Sony: Backwards Compatibility Is Never Coming Back

[DrunkWithPower]

It seems to me that Sony shot themselves in the foot with that move. They probably lost a bit of money because of that move. Luckily I have a backwards compatible PS3, so I can still play Persona.

I know, so happy I bought one early on. I might have to cut somebody if I couldn't play Justice League Heroes for chuckels.

 

[SharedProphet]

Sony: Backwards Compatibility Is Never Coming Back

Then I guess neither are a lot of PS2 owners.

"It's not coming back, so let me put that on the table," Sony's John Koller said. And despite the seemingly neverending chorus of demand for the feature, Koller says it's really not as big a deal as it looks like. "It's not as big as a purchase intent driver as you may be hearing."

Instead, Koller says that people aren't buying the PS3 to play old games. "We've got such a substantial lineup of titles on the PS3; most people are buying the PS3 for PS3 games," Koller said. "They've buying it for PS3 games and Blu-ray movies."

That's the point. You don't need to worry about the people who are buying PS3s, you need to worry about the ones who aren't. Specifically, it is ridiculous not to realize that considering that the PS2 sells about the same every month as the PS3, or sometimes more, and good games are still coming out for it, the PS3 will never have the installed base of the PS2 if they can't get PS2 owners to convert.

Backwards compatibility alone may not be a big enough incentive to get people to make the switch (considering the PS3's price, i.e. more than the PS2's, including $10-$20 extra per game), but it would be if combined with a solid lineup of PS3 games. And not providing backwards compatibility is a strong disincentive which counteracts the PS3's game library.

If my PS2 broke tomorrow (possible; it's the first iteration, from shortly after it launched), I would have to choose between the game catalogues of the PS2 and PS3, with plenty of PS2 games I already own and haven't even had time to play yet. Without backwards compatibility, the PS3 wouldn't win... and with the enormous installed base of the PS2, I can't be the only one thinking this way. My guess would be that most PS2 owners would agree.

 

[frank220]

The only reason I want a PS3 now is MAG and free online. I loved my PS2 and all the games I had. Congrats Sony, you lost another potential customer.

 

[mike1921]

Considering they set the standard for backward compatibility it is a shame they are leaving the feature out. I don't expect a PS3 to play playstation games but the ability to have a console to prevent the hobbyist to not have a mountain of game consoles cluttering a room is what matters.

I really would like to see what Sony plans to do when and if they make a Playstation 4.

Unless that thing doesn't take disks and they have another new format , if they don't have backwards compatibility I won't buy it out of pure spite. Or maybe if it only plays BlU-ray or whatever. I put non-blu-ray disks in my PS3 and they've played so GIVE ME MY PS2 GAMES

snip

Again, just get a ps2. The ps3 is for next gen. It has ps1 compat and that should be good enough. Seriously, they just dropped the price, why do you want more? It only proves that fanboy sheep are never happy, so I don't know why I bother. Even if they changed their minds and put BC in, I bet you'd find another thing to pick at. I'm sorry, but frankly, i"m sick of it. You people are never happy with what you have. Seriously,

It should have both PS1 compatibility and PS2 compatibility. Seriously, don't make me buy your old consoles when you didn't make me do it the last time around.
I don't give a damn that they dropped the price and have been pissed ever since I found out they didn't have PS2 compatibility.

At this point I give the wii a lot of credit for doing something that all 3 of this generations consoles should be doing, giving me full backwards compatibility . Sure, I didn't really like any Gamecube games but they eliminated all incentive to buy a gamecube over the wii.

thats the thing, PS2 is still selling and they want to sell more PS3 games, i mean, why did they made "Rock Band" for the PS2 when there was already a PS3??? because they were sure it would sell more, "who haves a PS3 anywhay??", by not bringing back the PS2 funtion, it forces the developers make games for the PS3, not for whatever console they want...

Umm, why the hell would they make it for the PS2 if the PS3 played PS2 games? I

 

[E-mantheseeker]

You know, if you can't afford a ps3 and a ps2, then just leave. You don't belong here. Sony could be asses and stop making ps2s. But they don't. So be glad already. We just have to face the fact that SONY will always be hated by pig headed fanboy sheep and there's no winning. If you hate it so much, buy an xbox and leave your hate filled opinions off the forums. You only make an ass out of yourself when you make frivolous demands. Hell, half of you promised you'd stop complainin if they lowered the price, regardless of BC. I can see that was a bold faced lies. It only proves nobody on this forum can be trusted. I'm truly. Can't we all be happy with what we have? Oh, and I happen to have a ps2 and ps3 with BC. Doesn't tske up alot of room. So don't be so stingy.

You sure are passionate. You have to at least consider that the complaints about the PS3 are valid, why didn't anyone complain about the PS2's? Because there was nothing to complain about, it was well priced, had a shitload of good games in it's library, played DVD's, (which were the standard at the time) and had BC.

Compare that to the PS3... too costly (up until very recently), has some games that are worth looking at (and yes, I know there's still time to expand on their library), it plays Blu-ray (which isn't as in demand as DVD's were, and isn't even the standard format), and it doesn't have BC. So, they've addressed one issue: it's finally accessible to most people, that's great. Now that owning a PS3 is a reality, people will of course think of what more they want from it in terms of actual gaming. BC is the hot topic at the moment, and the gaming library is probably another issue that will be considered soon... what did you think would happen when they refuse to include BC? In that case, they had better come out with some Fucking Epic games. Very soon.

As for me I'm disappointed every current-gen console, each had potential but screwed it up in one way or another. The PS3 is the only console at this moment worth considering, and that's because of the recent price drop. But I won't buy it until there are more than 5 games I've decided needs to be played by me (including KH3 and ZOE3) until then, I'll continue playing on the PS2.

 

[Fallingwater]

It seems to me that Sony shot themselves in the foot with that move.

Only with that move?
This is pretty boneheaded, granted, but Sony has made and stubbornly keeps making stupid mistakes much worse than this one.

 

[squid5580]

It seems to me that Sony shot themselves in the foot with that move. They probably lost a bit of money because of that move. Luckily I have a backwards compatible PS3, so I can still play Persona.

Huh I was thinking the opposite. That BC is a bad idea for a company like Sony. You are trying to get consoles into homes so you can move the software. Relying on the library of the previous console instead of pushing the next gen titles while having the most expensive console on the market has gotta have a negative impact on sales.

Then whats the point of offering downloadable older games on PSN? Why sell "old games" for a next gen system, impacting sales on potential next gen games?

A big reason would be money. I can buy a PS2 game from say Gamestop for anywhere ranging from 10 to 30 bucks and most of those titles will be used. And Sony doesn't see any of that money from the resale. Or they can throw the disc into thier computer and upload it and sell it to you for the same price and get the profits.

This also discourages developers supporting the PS2. Don't get me wrong the PS2 is the greatest console in history IMO but Sony has to move on. Push the PS3 and retire the PS2 hard copy disks. It is a bit hard to justify paying 299 when I can pay 129 and play the older games and newer ones. Just not all the newer ones.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

the thing is people will always find a stupid reason not to get the ps3, first it's the price, then it's no bc, next it will be something even more stupid

i think they also don't want to pull the m$ version which is a software emulation and is rather broken and most games can't be played and probly won't ever be able to be played

Well, tell me what you think of this reason: because it really isn't that great, or even necessary.

how about they cut it cause EVERYONE was complaining about the cost, so that means the most expensive parts, hint it was the BC, had to be cut. so they cut it and lowered the price, everyone still bitched and found new reasons to complain

All of the games are out for the cheaper 360 or the PC, and I wouldn't blow the equivalent of its price tag to get the exclusives. The 360's formerly exclusive Msss Effect totally crushes every PS3 exclusive that I'm aware of. Blu-Ray playing isn't THAT vital (HD formatted video is easy to get a hold of without needing to pander to Sony's format, thanks). If and when I do desire Blu-Ray support, my PC can do that just fine. The lack of backwards compatibility only drives more nails into this useless console's coffin.

really the 360 is cheaper? well online is $50/yr and numerous other things, the "cheaper part of it is an illusion. if you had wanted the hd-dvd player with the 360, it would have been more than the ps3.

oh and blu-ray IS the only way to get hd formatted video and it's not just Sony's format, they beat out m$ and the hd-dvd crowd

and as for Mass Effect crushing every PS3 exclusive, it's just a bioware rpg and frankly not all that great. also it's not really exclusive since it's on the pc and 360, so in reality all the ps3 exclusives beat it

By the way... in my encounters with the 360's software emulator, the games worked fine. The only thing lamentable about it was the lack of support for Timesplitters: Future Perfect.

really then why do they have a list of games that work for it and games that don't? if it worked np then they wouldn't have a list.

also if one game isn't working that you have/had, then it's not working fine

 

[ffxfriek]

well now im not so sure on getting the ps3 slim anymore...

 

[SharedProphet]

The only reason I can imagine for them to keep it out of the PS3 is that they don't actually want PS2 users to switch over until they can actually make a profit on the PS3s they sell, since by now they are making a profit on each PS2 sold.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

I don't really understand the whole deal with BC anyway. Sure its more convenient to just pop the CD into your PS3, but if you really want to play a game that badly from the PS2 age, then you shouldn't really have any qualms about hooking up your PS2.

 

[thiosk]

i can still play my original packaged-with-the-gameboy tetris cartridge on my new gameboy. And I hear it works fine on the DS as well.

I have a strong feeling that the backward compatibility of the recent nintendo cartridges has been a good reason for its success.

 

[KarumaK]

BC not coming back...

Like your fanbase! ZING!

 

[Psypherus]

Guess I'm not getting a PS4 then. Fuck you Sony, I guess Microsoft can have my money.

 

[sneakypenguin]

Well they prolly looked at game logs and saw that people were not using their ps3 for ps2 games. Not to mention anyone who wanted one has a ps2 by now so if it saves money then great cut BC out.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

PS2 emulator makers, Start your Coding!

Sony should look at their consoles they way apple looks at phones: Sure, most people use it for calling (PS3 games) or texting (Blu-ray), but just because no one buys those phones for the little games and apps and whatnot that the phone has doesn't mean you shouldn't include them. It makes the product soooo much nicer, having those little quirks in there. Sony, shame on you. Learn from your competition.

give it back you jerks.

 

[Irishhoodlum]

Seriously guys? I'd love to see BC, but you can't really be surprised. It-makes-good-buisness-sense. The PS2 sales are still the same ballpark as the PS3. Half the people complaining/ragging on Sony for the decision seem to be people who own a PS2 already (it takes 30 seconds to unplug your PS3 and then to plug in your PS2). Or they're 360 users trying to find other reasons "not to buy a PS3" post-price cut. And all cards on the table, which would you choose; the price cut or BC? (Hint hint, the price cut allows you more than enough to just buy a PS2, though you probably already have one).

If you want to play PS2 games and you DON'T have a PS2 already, just buy one (for as low as $50 to hardly more than $100). That's practically the price of a new PS3/360 game anyways.

Or maybe Sony just wants a ton of early sales as soon as the next console comes out from customers wanting backwards compatability. Ya never know.


EDIT:

PS2 emulator makers, Start your Coding!

Sony should look at their consoles they way apple looks at phones: Sure, most people use it for calling (PS3 games) or texting (Blu-ray), but just because no one buys those phones for the little games and apps and whatnot that the phone has doesn't mean you shouldn't include them. It makes the product soooo much nicer, having those little quirks in there. Sony, shame on you. Learn from your competition.

give it back you jerks.

Heh, or people could just buy the cheaper itouch (PS2) to play apps =P.

 

[fenrizz]

Sony, you dissappoint me.
Have I not been a loyal customer for over a decade?
Have I not bought all your gaming devices, and several Sony developed games?

In short, yes. Yes I have.

So why this slap in the face?
Why won't you listen to me?
I'm starting to think that you don't love me anymore.
Do not force me to go over to Microsoft...
I love you Sony!