PS3 is proof positive: bad things happen when gaming isn't the focus

[wraggster]

via arstechnica

Almost a year later, it's completely obvious that Sony has stretched itself too thin. As we learned this morning, Sony is now bifurcating their product line even further, delivering a lesser product to the European market in order to save a few bucks. Dumping some of the dedicated hardware for backwards compatibility should save Sony a few greenbacks (or yen, as the case may be), but it screws gamers. And for what? How much cost is Sony saving by scratching this hardware?

There have been several "tear down" estimates for PS3, the best of which comes from iSuppli. They estimate the cost of the Emotion Engine in the PS3 at $27. That's the chief hardware component providing PS2 backwards compatibility. Did Sony just jack with the PS3 over $27? Even if the cost were twice as much, would it be worth it?

With the PS3, Sony has let its video entertainment aspirations dictate the design of a gaming console, and the results are now plain for us to see: when the going gets rough, the gaming functionality gets going (going, gone!) out of the box. Buh-bye. Sure, now Sony will use software to provide some backwards compatibility, but not full compatibility. They've got a stop-gap measure in place, and we're hoping that it works really well because who wants to keep an old PS2 sitting around once you have a PS3?

[Shrygue]

$27 for the Emotion Engine hardware that powers most of the PS2 emulation isn't much to pay for. Why does Sony have to scrap that? It's so stupid and insane to do away with it. Ridiculous!

[808]

$27 for the Emotion Engine hardware that powers most of the PS2 emulation isn't much to pay for. Why does Sony have to scrap that? It's so stupid and insane to do away with it. Ridiculous!

When you take into account the large number of consoles Sony are promising us, saving around $27 on each one is a lot of money.

Besides, why the hell are you complaining? Software emulation is limited at the start sure, but once newer firmwares are released, more and more games can be played. Guess what else emulation allows? Improved graphics, I'm happy to drop an outdated chip for Grand Theft Auto 3 in full high definition with texture smoothing. Ever think that, as well as Playstation One games, Sony might be considering Playstation Two games for the store somewhere down the line? Think positively.

[Shrygue]

Hardware support is better than just all software support. Besides, I'm sure there would be firmware updates for PS2 emulation and that could be made to work alongside the hardware for better compatibility and playability.

[Tree]

When you take into account the large number of consoles Sony are promising us, saving around $27 on each one is a lot of money.

Besides, why the hell are you complaining? Software emulation is limited at the start sure, but once newer firmwares are released, more and more games can be played. Guess what else emulation allows? Improved graphics, I'm happy to drop an outdated chip for Grand Theft Auto 3 in full high definition with texture smoothing. Ever think that, as well as Playstation One games, Sony might be considering Playstation Two games for the store somewhere down the line? Think positively.

yeah that 100% true ... better grapics but a wait 4 differnt ps2 games ...

[mavsman4457]

When you take into account the large number of consoles Sony are promising us, saving around $27 on each one is a lot of money.

Besides, why the hell are you complaining? Software emulation is limited at the start sure, but once newer firmwares are released, more and more games can be played. Guess what else emulation allows? Improved graphics, I'm happy to drop an outdated chip for Grand Theft Auto 3 in full high definition with texture smoothing. Ever think that, as well as Playstation One games, Sony might be considering Playstation Two games for the store somewhere down the line? Think positively.

You are right on target. Great point.

[hlide]

When you take into account the large number of consoles Sony are promising us, saving around $27 on each one is a lot of money.

Besides, why the hell are you complaining? Software emulation is limited at the start sure, but once newer firmwares are released, more and more games can be played. Guess what else emulation allows? Improved graphics, I'm happy to drop an outdated chip for Grand Theft Auto 3 in full high definition with texture smoothing. Ever think that, as well as Playstation One games, Sony might be considering Playstation Two games for the store somewhere down the line? Think positively.

so i should buy my EU PS3 at the price of 600 €, knowing that it is more expensive than the JAP PS3 which has a Motion Engine included ? it makes me sick.