Sony has finally announced that the PlayStation 3 Slim with a 120 gigabyte hard-drive not only exists but that it will launch in September for $299.
Sony executives also said they will drop the price of the current 80 gigabyte PlayStation 3 to $299 — effective immediately. Meanwhile, the 160-gigabyte model will drop from $499 to $399.
Check out this week's Citizen Gamer column for a look at the PS3 price drop and what it could mean for the console competition. And then let me know: Have you been waiting for this price reduction to purchase a PS3? Will you buy one now? If so, which model will you buy?
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Maybe, I don't have a blue ray player so if it has HDMI output I will consider it. If not it beter have an optical or digital coax outbput for surround sound... otherwise I have very little use for it.
Agreed, "It's the content stupid." The slick interfaces and online video integration of 360 has forced Sony into catchup mode. Who needs Blu-Ray when downloaded HD content is the future. Oh, and the Frankenstein hardware architecture will always necessitate more expensive production costs for it's games. Most people I know developing for consoles make a PC+360 title and then higher some 3rd world code monkeys to port it to PS3+Wii. Usually resulting in a better experience on PC+360
I'll tell you what a game changer is going to be. When MS comes out with a 360 that supports 1080p video over an HDMI port. Not that 720p doesn't look great, but 1080p is hitting it's stride and digital projectors that throw a 15' wide picture are within reach of the masses.
Not every PS3 is backwards compatible; the original 60GB is as are the 80GB version (tho i think there is an 80GB version lacking it as well) and, i think, the 160GB. All can play PS1 games but the 40GB version and the lacking 80GB (and now, the 120GB) cannot play Ps2 games. Some ppl have told me that some PS2 games might run but its never worked for me so...good luck
Yes, I will be buy a PS3 Slim eventually.
But to reply to Sanscience, the 360 has been able to do 1080p over HDMI since the release of the 360 Elite.
Really? Somebody needs to hire a new promo coordinator.
Will the new PS3 slim be backwards compatible? One of the main reasons we never purchased one was because we wanted to be able to play the games we already had.
Hey there, thanks for your comment. Sony's Peter Dille told me that it won't be backwards compatible. Though there have been some theories that feature could come at a later date. But officially for now - no.
It IS backwards compatible. I play ps2 games on mine all the time. It has ALWAYS been backwards compatible.
PS3 plays ALL Playstation formatted games, from the original blue colored discs to the blue-ray versions.... I know mines does for sure. I decided to go nostalgic last weekend and played G-Police and FF7: I even was able to save the games in the hard drive too.
SOME of the first PS3's were backward compatable...you both got lucky...it took me months and months to find a "new" older PS3 for my kids. ALL of the new PS3 are NOT. So I suspect he is right...the new ones will not be. It takes a small chip and a few bucks to do...it makes no sence, other than the greed of sony and their partners, why they dont make them all backward comp...other than to make you pay $60 for a new game...instead of playing all of your old ones.
It depends on which model of the PS3 you have. I have one of the original 80Gb that I bought specifically because that model was backward compatible. I will most definately buy the PS3 Slim. I want another blu-ray player in the bedroom and another place in the house to play games is always a bonus. The playstation console is the best for anyone that is serious about gaming. I own a Wii as well. It is for my family to play cartoonish games together. But for the serious gaming that I do, I would never pass on my Playstation.
The PS3 was backwards compatible up until the last year and a half. The first gen PS3's had basically a PS2 chip inside, offering complete backwards compatibility. This was decidedly expensive, so Sony replaced it with software emulation. This proved to be faulty, and the compatibility issues got less reliable. With the PS2 still a strong seller, and the decided price benefits of removing the hardware from the PS3, they chose to not make the new models backwards compatible.
Since I got a Gen1, all my games work (more or less). However, if you got a PS3 within the last year, chances are that it will not work with older games. It even states it on the box.
I have been waiting for this to happen, essentially voting with my feet by not purchasing the system and not buying, imho, a lesser console. It is about time it was revamped and I will finally put my hard earned money down.
Still will not buy a PS3 as the price is still too high.
We too passed on the PS3 for two reasons - price and not being backwards compatible. Who has room for yet another console that can't play the dozens (or hundreds for those die-hard gamers) of existing games we'd already accumulated? We opted to get a Wii instead. Not a lot cheaper, but a new and developing technology with a lot of promise. It doesn't have blue-ray (which I'm still not convinced is going to be the ever-lasting standard), but it does have wifi and motion sensing technologies. That being said, I would consider it only if they release it as backward compatible.
The ps3 is backwards compatible, it plays ps2 games, I have a ton that I play on mine regularly. I'm not sure if it plays psOne games but it definitly plays ps2 ones.
Not all PS3s can play PS2 games common sense.
Price and not being backward compatable was my reason for not purchasing the PS3. Sold my PS1 and 2 for an xbox 360 and my nephew and I am vary satisfied. Unless they blow me away with an affordable new system, I most likely will not go back to PS.
i find this strange that people post the backwards compatibility as a major issue, so they sell their old stuff to get a 360? Suppose that means the 360 must be compatible with ps2 games.
I don't mean to single you out, but i see this type of reasoning quite often.
Since when is the PS3 not backwards compatible? It should play most of your games. Want to check before you buy? http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus
Sony is doing a much better job of supporting old games that Microsoft ever did with XP. I'm still bitter about not being able to run Mechwarrior 2 properly.
And that's the rub. I'm a computer gamer so I won't spend more than 200 bucks on a console. But once I move into Blu-Ray i'll definitely be picking up the cheapest PS3 on the market.
edit: I agree with pete in the post below. I love how the PS3 supports keyboard/Mouse natively, but you'll never get me to really switch to consoles until your game developers start including support for keyboard/mouse. (and with so many games released on both PC and PS, there is really no excuse.)
I'm strictly a PC gamer.
PC games still have a higher graphic quality than PS3 or xbox360, and are more flexable.
Plus, I just can't get used to console controllers, they are too small for my hands.
I'm used to keyboard and mouse.
The backwards compatibility is not a big of a deal for me. I thought this was something I needed with the PS2 last generation to play PS1 games. It was easier to just leave both systems hooked up. As for the new PS3 slim, I hope sony didn't cut any more imputs or connections. No point in having all this technology if you can't hook it all up.
Also, as much as I hate to say it, if Sony wants to win this round of console wars they must allow adult movies for blu-ray. It allowed vhs to trump beta max. Just my opinion.
Glad to have picked up the PS3 when I had the chance; full backwards compatability, four USB slots, multi-card readers, and capable of upgrading the hard drive up to 500GB...
Sony should have came out with three variants: a no frills, stripped down 60gb budget system, a standard 80gb version, and a "no holds barred" custom system with your choice of harddrive. If they had did that they, they wouldn't be running in 3rd.
Game contents and their providers are what I really considers, blueray, sony paid for it, doesn't worth, maybe in several years it will be the mainstram but not now. Step forward too faster. xbox just a game computer,but its enough, how can ps3 give us more contents?
I have always been a fan of the Playstation and games, but lately they have proof me wrong!!! The ps3 suppose to be better than the xbox for many spec reasons but what's interesting is that the games you play on the xbox and PS3 are no different. They are almost identical if it comes from the same company, so here is my point why buy something more expensive when you can get the same quality of entertainment from a lesser machine like the xbox according to specs. Sorry guys(sony) unless our minds are not impress. I think I will keep playing xbox. Oh last thing the trigger handle on the xbox is much better than PS3. They need to change that for us (racing genre) It sucks.
peace
I'd get one if I knew about the future of online services. I miss the PS1. They lost money on the hardware so they could gain money on the software. Every player gamer had a console and every developer had a license. Now, Sony needs to re-create that "free" market AND make it apply to online gaming to get gamers back from xbox.
I don't play anymore, so my ideas are probably backwards. I'd like to see third-party companies create titles and/or servers that allow different consoles to connect to the same game. So xbox-gamer and ps-gamer logon to the same service and play. MS and Sony can fight over price and features (first-party titles, hdd size, outputs, blu-ray, etc.), but the overall gaming world would be fueled by independent third-party studios... much like it is now except the console makers won't have to rely on hardware profits.
First let me say something to common sense-604399
Only one version of the PS3 is backwards compatible. You probably have that version. Calm down! If the WRITER OF THE STORY W. BENEDETTI says:
"Hey there, thanks for your comment. Sony's Peter Dille told me that it won't be backwards compatible. Though there have been some theories that feature could come at a later date.But officially for now - no."
there is probably a good chance the NEW, SLIMMER ps3 will NOT be backwards compatible!
As far as buying one, probably not. I currently own a Xbox360 and Nintendo Wii. My only purpose of buying a ps3 would be for blu-ray (hey, Anony aNON, all blu-ray players have HDMI...come on people, can we keep up with the writer here please) and there are some blu-ray players out there that are still cheaper than the slim ps3. Therefore, I don't see a need to buy a ps3.
PS. Sony lovers...did you know the Xbox360 can be used as a DVR? The 360 is the best system out and has been since 2006! Bill Gates didn't become the richest man on the planet at one point for no reason!
@ common sense. Not true. Some of the original PS3's were not backwards compatible. Mine was not until I updated it.
@kbmom. You say you didn't buy a PS3 because it was not backwards compatible. Instead you bought a Wii. How good of a job does your Wii do at playing your old PS2 games?
@ robertpateii. Won't spend more than $200 on a console? How much did your gaming PC cost you? You can spemd twice that on just a video card. Silly reasoning.
@ pete. Same thing. Try building a gaming rig for $300
I've had my PS3 for 1.5 years. It's the best piece of gear I have ever owned. BluRay movies are stunning. If you are going bluray anyway, at $299 you get the PS3 for free. Xbox live is $50 a year. PSonline is free. Backwards compatible is nothing really. PS1 games looked horrible on PS2 and PS2 games look horrible on PS3.
@ JJ. At $299 it's an affordable system. Prepare to be blown away.
@ everyone. Best reason to buy a PS3 and not an Xbox, Bill Gates does not need you money, nor does he deserve it.
Too little too late. There were two reasons I didn't buy a PS3 when it came out: 1) Waaaay too expensive. Yes, it had a Blue-Ray player (and at the time was the cheapest Blu-Ray player available on the market), but still there was no way I was going to pay that much for ANY gaming system, period. 2) It was HUGE! I thought the original PS2 was a big machine, the PS3 was gigantic.
Congratulations Sony, you've corrected my two major issues in buying a PS3. The problem? You're 2 1/2 years too late. I finally gave up waiting for the PS3 to drop in price or get a slimmer, more compact model. I almost bought an XBox 360 Elite until the news kept rolling in that HD-DVDs were going bye-bye. I finally bought a Wii and can't see myself going back to a PS-anything in the future.
Sorry Sony, you snooze, you lose!
i will certainly consider a purchase now that the price has dropped. i have nothing to play blue ray on. i have a wii and we love it!
I am waiting for playstations "head station 3 implants"
Hey all,
Regarding backwards compatibility, I'm just telling you what the Sony exec told me.
Also, interestingly, their own website here says they are not backwards compatible:
http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Systems/Compare
Check out the bottom of the comparison chart where it says: Due to the availability of an extensive line-up of PS3™ system titles, the 80GB PS3™ system is not backwards compatible with PlayStation®2 system titles, but does maintain backwards compatibility for some original PlayStation® titles.
Winda
Even if I hadn't taken a huge pay cut recently I probably wouldn't get one. I enjoy my PS2 plenty and all my old games. Would consider getting one someday if Sucker Punch came out with a "Sly Cooper 4" and if that only worked on a PS3...which would stink...otherwise I don't need to have the latest thing in video game systems.
nope it plays every thing it has done i dreamt of you
The only ps3 models that are not compatible with backwards capabilities are the old 40 gig models. Go the psn store under add-ons and the ps2 system data is avaliable for free. This allows you to play ps2 games and its free. I dont understand why someone would want to play old games on a new system it isn't going to enhance the graphics, but if you like that sort of thing ps has made it avaliable. Ps is the future of gaming the ps3 will hold up against ms next gen system without a problem. If you aren't convinced that blu ray is the standard then find someone who owns a ps3 and mgs4 regardless of your gaming interests mgs4 is a masterpiece. The only reason people bought the 360 is because it was cheap and launched first i'm a ps guy and waited two years to buy a ps3 at its 399 price tag. Half of the 360 base or more came from people who didn't want to pay for ps or couldn't wait. Whats your excuse now? The ps is the best system on the market and is going to be the same price as ms best system. Why would anyone buy a 360 when you wil have an opportunity to buy a ps, especially since ps has the best line of exclusives coming out at the end of this year and 2010. Ps new Mag game is going to raise the bar of fps with 256 players online, which if ps didn't have as good of servers as ms fanboys argue how could they bring this type of online expeirence for free. The 50 bucks a year isn't that high for ms online serivces but what are you paying for, besides netflix. Ps has ps3 games and had them for a long time avaliable to dl and own. Ps gives you the ability to own movies not rent them and ps has blu ray how can you argue its not a better system and better deal at its new price. For all you old ps fans that didn't buy the ps3 yet or bought the economy game console its time to come back home and enjoy real games. Do you really want to play games with 2 and 3 disc, becasuse thats what ms is going to start doing. For the guy who said that games are going to all be dl in hd yeah but its not like ps hasn't been doing that for quite some time now. Listen ps3 is worth every penny i paid 400 and im totally satisfied i wouldn't have bought a elite 360 for 100 dollars, because the 360 is a dinasour sytsem that has reach its limit. Oh and when ps starts outselling the 360 microsoft will drop the 360 just like the first xbox and move on, so they wont have to admit defeat in this gen console war. I can't believe that ps fans are saying they wont buy a ps3, because it has blu ray its like saying you dont want the best how insane. I understand people didn't like the 399 price, but at 299 are you kidding me i mean why would someone settle for a ford mustang when you could own a mercedes benz at the same price. The arcade bundle is a joke so i dont even want to hear someone say they would buy that piece of crap without a hardrive for sega tennis stars serioulsy people get with it. Anyone who doesn't want the full capacity of high definition or is never planning on buying blu ray, because they dont believe its the new thing is stupid. For one thing everyone said the same thing about cd's and dvd's and look at everyone now it became affordable everyone owns them. Hd tvs are getting cheaper everyday and now the ps3 is cheap its crazy to sit back and say i dont want an iphone even though i can afford it i will just use my nokia 1998 model. Obvioulsy none of you are real gamers, because if you were you would understand that sony took the initiative to take risks this time around and stood by blu ray durin the hd dvd/ blu ray format war. Sony has always made great game systems and must i remind you the ps3 is just turning 3 years old so of course it dosen't have a huge game library yet, but it will. Rockstar is brining out the next gen gta type of game called agent for ps3, god of war 3, gt5, heavy rain, uncharted 2, lbp2 is in the works and lbp is better than any mario galaxy nintendo wants to put out. I'm not putting down nintendo, because they out marketed sony and ms big time. Nintendo has always had the wii idea, but just figured out how to make it work properly. i remember duck hunt, mario track and the power glove. I'm glad to see nintendo the true gaming pioneers back on top of the gaming industry, but the wii is a different type of innovation, which put it over the top. No matter what ps does or ms the wii will be the top selling game system this time around. I was scared for awhile that nintendo was going to follow sega's demise, but they really made a huge comeback so congrats to the nintendo base. However the ps running third is to be expected at this point with ms launching first and being cheaper, but with so many people other than the people who don't want the best game system will buy the ps3, because its the best system and they waited on it. People can't sit back and say i bought a ps2, but changed to xbox 360 because they wanted to its because they wanted the newest thing. The problem isn't people wanting their money's worth or the very best gaming and technology has to offer its they dont think, before they buy. How many xbox's at launch failed and continue to fail i understand ms is fixing them for up to three years now, but why would 31 million people consume a faulty regular xbox with better graphics system, because it was new not because it was the best, but because it was new. Regardless of fanboyism people can't ignore that the ps3 is the best system on the market, instead they want to complain about the huge price tag, but everyone goes into debt for fancy cars and houses, which they pay on until they die. Why would you not buy a ps3 for 299 its not like its that expensive. In the 1980's game systems launched at 700 and 800 dollars yeah they didn't compete in the market very long, but the ps3 is the best system to date and will be until the next ps system. If you are a true gamer you will buy a ps3 eventually, because people know they can count on ps to deliver the very best in the gaming world. Ms will always have to play catch up to ps and nintendo, because they dont have the mindset to please gamers fully. They only want to move hardware by offering a mediocre system for cheap. True gamers have seen this and are moving on and for the old ps2 users its time to move on to ps2 games and consoles are only going to be sold until 2012 anyway. Why buy games that are half of what they are on ps3?
Maybe some of us want to run old games on a new system becuase we don't have room for 3 or 4 game consoles in our living rooms. My hubby is the real gamer in the house, and he has a number of PS2 games he loves dearly, and I have a few PS1 games (Puzzle Fighter, and Pocket Fighter leap to mind) that I don't want to give up. Yeah I wanted new titles, so I got an X-Box, and I love it, as do my brother in law, and best friends that are all on my freinds network.
Yeah, I'm getting the PS3 Slim.
I already own a 360 and Wii. The former has broken down on me more times than I can count, doesn't have very good exclusives, and requires me to pay $50 for online gaming each year. The latter (Wii) simply doesn't have hardly ANY good games at all. It might as well sit in my closet.
I've always wanted a PS3 really bad, but could never afford it. Their lineup of exclusive games such as Killzone 2, Uncharted 1/2, LittleBigPlanet, MotorStorm 1/2, InFamous, Resistance 1/2, Ratchet and Clank, et. al is simply far greater and far more diverse than the competition.
Oh, and it has blu-ray, which will be great for when I get an HDTV here pretty soon.
Once I get the PS3 Slim, I'll probably sell my 360 and Wii. No need for them.
Why would the expect same thing, yet smaller and a little cheaper, to be more attractive to consumers today? The PS3 has been out a very long time and minds are made up. Was it the size and price that caused PS3 to lose market share? I doubt it. It is all about the interface and the online capabilities. A stupid marketing trick like making the device smaller and slashing the price a little might get some people to buy it because they can now afford to have multiple gaming systems, but in the long run it will still be a lesser system. It always has been. It's the software stupid.
The 'lesser system' that offers better graphics, blu-ray, free online and many games that feature dedicated servers, ambitious online titles, and a less clunky interface? Sure, maybe in a fantasy world. From what I've experienced of the PS3 from friends that have it, it is the far more sophisticated system.
I think a lot of people on here are drinking the Bill Gates kool-aid.
Damn right I'll be a slim PS3, and I can't wait for Sony to come back around and kick the competitor's ass Microsoft! At least any Ps3 will last longer than a CrapBox.