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40GB PS3 Coming to the States

Posted by Zonk on from the stop-monkeying-with-the-hard-drive-size-already dept.

Sony Computer Entertainment of America has finally confirmed that the 40GB PlayStation 3 sku will be released in the US. This release will coincide with a price drop on the 80GB sku, from $600 to $500. "The 40-gigabyte model has already made its debut in Europe and Japan, and was widely expected to come to the United States ahead of the crucial year-end shopping season that accounts for the largest single chunk of annual video game software and hardware sales." (Via GI.biz)

105 comments

  1. Admiral Ackbario says: by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 0, Troll

    It'sa crap!

  2. Yawn by Eponymous+Crowbar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Wake me up when a compelling game comes out. I've heard decent things about Heavenly Sword, but it isn't my cup of tea. Everything else _so far_ has been a disappointment, delayed until 2008, or I can play it on another system.

    1. Re:Yawn by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Heavenly Sword is great if you need a game to kill about 4-5 hours with. But paying $500 (or whatever the PS3 costs) plus the $70 for the game for 4-5 hours of gameplay.. Give me my Wii, which for under $500 I've been playing constantly since it came out.

      --
      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
    2. Re:Yawn by morari · · Score: 1

      What the game really $70?! Is that what consoles games are going for nowadays? Geeze, I used to think $40 was too expensive. Most video games aren't worth much more than $20-$30 in my opinion.

      --
      "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
    3. Re:Yawn by feepness · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There are others, but if you only need one: Warhawk.

      Bagging on the PS3 for lack of games is so six months ago...

    4. Re:Yawn by AuMatar · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The cost of high def- more time on engine development and art asset development means higher costs to make a game. And that cost is passed on. Wii games are cheaper, in part because they don't need to do HD.

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
    5. Re:Yawn by morari · · Score: 1

      That sounds like a bunch of marketing BS to me, hoping to justify outrageous prices. Movies cost a helluva lot more to make and don't cost near that much to buy (and usually cost less to rent as well!). Of course, again, I personally think that the asking price of $20 is too expensive for most films too. :P

      --
      "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
    6. Re:Yawn by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 1

      The game is $60. Console games cost $60 these days, PC games still cost $50.

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
    7. Re:Yawn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      360 and PS3 games cost $60. Wii games cost $50 like the PC games.

    8. Re:Yawn by brkello · · Score: 0, Troll

      Why does a troll get modded up? Because it mentions the Wii?

      --
      Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
    9. Re:Yawn by NonSequor · · Score: 1

      Just because someone says something you don't like doesn't make them a troll. All he said was that a game is nice but not worth the cost of the PS3.

      --
      My only political goal is to see to it that no political party achieves its goals.
    10. Re:Yawn by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 1

      Oh, ok, thanks for correcting me. It's sad, because I own a Wii, too, I just swear I remember paying $60 for the games (heh, maybe I did, and got ripped off by Best Buy).

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
    11. Re:Yawn by brkello · · Score: 1

      No, it's a troll because he puts things in there that are factually inaccurate. I am fine when people say things I don't agree with...but I am tired of the FUD.

      --
      Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
    12. Re:Yawn by zippthorne · · Score: 1

      Except that PC games have been basically high def (and non-interlaced) for longer than the past two generations of consoles and typically debut at $50-$60. And have had lower numbers than console games over the same time period.

      The games need to sell in great enough volume to pay for their production. If the price is too high to sell enough copies, they will not even break even. Obviously, $70 is not too high as enough people are paying this price to keep the game makers in business.

      --
      Can you be Even More Awesome?!
    13. Re:Yawn by Stevecrox · · Score: 1

      No it is a troll, there no justification its pure negitive opinion made in a thread about the PS3. Its no different to going into the Ubunutu story and posting "I don't like Ubunutu" he never said it wasn't worth the cost of the PS3 or even that the game was nice.

      Personnally I agree in part, there is no single great game on the PS3 which justifies the price tag, however there are a bunch of really good games which together do, from Motorstorm,Resistance,Dirt,Heavenly Sword and Oblivion (the only games I've bought so far.) Personnally I'm waiting for Divx support I think its the only think my PS3 is missing.

    14. Re:Yawn by donaldm · · Score: 1

      I live in Australia and PS3, Wii and Xbox360 games cost about the same that being AU$99 (US$89) including taxes. Note I am quoting for a similar popular game across all platforms although to be fair the Wii games are approx 5% to 10% cheaper but while PS3 and Xbox360 games do drop significantly by approx 30% to 50% within six months the Wii games remain at a high price for much longer. Of course if the game is a stinker the price of game drops quickly so the retailer can just get rid of the game.

      Personally I don't find many games on the PS3 that are a "must-have" yet, however I can equally say the same for the Wii and the Xbox360 so I am quite happy to buy PS2 games which I like since the PS2 is still a well supported console and because of this I save money (PS2 games vary from AU20 to AU$30 for older and second hand games). An attractive feature of my 60GB PS3 is it's ability to smooth and upscale PS1 (good but not spectacular) and PS2 (excellent) games to my HDTV. I even get rumble with a Dualshock 2 if the game supports it and if I turn it on.

      --
      There ain't no such thing as proprietary standards only proprietary formats. Standards are by definition open.
    15. Re:Yawn by ch0ad · · Score: 1

      warhawk! it is a fantastic game!

      HS is indeed very good, especially on hell mode. normal mode is way too easy

      also gripshift (possibly the most underrated game on the ps3) and tekken DR.

    16. Re:Yawn by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 1

      Yeah, and you could get a hamburger for a nickel!

      Seriously, though, there's this thing called "inflation." Many games for SNES were $60 new, which means if you're buying a game today for $60, a game with dozens more programmers, super-high res textures and graphics, an actual rock band providing the music, you're basically getting a great deal.

      Of course, all posts like yours can be countered with a simple, "an item is worth what people are willing to pay for it. Period." The most basic rule of economics.

      --
      Comment of the year
    17. Re:Yawn by Dev59 · · Score: 1

      Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction comes out next week. And a month from then, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune comes out. Those look like the first two great PS3 games.

    18. Re:Yawn by Dev59 · · Score: 1

      This gets modded up? Really? He adds $10 to the price and lies about the length of the game and he gets modded up as interesting? Heavenly Sword is a short game, yes. But it has no fluff at all and at an absolute minimum is still going to take six hours, with most people taking seven. It's not technically possible to beat the game in 4-5 hours. It's just not.

    19. Re:Yawn by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 1

      "Heavenly Sword is, as you will soon discover, the very definition of a rental title. Clocking in at somewhere between five and six hours (depending on your appetite for overwrought cinemas) it's a decent game saddled by impossible expectations. It has silly ideas and grandeur in close proximity to one another."

      -Tycho http://www.penny-arcade.com/2007/09/12

      I was off by about an hour. Does that extra 60 minutes make it any more worth buying? How about the lack of replayability? Yeah.

      And the price.. I don't buy games so I was guessing. But when you factor in taxes and shipping (or gas money, we don't all live near the mall) you're at or over $70.

      --
      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
  3. And now.... by ivan256 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Cue the scores of posters from previous threads who claimed that Sony wasn't planning a drop on the 80GB PS3 when the 60GB models ran out flooding this story with admissions that they were wrong...

    1. Re:And now.... by Chosen+Reject · · Score: 1

      flooding this story with admissions that they were wrong...
      Wait, people on slashdot can be wrong? And humble enough to admit it?
      --
      Stop Global Warming!
      Just say no to irreversible processes!
    2. Re:And now.... by DrXym · · Score: 1
      It was quite obvious back then that Sony were going to drop the 80Gb when the 60Gb sold out. It was also quite obvious why they wouldn't wish to say this either since it might impact sales of 80Gb models.

      I really don't understand why anyone would think Sony were dropping the price temporarily and then going to hike it back up.

    3. Re:And now.... by Grave · · Score: 1

      Actually I predicted Sony wouldn't cut the price again, and I was wrong. I hereby cease attempting to predict Sony's actions, as all previous console price strategies have been well thought out and planned far in advance. Sony is no longer following this route, and is reacting rather jumpily. I would hope that the 80GB w/ Motorstorm remains $499 and the 40GB remains $399, with no price changes or discontinuations, but at this point I'm not going to expect it.

      Now, will this "price cut" and new model actually increase sales and keep them up, or just provide a temporarily blip like the $100 cut on the 60GB? That's a more interesting question than whether there will be another "price cut" followed by discontinuation soon.

    4. Re:And now.... by maglor_83 · · Score: 1

      I really don't understand why anyone would think Sony were dropping the price temporarily and then going to hike it back up. Well I wouldn't have thought so until you mentioned it. After all, Sony have done a lot of strange things this generation. Though I do admit that they seem to be trying to fix it.
    5. Re:And now.... by DrXym · · Score: 1
      Sony did bungle the original price and sent so terribly confusing mixed messages from their various world groups. But they do seem to be more focussed, so hopefully that is a good thing. Certainly they appear to be using their official blog to communicate news in a coherent way.

      Concerning the way Sony is behaving with pricing... most companies want you to buy what's in store right now rather than wait for a price drop or a new model. Otherwise the stuff in the store isn't going to sell as fast. Therefore it's no surprise at all that they don't say upfront what their future plans are. But it was obvious that the 80Gb would step in at the same or a lower price. And with the 40Gb, there's even a lower price yet again.

      We'll see this repeat over and over. Sony appear to be a lot more aggressive rolling out new models than the last gen. Look at the current situation with the 40Gb model at $399 and the 80Gb at $499. Sony haven't announced what happens once the 80Gb sells out, but it seems likely that they'll produce a top-end model probably using the new hardware but with more HDD capacity and bundled with rumble and a game. Or something similar.

      The reason they don't say much about their future plans is because they want people to buy what's there, not hanging on indefinitely waiting for the next deal to roll around. There is a well known precedent describing what they're trying to avoid.

  4. no games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    $599

  5. What will you lose? by enderjsv · · Score: 1

    From what I know of the European and Japanese versions, there will be no backwards compatibility and no memory card ports.

    1. Re:What will you lose? by thebonafortuna · · Score: 4, Informative

      From what I've read, that is true for the 40 GB version only. The 80 GB version supposedly does feature the same backwards compatibility as recent versions, which I believe is through emulation, and not additional hardware. If I get a chance, I'll see if I can find an article confirming this.

    2. Re:What will you lose? by larry+bagina · · Score: 1

      Also, it only has 2 USB ports and doesn't support SACD (which wasn't much of a seller anyhow).

      --
      Do you even lift?

      These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    3. Re:What will you lose? by thebonafortuna · · Score: 1

      http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071018/ap_on_hi_te/sony_playstation

      And here's what will probably be the next article on Slashdot:

      http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071018/ap_on_hi_te/sony_playstation

    4. Re:What will you lose? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... spring for the $500 one, or buy a PS2 and use the same USB flash card reader you use on your PC. Or buy a USB one if you use a PC with a card reader built in. But then why would you need a card reader on the PS3? I don't see why any tears are being shed over this loss. There are still very good options available.

      Oh damn, I smell another "I but, but, but I can't fit a PS2 and PS3 into my entertainment center, and I don't want to pay more for the model with BC built in"

  6. Where is my 500 gig PS3? by BiggestPOS · · Score: 4, Insightful

    With the drives now RETAILING for around $100, I can't imagine why 40 gig drives are still being made. What is the point where the overall cost of the materials reaches the floor and the drives can't get any cheaper? Seriously, a 40 gig hard-drive is just laughable, they must be using up over-stock or putting refurbs in. Are single platter drives with that little capacity even being produced anymore in the 3.5" form factor?

    --
    What, me worry?
    1. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by ivan256 · · Score: 5, Informative

      They use 2.5" drives, so you can't really get 500GB for $100... 40GB per head/platter-side is still the knee in the price curve on 2.5" drives.... A recent change from 30GB (Hence the move from the 60GB PS3 to the 80GB model).

      Regardless, user-upgrade of the hard drive in the PS3 is an officially supported process. If you want bigger, you can have it.

    2. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by BiggestPOS · · Score: 1

      Ok, so they need to man-up and put a 3.5 inch drive in the thing somehow (make it bigger, thats fine with me) because that amount of drive space is simply inadequate, IMHO.

      --
      What, me worry?
    3. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by ucblockhead · · Score: 2, Insightful

      1) Buy a 500 GB USB drive for $109.
      2) Plug it into the PS3's USB port.
      3) Profit!

      --
      The cake is a pie
    4. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that amount [40GB] of drive space is simply inadequate, IMHO. No it's not. It's a PS3. It's meant for games, not your porn stash. If you REALLY want to watch your porn on your HDTV, just set up a media server and stream it to the PS3.

      However, I still don't understand why they axed backwards compatibility. Sony says that it is to cut production costs, but backwards compatibility is done in software. What is so expensive about software that you are already developing for the 80GB?
    5. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Sony is pushing it as a media center and not just a console. 40GB isinadequate for what Sony themselves are saying the PS3 is for.

      --
      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
    6. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by yulon · · Score: 1, Funny



      I am trying the stupid site, I hate everyone... I would like to kill everyone for the sake of sport. Fuck you all, I hate everyone!!!

    7. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by jason777 · · Score: 0

      Dont forget that bigger drives mean more heat, and possibly higher failure rate. I had to stick a hard drive cooler on my 500GB drive because it was spiking at 65C.

    8. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      If you want it so much, make it yourself. Buy a 2.5in 500GB SATA drive and stick it in a PS3.

      BTW, the reason PS3's are still so expensive despite the small hard drive is because of the price on Blu-Ray drive, both PS3's saviour and it's curse.

    9. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by Vampyre_Dark · · Score: 1

      I guess they are realizing that us console gamers don't want a machine for all the things that Sony is pushing it for. I just want to play the next iterations of all my favorite game series. No need for a super computer/miracle machine/foot massager/foreman grill.

      I think 40gb is MORE than enough for my save games, and a 500 MB HOME download.

      Something I would like to know, is if the USB ports will read memory cards, since the ports are now gone? I have a nice USB adapter to read SD cards. It would be nice to use that, or just a normal USB storage device.

    10. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by Maxhrk · · Score: 0

      how can you profit after buy and plug it in your system? :)

    11. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      By using it for storage, I would guess. How would you do it?

    12. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BC was never handled strictly by software, only EE emulation. the 80 GB unit still retained the GS chip. The 40 GB unit axed both. Perhaps some time in the future full software BC will be addressed with a firmware update, but don't hold your breath.

    13. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by Cy+Sperling · · Score: 1
      But it does support external USB drives, not to mention that Sony fully supports consumers replacing the internal with as large a drive as they want.

      Oh yeah, and it sees WiFi local networks so my PC can serve my entire music and photo collection wirelessly to the PS3.

    14. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Welcome to Slashdot!

    15. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by donaldm · · Score: 1

      In Australia the new 40GB PS3 IMHO (AU$699 - includes tax - US$625) would definitely be a "no-buy" for me if I did not have a PS3 already since I don't particularly want to have a PS2 (I do have a Gamecube but that is different) in my TV cabinet just so I can play PS2 games, anyway a 40GB PS3 plus a PS2 is only marginally cheaper than the 60GB PS3 since this comes with an extra controller, two reasonable PS3 games and possibly a Bluray movie. Still I can understand although I think it is short-sighted, that Sony would bring out a 40GB PS3 without backward compatibility and it will give the PS3 a boost over the Christmas period. I hope that they do continue to support and enhance backwards compatibility for those people who have these consoles and it may be possible (warning crystal ball gazing here) that even the 40GB PS3 will have a firmware update that will allow for backwards compatibility (it is feasible). The 80GB and 60GB PS3 models do have the a PS2 graphics engine for the backwards compatibility and now this has been removed it requires a change to the emulation software if Sony wishes to finance the backwards compatibility software development team to do this, anyway only time will tell. If this is done then the 40GB PS3 would be a very good buy.

      It must be realised that a PS2 game sale even though played on a PS3 is still revenue for Sony, however if you believe the marketing droid's, that for many backwards compatibility is not important. For me and quite a few others (read millions) backwards compatibility is important and I am very pleased I got my 60GB PS3 (approx US$407 at the time) when I did since I now have a very good versatile games (PS1/2/3) machine. One thing I am curious about is the potential PVR capabilities although I may need a bigger drive if I want to do this, however 120GB or 160GB 2.5" drives are not expensive.

      --
      There ain't no such thing as proprietary standards only proprietary formats. Standards are by definition open.
    16. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by ToasterMonkey · · Score: 1

      Don't USB card readers use the same spec as USB hard drives? Mass Storage Device or something.

    17. Re:Where is my 500 gig PS3? by Gravatron · · Score: 1
      The biggest problem with BC though software on the ps3 for ps2 games is the massive size of the ps2's library. IT weight in at something like 9,000 games. Thats a whole lot of man hours of testing to ensure compatability. Toss in ps1 games, and that number shoots up an additional 10,000. I'm glad I have the 60 gig, as it's BC is fairly good so far, at least after the updates.


      PVR difinatly needs more than 40 gigs, but luckly it takes any 2.5 inch sata drive and the replacement process is pretty painless from what I understand.

  7. No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by nweaver · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Sorry, no backwards compatibilty == No Thanks.

    I've got a lot of PS2 games still, and I won't be getting rid of em. But there isn't space in my entertainment center housing for a PS2 and a PS3, especially since the PS3 can't have anything stacked on it because of its curvosity.

    --
    Test your net with Netalyzr
    1. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by enderjsv · · Score: 1

      Backwards compatibility has always been a nice perk, but seriously, I rarely ever use it. I think I used backwards capabilities on the ps2 to play ff tactics, and thats it. I think people put too much value in it. Besides, if you want backwards capability, you can still get it. Just cough up the extra 100

    2. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by trdrstv · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Backwards compatibility has always been a nice perk, but seriously, I rarely ever use it. I think I used backwards capabilities on the ps2 to play ff tactics, and thats it. I think people put too much value in it. Besides, if you want backwards capability, you can still get it. Just cough up the extra 100

      Some people put A LOT of value in it. In fact if the PS3 didn't have either BluRay, or Backwords compatibility I would have zero reason to get one. As of now I'm waiting until "Some magical time in 2008" when the exclusives worth buying hit, until then I'm watching Movies, and playing PS2 games upscaled on it.

    3. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by rwven · · Score: 1

      For people like myself who never owned a PS2 that isn't an issue...

      My main gripe with the system is that they don't ship it with component cables and then charge you $50 more than a 360 which DOES come with the cables.

      A $400 system definitely sounds better than the $600 one.

    4. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by eln · · Score: 1

      Even for people that have never owned a PS2 (like me) backwards compatibility is a big deal, because games for new systems are EXPENSIVE and games for older systems are CHEAP. There are some excellent PS2 titles out there retailing for around $20. I get most of the use out of my Wii by playing GameCube games on it (even though I've never owned a GameCube) because I can buy GC games far more frequently than I can buy Wii games, which cost 50 bucks each. PS3 games cost around $60 each, so this is even more of a factor there.

      Sure, most games on the older platforms don't age particularly well, but the libraries are so large that there are still a lot of high quality games to buy. I think ignoring backward compatibility when it means cutting yourself off from such a large library of inexpensive games is folly.

    5. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by Whyte+Panther · · Score: 1

      It's not JUST PS2 backwards compatability. It's Backwards compatibility upscaled to HiDef, and with wireless (albeit rumble-less) controllers. The lag on my LCD TV is quite noticable playing non-progressive scan PS2 games on a real PS2, and maybe playing them on a PS3 in my TV's native resolution would allieve that somewhat, so yes, I want backwards compatibility in my PS3 when I eventually get one. Still waiting on some games to make me make the jump though. Eye of Judgment looks interesting, so that makes 1, but I usually like to have 3 games to buy right away before I invest in a system.

    6. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by trdrstv · · Score: 1

      Even for people that have never owned a PS2 (like me) backwards compatibility is a big deal, because games for new systems are EXPENSIVE and games for older systems are CHEAP. There are some excellent PS2 titles out there retailing for around $20. I get most of the use out of my Wii by playing GameCube games on it (even though I've never owned a GameCube) because I can buy GC games far more frequently than I can buy Wii games, which cost 50 bucks each. PS3 games cost around $60 each, so this is even more of a factor there.

      Exactly. I didn't have a PS2, but recently went on to pick up a few Gems in the "$6.99 used" category. I probably have 10 PS2 games now compared to my 2 PS3 games (and seriously thinking of selling Warhawk. Motorstorm is the other, and well worth it).

    7. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by sunsfan1991 · · Score: 1

      If you want backwards compatibility go buy a 60 gig before they run out.

    8. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which is why they are not cutting the current version.
       
      You just come to a full circle, congratulation.

    9. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by gamer4Life · · Score: 1

      There are plenty of exclusives already for the PS3 and more to come this holiday season.

      Warhawk, Resistance, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Heavenly Sword, Lair, Folklore, Ratchet and Clank, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune of the top of my head.

      Sure, HS and Lair should be rentals, but the rest are great exclusives, maybe not so-called "AAA", but definitely worth a buy. Xbox 360 itself only has several "AAA" exclusives.

      To say that the PS3 "has no games" is basically spewing Microsoft FUD.

    10. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You missed his point and your own fanboy-ism is showing because of it. He said "exclusives worth buying" but didn't say which he thought were worth it. Its personal preference, not Microsoft FUD. For all we know, "exclusives worth buying" mean Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy XII. But you didn't inquire about that. No, you assumed and put words in his mouth.

    11. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GP was correct. The GGP stated there are "no exclusives worth buying", not "no exclusives I think are worth buying". Your fanboy-ism is showing way more than the GP. If it was all personal preference, then the GGP's post is irrelevant, as someone can just not like any games whatsoever, including any of Microsoft's exclusives and say that XBox 360 has "no exclusives worth buying".

    12. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by Grave · · Score: 1

      The number of people who do not believe those listed PS3 exclusives are worth buying the system for are far smaller than the number of people who DO consider them worth buying the system for. That is the problem. There are good exclusives for PS3, but a majority of people do not view them as system sellers. The only interest I have in getting a PS3 is for a Blu-Ray player. THAT is what is getting me to buy one, and while I'll probably get a couple games for it over the next few months, the dual-platform ones will be purchased on 360.

    13. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by rwven · · Score: 1

      To each his own though. I own a 360 and other than Halo2, I've never had an XBOX1 game. I don't even have Halo2 anymore. What's valuable and what's expensive are different to different people.

    14. Re:No Backwards Compatibilty == No Thanks... by trdrstv · · Score: 1

      To each his own though. I own a 360 and other than Halo2, I've never had an XBOX1 game. I don't even have Halo2 anymore. What's valuable and what's expensive are different to different people.

      You may want to pick up Max Payne then (1 & 2). Both games are real good, work under the 360's BC well and scale very nice. As an added bonus it's like $5-$8 for both of them used.

  8. But what about ... by trevorrowe · · Score: 3, Informative

    What about all of those $500 60GB PS3 units still sitting on the shelves. Will they get a price drop? IMHO the 60GB is the most appealing, as it still plays PS1/2 games w/out emulation.

    1. Re:But what about ... by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      I'm guessing they're pretty rare at this point.

      All the stores around here that' I've seen only have 80GB bundle packs right now.

      I'm sure you can still find a few if you try, but they'll be gone soon.

    2. Re:But what about ... by larry+bagina · · Score: 1

      I believe sony already dumped their 60 gig inventory, so any price drop would be from the retailer, not sony.

      --
      Do you even lift?

      These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    3. Re:But what about ... by rhartness · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Simple they will remain at $500 (if they exists). Purchasers will see both for $500 and opt for the 60GBer because its the same price and has more space. Retailers will place them side-by-side in the kiosks so that their buyer will surely see the two models and will draw the conclusion.

      That, my friend, is how they clean out your old stock. I've seen GameStop do this type of thing before with New games that are old rather frequently. They actually drop the price of new games that are no longer available from the distributor to the price of the used game. This quickly sells their stock and frees up the real estate in the new games section for games that have recently been released.

    4. Re:But what about ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      9 million people in my (American) city and immediate suburbs. Major metro market. I don't think I've been inside of a store in the past month that sells games but does not have several 60 GB PS3s in stock. This past week I even went used game shopping, and I saw them everywhere (not just display boxes, either). I think they will seriously last for quite a long time.

  9. With GTAIV pushed back to 08.... by the+computer+guy+nex · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What SOFTWARE will help push the hardware? 360 is still cheaper and has more great games being released in a 3 month span (Bioshock, Halo3, Mass Effect) than any PS3 game.

    Also don't count out the Madden effect. Since EA couldn't get the game working right on PS3 (30FPS!!!) the 360 looks even better. Price cut won't hurt the Wii at all either.

    1. Re:With GTAIV pushed back to 08.... by SomeJoel · · Score: 1

      Software is great, but I've never had a game that didn't lock up numerous times on my 360. It's to the point that I don't even use it for anything but playing movies now (those never seem to lock up). If I had it to do over again, I'd have gotten a PS3 instead. Or a Wii, but finding one of those is like trying to catch the Tooth Fairy leaving money under your pillow.

      --
      <Complete your profile by adding a signature!>
    2. Re:With GTAIV pushed back to 08.... by vonPoonBurGer · · Score: 1

      I've never had a game lock up on me, and none of my friends who own a 360 have ever mentioned anything of the sort. If game lockups were a common occurrence, you can bet that the game review and news sites would be all over it too. I'd bet that your 360 has poorly-mounted heat sinks, or is possibly in an area where it can't get adequate airflow. If it's just an airflow issue, put the 360 somewhere with good ventilation. If that's not it, then hit up MS for a replacement, newer units and refurbs have improved heat dissipation. I believe all existing units can take of advantage of the extended warranty for overheating issues, as well as the Red Ring of Death.

    3. Re:With GTAIV pushed back to 08.... by feepness · · Score: 1

      360 is still cheaper and has more great games being released in a 3 month span (Bioshock, Halo3, Mass Effect) than any PS3 game. You are right of course. The 360 does have more games coming out than any PS3 game. They are just not developing PS3 games for PS3 games.

      I have to say I don't even think the timespan matters.
    4. Re:With GTAIV pushed back to 08.... by ToasterMonkey · · Score: 1

      psst... 360 failures are common and ARE all over news sites.

    5. Re:With GTAIV pushed back to 08.... by DrEldarion · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Ratchet and Clank, Uncharted, Eye of Judgment, and Haze are all coming out before Christmas. Singstar (which is HUGE in Europe) and MGS4 are on the horizon. The 360 gets some great games (and I'm spending a ton of time playing Puzzle Quest in XBLA lately...), but really, it's nice to see a release calendar that isn't completely filled with FPS games with only the occasional odd other genre.

      Considering you can now get a PS3 80GB with PS2 upscaling, a game, and 5 blu-rays for $499 (or a less-featured model for $399), sales should definitely start to pick up. The hardware itself is by far a better value than a comparable 360 (Blu-ray, DVD upscaling, media streaming, not prone to death, etc).

    6. Re:With GTAIV pushed back to 08.... by CK2004PA · · Score: 1

      Yes, but those are Red Ring of Death issues, which normally doesn't manifest itself as a game lockup. I know, I'm on my second 360. Game lockups on the 360 are a result of poor coding and QC. Call of Duty 3 locked up alot until a great patch was issued (under rated game for online MP IMHO) and The Orange Box also locked up frequently until its first patch came out, hopefully its second will fix lag issues. My guess its the game he is playing...it could be some other problem though (like bad hardware). Wrap a towel around it until it overheats & return it, it has a 3 year warranty.

      --
      "I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator"-Adolf Hitler or George W Bush?
    7. Re:With GTAIV pushed back to 08.... by CK2004PA · · Score: 1

      Yeah but we've been hearing this argument for almost 1 year now (Lair is just around the corner!), and yet no one besides a few hardcore fanboys have bought the PS3. NPD numbers for the 360 show 5 days in September (Halo 3 launch on Sept 25) put the 360 above the Wii in units sold. Unreal. The PS3 needs games, and the games you listed are NOT system sellers not matter how hard you want them to be.

      --
      "I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator"-Adolf Hitler or George W Bush?
  10. Woot? by Kirin+Fenrir · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hooray, another PS3 I can choose not to buy!

    --
    Caffeine is my anti-drug!

    Duranin - A NWN2 Roleplaying Persistent World
  11. from impossible to improbable by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    All this price cut does is highlight the fact that you can still get a Wii and a few games or accessories for that price. Add in the new first-person sword/lightsaber action here now or coming soon, and I can't imagine any kid that wouldn't rather get a wii. Super-realistic graphics on a car racing game pale in enjoyment compared to reinacting famous swordfights with virtual characters.

    --
    stuff |
    1. Re:from impossible to improbable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      unless you find racing games fun and/or sword fighting not fun.

    2. Re:from impossible to improbable by dankenstein355 · · Score: 1

      I can't help but feel that as PS3 (and 360) adoption increases, wii owners will realise that they're a generation behind and the novelty value (The Wiimote is just a novelty IMHO)will wear off. I already know people who are kicking themselves for believing the hype and buying one. Fair enough if that's your thing, but for many it may just be an "ooh, shiny!" moment.

    3. Re:from impossible to improbable by Chosen+Reject · · Score: 1

      I swear MS and Sony are paying LucasArts boat loads of money to keep lightsabers off the Wii as much as possible.

      --
      Stop Global Warming!
      Just say no to irreversible processes!
    4. Re:from impossible to improbable by AuMatar · · Score: 1

      THis is called "projection". Its actually the opposite- most Wii owners are very happy with their purchase. Playing witht he wiimote is *fun*. Meanwhile Sony and MS offer the same experience we've had for the past 10 years since the PS1 era, with slightly shinier graphics (or so they claim- quite turthfully, I barely see a difference between hd and sd). And charging hundreds of dollars to do so. No thanks, I'll take my Wii any day of the week- something new is better than the same old shit. If I want that, I may as well keep buying PS2 and GC games.

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
    5. Re:from impossible to improbable by Lally+Singh · · Score: 1

      Yeah, got a Wii and PS3. The Wii's lost its novelty. How many ways can you milk the same trick?

      --
      Care about electronic freedom? Consider donating to the EFF!
    6. Re:from impossible to improbable by CK2004PA · · Score: 1

      I thought the same thing for the first week I had a Wii. don't get me wrong, when people come over its fun to bowl, but I own 2 dozen 360 games and 3 Wii games. FYI the 360 outsold the Wii for September, and Halo 3 was only out for 5 days. The Wii fad is on the way out, but it is a nice toy.

      --
      "I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator"-Adolf Hitler or George W Bush?
    7. Re:from impossible to improbable by tbannist · · Score: 1

      Isn't your opinion exactly the same type of projection the OP was engaging in?

      I know I've tried the Wii and waving a stick around isn't more fun that using a controller. It's more exercise, though.

      --
      Fanatically anti-fanatical
  12. Regardless of the lack of games... by lonesome_coder · · Score: 0

    ...this will be one cheap Blu-Ray player.

    --
    If you'd just do what we tell you and quit yer gripin' everything would be chocolate sprinkles and rainbows! -AC
    1. Re:Regardless of the lack of games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yeah, in the same way $500 was once "cheap" for a VHS VCR, or a DVD player many years later.

      Yes, I'm a techie, and I do enjoy me some HD, but above that, I'm a cheapskate and advocate of hardware longevity. While I can understand (and even afford, with some discipline) the early-adopter lifestyle, there is no way I would personally spend $500 on a first-generation BR player that would have to share laser time with a game console I intended to use primarily as such.

      Other than cost, my concern is the same as with the PS2/Xbox and DVDs, and CD-based consoles with music CDs. These aren't PCs; the HD (if any) is the secondary, not primary, data retrieval device, and when the optical drive's laser dies, the system is worthless until manufacturer-repaired (not user-repaired) or replaced. Whereas those older consoles probably were never the most popular device of their kind for playing their respective media, the PS3 - as the trojan horse that Sony is betting on to push BR sales - is far and away the most popular BR player, implying that most BR playback hours are being logged on PS3s. I sure as hell never used my Saturn or PS as my primary CD players, nor my PS2 as my dedicated DVD player, due to both fear of hardware failure and availability of alternative (and superior) playback hardware. I think people are blinding themselves to Sony's traditionally poor hardware reliability, especially with the PlayStation line, if they think the PS3 is a smart buy right now even when considered only at this level, just because other single-purpose BR players are also ridiculously priced. I really think it's a lack of both perspective and patience that has led to this opinion. I think I'll wait until the life of the PS3's optics under typical shared use has been determined before buying in. And if standalone BR player prices fall to reasonable prices in the mean time, I guess that would just serve to sway my buying decision more towards the strength of the PS3's game library at that time, rather than just seeing it as the "best deal" compared to the other first-gen BR players.

    2. Re:Regardless of the lack of games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BR player that would have to share laser time with a game console I intended to use primarily as such. So.. I don't get it. You have multiple TVs in your living room and you like to watch movies and play games at the same time?

      I sure as hell never used my Saturn or PS as my primary CD players, nor my PS2 as my dedicated DVD player I don't suppose you've considered that because of the price of these systems, and the whole HD thing, most PS3's are going to be attached to brand spanking new HDTVs in the living room, and not hooked up to the 20" in the kids bedroom like game consoles of yesteryear. It's a nice 1080p upscaling DVD player also. When 5 BD changers with integrated receiver units come out, I might stop using my PS3 as the primary BD player. Till then, I rather enjoy being an early adopter this generation, the movies and games are sweet.

      BTW, I own three PS3 games, and four BDs. I also watched more than my fair share of DVDs on my buddy's PS2 back in the barracks.

      I think I'll wait until the life of the PS3's optics under typical shared use has been determined before buying in Good God man, you worry too much. Just stay away from the XBox and you'll be fine.

  13. Space Left? by pembo13 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Is there any more space on store shelves for more PS3s?

    --
    "Thanks for all the money you paid to us. We've used it to buy off ISO among other things" -Microsoft
    1. Re:Space Left? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Our local Best Buy just stores the extras on the Wii shelves.

  14. In the next month or so: by Tony · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
    Haze
    Assassin's Creed (also for the 360)

    Stay away from Conan, if the whole game is anything like the demo. It seemed like a cheezy ripoff of God of War. (Which is different from Heavenly Sword, which is an excellent ripoff of God of War.)

    Depends on your definition of "compelling." Me, I absolutely love my PS3. It's the best money I've ever wasted. (Granted, the Wii was a pretty damned good waste of money, too.) I play the hell out of Warhawk.

    --
    Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
  15. This is great by abigor · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I don't care about backwards compatibility. I just want a cheapish Blu-Ray player and kick-ass game machine. I don't own a 360, so I don't care if the games are exclusives or not, just so long as they are fun to play and look amazing. There are a bunch of games out there for the PS3 that seem to fall into this category, and lots more planned, so this new PS3 variant seems pretty good to me.

    1. Re:This is great by vonPoonBurGer · · Score: 2, Insightful

      To be honest, I think you're nuts. I can't imagine buying a PS3 when there are so many top-notch 360-only or 360-and-PC-only titles available right now. The only top-shelf title the PS3 currently has access to is Oblivion, everything else is essentially good but not great. Furthermore, with only 17% of the next-gen market currently, the PS3 has a lot of ground to make up. The quirky and interesting games that represent a risky investment for publishers are going to show up on the system(s) with the largest market share. I wouldn't want to buy into a platform that is unlikely to see this generation's Guitar Hero, or Katamari, or Shadow of the Colossus. I'm not talking about the sequels to those games, I'm talking about the wholly new games that no one's heard about yet, but everyone will be playing a year or two from now. In the previous generation, all of those titles appeared on the PS2 because its market share was so dominant, but that's not going to be anywhere near the case for the PS3 at this rate.

    2. Re:This is great by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 1

      I disagree. There are precious few 360-only titles available. Halo 3 is one, Forza is close to, but not quite, another. Really, I think the 360 has as many good games for it as the PS3. The really good games are still forthcoming on the 360, just as much as on the PS3 (Mass Effect, Fable 2). The game library for either system is weak (much as I love Halo 3, that alone isn't a reason to buy a 360).

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
    3. Re:This is great by abigor · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah, true, but the 360 won't play Blu-Ray movies. That's the dealbreaker. There are enough good games for this casual gamer to make the PS3 worth it right now.

    4. Re:This is great by gamer4Life · · Score: 1

      Goes to show you how many fanboy mods are on Slashdot.

      Several posts that argue in favour of backwards compatibility both get +5, while a post that argues that it's not important gets only +3.

      Both are equally valid points.

      We've got the usual cry of "no games!!11!!", but we haven't heard how much the XBox 360 breaks down, or the lack of value from a wireless and online play perspective.

      Goes to show you that we've got fanboys running the show.

    5. Re:This is great by xero314 · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't want to buy into a platform that is unlikely to see this generation's Guitar Hero, or Katamari, or Shadow of the Colossus. Guitar Hero is already slated for release on the PS3 as is Rock Band. Katamari is a sad loss but will hopefully get released for PS3 once the publisher sees it undergoing the same effect as Oddworld had when they changed platforms. Shadow of the Colossus is developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, good luck seeing it's successor be released on another system. Not to mention the development of LittleBigPlanet which is certainly the most quirky game currently announced for any system.

      Sony will continue to get the risky games, like Eye of Judgment, and they are doing better than either of the others in embracing independent developers like Thatgamecompany.

      I'm not defending Sony, being as they just pulled the one move that really irritates me, discontinuing development of the PS3s backward compatibility, but seriously if you are going to bag on a system at least get a few things right.

    6. Re:This is great by Doctor_Jest · · Score: 1

      Agreed. With the exception of Halo 3 and Bioshock, (and the EA debacle w/r/t sports that I don't play anyway)... there's nothing on the 360 that I can't get on a PS3. Yes, indeed there are future exclusives that might be forthcoming, but from what I've read and seen... nothing earth-shattering (and certainly nothing that would make me hock my PS3 so I can get even more 360 games...eheh)

      I frequently choose the PS3 version when multiplatform games are released.. unless there's a compelling reason that it's better on the 360 (Live is not a feature to me.)

      I am looking forward to Mass Effect and possibly Fable 2 (if they don't overpromise like they have been known to do in the past)... but the majority of games are just as good on the PS3... and I like the Sixais better... (so sue me. heh) And with games like Fight night R3 (which is ironically EA's crap) actually suffers from less (if any) of the slowdown that plagued the 360 launch title... (can't get more than 30fps my ass...)

      I don't slag the 360 to make the PS3 look great... or vice versa. Those who do are either jealous because they don't have one, or they need to get outside more and stop fretting over things that really don't matter... like which console is "best".

      We all know the 2600 was "the best" :)

      --
      It's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
  16. Of the "more to come" .... by deek · · Score: 1

    I'm most looking forward to Little Big Planet. It looks like heaps of fun.

    If Sony remade ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and Katamari Damarcy, specifically for High Definition, I would snap up a PS3 today!

    Lastly, about the backward compatibility issue, I'm happy for Sony to remove it from one model, as long as they always keep a model available that keeps it. I'm quite happy to pay an extra $50 for the PS3, to have it replace my PS2, instead of having to keep both side by side.

    1. Re:Of the "more to come" .... by Genom · · Score: 1

      360 got the first HD Katamari game - came out this week, actually. Still as fun as the original, just looks a heckuva lot nicer.

  17. WARHAWK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    -1 redundant.