Gamernode: News - Backwards pricing for backwards compatibility

Backwards pricing for backwards compatibility

Category: PlayStation 3, Posted: 03/03/2008 at 09:42AM CST by Creighton DeSimone, Staff Writer

Launch Box Japan loves their PlayStation 3. Japan loves their PlayStation 3 so much that people are paying 69780 Yen (668.28 USD) for a used 60GB and 63800 Yen (611.01 USD) for a used 20GB.

Pretty crazy prices when you can get a brand spankin' new 40GB for the low, low price of 37581 Yen (359.91 USD, that's nearly half for those who didn't pass third grade math).

So why are the launch boxes going for so much money? The difference is more than gigabytes. Since the launch of the PS3, Sony has slowly been stripping out the backwards compatibility of their machine and only the 20 and the 60 gig versions can play the entire PlayStation library.

The current 40 gig box can't play a single PS2 game. And that can be a problem for people with large PS2 libraries. I personally have seen PS2 collections that exceed one hundred games.

For someone who has spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on games last generation, spending almost double on a PlayStation 3 makes perfect financial sense.

[via Hobby Blog]

Posted by intooblivion on 03/03/2008 at 10:14AM

That's stupid. We need backwards compatabillity.

Posted by lskennedy on 03/03/2008 at 02:18PM

Yeah, sony lost me on that one, because the backwards compatibility is what i want as well.

Posted by Oblivion Lotus on 03/03/2008 at 02:36PM

What was Sony thinking? I have a few PS2 games, but no PS2. I was thinking of buying a PS3, but then Sony comes out with "NO more BC"

Pfft. I'm buying a PS2.

Posted by Archem on 03/03/2008 at 02:48PM

See, if I had known that they'd be killing off B/C, then I wouldn't have said "I'll wait until there are games worth getting on the PS3". Now the games are starting to come in, but my B/C is gone. Sony, you sure know how to screw things up, don't you?

Posted by Brendon on 03/03/2008 at 03:16PM

I understand their line of thinking with the whole "If the PS3 plays PS2 no one will buy PS3 games with all the good PS2 ones!" thing, but it's still stupid. Thankfully I have the 80 gig with the full BC on it. Saves a lot of room in my living room (one PS3 = PS3, PS2, and DVD/Blu-Ray player) and let me move my original PS2 to my bedroom so I can play stuff late at night if I feel like it.

Posted by Quasar on 03/03/2008 at 03:42PM

Actually, I think Sony is removing BC so they can make more money. Look at it this way. If people want to play PS2 games, they are either going to have to have the machine already or go and buy a new one. And if they have to buy a new one, guess what? People will be putting money into good old Sony's pocket.

Posted by Eddie R Inzauto on 03/03/2008 at 05:01PM

Um...why not just buy a cheapo ($99) slimline PS2 AND a cheaper, non-BC PS3?
For those of us who DID pass third grade math, it's easy to see that $359 + $99 = $458
That's less than $611, with a bonus 20 gigs. How much are PS2s in Japan nowadays?

Posted by ninjalegend on 03/04/2008 at 03:02PM

Yeah, what Eddie said. Plus, they are still making games and systems for the ps2 crowd. Why would you need BC for the ps3. You could buy a new ps2 and controller. Try to buy a new xbox. Or a game cube 1 year down the line. And find a new controller for either (impossible here in West Palm Beach) at your local store. And as for used game controllers? Please. Why do you think the were traded in.

Posted by Brendon on 03/06/2008 at 02:22AM

PS3 upscales PS2 games, and it also requires far less space/cables in an entertainment center.