Hitting Europe, Australia, the Middle East and Africa next week, a new 40GB PlayStation three looks to have a more palatable price point. But there is one major drawback of the new model.
The new 40GB HDD capacity PS3 goes on sale in PAL regions on October 10 (October 11 in Australia) and packs most of what we already know is housed in the entertainment box.
Wi-FI enabled, High Definition Blu-Ray Disc drive, SIXAXIS wireless controller, HDMI connectivity and the ability to upscale DVD’s to full 1080P High Definition allows the PS3 to be used not only as a games console, but as an entertainment hub for the family home.
But there are some distinct changes other than the HDD with this model.
Sony have based this new PS3.5 on feedback from thousands of existing PS3 owners. As such, they have dropped the number of USB 2.0 ports back from four to two and no longer include the multi memory card port.
“The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners,” said Michael Ephraim, Managing Director SCE Aust. and New Zealand. “It has allowed us to deliver an extremely advanced, yet incredibly affordable High Definition gaming and entertainment system, configured to the needs of the next generation of PS3 owners. PS3 has always been the device of choice for the discerning gamer and entertainment seeker, the new PS3 along with our extensive list of new and exclusive game franchises makes it, more than ever, the perfect High Definition entertainment system.”
PR words aside, the new 40GB PS3 hits retail stores at a much less heart attack inducing AU$699.95 (399 euros).
The big catch now however, is this PS3 model is no longer backwards compatible with PS2 titles, no even at a software level. This means that gamers purchasing a 40GB PS3 will be reduced to a choice of (currently) 65 PS3 games.
According to the Sony feedback, this is not an issue for potential PS3 owners, who are future looking individuals.
So will it sell? There will be those that wander into an electronics retailer and see the PS3 for what it is and lay down the cash.
There will also still be a legion of PlayStation fans who have been waiting for this announcement. They have been looking at the Xbox 360 and the now extensive line-up of features, and more importantly the gaming title, especially those available cross platforms. So far they have resisted, or have gone ahead and bought an Xbox 360, but still plan to purchase a PS3 when the price is right.
They know that for a reduction (in Australia at least) of 30 percent in price they will get 20GB less HDD, 50 percent less USB connectivity, now no convenient way to dump digital photos from a camera onto the multimedia hub and no chance to fire up the PS2 library of games they love. But they still get a Blu-Ray player.
It is still a tough decision, I am a fan of the multi-console approach, each manufacture offers a different experience, if you feel the green tide of envy for each feature a Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 or Sony PS3 offers then it is time to get a third job, forego one meal a day and walk the 15 kilometres to work or school so that you can save the money to get the full electronic entertainment experience at hand today.
This is a major step for Sony, next week we will get a hint of its pay off.
Via iTWire