Over the past five to six months, gamers looking to buy a PS3 haven’t had a choice of which SKU to pick up, as the 80GB MotorStorm bundle has been out of stock at almost every retailer here in the US. Sony has only now officially discontinued that bundle. In the meantime, new PS3 gamers have been forced to buy the 40GB SKU or wait patiently until early June for the release of the Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle.
I know quite a few people who have been waiting since early February to buy a PS3, simply because they care about backwards compatibility with PS2 titles. Gamers with large PS2 games libraries they still play aren’t too keen to having multiple consoles hooked up when one could do the job. With the 40GB console lacking any type of PS2 capabilities, these potential customers have had two choices: leave the PS2 hooked up or wait a few months. Most that I know have been waiting.
Did Sony make a mistake by not stocking store shelves with 80GB consoles during this crucial period in the console life cycle? They’re on the upswing after a poor launch, but could they have garnered even more sales during the first half of 2008? With the enormous launch of Grand Theft Auto IV in April, how many gamers chose the Xbox 360 version of the game because they couldn’t get backwards compatibility in a PS3 and didn’t want to wait? How many of those customers bought an Xbox 360 instead of waiting until mid-June?
No one knows for sure how many sales Sony may have lost while only carrying the 40GB console in the US for the first half of 2008, but I think it’s a significant number. Will those who have been waiting patiently jump on board June 12th when the new 80GB bundles are released? We’ll find out over the next couple weeks.
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Write a Comment»I think its been a mistake ,for Sony I still play PS2 games in fact I bought a game for the PS2 yesterday at Gamestop’s Game Day sale. I’d like to be able to play PS2 on one with system on the PS3 if I had it instead of having to switch over to each systems.
I heard that the reason the PS3 didn’t have backwards compatibility because Sony had to cut down on the profit per PS3 and they used a different chip that wouldn’t support backwards compatibility or something. That is why Sony still lost millions or even billions of dollars for every PS3 sold in the beginning.
It was probably a purely business decision for profit margin, with that I agree. However from a consumer standpoint, it probably was a bad decision. People don’t want to have an extra console connected if they don’t have to. I know I still play some old PS2 titles all the time and I use my 60GB PS3 exclusively for that. I don’t even own a PS2 anymore
Oh boy, here we go again. Sony is starting to pick up steam and the media keeps throwing down these nitpicking ‘road blocks’. First it was the shreaking whinning about MGS4 cut-scene length, then it was an article about EGM (obvious pro-Microsoft mag) that bitched about restrictions on an early review, and now its this. These ‘journalists’ are throwing everything (including the kitchen sink) at Sony to try and stop its momentum. These guys can bring up these insignificant ‘issues’ that attempt to sway people away from the PS3, but its not going to happen. Come June 12 I am buying my PS3 and MGS4; there is no amount of bias-press that is going to deter my desision. I wish these 360 media whores would have use the same microscope to find their professionalism and get their head out of their asses to see the colossal mound of BS and lies Microsoft has given its consumers.
For using the handle “The Anti-Fanboy”, you seem to be pretty far away from that moniker. I’d love to know how this article is throwing down a “road block” for Sony? If you read up around here, you’d know I’m a huge fan of the PS3. It probably gets more time than my 360 and definitely more than my Wii.
We don’t take sides here at Loot Ninja. We’re not fanboys of any system (we also don’t understand how sensationalist fanboys can get and why they get that way, but that’s another story). We stay fair in our reporting and call out and praise whomever when needed.
This article in no way was meant to demean the PS3. It was a discussion of Sony’s business decision to not stock the 80GB SKU of the console. You’re ending statements, to me, prove my article is valid, as you are waiting until June 12th to buy a PS3. You want the 80GB console, or you would have bought one already.
Have fun calling out others for being fanboys when you, yourself, are guilty as charged.
I won’t go so far as the anti-fanboy, but the fact that these types of articles are few and far between on a very vocal internet blog community tells me that backward compatibility isn’t an issue. Sure articles like this come out and 50 people comment about how not having backward compatibility sucks but if it was an issue, there would be articles like this every day and thousands complaining to Sony. I own about 20 PS2 games, have a 60GB PS3, and have spent about 10 hours total playing PS2. Its mostly for nostalgia, and I think that the majority of people agree.
Matt Banks, you are what I am against. Why is this articles subject and issue? is there any research to prompt this disscussion? Is there a long list of people who have formed a petition to get the 80gb PS3 back? No, no, no; there is no professional reason to bring up this issue. Sony is replacing the 80gb model with a new SKU with the Dual Shock 3. It’s obvious to anyone who isn’t a fanboy such as yourself. I don’t hate the 360. Its a great platform that pleases its fanbase very well and I think Sony should have strong competition. Yet everytime some insiginificant purley specutlative issue surfaces, every one shines and giant spotlight on it. There still isn’t much attention paid to Microsoft’s continued technical issues (even aside from RROD) and a library of largely cookie cutter FPS shooters that only satisfy hardcore gamers who play online.
I don’t think a spotlight is shined upon Sony when the topic comes up about the discontinued 80GB PS3, its more of a “small circle” discussion.
Anyway I have my opinion, if you don’t like it just keep crying. I know maybe the next article might have the title “Is the PS3 losing Sales for Only having Black PS3 SKUs?!?”. What I am saying (cause I know I’ve got to spell it out for you), is that anyone can just pick up a random subject and spin it to be negative. I understand if there is some new market research or article bring up the issue of the lack of 80gb SKUs, but there isn’t. This is just out of the blue speculation, that has not merit or substance that only serves to bring up doubt. It’s been months since Sony stopped producing 80 gb SKUs with the sixaxis, so why NOW is this an issue…. WHEN A NEW 80GB is around the BEND with the DS3 controller? It’s a smearing article that suggests that just because people don’t want to press “video 2″ to play their PS2 they will switch to 360??? That is just dumb.
MY GOD, what if people want to play their PS3 and 360!?!?!?! OH NO, Sony is going to lose sales for not having a PS3 that plays 360 games!!!!!!
@The Anti-Fanboy - Haha you may as well just change your handle, because you’re making a complete ass of yourself.
First of all, I think the PS3 is a great system, it just needs all of the things that Sony promised which have been very delayed. Also, now that I look deeper into your posts, you look like even more of an ass hat. You said “there is no professional reason to bring up this issue”. Yes, we all know there is no professional reason, which is why this a gaming blog (I don’t think because Matt put it on here it is automatically a professional reason).
And yes, you are a huge fanboy. By the way, this article makes sense because of what YOU said. You said that you won’t be buying a PS3 until June 12th, maybe because none are in stock? Just imagine all the other “non-fanboys” like you waiting to buy the 80GB since they can’t find any. Personally, I love my media so I would have to opt for the 80GB PS3 over the 40GB.
There was no hint of fanboyism by Matt. You just have to pull your head out of Sony’s ass for a second and actually read the article. All he is saying is that some people COULD be buying the 360 over the PS3 because of backwards compatibility with GTA, and that there are no 80GB PS3’s in stock right now so some may just opt for the 20GB 360 for GTA instead.
Haha, you are idiot. For one thing I bought a 360 last year w/ Gears of War and now a PS3 this year. I am only getting the new SKU because its is bundled with the Dualshock 3 and MSG4, so screw the HDD space because I have a 120 GB harddrive I can use from a PC that is no longer working.
HDD space had never been an issue, its only an issue with the 360 because of the high price to replace the existing HDD. I bought NG2 on Amazon.com, I guess that makes me a fanboy. I buy a 360 a year ago, (especially for it’s superiour XBL service) just so I can stick it to Sony! Pfffttt…. I stand by the ‘handle’. Just because I don’t shower the 360 with praise and loath the PS3 you guys will never agree and that’s is ok with me.
Here’s my final statement on this topic with you…
The fact that you get your panties so in a bunch over something that you take to be negative towards the PS3 (even though it’s not) and that you assume everyone is an Xbox 360 fanboy because of this (even though we/they aren’t), makes you a fanboy. No question about it.
I’ll go back to enjoying all my systems while you try to come up with more reason’s that I hate the PS3.
I like the fact how he avoids how Matt & Frag called him a total fanboy and doesn’t respond to it. Yes I’m bashing you because I tried to be as modest as I could in my first comment until you excessively pms’d over a blog.
It seems like the Anti-Fanboy needs to grow up to be Anti-Fanman. Maybe you can find an Anti-Bridge and jump off.
lol 360 FTW lol
Really I don’t see the 360 having this problem.
mister needles is the definition of a 360 fanboy anyway
Let’s not get into problems that the 360 has here (because it’s not immune to issues either). Don’t want this turning into a fanboy flame fest
Back to the topic at hand my instant response is yes, I have deferred purchasing a PS3 partially because of the the disc size available and purchased an Xbox360 instead. I am now revisiting the the benefits of buying a PS3 (mainly for MGS4), but one of the things slowing me is if it will be worth it when I have plenty of money invested in network drives and space on my 360 for my media. Will the PS3 library be worth it? And will I be able to play my region 1 PS2 games on a region 2 PS3? (don’t recall if PS3 is region free). So is it worth it?
oh come on, system errors have nothing to do with sales… ROFL
Well, my cousin’s PS3 has just broken down a few weeks ago, and he didn’t want to pay to get it fixed.
He was out to buy an 80GB PS3, but all stores were sold out. He didn’t want to settle for a 40GB non backwards compatible PS3. So he has decided to wait till June 12th to get the 80GB MGS4 PS3 bundle.
There will probably be TONS of people picking up that bundle.
Anyways, there has been announcements that Sony will release a new firmware update that allows full emulation of PS2 games for 40GB PS3’s. One main factor may be because Sony will offer PS2 games on the PS STore soon.
Once the update comes, I’m sure many people will be willing to pick up 40GB PS3’s with no hesitation.
Who cares?
Everyone owns atleast 2 PS2s by now.
Did I just read that right or does anti-fanboy already have a PS3 and he said he’s just buying the new SKU for MGS4 and Dualshock?
Yea man, you just dug yourself deep into a hole. So now instead of just a fanboy, we have an idiot who buys a system for a controller and a game both which can be purchased separately. Oh man…
I agree that it was a business decision. My guess is that there was a pile of 40GB units with a pile of Sixaxis controllers that were manufactured and needed to move out of the system. I have been waiting since April (GT5P and GTAIV) going out of my mind because I don’t want the small HDD and non-shock controller. Yes I can swap the drive and buy another controller, but back-compatibility is also a factor. I am shocked and surprised that there was no GTAIV bundle - although GTAIV is more of a mainstream game therefore they are likely to more easily move that (speculative on my part) pile of 40GB hardware - only people like us in the know probably care… Honestly I was counting on the 120GB/160GB version that was rumored in January!
fragloser commet= win