Seems like PS2 BC will be gone forever soon

[cthellis42]

It is... but at the same time I was just reminding on the range of execution across SKUs. Obviously I think the default mindset if someone is even in this thread is to realize Johnny Awesome's comment was correct as it applies to PS3's going forward. The provision for full SW B/C notwithstanding.

Obviously. I'm not terribly convinced that they're dropping it entirely, though. It'd certainly be nice to decrease the model confusion ("color" excluded--that's not confusing) and would certaily be cheaper and easier to distribute, but they've spun through so many models in so many markets so far...

The SIXSHOCK (or whatever they want to call it) is on its' way, and they may want to position that as a "deluxe" option. As they're still looking to roll out PlayTV and may be looking to that in future markets, they'd really need more than 80GB anyway. Plus, I'm sure they wouldn't mind outspeccing the Elite, to boot. (Damn those hard drive marketing numbers!) Upgrading to a 160GB is reasonably trivial (the hop to 250GB is a lot bigger), so they may simply be wanting to have a high-end model that actually IS high-end.

Quite possibly we'd see the 40GB alone for a while, to reduce the price expectations in people's minds and to give them a sales and perception boost leading up to their heavy-hitting 2008 titles, but when it's time I wouldn't be surprised to see them bust out with an eggregiously high-spec model again, which could certainly still have backwards compatibility. (It would boost sales of the high-end model, to be sure, and the silicon costs would be offset by the premium of the hardware.)

 

[Blade47167]

The SIXSHOCK (or whatever they want to call it) is on its' way, and they may want to position that as a "deluxe" option.

Its the "Dual Shock 3" I believe... And I seriously hope they don't force you to buy the DS3 outside of any SKU bundle. It should be streamed in as standard and do away with the Six-Axis. I mean hell they upgraded all PS1 SKU packs to include the Dual Shock analog job. Or did they do dual analogs first then add rumble later? I can't remember but I know when I eventually got around to buying another Playstation it was the PSOne and it had the dual analog with it. Confused

 

[vazel]

Now these are the kind of responses lamenting bc I love! http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231687

 

[valioso]

We'll see, but personally I think if and when those people do upgrade they'll be too tired of PS2 games too care. I think BC is great in premise, but all in all it's not something I see a lot of people outside the hardcore using with much frequency. In my experience I can count on one hand how many times I've used BC games on my 360. I'm sure I'm not alone.

Tommy McClain

From my personal experience, I have used BC once, on my ps2, to finish a ps1 game. That was it. None of my friends that have a 360 have used it at all.
I don't think is a big deal for most people, when you upgrade more than likely is because u want to play new games.

 

[cthellis42]

Its the "Dual Shock 3" I believe... And I seriously hope they don't force you to buy the DS3 outside of any SKU bundle. It should be streamed in as standard and do away with the Six-Axis. I mean hell they upgraded all PS1 SKU packs to include the Dual Shock analog job. Or did they do dual analogs first then add rumble later? I can't remember but I know when I eventually got around to buying another Playstation it was the PSOne and it had the dual analog with it. Confused

They might, certainly. I still don't really care about it until anyone can deliver it well (Silent Hill 5, perhaps? It's not being developed by Team Silent, so... ), but I guess I'm not among the majority. What they wedge in standard controllers right now it just extremely shruggable. They just may use it in a premium SKU first as additional incentive.

It's not easy to say "well, they replaced all controllers by default back THEN," since it's not like anyone was trying to getting away with selling multiple SKU options (with functional differences--not just color) back then.

 

[JPT]

A friend on mine got a 10 year old kid and she bought him a PS3 for xmas and she had the choice between 40GB and 60GB.
I suggested the 40GB due to price, but when I told her the difference between the 40GB and the 60GB it was hands down the 60GB due to BC.
Her reason, was that no way she would accept having 2 consoles under the tv in the living room.
So I guess that the Wife Acceptance Factor comes into play also.

 

[owen]

BC became more feasible with the advent of "disks". BC also wasn't good back in the day because companies (nintendo) kept changing the controller layouts.

Nowadays ps1 -> ps2 -> ps3 have basically the same controllers and same disks with increasingly more power. It would appear that the lack or poor implementation of bc was a factor of poor planning on sony's part. ( who came up with the 3 processor idea? must have been a marketing guy at ibm. ps3? = 3 processors? = genious!!! )

it seems that only nintendo has the consumer in mind - kill the old system by making something thats just as good but better - not reinventing the wheel. ps2 version 2 aka (ps2.5) would have ruled the world.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Her reason, was that no way she would accept having 2 consoles under the tv in the living room.
So I guess that the Wife Acceptance Factor comes into play also.

Surely once the kid gets a PS3, he doesn't play any more PS2 games? That's the major point here - who actually uses BC? At this point in the cycle has it any place to play in all any but the most niche of users? I'm playing Rogue Galaxy and then AFAICS that's it for my PS2 despite not having a PS3 nor expecting to get one any time soon. There's nothing coming out for it that interests me. How much less appeal does PS2 have when you do have a PS3? What does it offer that PS3 can't? I guess if you still have FFXII to play or something, it might see use.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

It would appear that the lack or poor implementation of bc was a factor of poor planning on sony's part. ( who came up with the 3 processor idea? must have been a marketing guy at ibm. ps3? = 3 processors? = genious!!! )

It was planning that decided not to be tied to old hardware and instead provide a far more powerful system that can do knew and exciting things.

it seems that only nintendo has the consumer in mind - kill the old system by making something thats just as good but better

If all the machines were hardware BC like GC, you wouldn't have the means to pull off some of the superior next-gen techs. Wii is great, but 3 Wii's wouldn't have got anywhere. Both MS and Sony had the consumer in mind, but different consumers. MS targeted the 'hardcore gamer' consumers and created a fantastic machine that these consumers love. Sony targeted the 'all in one gloriously shiny black box' consumers and it's gone down a storm with them. If they hadn't made the choices they have, these consumers, 20 million of 'em so far altogether which is as many as Wii consumers, wouldn't have got the machines they like.

I'd pick new, better technology over BC every time! And I know I'm not alone in that sentiment.

 

[RadioFr33Europe]

exactly, until Sony made it so. I don't remember any crying over the master system, nes, genesis and saturn not being BC

I think it was always a big deal. But, when we were using cartridges, it was a physical problem.

Now that everything is on discs and the current format disc readers can read previous generation, it's only an emulation issue.

IMHO, this is a big deal since the PS3's game lineup is still pretty lackluster. I play a lot of PS2 games on my PS3 now.

 

[fallguy]

For what its worth: http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3&thread.id=2482902

Perhaps people jumped the gun thinking the 80gig was gone for good.

 

[Archgamer]

For what its worth: http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3&thread.id=2482902

Perhaps people jumped the gun thinking the 80gig was gone for good.

Well nothing is official yet. But I do love the white 40 gig PS3 model with BC + MGS4 for 449.99 idea. I do know for a fact that Sony and Konami was in talks about a bundle MGS4 awhile back so that might has some merit to the guys story.

 

[ozzfreak]

Surely once the kid gets a PS3, he doesn't play any more PS2 games? That's the major point here - who actually uses BC? At this point in the cycle has it any place to play in all any but the most niche of users? I'm playing Rogue Galaxy and then AFAICS that's it for my PS2 despite not having a PS3 nor expecting to get one any time soon. There's nothing coming out for it that interests me. How much less appeal does PS2 have when you do have a PS3? What does it offer that PS3 can't? I guess if you still have FFXII to play or something, it might see use.

I've had my PS3 since launch, and I have played quite a few PS2 games. There are even some coming out soon that I wish to play as well. I've played FF XII, and God of War 2. I plan to buy Twisted Metal Head On: Extra Twisted Edition, and the PS2 release of Silent Hill Origins. And there's also a huge catalog of PS2 games released that I never got to play, even while I still had my PS2. Like the first Ratchet & Clanks, Sly Cooper, Okami and the like. And this all accounting that I play PS3 games and demos as well.

 

[fallguy]

Ive used BC on my PS3. I didnt have a PS2 to upgrade from. I had a PS2 years ago, but sold it.

So Ive borrowed some games from my father in law, GoW 1&2, Shadow of Colossus, and my girl had a ton of games over there he gave us. I dont use it much, but I have used it.

 

[iceberg187]

80GB sold better than 40GB

UPDATE 2: Well, this is interesting. We just heard from The NPD Group who told us, "In the last quarter (when both were on the market), the 80GB sold more units than the 40GB." When pressed for a more exact breakdown of the sales data between the two SKUs, NPD said they could not provide that. It's certainly a surprise to us, however, that the more expensive 80GB would have sold more than 40GB, which many have attributed the PS3 sales spike to.

http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/n...3-due-to-poor-sales-says-analyst/19208/?biz=1

 

[gongo]

Sony is like moving 2 steps forward but 1 step backwards for their fans.

 

[JPT]

Surely once the kid gets a PS3, he doesn't play any more PS2 games? That's the major point here - who actually uses BC? At this point in the cycle has it any place to play in all any but the most niche of users?

She said they had a ton of PS2 games and that he still played those and all his friends has PS2 and they borrow games from each other. She didn't expect his friends to get a PS3 as soon and even tough he got a "better" system, she didn't want to exclude him from his friends.
She is divorced and you know, competing parents etc, he got an X360 at his dads place

In her defense, she is a key account manager for a big telecoms hardware vendor, so her mind might be a bit warped on the tech side of things

 

[Neb]

Sony is like moving 2 steps forward but 1 step backwards for their fans.

Well after all the bashing on xbo360's BC compability and their own promises then it shure is a step back for those who whants BC.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

80GB sold better than 40GB

That's similar to the 60GB outselling 40GB in the EU, but we don't know exactly why and if BC was a major factor. We also don't know if that BC interest is long term or just a smallish number who were postponing getting a PS3 but this tipped their hand. That is, if you planned to get a PS3 at £250 with BC, and then you learn BC is being dropped, you may decide £350 is worth it.

 

[Silent]

The demand of 60Gb models here is still very strong. The ebay prices are ridiculous a friend of mine bought a second hand machine for 570€ (835$)