Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated has revealed the details of the reduced backwards compatibility of the PAL region PlayStation 3 game console. Apparently, the "European version" of the console will have lower production costs due to a removed chip, which combines graphics processor and microprocessor used in the PlayStation 2. “They’re using emulation software now to take the role of the hardware that was previously in the device. From a business perspective, it’s a way to move ahead removing costs in some regards to manufacturing. If you follow some of the high costs in research and development and also manufacturing we've incurred over the last while, it's a demand from some shareholders,” said SCE Australia spokesman Adrian Christie in an interview with The West Australian.
According to analysts, the EE+GS chip costs $27, whereas 32MB RDRAM is unlikely to cost more than $5. In other words, the PS3 sold in Japan and the U.S. is around $30 more expensive in terms of raw hardware costs. And yet, Sony is nailing Europeans with even higher prices. In PAL regions the consoles will retail for up to $240 more than in the U.S. and up to $345 higher compared to the recommended price (¥59 980 or $495) in Japan. Initially Sony will only sell the higher-end PlayStation 3 version of the console (60GB HDD), for €599 ($777) in the most of the markets and for pricing close to that in variety of countries: UK – £425 ($837), Ireland – €629 ($816), Australia – AUD 999.95 ($777), New Zealand – NZ 1199.95 ($840).
News source: Xbit Laboratories
According to analysts, the EE+GS chip costs $27, whereas 32MB RDRAM is unlikely to cost more than $5. In other words, the PS3 sold in Japan and the U.S. is around $30 more expensive in terms of raw hardware costs. And yet, Sony is nailing Europeans with even higher prices. In PAL regions the consoles will retail for up to $240 more than in the U.S. and up to $345 higher compared to the recommended price (¥59 980 or $495) in Japan. Initially Sony will only sell the higher-end PlayStation 3 version of the console (60GB HDD), for €599 ($777) in the most of the markets and for pricing close to that in variety of countries: UK – £425 ($837), Ireland – €629 ($816), Australia – AUD 999.95 ($777), New Zealand – NZ 1199.95 ($840).
News source: Xbit Laboratories
http://kotaku.com/gaming/ps3/scee-responds...lity-239632.php
The original PS3 used the Emotion Engine/Graphics Synthesiser to emulate PS2 titles. With the latest European specification we have removed the Emotion Engine, retaining the graphics chip. This has an impact on the number of PS2 titles that will be backwards compatible.
Tho that said a lot of sony marketing guys have no real clue about the product they are selling.
Go Xenophobia, Go!
(Though I agree with the first part of what you said)
ever heard of a company called microsoft
I think that new version of firmware will also lower your cholesterol...
They're already stating that it will be WORSE in terms of backwards compat.
Sure, it would be software emulated but upscaling to 1080p is not a big task with a hardware scaler.
Oh, wait, that's right, sony does not want devs to fully utilize the hardware scalar
Why would a "new" cell processor eliminate the need for the EE? Because it's fabbed smaller and runs cooler?
If it's better in any way from the currently released systems (Besides a die shrink. I can understand why they'd want to hold that back for a few days or a week or so), then why have they not started selling them in the US and Japan?
They've made it a SELLING POINT that the PS3 has PS2 hardware in it.
Fact is, they're getting banged on for this because they screwed up. Accept it. If they'd have done this before release, nobody would have minded.
and Cole... go to the doctor and get some tablets, your case of fanboism looks pretty fatal.
Just goes to show what the chances of Blu-Ray are with the Non-Gaming community. I showed my dad an Advert of Blu-Ray "What's that?" He asked. I showed him an Advert of HD-DVD Player and asked him what it was, he knew straight away. Bye Sony!
I showed my Dad an ad, and new picked Blu Ray right away, omg! bye one company of many who support hd-dvd
When the PS2 was out, backward compatibility for PS1 games was also announced as limited so before criticizing, wait for the result (and on a side note, it really pains me to have to defend Sony on this but let's try to be fair).
im sorry i dont mean to badmouth sony here but how on gods earth can you defend that?
if the price was lower or closer to the US console price with conversion then fair enough, imo backwards compatability isnt THAT big of a deal, but their has not been one positive out of this situation
your paying more for less then our americans are getting
imo the ps3 is looking like nothing more then a fanboy console, im not saying eveyone who gets one is a fanboy or anything i just cant possibly comprehend why anyone would buy one... i dont think what it does justifies its price and therefore the only reason to buy one imo is because you love the sony brand... if this console was closer to the 360 price, obviously high but alot closer, i would have got one... i had a ps and a ps2 and loved them both... never gave any other console a thought but im sorry sony imo have not one leg to stand on with this console
The second quote answeres the fisrt.
Sony could encase their hardware in sh*t and people would still buy it because its a Sony product. [Most] Everything for the PS3 that has been promised has not and will not be delivered on. Sony is not the company they once were and their products show it.
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