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Sony Announces PS3 Slim, Price Cut, Improvements To Home

Posted by Soulskill on from the worst-kept-secret dept.

Sony's press conference today at the Gamescom convention was full of announcements. They officially revealed the PS3 Slim, which will be 36% lighter and 33% smaller than the normal PS3. It will come with a 120 GB hard drive and list for $299 when it hits retail stores in early September. Normal PS3s will drop to that price as well starting tomorrow. (Unfortunately for Sony, their unveiling was spoiled a bit by several retailers jumping the gun on new advertisements, not to mention the rumors that had been swirling for weeks ahead of time.) Sony also announced a PS3 firmware update as well as new features and customization options for Home. In addition to that, the PS3 and PSP will be getting a digital reader service. At launch it will bring access to Marvel comic books, and will expand from there. They didn't talk much about their upcoming motion control scheme, but promised more details next month at the Tokyo Game Show.

28 of 427 comments (clear)

  1. It would be really nice... by 8127972 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ..... If Sony restored backward compatibility with PS2 games. That and not the price nor the size of the console is why I haven't bought one yet.

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    1. Re:It would be really nice... by Microlith · · Score: 5, Informative

      Considering that PS2s are still selling (strangely) well and getting new game releases, it's unlikely Sony will restore BC (even if only software emulation) to the PS3 platform. We'll probably see it return around the time they EOL the PS2 platform completely (once the PS3's successor is out.)

      Although I'm not sure that holds water, at least if they're still selling the PSOne, which I think they are...

    2. Re:It would be really nice... by space_jake · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Just seems like they are shooting themselves in the foot by not offering backwards compatibility with the PS2. The PS2 has a huge library and dominated the console market for its generation.

    3. Re:It would be really nice... by geminidomino · · Score: 4, Informative

      Just seems like they are shooting themselves in the foot by not offering backwards compatibility with the PS2. The PS2 has a huge library and dominated the console market for its generation.

      They did on the early models. They yanked it out of a later revision (a month before I was going to buy one, amusingly enough).

    4. Re:It would be really nice... by Xtravar · · Score: 5, Informative

      Find a used CECHA01 (that's the serial number that has hardware backward compatibility).

      Yes, I now own two PS3's. The CECHA01 runs a little hotter and slightly noisier, but I mostly fixed that by changing the thermal paste on it - heck, the warranty was void anyway.

      ZOMG NERD ALERT!!

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    5. Re:It would be really nice... by Mad+Leper · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sony will however sell you a PS2 compatibility kit to go with your PS3. It's 100% compatible with all PS2 games and even comes with an original PS2 controller.

    6. Re:It would be really nice... by halcyon1234 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      We'll probably see it return around the time they EOL the PS2 platform completely

      I doubt it. I'd love to be able to play my PS2 games on the PS3, but I know it'll never happen. Not when they can "sell" the same games through the PS Store and get another $10-$20 out of people who have already bought the games.

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    7. Re:It would be really nice... by King_TJ · · Score: 4, Interesting

      It only seems strange that the PS2 is still selling so well, until you realize that the PS3 really isn't "standard def. TV friendly".... I know quite a few people who play games on their PS2, and bought replacements when their old unit broke/wore out, but have no real interest in a PS3, simply because they're still using a large-ish tube type standard-def TV as their main television set. (If you have cable or satellite, you really have no need to replace it, after all.)

      My experience with using a PS3 in standard def resolution was eye-strain inducing, trying to read many of the text fonts the games would display.

      There's a pretty big ratio of PS3 owners who coupled the purchase with a new plasma or LCD TV .... partially because they wanted a Blu-Ray player for that fancy new set, but realistically, it's practically a requirement to enjoy many of the game titles too.

    8. Re:It would be really nice... by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 4, Informative

      No, the original PS3 actually had all the hardware of a PS2 built into it to provide compatibility; no software emulation. Then they removed most of the hardware and did software emulation, and then the current models removed the rest of the hardware and provide no compatibility at all. Europe was the most out of luck here; no hardware-compatible PS3 was ever released in PAL format, although they did get a software emulation model.

    9. Re:It would be really nice... by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 4, Informative

      My experience with using a PS3 in standard def resolution was eye-strain inducing, trying to read many of the text fonts the games would display.

      This was precisely my experience before I bought a HD capable monitor. Next gen games are quite simply unplayable on anything less than 720p.

      However, the big problem here is that Last gen games are unplayable at anything above 576p! OK slight exaggeration, but old games do look awful on a HD TV. Aliasing everywhere. And therein lies the biggest reason that Sony and Microsoft need to keep up backwards compatibility. I can tell you that PS2 games played on a PS3 instead of a PS2 look a hell of a lot better. It's like night and day. Add to this the convienicen factor, and I'm pretty irritated with Sony for dropping this feature and refusing to reimplement it. There are still loads of fantastic PS2 titles I haven't played, and more are still coming out!

      --
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    10. Re:It would be really nice... by DigiShaman · · Score: 5, Insightful

      People still watch tube tvs?

      That was a dumb question. Of course they do!

      More often than not, very large tube sets are "good enough" for most people that have them. However, replacing them is such a huge PITA because of how large and heavy they are. So until it decides to die one day, there really isn't much of an incentive replace it with a flat panel.

      --
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    11. Re:It would be really nice... by mrdoogee · · Score: 3, Informative

      There is a way to run a PS1 disc in your PS3 and stream it to your PSP over LAN/Internet.. .Location free player is the util, I believe. It does have (especially over the internet) some major latency issues though.

  2. No Linux Support? by alphan · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Removal of 'Install Other OS' feature

    The new PS3 system will focus on delivering games and other entertainment content, and users will not be able to install other Operating Systems to the new PS3 system."
    http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4842&NewsAreaID=2

    Sony abandoning Linux on new skus means they are effectively doing the same for the old ones.

    Epic failure.

    1. Re:No Linux Support? by Microlith · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They'll make it stop working on your existing device by simply removing the option to install when the update comes down the pipe. I doubt there's any real technical reason for dropping it, other than some beancounter deciding that the loss of respect from technical users was less costly than the upkeep for the hypervisor (assuming they remove it.)

      Assuming they don't, you'll be able to keep what you have on there, but not reinstall or do a new install. Which is a huge amount of ass considering how much work was done by the open source community to port things to the PS3 including kernel patches and various GCC ports and additions for the SPUs. All of that is now wasted, even on older consoles unless you never, ever let them contact PSN.

    2. Re:No Linux Support? by Turken · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I would assume that the loss of Linux support is likely due to not bothering to accommodate for the large changes in hardware under the hood. If their research shows that not enough people are using a feature make it worth developing and supporting, why should they waste resources on that feature? Of course, by that logic, then Home should have dies a long time ago too...

      At any rate, it shouldn't take too long for unofficial workarounds to show up.

    3. Re:No Linux Support? by ivan256 · · Score: 3, Informative

      No doubt they *can* make it stop working on my existing PS3 if I choose to install their update. But it doesn't say anywhere that they are planning to remove it. I highly doubt they are, since the cost of maintenance on leaving it there is zero.

    4. Re:No Linux Support? by KnownIssues · · Score: 5, Funny

      I never realized how badly I wanted to be able to install another operating system on my PS3 until I found out I wouldn't be able to.

    5. Re:No Linux Support? by Nursie · · Score: 3, Informative

      1. There is only one Cell in a PS3
      2. You had access to the main cores and all but on of it's vector processing units
      3. The GFX chip is what was cut out.

    6. Re:No Linux Support? by GizmoToy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's a standard "figure 8" connector typically associated with AC transmission. You see them on everything, but the place a Slashdot reader is most likely to have seen them is on the cord that goes between the AC wall outlet and a laptop's power supply. Dell uses them a lot.

      I see nothing that would indicate an external power supply, and in fact the presence of that connector would imply the opposite.

    7. Re:No Linux Support? by marcansoft · · Score: 3, Interesting

      My prediction:

      - The PS3 slim will be hacked. Now that there is no Other OS support, there is the same incentive as there has been for running homebrew on every other console.
      - Said hacks will be used for warez, probably by people other than those who developed the hacks.

      Linux hackers tend to be much more successful at system reverse engineering and exploitation than the kids who want warez. This is why Other OS is a Good Thing for Sony: it removes the incentive to bypass their security for a lot of people. By removing this option, they're setting themselves to have their security broken. And we all know how long it takes for "other" people to use these hacks for less than legal purposes (I learned this the hard way).

      I firmly believe Other OS is one of the main reasons why there is no PS3 software piracy so far. Check out this table from our 25C3 presentation.

  3. Re:Sweet by GigaHurtsMyRobot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Rather than a good deal, I'd say it's finally priced the way it should be. I will also be getting one at this price... I have been a 360 zealot for a long time, but will get one of these for exclusives and PSN titles if I want them.

  4. Are we still expected to pay $0.30 for Home shoes? by _xeno_ · · Score: 4, Informative

    So, new changes coming to Home. More customization options. More places. Neat, I guess.

    Except for the part where they apparently think people are willing to pay $0.29 for a pair of shoes that no one is going to see. Likewise the $5 to buy a new "personal apartment" that basically no one except yourself is ever going to see. (Sure, you can invite friends over to your virtual apartment but, really, how much is it worth to have your virtual self live in the Ghostbusters station?)

    Not to mention the charges on logo-ed shirts. I can't remember prices, but I think those were in the $0.50-$1 range. So I'm expected to pay money to be a walking virtual advertisement. Sure...

    If the Home avatars had any use outside of Home (like the Miis and the Xbox Live Avatars) I could almost see the more pathetic fanboys paying money to dress them up in a T-shirt with a Ghostbuster logo on it. But $0.50 for a virtual shirt that can only be seen in a single virtual space in which there is essentially nothing to do? Please!

    Last time I checked (which was a month ago, so not terribly long ago) PlayStation Home was still just like this Penny Arcade cartoon. The only difference I found from the beta last year is that the stores now actually sell something rather than being completely empty.

    --
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  5. Re:An even better model by dc29A · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How about they release "PS3 Reliable edition"?

    Of the two PS3 owners that I know (a friend and myself), both have had the Blue-ray drive fail. And mine failed just after I sold the console on Craigslist, making me look like a fraud.

    The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'evidence'.

  6. Re:Whoa! by Enderandrew · · Score: 5, Insightful

    * 120 gig HDD.
    * Built in wifi-fi.
    * Streams all my media content from my computer.
    * Top-notch BluRay player.
    * Built in web browser
    * Oh, and plays games.

    I think it is a great value actually, But to each their own.

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  7. Firmware 3.0 by CopaceticOpus · · Score: 5, Interesting
    The new firmware is designed to help Sony advertise, and does almost nothing that PS3 owners actually want.

    New Features:

    • "What's New" screen (ads for Sony products, links to Sony store)
    • Sony store now appears in several menus instead of just one.
    • New animated themes that you can buy.
    • New avatars, some of which are for sale. (Yes, they're really going to charge you to put a little picture of Sonic next to your username.)

    Things People Actually Want:

    • PS2 Compatibility
    • Better video support, especially MKV files. (Yes, you can convert MKV files to be playable. No, I don't think that's good enough.)
    • Ability to play media files over a Windows/Samba share, rather than having to use media server software.
    • Ability to backup the PS3 over a LAN automatically.
    • Less klunky web browsing
    • 1080i support for more games. (Since some TVs are 1080/480 only, and downgrade 720 down to 480.)

    Thanks a bunch, Sony.

  8. Re:An even better model by Filip22012005 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The failure rates were published on joystiq a couple of days ago: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/game-informer-xbox-360-at-54-2-percent-failure-rate/.

    xbox: 54.2%
    ps3 10.3%
    wii 6.8%

    Too bad Greenpeace didn't consider those when they named Nintendo such a non-green company.

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  9. Re:Are we still expected to pay $0.30 for Home sho by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not to mention the charges on logo-ed shirts. I can't remember prices, but I think those were in the $0.50-$1 range. So I'm expected to pay money to be a walking virtual advertisement. Sure...

    Hell, people pay 20-30 bucks (and more) all the time to be walking real-life advertisements.

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  10. Re:Are we still expected to pay $0.30 for Home sho by geekoid · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I agree. What I think they should do is offer those items as accomplishments for in game goals, and have a place to shoe them off. Use the peple desire to collect and show off stuff to sell games.

    Shocking, I know.

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