“My point is about why Sony have literally shot themselves in the foot this generation time around; what with the console first of all being delayed in Europe, (still) costing a fortune and p*ssing off loyal fans (such as myself) by not providing proper hardware backwards compatibility, so I can continue to enjoy my PS1/PS2 games.”

The delay in Europe, albeit somewhat annoying at the time, has long since been forgotten by all who are finding the PS3 console and the titles available now a worthwhile experience. The fact that the Japanese & US markets had the chance to own the console from early to mid-November 2006, but Europe was denied this “right”, if you will, until March 2007, does not bother me at all two years later. The other territories got move screen-time with “Resistance: Fall of Man”, “Motorstorm”, and “Ridge Racer 7”, but I soon caught up. In fact it made it more fun having the challenge I wouldn’t have had if everybody was at the same level from the same date.

Microsoft managed to release the Xbox 360 console simultaneously across the globe (in November 2005), but I wouldn’t buy one just because of this, nor would I be less tempted if Europe was last on the list of availability.

In terms of initial financial outlay, yes, the PS3 is the most expensive of the current (seventh) generation of home video consoles.

Over time, however, if not already, the hardware provided as standard will prove to be a worthwhile investment for those consumers who wish to retain a product that will last at least 10 years.

As for backward compatibility, yes, I agree that full support of the PS2 title catalogue is an issue for some people. I have a European Release Date 60Gb Console so I am luckier than others who may have purchased a PS3 when the 40Gb, or 80Gb, or even the 160Gb model was available.

However, the PS2 console can now be purchased for less than half the Recommended Retail Price at some retailers, but even at full cost, it is still a good console & has a wide range of titles still being developed for it. I am again lucky here as I have access to more than just one PS2 console if I wish, but since owning a PS3 I have found that my desire to play games on this platform has lessened to the extent that I cannot recall the last time I played a game on this format.

If you wish to play PS2 titles, and do not own a PS2 console, then just go & buy one. It is the cost of two, or three, PS3 games. You could save for this over a few months by playing the PS3 titles you already have & not buying any more for the time being. I suspect that you may have plenty of PS3 titles stock-piled still unplayed from the last few months anyway. I know I have.

Granted, the Xbox 360 supports (in majority) original Xbox titles, and the Wii (or “Revolution”, if *you* prefer) supports Nintendo GameCube releases, but the fact that the PS3 models now available do not (currently) support PS2 titles is only an issue, I would have thought, if you have existing games for this format you wish to continue playing & your existing PS2 console is no longer available to you (for whatever reason). I would very much doubt that you have just purchased PS2 titles with the intention of playing them on a PS3 (as the User Manual supplied with the PS3 console does inform you of what is, and what is not, supported).

Original PlayStation titles from any given region are supported by all PS3 consoles in that region. You can play a UK/PAL PlayStation CD disc on any UK/PAL PS3 Console, for example, so just insert any of those you currently have into your PS3 & continue enjoying them.

As for the PSP, releasing revised versions of the original PSP-1000 (“Phat & Heavy”) series console is prolonging the desirable nature of the handheld device until the next full revision (“PSP2” as it has been called in the press) is available. For me, the most useful feature of the PSP console is as a “Remote Play” device for my PS3, so the recent PSP-2000 (“Slim & Lite”) series & PSP-3000 (“Slim & Brite”) series updates have been lost on me. I have used the TV-out feature on a “Slim & Lite” model once, and I have noticed the speed improvement due to the on-board memory cache when playing “God of War: Chains of Olympus”, but other than that, I am still very happy with my original Japanese Metallic Blue PSP-1000 console. “Skype” support does not interest me at all. But the fact it is there doesn’t bother me either. I just ignore it.

It is, however, not an indication of failure to want to improve on existing hardware. It is human nature to want to better yourself, including design decisions taken, and the application of technology available at a given point in time.

If Nintendo had, for example, ceased their new Corporate direction once the “Game & Watch” handhelds had been developed, then the handheld console industry would not be as diverse and rich as it is today.

I am glad there is more than one manufacturer of static &/or portable home video gaming & entertainment devices. It results in a wider selection for the consumer, as not everybody is looking for the same hardware features or software variety.

Diversity moves the industry forward. Creation of the “ultimate” machine today would mean we would have nothing to look forward to tomorrow.

Tomorrow is just another day, but without hope of something bigger, better, or just different, then there is very little point in moaning about what you have already.

If the current PS3 is such a problem for you, why did you buy one at all?

BFN,

fp.

Now I ask, does the PSP need more colours or more games?!

Well, first of all, consoles and handhelds are two completely separate markets.

Microsoft wanted to compete with Sony and thought that if they could beat them at releasing a nexgen console first and build on their on-line success, then they might just ‘lead’ the market. Overall, it looks as if that strategy has worked so far. As for longevity, well, I don’t know..we’ll have to wait and see.

However, my point does not concern what MS do - I quite frankly don’t care.

My point is about why Sony have literally shot themselves in the foot this generation time around; what with the console first of all being delayed in Europe, (still) costing a fortune and p*ssing off loyal fans (such as myself) by not providing proper hardware backwards compatibility, so I can continue to enjoy my PS1/PS2 games.

As for the PSP, it’s simple, it can be a huge success - although some are already speculating that releasing PSP2 would definitely mean that Sony are admitting defeat - if it just had some MORE GAMES released for it. Simple as that.

I have to disagree with you on the Nintendo Revolution (sorry, but I just cannot bring myself to call it by its commercial name). If there were no games developed for it that were not released on the other two consoles (X360 and PS3), then I’d agree with you, in that Nintendo are doing their own thing completely separately from MS and Sony.

But because some games do cross over (despite these being very few and far inbetween), I’d have to say that all three are in competition and in the same market (despite what MS and Sony might tell you in their marketing lies) and sadly Nintendo is in the lead at the moment.

I’m not a fan of either Nintendo or MS, but at the moment, Sony have done themselves no favours with a loyal fan as myself, both on the PSP and PS3 strategy.

Suppose same argument could have been said of the original Xbox - why on earth would microsoft go for the 360 when the original performed so miserably?

Now they are leading the field ( i dont consider the Wii to be competing as it onforms to a completely different market ).

Saying that though Sony do NOT have the same financial clut as MS so I can agree with your comment on why its a bad idea to be going PSP2 at this time.

IGN do praise the graphics but as a PSP owner, I’m wondering how practical is that perspective to play the game properly?

Also, the PSP is sooo starved of such, potentially AAA titles, Sony really need to be churning out at least one such game a month, in order for the PSP to recover.

Sadly, at the moment, that’s not happening and it’s a real shame, because the handheld market is truly strangled by and limited by the capabilities of the Nintendo DS, whereas the PSP gives so much more, yet Sony seems quite happy to allow it to falter and disappear into oblivion.

How on earth can they even consider releasing a revamped successor when the current one is doing so badly?!

Good to see the PSP being pushed. Just in time for the PSP2 to be released

Where is this demo…and who can i snag it off?