2 games I want to play, DDR and Rez, really need to be experienced on a PS2. The former, for dance mats, and the latter, for the Trance Vibrator.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:11PM (Unverified) said
For your games, that's good, but how can you claim that the PS2 experience is that much different than the PS3 experience besides usual graphical improvement and additional media functions?
For both consoles, they promoted their new formats, and thus increased their value as DVD/Blu-Ray players. They were top-notch when they were launched.
Heck, even the controllers haven't been redesigned.
How would playing a PS2 game on a PS3 differ from being played on an original PS2, knowing that the issues of rumble had been ultimately solved?
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For both consoles, they promoted their new formats, and thus increased their value as DVD/Blu-Ray players. They were top-notch when they were launched.
Heck, even the controllers haven't been redesigned.
How would playing a PS2 game on a PS3 differ from being played on an original PS2, knowing that the issues of rumble had been ultimately solved?
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 11:11PM ThornedVenom said
For your games, that's good, but how can you claim that the PS2 experience is that much different than the PS3 experience besides usual graphical improvement and additional media functions?
For both consoles, they promoted their new formats, and thus increased their value as DVD/Blu-Ray players. They were top-notch when they were launched.
Heck, even the controllers haven't been redesigned.
How would playing a PS2 game on a PS3 differ from being played on an original PS2, knowing that the issues of rumble had been ultimately solved?
Reply
For both consoles, they promoted their new formats, and thus increased their value as DVD/Blu-Ray players. They were top-notch when they were launched.
Heck, even the controllers haven't been redesigned.
How would playing a PS2 game on a PS3 differ from being played on an original PS2, knowing that the issues of rumble had been ultimately solved?
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 12:49PM (Unverified) said
About time, IMO, they're about six months too late.
While they're at it, how long till they discontinue the 40GB and 80GB models?
While they're at it, how long till they discontinue the 40GB and 80GB models?
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 1:52PM (Unverified) said
I guess when they stop selling... but currently their selling about as well as the 360 did its first year (with 2x competition and much negative press no less) so why stop now? May as well ride it out.
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Posted: Jan 10th 2008 3:58PM (Unverified) said
Even though this was a troll post, it was well done. Thumbs up from me.
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Posted: Jan 10th 2008 8:11PM NO DOUBT GET LOUD said
Theyll discontinue it when the 10GB and 120GB models come out (the former lacking backwards compatability with ps3 games).
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Posted: Jan 10th 2008 2:28PM majortom1981 said
With me i only owned 2 games for the ps2 and i have a barely used slim ps2 in my closet. So getting the 40 gig model didnt matter too much for me.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 2:32PM (Unverified) said
I have to say that I think the 40 gb PS3 is a waste. Sony is ONLY doing it to sell to those that won't spend the money for the higher priced versions.
I personally have a 60 gb PS3 and LOVE it. I am not a fan of the playstation controller setup (I like the xbox 360 controller better), but it's like Sony thought of everything that Microsoft didn't (i.e., bigger hard drive, blu-ray, controllers that can be plugged in to recharge, backwards compatibility without downloading a patch, and wireless internet accessibility). Once you have a PS3, you won't want to turn back to your PS2 (although it's nice to be able to play those games if you want).
This from the proud owner of a PS3, xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PSP, and a Nintendo DS.
I personally have a 60 gb PS3 and LOVE it. I am not a fan of the playstation controller setup (I like the xbox 360 controller better), but it's like Sony thought of everything that Microsoft didn't (i.e., bigger hard drive, blu-ray, controllers that can be plugged in to recharge, backwards compatibility without downloading a patch, and wireless internet accessibility). Once you have a PS3, you won't want to turn back to your PS2 (although it's nice to be able to play those games if you want).
This from the proud owner of a PS3, xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PSP, and a Nintendo DS.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 2:44PM Vegeta has a ps3 said
This is a bad choice. Mostly because ps2 games are still selling in Japan.
Posted: Jan 10th 2008 3:18PM RPGJock said
IMO, and this could be a very big streach, I think that Sony is not being totally honest about the Backwards Compatibility thing. I think they are working on making the PS3 software backward compatible. I think they are not talking about it because of with all the delays and missed promises they have put in the past, they figure they sit on this, figure it out and when they are really close making it good, be like we did it because the demand is there. I think that was the plan all the long but with the PS3 not doing so well as they had hope at the price point, they had to jump the shark and drop out the emotion and GPU chips to get the cost down faster.
Posted: Jan 11th 2008 12:28AM (Unverified) said
That's not such a big stretch. Sony saying they're not doing something is a pretty good indication that they are doing it.
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Posted: Jan 10th 2008 4:51PM (Unverified) said
i will never throw out my slim even though i own a 60gig so either way im set. just dont throw away your slims.
Posted: Jan 11th 2008 10:07AM (Unverified) said
I am one of the handful of people on the planet who never owned a PS2 or PS1, so the BC was one of the 60 Gb's big selling points for me. Having one system that lets me play new PS3 games like Uncharted (which is phenomenal by the way) while also letting me play the PS2 games I missed (working on GoW right now) was well worth the cost.
However, I realize that I am not representative of most gamers. Since the majority of serious gamers have owned a PS2 at some point, they are going to go for $100-lower-price over BC everytime.
I don't begrudge Sony doing what it takes to get their machine to the masses; I'm just glad I got my 60 GB when I did.
However, I realize that I am not representative of most gamers. Since the majority of serious gamers have owned a PS2 at some point, they are going to go for $100-lower-price over BC everytime.
I don't begrudge Sony doing what it takes to get their machine to the masses; I'm just glad I got my 60 GB when I did.
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