stupid move from sony.

I play a lot of PS2/PS1 games on my PS3, backward compatibility means a lot to me. I would miss that greatly.

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Agreed! Id like to play my ps2 games in HD and my ps2 won't last forever.

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this is a great move by sony a next gen console with blu ray and full hd for only £299. Any one playing ps and ps 2 games on it are mad thay are not hd quality. I SAY GO BUY SOME NEXT GEN GAMES.

no backward compat pisses me off, surely it could have been done by software emulation like the european 60GB PS3s. A lot of people still buy xbox games off me to play on their 360's, it keeps the format alive. Oh well..

Sony have also removed SACD playback from these lower spec machines, something I don't think is 'easily upgraded'.

Well, people who already have backwards compatibility will not lose it ;-)

Aside from that: it makes no sense to me since the BC in Euro PS3s are software. Why cancel that?

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE THIS IS A RANT FROM A OWNER OF A 60GB PS3 SO THIS IS NOT A FANBOY BASH!!!

Backwards Compatibility is important to a lot of people and is a big Mistake in removiing it. If they have to remove it than they should still offer the 60GB PS3 w/ B/C so people have a choice but instead they choose the route of if you want the B/C in your PS3 you better buy it now or be screwed.

Now they should have stuck with what they said in the 1st place only bringing out one SKU and one SKU only!!! They should have just brought out the 60GB Model in all Territories and when people complained just lower the price. They could have lowered it to $499.99 and if they still complained then lower it to 449.99 instead of having so many different SKU'S

First it was

US & JAP
20GB & 60GB

EU
60GB

Then it Was
US
60GB & 80GB

JAP
20GB & 60GB

EU
60GB

Now it's going to be

US
40GB & 80GB

EU
40GB

JAP
20GB & 60GB

And Yet Rumors are already Spreading that amother change will be coming

US
40GB & 80GB (Maybe) Really who knows we might lose the 80GB

JAP
60GB & 160GB ( Loss of 20GB and probably soon to be losing the 60GB knowing Sony)

EU
40GB

If this is True come on Sony get your Head out of the Sand and stop with all the SKU'S

Actually your all not thinking of the bigger picture here there knocking £100 off the price and removing backwards compat tell me how much is a slim PS2 these days? wait £100! so its a feature you can choose to pay for should you need it and yes using a boot disc from Xploder you can play ps2 games in HD and having 2 consoles is handy ps3 downstairs and ps2 in the bedroom. There letting you have a choice here!

What happened sony? Which muppet in the sony boardroom decided to drop Backwards compatibility? Its IMPORTANT. You shouldnt of done this and track down the idiot that gave this the go ahead and FIRE HIM! (or her!)

""Backwards compatibility, as you know from PlayStation One and PlayStation 2, is a core value of what we believe we should offer. And access to the library of content people have created, bought for themselves, and accumulated over the years is necessary to create a format. PlayStation is a format meaning that it transcends many devices -- PSOne, PS2, and now PS3" - Phil Harrison, Sony, December 2006."

I remember being quite disgusted when i heard the chip for backward compatibility was being removed from the european 60GB models. But now no backward compatibility at all. Thats a bad. bad move. They have greatly underestimated this feature. The 60GB managed it without the chip in the end through emulation, so how hard would it have been for the 40GB?

lol you guys are totally weird ;). When you want a cheap b/c ps3, then wait 1-2 years. The 40gb version is for sure not the last word.
And btw, I bet the majority of casuals do not care about this feature.

BC on the PS3 is achieved through software for PS1 games, and a combination of software and the PS2's Graphics Synthesizer chip which is included in 60gig models. This chip has been removed from the 40gig models (saving $27 per console manufactured, apparently) and IS NOT the emotion engine, that was a separate chip.
That is why PS2 games won't work on the 40gig console.

When will you guys ever be happy?

First you complain about the prices and then sony drops them to a REALLY GOOD PRICE for what a PS3 is and what it includes.Then you complain about BC not being included.

If it bothers you that much then you can buy a PS2 for about £50 on ebay. Christ.

To be honest, I bought a 60gb PS3 with BC, and I couldnt be happier, it really was worth the price. I think the decisions sony are making now are a way to boost sales, probably for christmas (lowering the price etc.)
Really what they should be doing is working on making the games and console outstanding, which it is really, not take stuff away. All this is really because they're worried that their sales won't pick up.

360 is the gaming console if you want games like halo...
but most people that bought PS2 want games like Singstar, Buzz etc. Halo3 and that type of games doesn't sell over 130million consoles...

It's really funny to see all this negative media hype around the PS3, but everybody very quickly forgets the price
you paid for the 360 console when it came and that there wasn't any games either...
Now the 360 have some decent hardcore (Halo etc.) games available, some of the multi console games looked
better on 360 because of higher priority from the developers, but that's soon going to change.

It's all well and good saying the misisng features are upgradeable.... But i bet they won't be free and if you do manage to get the system back up to 60GB specs it will cost more than £125 which is the basic price difference. Stupid idea to phase the 60GB version... esp this close to Christmas.

Don't be idiots every1 wanted a cheaper PS3 and now there is one but for some reason losers still wanna complain.... it's just business so get over it!!

All the other losses are fine with me and, yes, easily upgradeable through the miraculous technology that is USB. but no BC?!? WTF sony... PS2 is still the best selling console on the market, even better than 360 and wii (here in australia anyway), and all those people are buying it on for a reason. and even with uncharted and ratchet coming up for christmas i doubt the ps3 will have any games that come close to the magic of shadow of the colossus or final fantasy or okami or a bunch of other games. i say agi: wtf sony....

Everyone is buying the old model PS3. Which says alot!

c'mon people, instead of complaining get some money a buy all three consoles and thats it, you want b/c buy a ps2, cmon dont be cheap, and spend money, christ the ps3 its only 499 usd get a job and buy it!

Exactly what kamus said. Stop whinging and whining! Because its cheaper its ps3! Just bow and say arigatou Sony-san ;)

Obviously BC isnt that big an issue to a lot of people, but i know from experience one of the first questions a lot of customers ask is can the PS3 play Ps2 games? its kept a good few people going considering the lack of quality PS3 titles so far..

This is another bad move from Sony but they had to do it. Sonys PS3 is getting murdered in every aspect of gaming and most of it from the PS2. The PS2 is becoming the PS3 worst nightmare. My PS3 would be collecting dust if it wasn't for their PS2 titles. I feel sorry for all you guys who buy the 40gig PS3 piece of ****. LOL!

Guess this means Sony will not be extending the software emulation for PAL back catalogue games.
So why bother with a 60Gb for backwards compatibility anyway!!!

I fail to comprehend the lack of BC. The PS2 and its games are a cash cow for Sony. Every PS2 game that is sold to a PS3 owner is extra license money for Sony. My stores still sell God of War 1 and 2 like crazy. Many of those are sold to PS3 owners. Also, why make existing casual gamers like Singstar owners unhappy? Not everyone will like the online orientation of the PS3 version.

its a good move to focus all resources into one console.. that'll help bring doing the price faster aswell.. but to remove BC is a bad move... BC on the PS3 is just as important as BC for PS1 one games was on the PS2 if not even more...
PS2 is still the best selling console in History.. why not add its badge to PS3...

Don't you guys realize that the PS3's PS2 emulation wasn't really that good anyways. Anyone who bought a PS3 to play PS2 games was an idiot.Sony made a website to show which PS2 games run well on what model and the 60gig did have alot that worked, but they were some AAA titles that had freq dips in framerate, but hey, it is in HD right? All i was waiting for was the $399 price tag. I already have a ps2 (bought it two months ago) and it plays all PS2 and PS1 games 100% so i never have to worry about bad framerates unless it was a poorly developed game. Plus, if you want a PS2 anyways, they are dirt cheap nowadays or will be very soon. I don't get all this crying. The 360 has shotty BC. You know how many titles I got the "need to go online" pop-up tab? Anyways, I was unhappy with the future of the 360 (yes now is it good to own one, but when I plunk down $400+ for video game system, I don't just think of the games right has now but for the next 6+ years, has anyone here heard of RayTracing?) Plus, PS3 has FREE ONLINE. So lets do some math, I plan to own my PS3 for at LEAST five years, at $50 a year for online with XBL, that is $250 you wasted just play games online...now that is HORRIBLE!

Strangely, the 40GB PS3 DOES play PS1 one games, PS2 compatibility has been removed for licensing reasons... apparently there are licensing fees that have to be paid in relation to the PS2 compatibility, not sure exactly who too but it reduces the costs of producing the machine not having it...

I don't know who they consulted for their "research", but having that backwards compatibility is a big selling point for PS3 owners and for people considering the systems. 95% of the time I'm playing my PS2 games on the system. I'm sure that as the years go on, it'll be less important, with better and better games out there, but this decision was made too early in the life of the PS3. Until 2008's done, I just don't see any way about it. There's not enough games out there or quality games out there to keep you occupied on the PS3 library itself. At the minimum, Sony sould have waited another year. Glad I picked up my 60 Gig EE version when I did. I'd hate to think I'd have to "settle" for either emulation or this new version. Europe may be first to get the shaft on these sub-par systems, but you can bet it'll all find it's way here to North America soon enough.

The perception was that backwards compatibility is important but in reality very few customers bar the hardcore ever use this feature
If the price for reaching this magical price point was the loss of a couple of usb ports and PS2 compatibility then I think Sony have made a sound commercial descision

stop *****in and buy the damn thing if you really want it

BAD MOVE
I was about to buy a PS3 coz of the bc in a few months. If there is no more bc then I will just buy an Xbox.

I purchased my PS3 in March for just under $750.00 (CAN)! I am NOT wealthy (in monetary terms) by any stretch of the imagination. It has proven to be worth every penny! If BC is important to you get off the fence/couch and buy one NOW! All of the whining about the price of a piece of technology that is clearly worth it, when it's features are totaled, has forced SONY's hand.
This is exactly why people are subjected to horrible working conditions and companies resort to ridiculous business practices... because before any other consideration, you need your tube socks for 1.99!
If it's not worth it to you, so be it! But don't pretend that you can get something for nothing ... there is always a cost!

*Personally I have played only 1 title that required BC and I certainly could live without it or could have kept my PS2???

the rumor is that the ps2 will be cut to £50 for christmas so if you're really desperate to play the old games just buy one; come on tv's come with enough inputs and it's not like it actually takes up much space;

and unless the game was made in hd it's never really going to be hd;

the more likely reason it's being dropped anyone is so people will pay for the downloaded version on to their ps3's; surely that's in the pipelines.

Probably an 80gb version on the way in the new year too

Hop on the AMD tri-core bus and repeat after me: LESS IS MORE.

meh

Thats just plain stupid getting rid of the ps2 emulator!!!!!!!
thats put me well off buying a ps3 now (and alot of my mates feel the same too)

Yep bad Idea coz I've got loads of ps1/ps2 games!!!!!
guess I'll have to get a 360 then?

The BC thing doesnt overly worry me, as Im an Xbox man and have no PS2 games at home. The point is, Sony have done a really clever job at marketing for ******s. Here in Australia, until the release of the new 40gb model, they were selling a bundle with the 60gb console, an extra controller, as well as Motorstorm and Resistance: Fall of man. This was priced btwn $959 - $999. The new 40gb version, comes sans the games and the extra controller - for $699. So essentially, if I then go and buy a new one, by the time I've realised it comes with no games or extra controller (so you can sit at home and play with the media bar!) and you go and buy them, you've then spent at least $100-120 on the games, and $70-80 on the controller, bringing the total price to around about the same as the previous bundle, if not more. Why should I spend the same amount of money on a machine that has less features - BC or not? I managed to get one of the very last 60gb consoles in the country, and Im happy as a pig in the proverbial. I feel sorry for all those people who have no choice but to pay for the newer cut-down version and end up paying the same money to do so. The console hasnt really been made cheaper at all - only in the eyes of stupid people.

to be honest with everyone, if your so worried about it not being b/c then go and buy a 60gb right now.... the 60gb bundles at the moment in my eyes work out cheaper than buying a 40gb console.

Who in their right minds wouldn't want the b/c??? PS3 games cost 40 quid each which most of us can't spend every time we want a new game. U can get ps2 games for about a fiver now and just because of the tiny difference in picture quality it doest mean their bad. Get a ps3 asap or u'll miss out.....

bad move cos i play lots of ps2/1 games also . its selling for £299 but i got a 60gb with 3 games for £340 from a retail store so wat the?? its cheaper to get a 60gb

dumb move, i was saving up for a 60 gb, y shdnt i just buy an xbox elite?

it is a shame that they are taking out the b/c and discontinuing the 60 gb model but they are trying to compete with other consoles like the wii and xbox 360, bt my advice is if u want to make a bit of money buy the 60 gb model and keep it for a bit then resell it and u cud make a proffit bt 2 all loyal sony fans I would just go with the flow and aparently I don't know the exact date but they are going to refit the 40 gb model with the things they have taken out of the 60 gb model js****ch this space.....

I dont know who is in charge of ps3 sales marketing but he/she is a fool of astronomic proportions. BC is of major importance. as the ps2 proved if you get the games right the console will follow. the ps2 was not the best console but it had the best / more games than any other and so it won on sales. why start all over again when it could have been buy the ps3, we still has all the best games and the consoles better and were making more! they could have milked the ps2 library of games as a sales + instead are we to see billions of useless games dumped in 5 years time because there are no more ps2 consoles and the ps3 marketing team were fools. the only way to bring the 60gb back is not to buy the 40gb version, when sony sales drop like a stone theyl bring it back pronto and drop the price.

BC is an awesome thing, who likes to buy ps2 games and never be able to use them again just because we want to play newer games?
stupid move by sony, they need to encorperate it
the amount i have spent on PS2 games, to not be able to play them anymore sucks! not like my PS2 will last forever, im already on my second!

"WHY O WHY O WHY"..... Having purchsed a number of PS2 games over a number of years, having a backward compat is important to me and i would guess to alot of Sony PS fans. I am gutted that the 60GB will be droped but i cant understand why ! All i see in the shops is the 40GB version and out of stock of the 60GB.... i wonder why that is Sony... "BECAUSE WE DONT WANT THE 40GB !!!" I have always been a PS fan from day 1 but with this move i find myself wanting to buy the XBOX 360, far cheaper and with more games, granted not as good as the PS3 60GB, but all the same.... Sony.... please reconsider :-(

all of you whinging and whining about ***/C on 40gb models, if you go out and buy the 360 then....... correct me if im wrong but i dont think that is compatible with ps2 games either? also, my ps2 still works a treat why do you need B/C when you can just have the original console? just think about it properly!

sony ****ed up, ****ers