Euro PS3 Backwards compatibility in doubt

AWPC · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:19

Decided to cancel my £600 pre-order (4 games + HDMI cable)as I do not have a good feeling about it now after this news.

Someone senior @ Game is saying Sony have told them there will be no more PS3's for Europe in bulk until the autumn after the launch so that will deter devs from creating games for it as already the sales numbers are poor and as the cost to create a modern game are high already and the PS3 is harder to program for than the 360 think it is becoming clearer that Sony are going to struggle to get the momentum needed to make this a success.

This news sounds like damage limitation to me as if Sony were that confident the PS3 was going to be a huge success then why would they change the hardware it makes no logical sense. Could it be that Sony are very nervous about it now as they realise it is going to be very hard to recover their $241 loss per console via software sales when there is nowhere near enough launch titles and worse still even new games planned down the line are not PS3 exclusive.

BloodWolf · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:32

NokkonWud said:
I have never undrestood why people see backwards compatibility as so important.

Sell old console and make room for new one ;P

It's like 2 in 1

JUMPURS · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:34

Thing is, the backwards compatibility software might actually be a lot better anyway.
Rumour now has it that the dev kits allow backwards compatibility in HD, something that the hardware solution did not allow.

http://www.ps3forums.com/showthread.php?t=59112

Sorry if the link isn't allowed.

Bonjour · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:53

JUMPURS said:
Thing is, the backwards compatibility software might actually be a lot better anyway.
Rumour now has it that the dev kits allow backwards compatibility in HD, something that the hardware solution did not allow.

http://www.ps3forums.com/showthread.php?t=59112

Sorry if the link isn't allowed.

Yes, for the games it supports it probably will be better. The thing is, this software emulation will also likely work on the PS3's with the hardware solution, meaning they will get the best of both worlds.

REDD555 · 26 Feb 2007 at 16:39

Bonjour said:
Yes, for the games it supports it probably will be better. The thing is, this software emulation will also likely work on the PS3's with the hardware solution, meaning they will get the best of both worlds.

Hmm. That was the best news I'd heard about all this until you said that.

Can't argue with your logic though, bummer ....

msmalls74 · 26 Feb 2007 at 19:19

Just read this on IGN

US, February 26, 2007 - Following Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's bomb late last week regarding a possible drop in backwards compatibility for the European PlayStation 3, Japanese gaming site Impress Watch reports today that SCEE's Japanese parent SCEI has at last issued a statement on the matter, providing clarification into exactly what will be going on under the hood.

The current PS3 model that's available for purchase in Asia and North America achieves backwards compatibility through hardware, as each unit includes the "Emotion Engine + Graphics Synthesizer" combination CPU and graphics chip that powers the slim model PS2. The European version of the hardware will not have this chip, SCEI confirmed today. To achieve backwards compatibility, the European model will rely on a combination of hardware and software. Sony is including hardware of some form that will take the place of the Graphics Synthesizer graphics chip. The Emotion Engine CPU functionality will be replicated entirely through software emulation.

Sadly, SCEI did not clarify some of the vague terminology used in the European subsidiary's press release to describe the level of backwards compatibility that can be expected from the new system configuration. SCEI also kept mum on when the new version of the hardware will appear in other territories.

m even more confused now, one day full hardware emulation, then software now it looks like its a combination of the two! Oh well guess we'll find out on the 23rd March when the compatability list is released!

Bossy papa · 26 Feb 2007 at 19:25

at least the games will be cheaper
£39.99 for all first party games

Energize · 26 Feb 2007 at 20:19

For those who don't understand why backwards compatibility is important, you can compare it to upgrading to vista and then not being able to play any games designed for xp even though loads of new great games are being released for it.

FrankJH · 27 Feb 2007 at 08:22

Energize said:
For those who don't understand why backwards compatibility is important, you can compare it to upgrading to vista and then not being able to play any games designed for xp even though loads of new great games are being released for it.

ummmmm nope not the same at all if you ask me - apart from anything else the cost of XP hasnt gone through the floor its still roughly the same cost as when it was released.

Not to mention that there are a lot of XP programs that refuse to run on Vista (even in admin mode) and remember all those Win2k programs that didnt run on XP???

BoomAM · 27 Feb 2007 at 09:03

I dont recall a single Win2K app that didnt run on XP, as they are basically the same OS anyway!

Some websites are reporting that Sony are removing the motion sensing from the Euro version as well.

Sony really are messing up lately. Who's running them now-a-days? A trained chimp!?

ic1male · 27 Feb 2007 at 10:17

No, that motion-sensing rumour has been debunked. It was an error made by IGN or something.

BoomAM · 27 Feb 2007 at 12:45

I read it off another news site?
Seems odd if its true, as it basically removes the ability for the PAL version to play current PS3 games.

JUMPURS · 27 Feb 2007 at 12:52

It's total nonsense, It is the trend just now, slight bit of 'bad' news for the PS3 and all these wee bloggers start making stuff up. By the time it has been refuted, the damage has been done.

Joebob · 27 Feb 2007 at 19:55

Have you all heard? Sony are apparantly removing the Cell broadband engine and the GPU from the European launch too

wannabedamned · 27 Feb 2007 at 20:31

Joebob said:
Have you all heard? Sony are apparantly removing the Cell broadband engine and the GPU from the European launch too

Is it still £450 quidish?

pfft, I'll buy it, Make a lovely paper weight

Iraklis F.C. · 28 Feb 2007 at 02:04

so the europeans pay more and get less.

ramirez · 28 Feb 2007 at 08:20

As much as people can say there are PS3 haters, it is indisputable that Europeans are getting a very raw deal this time round.

pinkacidbootson · 28 Feb 2007 at 15:15

Does anyone realise this removal of the PS2 hardware was announced in 2006? I remember reading an article in which Sony said they plan to eventually remove the hardware and use emulation instead. Not that it makes the situation any different, but i thought i'd just mention it.

JUMPURS · 28 Feb 2007 at 15:27

Yeah but i think people expected it to stay in until the software emulation would work as a direct replacement to the hardware. Not just a 'screw it, we are taking the M$ route now' which kinda sucks.
Hopefully the emulation software will be better than the rumours just now suggest. Right now i believe very little on the web about the PS3.

BoomAM · 28 Feb 2007 at 17:57

In Sonys defence, if they can lower the price, and the emulation mostly works, it doesnt really matter if the PS2 parts are in it or not. As long as within a reasonable time frame every game worked ok, its not that big a deal really.
The problem is that thus far, Sony arnt reducing the price. Theres time for them yet though.

Tbh, i really dont know how i want this 'war' to go for Sony. On the one hand i want them to fail miserably, it should rid them of their arrogance in the market. But on the other hand, there is something about the PS3 thats more appealing to me than a 360.