At least, that's what I can infer.
Quote:
NEW YORK (AP) -- Sony Corp. on Thursday cut the price of its PlayStation 3 game console in the U.S. and announced an even cheaper model that will arrive before the holiday shopping season.
The top-line PlayStation model, with an 80 gigabyte hard drive, now costs $499, down from $599. That effectively eliminates the lower-end model, which has a 60-gigabyte drive and has sold for $499.
A new low-end model with a 40-gigabyte drive will go on sale November 2 for $399.
Unlike the other PlayStation 3 models, the new one won't be able to play games made for the PlayStation 2. In a statement, Sony said this was due to a more extensive lineup of games of the PlayStation 3.
The U.S. launch of the 40-gigabyte model was widely expected, since Sony has already announced it for Japan and Europe. It narrows the price gap with competing game consoles, but the PlayStation is still the most expensive.
Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 costs $350 and Nintendo Corp.'s Wii costs $250.
The PlayStation 3 has been trailing them both in U.S. sales, and the Wii has been a breakout hit for Nintendo, with more than 9 million units shipped. Sony has sold 5 million PlayStation 3s since they went on sale in November last year.
Bold for emphasis.
Am I reading this wrong? Because if not, Sony's made a blunder even more horrendous than their previous ones (which were bad enough as is).
So basically the new version's worthless, both for the enthusiast, hardcore gamers with a large PS2 library, and for the holiday shoppers buy for their kids.
Sony. They both want PS2 games that don't cost $70 bucks. You hear?
EDIT: At least the 80-gigabyte model's only $500 now. Not that it detracts from the new model's stupidity.
Atm in the land of the rising crumpet (uk land) the 40GB non-bc ps3 is 299 with 2 BR movies and the soon to be discontinued 60GB with bc is about 300 with 2 games and movie (lol loopholes and mass shop discounts). Already stores are running out of the 60GB version since sony europe has said that once they are gone, it's 40GB version only! Also the 40GB version has been left realitively untouched in stores 
XD @ everyone with a PS3.
This system is seriously going the way of Sega >> Now we need a PS3 version of Pat to come here and tell us how PS3 will rise up out of oblivion with this blunder.
...::Still needs a PS2, Grandia III is STILL waiting to be played:: >>....Hrm, kinda slow I am..
You're probably better off with an actual PS2, anyway. What are they now, $129 USD? 'Course, you're losing the upscaling...
PS2s are still about 90 new from shops here o_o
Quote:
So basically the new version's worthless, both for the enthusiast, hardcore gamers with a large PS2 library, and for the holiday shoppers buy for their kids.
Crap that's the whole reason I want a PS3...to serve as a PS2 as well. Sony makes me mad. I'm terribly PO'ed atm. Oh why, oh why...did I rid myself of my beloved PS2. Still played and looked like new too. Schick! I suppose my original plan of purchasing one[a PS3] in 2010 is most reasonable going by Sony's actions as of late.
Read the actual press release on Kotaku. It pretty much says the same thing mentioned here. :/
Heh...things are abit more interesting this generation as opposed to last generation.
Haha. Haha. Oh, wow.
Whack...but I had my doubts about whether the PS3 would play even all my obscure Playstation games so I figured I was going to keep a PS2 around anyways...but still...lame.
I couldn't seel my PS2 for enough to maike it worth bothering.
60GB PS3 w/ emotion Engine ftfw, though.
I'm surprised it's took this long for there to be a thread on this.
I know a lot of people who have said on various news sites, "At least you can still buy the 80GB version if you still want backwards compat", but in the EU I'm lead to believe that the 40GB is replacing the 60GB entirely (the EU 60GB uses the same, EE-less emulation as the US 80GB, to those not in the know), so really if you don't buy up quick you're left without a choice - probably the reason for the 178% sales increase.
Not that I particularly care atm. Unless something really jumps out at me and gives me undeniable puppy eyes from the PS3 games catalogue, it's still not something I'm gonna buy in the forseeable future - it may be cheaper, but unless it grabs more killer aps, it still works out too much cash for too little back.
PS2 owners may just htink it a simple choice, though. Keep your PS2 (it isn't worh much to sell) and buy the 40GB.
Also, I want to know who the hell is buying Blu-Ray players for $999.99.
Hahaha yea really. If anyone buys a Blu-Ray player for $1000 vs. a PS3...they're just crazy.
Quote:
Also, I want to know who the hell is buying Blu-Ray players for $999.99.
One point I have no choice but to concede. If you want Blu-Ray, PS3 is the way to go, because you're getting a good Blu-Ray player and everything else the PS3 has on top for almost half the price.
Well, I guess most consumers look in the video player aisle for video players, not the video game aisle. Still, underinformed consumers are probably not the ones buying the huigh tech next gen HD whatsits.
