[quote name='KwanzaaTimmy']Reading up on this on GAF, a lot of people are convinced that BC will NOT be included in the 400 dollar version. Its just speculation at this point for sure (as is the entire idea).
However, at present the "software" emulation isn't even entirely software at this point. While software covers the Emotion Engine part of the ps2, there is still the graphics synthesizer in even the "downgraded" ps3s. The reason that software isn't total at least from what some people are saying has to do with the difference in the Ram timings as well as hard-coded instructions on the chip itself.
Smartly, many believe that they dropped the GS as well-- and if thats the case then the BC as it stands now will not work at all.
Now, if this is all true (which as far as the internets go, I can't tell), I'd be another to step right beside Myke. Backwards compatibility is EXTREMELY important to the Playstation brand, and was one of the few things (even with the hybrid BC of newer models) that Sony has not messed up in the least.
It sets a dangerous precedent, I fully expect to play my ps3 games on my ps5, should the brand live that long--- removing it now removes one of the greatest strengths of the ps3 (a good cheap library of wonderful titles-- even if they are from last gen).
..or...
This will wind up being hogwash and BC is retained, or that the 400 dollar SKU winds up being something different all together.[/QUOTE]The difference is, Kutaragi is the one who pioneered BC in PlayStation platforms, and he is no longer with them.
The situation is, people want a cheaper PS3 and Sony has to make cuts somewhere. Blu-ray disc diodes have become much cheaper (they are like $5-$8 now). Some problems are:
-Cell and RSX are quite expensive to manufacturer (it was being said the RSX alone costs over $100).
-HDD prices tend to have a high initial price, but don't increase much when increasing the size).
-HDMI for DVD upscaling (due to the HDCP standards), so they can't exactly remove it (because you can add HDMI so easily). Not sure how much an HDMI port costs, but I'm guessing at least $10.
-The EE and GS cost around $50 together. With the PS2, Sony was able to completely software emulate the PS1 games after a while, so no PS1 chip was needed for BC (I could be wrong though). Cost of the EE/GS isn't going down much anymore, so if Sony were to continue having BC, it would add $25-$50 to every console in the future, keeping it that much more expensive always.
-WiFi costs around $25-$30.
Sony can easily remove card readers (saves around $10-$15). They can remove a few USB ports. But from there, what else can they remove to keep costs down. All the things I mentioned alone are going to cost at least $500 to produce and will probably never get cheaper than $300. Sony has to get to mass market price one day, so what can they do?
-There's nothing they can do about blu-ray, Cell/RSX, and other than continuing to shrink its size reducing cost. But they will never get insanely cheap (blu-ray will eventually cost almost the same as DVD though).
-Sony removing the HDD standard would instantly stop developers from utilizing the HDD. MS has already run into trouble with the Core 360.
-Removing HDMI would be bad because you can't upgrade to it and it's needed for DVD upscaling and FULL HD (according to NBA 08).
So it basically comes down to WiFi and GS/EE chips.
There are some who say, why would I buy a PS3 when I already have a PS2 to play PS2 games? Many people in America prefer to have specilized devices for certain things (people rather buy a blu-ray player to watch movies. Stereo system to listen to music, etc.). I'm not saying everyone is like this, but I've come across many in forums and reality who say this. With a PS3 console only able to play PS3 games, those who already own a PS2 (who only want a PS3 for PS3 games) have the option and can save $100. Those who want BC can pay the extra $100 for the console with BC, if it's really important to them (I'm expecting another $100 price drop next year). There are many casuals who just want to play Madden, NBA Live, or some sports game each year, and doesn't care to go back to their previous console. I also remember many people stating, they paid $500-$600 for their PS3, and don't want to play PS1/PS2 games on it, they want to play actual PS3 games to get their moneys worth. Okay, so Sony might release a console with no BC, and people are complaining. Would people rather see a $399 console or a $439 console?? Many just don't want to see a price over $400. The Wii may be severely underpowered, but people see the cheaper price, which makes them want it. There are those who want PS3 for blu-ray mostly, so lacking the BC isn't a bad thing. Well, the new PS3 would play PS1 games though (PS2 games need the GS. PS1 games don't need any of that).
As for me, BC is important, which is why I own a 20GB PS3. I may buy an 80GB PS3, but it would be used for PS3 games only (while my 20GB would be used for PS1/PS2 games). I am not for taking away PS2 games being played on PS3, but at the same time, I want Sony to do whatever it takes to bring a cheaper PS3 to the market, even if they have to gimp the console a bit.
Sony could remove WiFi, but the problem is upgrading a console without WiFi (some may have better luck than me, but I can't find a wireless bridge/gaming adapter for cheap. They seem to be $50-$100). One reason I'm regretting my 20GB PS3 is because of that.
[quote name='Thomas96']BC is one of the main allures in the system, plus they've spent time and money trying to develop an emulation system... which they did, and now in a new system they take it out. If they did take out the emulation software, maybe they'll make it where you can download it from PSN as an update to that particular model.... kinda how they added support for the ps2 harddrive.[/QUOTE]
They might.
One big advantage MS has is they run their BC games off of a driver or something. It sucks because they have to emulate every game on its own (and it can take time), but it's nice because MS doesn't have to pay for a graphics/CPU of the original Xbox inside the console (which would make the 360 console itself costs more to make, and more difficult to bring the cost down). Sony might release some BC games the same way, but due to the massive catalog of PS2 games, I'd expect it to be 10-20% BC. If Sony were to release a console without the GS/EE, I'd emulate each game, but I'd only do the Greatest Hits or games that sold really well.
), but later is better than never.
ing stick with it, none of this limited time bullshit, no 43gb system in January '08, no nothing, just a SKU that lasts until the end of this gen. 
