PS3's Back-Compat Loss Explained, Analyzed

The news came down last week that future low-end PS3s won't have any backwards compatibility features, and that surprised a lot of onlookers. In response, Sony UK's Ray Maguire has attempted to clarify their logic. Essentially, in Sony's view, the money spent on back-compat features is better spent on developing new games or reducing the price of the console. "When PS3 first launched, Sony felt that backwards compatibility was an important feature as there were relatively few games for the new system, Maguire explained. 'So it was a big decision," he said of facility's removal, 'and we know it is a very emotive subject as lots of people think that backwards compatibility is high on the agenda and yet few really use it.'" For more on this, Joystiq has a few words on the implications of Sony's decision, while Kotaku says the 40GB unit will be arriving in the US on Nov. 2nd. For those of you who already own PS3s: would you have purchased a unit if it didn't have BC? If you don't have one yet, does the removal of BC make you less likely to buy one?

Comments

If PS3 had decent games, maybe...

[SilentChris]

I've held off getting a PS3 specifically because there's a lack of quality games. However, I don't own a PS2, and stuff like God of War has always intrigued me. If they removed backward compatibility, the only reason I'd buy the system would be gone.

Microsoft and Nintendo, for all their faults, have at least recognized one basic fact: games first, everything else (e.g. Blu-Ray) second. Not the other way around.

Re:If PS3 had decent games, maybe...

[CodyRazor]

I think the sony guy actually got it right on the money this time. Everyone seems to think backwards compatibility is one of the most important features in a console yet in reality most people never or rarely use it. I thought it was a big deal when getting a ps3 and yet iv played one ps2 game on my ps3, and i have a ps2 anyway even if it didnt have BC. I thought it was a big deal when i got a ps2 yet I cant think of a single time I played a ps1 game on it. Theres no doubt it is a good feature, especially with upscaling and all, but i tihnk a lot people put more stock in it than its actually worth.

I agree the main problem is lack of games, I mean, its pretty much a joke at this point. iv had the machine for a very long time and theres one game iv enjoyed playing on it, and thats only good for multi player (FN3). Thats probably the main thing that makes BC an important thing for PS3, the only games you want to play on it are ps2 games.

Sony keep saying "we're dropping this feature to focus on new games, we're ignoring this area to focus on new games." I just wish they'd actually goddamn do it instead of simply using it as an excuse to be lazy or cut the price. I've already got one! I dont care about price cuts!

You cant just get the console to the consumer and then forget about it, your jobs not done yet. but sony seems to think they just need to sell as many consoles to new buyers as possible and it will be a success.

give me BC or give me (PS3) death!

[captain_cthulhu]

BC is really important to me. Sony earned alot of respect from me by sticking to their BC guns... now I feel betrayed.

I want to play GoW1&2, MGS2, Shadow of the Colossus, etc... upscaled!!

And what happens if Blu-ray doesn't win the format war?? it's possible that Sony could be in for a major train wreck up ahead.

I've been waiting for cheaper, but not at the sacrifice of important features.

To paraphrase the Simpsons...

[glindsey]

Let me get this straight. Their console is doing worse than both of their competitors, and they're going to catch up by removing features that consumers want?

Makes sense to me.

$30 HW Cost Difference

[Doc Ruby]

As I posted elsewhere in this discussion, a teardown revealed that the HW cost difference between the embedded HW PS2 and its SW emulation is about $30.

Add-on?

[MikeFM]

They should just provide upgrade slots so that we can add-on backwards compatibility if we want it by dropping in a card that'll provide the extra hardware. That way you can buy the consoles cheaper but can still have full backwards compatibility if you want it. Hell, I want a univiersal backwards compatibility card for mine that'll let me play any console game every made on a single console. I'd pay extra for it.