Tech site Ars Technica claims that an inside source has confirmed that the leaked pictures of the "Slim PS3" are indeed real - but that the console won't be debuting at next week's E3.
Quick recap: Last week, supposedly leaked photos of what looked to be a smaller redesign of the Sony PS3 made waves around the game blogosphere, with game journalists and gamers alike speculating on what exactly the cease-and-desist orders from legal firms in Taiwan meant. Some interpreted it as Sony trying to quash the leak of a genuine product, while others assumed it was an effort by a bootlegging company to slip under Sony's radar.
However, tech blog Ars Technica says that a "trusty inside source" has confirmed the existence of said slim PS3 - it's no knockoff - and claims that the redesigned console will be hitting shelves in August or September ... but it won't be announced at E3.
Why? Because there are still regular PS3s sitting unsold on store shelves. Ars Technica's source says that the hardware giant is planning on letting existing stockpiles sell out first - and only then will Sony unveil and begin supplying retailers with the new model. It's an interesting business model if true, and I'm skeptical that Sony wouldn't be intending to announce such a big surprise at such a big press event.
Perhaps, though, they wouldn't want to take attention away from the upcoming PSP-Go!, which Ars Technica's mole claims will be making its debut next week. The PSP-Go! will trade the relatively unpopular UMD format for flash memory, and is reportedly smaller, lighter, and has a longer-lasting battery than its elder brother and predecessor.
As always, take these rumors with a grain of salt - we have no way of knowing for sure whether this is real or not. We'll find out for sure one way or another next week, though, as E3 returns to its former glory.
Depending on the price, this might give me the push I need to jump into PS3 gaming. Other than price, I have no reason not to (at least for the exclusives and some Japan PSN titles -- ahem, Rakugaki).
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
It better. Sony shot themselves in the foot by taking BC out of the new models. Easily the most boneheaded move they've made this generation. Renewing BC would spark enthusiasm for the console.
That will sell me to get a PS3 if they bring back the backwards compatibility. They could take out the Blu-ray player for all I care. I just want an affordable game console to play great PS3 games. I want my video game console to be a video game console!
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
It better. Sony shot themselves in the foot by taking BC out of the new models. Easily the most boneheaded move they've made this generation. Renewing BC would spark enthusiasm for the console.
Which ps3 models lack BC? Because I got the 80g and I play tons of PS2 games on them.
really i dont want a slim unless they can put bc into it since my ps2 has just about died and i have unfinnished rpg's on it but even then i dont no if i could stand looking at it, i might have to hide it someware i dont have to see it and put games in from under a sheet. plus its not worth the money for something so small. i waited for the slim ps2 and the 360 elite coz i knew they would do this eventualy but as theyve been saying they need a significant price drop to draw me anyware near it.
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
It better. Sony shot themselves in the foot by taking BC out of the new models. Easily the most boneheaded move they've made this generation. Renewing BC would spark enthusiasm for the console.
Yeah. Absolutely ridiculous move and one which proves how out-of-touch the upper-level execs must be. "But why would they want to play those horrible old PS2 games like God of War? They have Genji now!"
Ugh, I don't know. Suddenly I get the feeling I was quick to jump to conclusions about this being a bootleg, and that this is really real. I hope it is, but I hope it's not as ugly as that.
Keane Ng: Ugh, I don't know. Suddenly I get the feeling I was quick to jump to conclusions about this being a bootleg, and that this is really real. I hope it is, but I hope it's not as ugly as that.
I'm feeling you on this one, to me it doesn't have enough credibility for me to believe it. A major killing point for it is the fact that Sony won't talk about it at E3.
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
No and no, I expect. The problem with backwards compatibility in particular is that emulation of the PS2's quasi-multicore processor is difficult, and they can't fit the PS2 chipset into a slimmer PS3 (and they removed it from all but the NTSC 60GB model).
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
No and no, I expect. The problem with backwards compatibility in particular is that emulation of the PS2's quasi-multicore processor is difficult, and they can't fit the PS2 chipset into a slimmer PS3 (and they removed it from all but the NTSC 60GB model).
Then fail.
When they release a cheaper PS3 and full proper fucntioning Backwards Compatibility, I might buy one...
The PS3 Slim is a real thing, most definitely. They had some PlayStation reps at Video Games Live this year (here in Edmonton, anyways), and right next to them was a stack of PS3 Slim boxes. There wasn't anything in them, but the boxes were right there, with official PlayStation logos around the display, and the reps standing right there. I think that's enough proof that it's a real thing.
Whether or not it's going to be worth getting is another question.
Yes, let's forget about working Ps2s being pretty damn cheap and complain about how the PS3 doesnt have Backwards compatibility, or how you think it's so expensive.
You can't have both people. Stop being greedy. Seriously.
Keane Ng: Ugh, I don't know. Suddenly I get the feeling I was quick to jump to conclusions about this being a bootleg, and that this is really real. I hope it is, but I hope it's not as ugly as that.
Are we all so quick to forget Game Fork? This is the internet and games journalism - we have no standards board, so people can pose as sources, or even make up their sources, or use a sock puppet. Just because somone saysy an unnamed third party told them it was true, doesn't make it so.
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
No and no, I expect. The problem with backwards compatibility in particular is that emulation of the PS2's quasi-multicore processor is difficult, and they can't fit the PS2 chipset into a slimmer PS3 (and they removed it from all but the NTSC 60GB model).
Then fail.
When they release a cheaper PS3 and full proper fucntioning Backwards Compatibility, I might buy one...
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
No and no, I expect. The problem with backwards compatibility in particular is that emulation of the PS2's quasi-multicore processor is difficult, and they can't fit the PS2 chipset into a slimmer PS3 (and they removed it from all but the NTSC 60GB model).
Then fail.
When they release a cheaper PS3 and full proper fucntioning Backwards Compatibility, I might buy one...
You're gonna buy one when Trico comes out.[/quote]
Nope. Not going to buy a console for one artsy game when I'm not even sure I can play the other 2 artsy games released by the same company.
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
It better. Sony shot themselves in the foot by taking BC out of the new models. Easily the most boneheaded move they've made this generation. Renewing BC would spark enthusiasm for the console.
I thought they put it back in with the new ones? ARG I keep hearing mixed reports.
There is a possibility the 80gig one with inFamous will be BC (This is me guessing here) if ther bundle is real
Oh, fuck off Sony. I'm not paying however much for a smaller version of a console I already have. I don't see why they couldn't have done this at the start.
The reason they took out BC is that it was setting the consoles on fire. You know all those jokes about PS3's being George Forman grills and images of melted consoles, that's because the BC was turning into Napalm.
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
It better. Sony shot themselves in the foot by taking BC out of the new models. Easily the most boneheaded move they've made this generation. Renewing BC would spark enthusiasm for the console.
They took it out because the consumers say they didn't use it much, but wanted the ps3 to be cheaper. You the consumer shot your own self in the foot.
EmileeElectro: Oh, fuck off Sony. I'm not paying however much for a smaller version of a console I already have. I don't see why they couldn't have done this at the start.
They aren't selling it now for consumers to go an buy another one. They are going to sell it simply because they can make it smaller, now.
Step 1: Make console smaller Step 2: ??? Step 3: Profit! I've never understood why Sony has thought that making a console smaller will make profits? I can't imagine someone looking at a current PS2 or 3 and thinking "You know, I would buy that, but it's just a little too big". Unless it comes with a price reduction, which I can't imagine it will since it will probably costs more to produce to reduce the size of the existing hardware and still maintain performance, then I can't imagine it will push too many people over the fence. Admittedly I've never played a PS3, but I enjoy my PS and PS2, so I don't have a vendetta against Sony, it just seems like they screwed themselves over multiple times with the PS3, and I doubt a smaller version will turn that around.
Keane Ng: Ugh, I don't know. Suddenly I get the feeling I was quick to jump to conclusions about this being a bootleg, and that this is really real. I hope it is, but I hope it's not as ugly as that.
Are we all so quick to forget Game Fork? This is the internet and games journalism - we have no standards board, so people can pose as sources, or even make up their sources, or use a sock puppet. Just because somone saysy an unnamed third party told them it was true, doesn't make it so.
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
No and no, I expect. The problem with backwards compatibility in particular is that emulation of the PS2's quasi-multicore processor is difficult, and they can't fit the PS2 chipset into a slimmer PS3 (and they removed it from all but the NTSC 60GB model).
Then fail.
When they release a cheaper PS3 and full proper fucntioning Backwards Compatibility, I might buy one...
You're gonna buy one when Trico comes out.
It isn't that game that's going to convince me to buy it. I'm not buying one until Gran Turismo 5 comes out, and it may well be the only game I buy for the console.
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
It better. Sony shot themselves in the foot by taking BC out of the new models. Easily the most boneheaded move they've made this generation. Renewing BC would spark enthusiasm for the console.
Funk, I now worship you. WORSHIP THE MIGHTY FUNK!
This very reason is why I refuse to buy a PS3. I really want some of the games on the damn thing... but no BC? No dice Sony, no dice. At least the 360 has the [u]capability[u] of being backwards compatabile, even if support for it is basically nonexistant these days... Same goes for the Wii, though I have to say that if I can't find a Wavebird controller or two there's no chance of me getting a Wii either.
Edit: I put Keane as Funk... This is due to it being 8 AM where I live, and not having gotten much sleep. Whoopsie! My zealotry is now pointed in the right direction.
Any bets the new design will come with a price drop? I think Sony has done that in the past, and it'd allow a drop in price as less parts being made (i'm guessing).
oliveira8: The question is...Is it going to be cheaper and have proper backward compatibility?
It better. Sony shot themselves in the foot by taking BC out of the new models. Easily the most boneheaded move they've made this generation. Renewing BC would spark enthusiasm for the console.
Keane, I now worship you. WORSHIP THE MIGHTY KEANE!
This very reason is why I refuse to buy a PS3. I really want some of the games on the damn thing... but no BC? No dice Sony, no dice. At least the 360 has the [u]capability[u] of being backwards compatabile, even if support for it is basically nonexistant these days... Same goes for the Wii, though I have to say that if I can't find a Wavebird controller or two there's no chance of me getting a Wii either.
The old DS is going to be on sale till it disapeers from retail stands. Then you stuck with DSi.
Oh crap. Time to run to the store then. I'm NOT getting a DSi.
Nintendo, what did you do? You had a formula that worked perfectly, and realized that BC was a good thing... and then you strip it from your latest model? It doesn't make sense.
The old DS is going to be on sale till it disapeers from retail stands. Then you stuck with DSi.
Oh crap. Time to run to the store then. I'm NOT getting a DSi.
Nintendo, what did you do? You had a formula that worked perfectly, and realized that BC was a good thing... and then you strip it from your latest model? It doesn't make sense.
Well..you can still play the old games. You just have to fork out money to play them.
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Rumor: Slim PS3 is Real, Won't be at E3
Tech site Ars Technica claims that an inside source has confirmed that the leaked pictures of the "Slim PS3" are indeed real - but that the console won't be debuting at next week's E3.
Quick recap: Last week, supposedly leaked photos of what looked to be a smaller redesign of the Sony PS3 made waves around the game blogosphere, with game journalists and gamers alike speculating on what exactly the cease-and-desist orders from legal firms in Taiwan meant. Some interpreted it as Sony trying to quash the leak of a genuine product, while others assumed it was an effort by a bootlegging company to slip under Sony's radar.
However, tech blog Ars Technica says that a "trusty inside source" has confirmed the existence of said slim PS3 - it's no knockoff - and claims that the redesigned console will be hitting shelves in August or September ... but it won't be announced at E3.
Why? Because there are still regular PS3s sitting unsold on store shelves. Ars Technica's source says that the hardware giant is planning on letting existing stockpiles sell out first - and only then will Sony unveil and begin supplying retailers with the new model. It's an interesting business model if true, and I'm skeptical that Sony wouldn't be intending to announce such a big surprise at such a big press event.
Perhaps, though, they wouldn't want to take attention away from the upcoming PSP-Go!, which Ars Technica's mole claims will be making its debut next week. The PSP-Go! will trade the relatively unpopular UMD format for flash memory, and is reportedly smaller, lighter, and has a longer-lasting battery than its elder brother and predecessor.
As always, take these rumors with a grain of salt - we have no way of knowing for sure whether this is real or not. We'll find out for sure one way or another next week, though, as E3 returns to its former glory.
(Via Kotaku)
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