Sony's Jack Tretton confirms BC in PS3s is not coming back

[Laek]

What can the software backwards compatibility really cost them? They already developed the software so the forward cost is almost nothing. It seems to me that they just don't want to do it which is silly since they should be doing everything possible to increase sales.

[Kasi]

Well looked around (live in Austin) and found a couple places that had them. A gamestop way down south and a Target. Put it on reserve at the Target and now I have a PS3. Yay for 10% off too. Figured I guess with the news that BC is going the way of the dodo that I better get it pronto or lose my chance.

[meStevo]

Originally Posted by Laek

What can the software backwards compatibility really cost them? They already developed the software so the forward cost is almost nothing. It seems to me that they just don't want to do it which is silly since they should be doing everything possible to increase sales.

It's strategy not cost... they said this Fall of last year that there were enough PS3 games on the market, they want their PS3 buyers to buy those instead. PS2s print money and people will keep buying them if the PS3 can't play it's games.

They're focused on profitability's now, gaming second, which is why they're voluntarily making their video game play fewer video games.

I understand their position, but it doesn't stop me from being frustrated by it. I had to search high and low for my Motorstorm bundle a few months ago when they stopped shipping the 80gbs to build hype for the MGS bundle. I was playing EQ when PS2 was in it's prime so never had one. Just now getting exposed to things like God of War and Kingdom Hearts and I'm bummed others won't have that option unless they go ebay/craigslist after this fall.

Edit: as for the software portion... it still requires some hardware to do the emulation. When they introduced the 40gb they said that in order to continue emulation they would have to do it title by title like Microsoft did with the 360... purely software... and that it was not worth the resources to do. The 80gb models still have some bits and pieces in them to assist the software in the emulation, they just don't have the emotion engine chip(s) or whatever in them.

[Soygen]

Yeah, the systems with "software" emulation still have PS2 hardware that the non-BC systems do not, thus costing Sony more to make. They just don't have the Emotion Engine chip, I believe.

[Manatra]

Originally Posted by Soygen

Yeah, the systems with "software" emulation still have PS2 hardware that the non-BC systems do not, thus costing Sony more to make. They just don't have the Emotion Engine chip, I believe.

Sony has already said that the reason for completely removing backwards compatibility has everything to do with people buying PS2 games instead of PS3 games for the PlayStation 3.

[Soygen]

Originally Posted by Manatra

Sony has already said that the reason for completely removing backwards compatibility has everything to do with people buying PS2 games instead of PS3 games for the PlayStation 3.

Do you have a source for that? Not doubting you, but would be interested in reading that statement/interview.

[kedwyn]

So essentially they are putting more hope on the PS2 which is how old now? instead of their newest console making it even less attractive. Whoever the hell thinks that this is a good idea is a total idiot. Lets take one more reason away from buying your new console.

At least in Microsofts case there really wasn't much on the original Xbox to begin with that was their lemon IMO. PS3 is Sony's. If it wasn't for blue ray they would really be fucked but blue ray doesn't sell games.

[Manatra]

Originally Posted by Soygen

Do you have a source for that? Not doubting you, but would be interested in reading that statement/interview.

It's from awhile back, on 1up I think? I'll look later since I'm currently in raid.

[meStevo]

Originally Posted by Manatra

It's from awhile back, on 1up I think? I'll look later since I'm currently in raid.

1up prolly covered it too:

Oddly though, Sony is insisting that the choice to drop backwards compatibility wasn't in order to effect the manafacturing costs. In fact, it hasn't effected the costs at all and Jack Tretton, the head honcho of SCEA, has spoken to the Wall Street Journal about why BC was really cut.

It was part of an effort to "encourage buyers of the entry-level PlayStation 3 to purchase more games designed specifically for the new system."

bit-tech.net | Tretton: cutting PS2 BC won't cut PS3 cost

[Faille]

I wonder if they ever considered the strategy of making the Ps3 Games so much better that people would want to buy them instead of the Ps2 ones.

[Kaio]

Simplifying the motherboard and removing the emotion engine (not an insignificant chip by any means) won't affect cost my ass. They are saving like $25 bucks minimum.

If they wanna push ps3 games they need to get more exclusives and make awesome first party games.

[Vorph]

Emotion engine was estimated at $27 at launch, but didn't they already remove a large part of it when they went to software BC? So it's not likely the savings will be anywhere near that much this time...

[meStevo]

The emotion stuff was replaced by emulation when they went from 60gb to 80gb, but some hardware components remained.

[Kaio]

Uh not exactly (Vorph), they either removed the emotion engine or the ps2 graphics chip. They didn't remove a part of a chip as it makes no sense. I guess i'll google.

Okay, so the ps3 80 gig (current) has the ps2 graphics chip and not the ee.

[Kragg Goremaw]

It's not like they are only removing BC, they also taking out the SD readers. Sony is doing everything it can to cut corners and get the price of the PS3 down so they can make cash.