The forgotten, beloved 60GB PS3: why it's still so popular

[Daniel ~]

Written by Daniel
Tuesday, 08 September 2009

What has backwards compatibility, a logo ripped off of a superhero movie, and a really high launch cost? If you said the 60GB PS3, give yourself a cookie. Why the model with the rockiest launch has a dedicated following who wouldn't have it any other way.

[Front page...]

[raphael2040]

I do miss the backwards compatibility. I have the 60GB at home, but the 40GB white one at my apartment. When I'm bored, I'm often tempted to just load up games like Shadow Of The Colossus (which I still need to complete), but remember that I can't due to the lack of compatibility.

They say not many people even care for the backwards compatibility, but it is a very useful feature.

Is there any hardware/cost-related purpose as to why they got rid of it?

[dsio]

Mine's a midnight launch first in line 60gb.

There's wank factor.

[Gizmo]

It's mostly a cost/complexity thing. I gather that adding full PS2 compatibility costs around $75/unit. Even the partial compatibility of the second-gen units was still fairly expensive.

Apparently, the majority of PS3 buyers were upgrading from PS2s anyway. Quite rightly, people were suffering from sticker shock, and one of the quickest ways to get the cost of the PS3 down was to drop the PS2 compatibility. Since anyone upgrading from a PS2 to a PS3 arguably wouldn't NEED the PS2 compatiblity, and anyone buying a brand-new PS3 probably wouldn't CARE about compatibility, it became a costly feature that didn't really gain them any market-share, but raised the cost of the unit enough to price them out of the market.

[Daniel ~]

Still no excuse for REPLACING the "old" 60 gig under warrenty with the new Reduced, in oh so many ways "New" ones...imho.

[Gizmo]

You'll get no arguments from me there.....

[danrok]

They dropped backwards compatibility to cut costs, no other reason.

I never had a PS2, so it's true that I don't need it. But, I'd imagine just about everyone who has/had a PS2 would want it, and that's a lot of people.

[raphael2040]

Originally Posted by danrok

They dropped backwards compatibility to cut costs, no other reason.

I never had a PS2, so it's true that I don't need it. But, I'd imagine just about everyone who has/had a PS2 would want it, and that's a lot of people.

There's a fair few games that are on the PS2 that are still up there with the big dogs. See Final Fantasy, Shadow Of The Colossus, Kingdom Hearts, to name a few.

I mean, if Sony were to get these games on the Playstation Store, and use the same method of FREE downloads as they are with the PSP Go (that is, if you already own the game, you can download it for free), then I don't think anyone would care much for the backwards compatibility issue. I don't think hosting and servers would be much of an issue with Sony, so that would be an ideal solution.

[Daniel ~]

From your mouth to Sony's ears Dude!

[raphael2040]

Originally Posted by Daniel ~

From your mouth to Sony's ears Dude!

If only...

[Daniel ~]

Originally Posted by danrok

They dropped backwards compatibility to cut costs, no other reason.

I never had a PS2, so it's true that I don't need it. But, I'd imagine just about everyone who has/had a PS2 would want it, and that's a lot of people.

Here's something that may have influence their decision!

"Ironically, Sony's PlayStation 2 continues to sell well. According to NPD, Sony sold 105,900 PS2 units--not bad for a product that isn't even considered "current gen."
[Front page]

[dsio]

Very interesting point you raise there.

[danrok]

Originally Posted by Daniel ~

Here's something that may have influence their decision!

"Ironically, Sony's PlayStation 2 continues to sell well. According to NPD, Sony sold 105,900 PS2 units--not bad for a product that isn't even considered "current gen."
[Front page]

I can't find any info, but I suspect that the PS2 is doing well in developing countries.

There are no new PS2 systems for sale on Amazon UK, used only.

[Daniel ~]

Yours seems like the explanation that makes the most sense...still rather strange though.

[Gizmo]

The system will be going offline in 15 minutes

[Daniel ~]

But whose counting! ":O}

[Gizmo]

Woops! Posted in the wrong place....now how did that happen? Hmm.........doesn't bode well for the maintenance plan......

[Gizmo]

I was right, it didn't bode well, but it turned out ok in the end.

[Daniel ~]

The end is where we hope to successfully complete...where done! ":O}