1. how could you charge your controllers if they removed all of the USB ports? something sounds wrong there.

also, isn't backwards compatibility done through firmware updates? i don't see how they'd totally remove it for one SKU when it's all software based now anyways.

also, being in the US, don't know much about Sky. i thought that they were just a satellite / broadcast provider. do they sell / have anything to do with game or gaming? it sounds like they're the equivalent to Comcast (here in the US) and therefor making predictions that are way off their base of knowledge.

i'm wondering if maybe they're going from 4 to 2 USB ports and BC is going to be JUST software.

Posted at 4:10PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Solace

2. the fcc website showed the new Sony SKU to have wireless, as per the label was WIFI b certified, so whatever model the FCC is testing did have wireless on it, more than likely they are going to sell these systems at a bigger loss to increase user base 6~ by end of the year.

Posted at 4:12PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Snpo

3. yah ps2 software emulation is done by the software correct :P so as long as its the same specs it should work just fine (if it takes the same firmware) also if anything i would think they would get rid of the card reader, and yes maybe only 2 usb ports instead of 4? cheaper bluetooth, etc.

Posted at 4:14PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Snpo

4. I don't see how removing the software emulation based backwards compatability would save them any money. You'd actually have to go into the firmware and OS code and gut the code from it. That process would actually cost developer man hours, so it just doesn't seem right.

However, at the same time, I wonder if that BC removal is something that means removing extra chips that aren't exactly part of the emotion engine (ps2 hardware), but still are required for BC?

In general, these news reports often get technical details wrong so we'll have to wait for an official announcement.

I'm betting on 40GB, no wifi, no PS2 emotion engine as the two most definite changes.

Posted at 4:30PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Vertrucio

5. i think they should figure out a way to take the blu-ray out of the ps3 and offer it as an add-on. and price it similarly to the wii. of course they would need 2 different versions of each game, but i bet it would sell alot more consoles. i know the ps3 is cheaper than a 360 when taking all the add-ons into account, but they are just that, add-ons and dont NEED to be purchased. if the price was even close to the wii, it would kill everyone else.

i'm by no means an expert on this stuff,i'm sure some of you have reasons why this absolutely wouldnt work but i'm sure there is someway they(sony) could figure it out. i think the price is the main reason it isnt selling as well. the game choices arent quite there yet but their coming.

Posted at 4:37PM on Sep 24th 2007 by wii last gen

6. So basically, the 40GB PS3 stripped down version in the UK will be the same price as the 60GB full version in the USA? Yeah, that's fair enough.

Posted at 4:45PM on Sep 24th 2007 by TheWakeUpCall

7. This is nonsense. If the USB ports are removed, how on earth do you charge the controllers, or pair with PSP?

The fact the USB details are obviously wrong, then it puts the rest of the detils under a shadow of a doubt.

Posted at 4:46PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Mak

8. what 'games' require USB?

Posted at 4:47PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Justin

9. To bad you still don't have any good games to play on the PS3... Better luck next year! Halo will continue to dominate anything Sony brings out.

With your "free" online service you get what you pay for, no unified friends list, no game invites, or anyone that has a mic ever. The PS3 is more like a PS2 with HD graphics.

Also, my iPhone browses the internet better that the PS3.

You do finally get a "last gen" feature back though, rumble...

Maybe Sony should send out more "instructions" on how to play their crappy games (like Lair) to get their reviews up.

Here's to wishing you would have saved money and bought a good next gen system.

Posted at 4:47PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Xbox360FB

10. No USB ports? Surely a joke.

It will definitely feature USB ports. How else would you charge your controller? I'm guessing the media card slots may not be there.

Posted at 4:47PM on Sep 24th 2007 by -viper-

11. Xbox360FB, stop trolling you daft cunt. Please get the fuck out of here.

There are plenty of PS3 games out. Just because one isn't called Halo doesn't mean there aren't any good ones on the system. Daft twonk.

Heanvenly Sword, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Motorstorm, Resistance, F1, and many more games including all of the multiplatform games released on the 360 are on the PS3.

Posted at 4:49PM on Sep 24th 2007 by -viper-

12. -viper-, no need to get angry at Xbox360FB. I mean, how else is he supposed to pass the time until his 360 comes back from being repaired for the 99th time?

Posted at 4:56PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Jnas

13. A little dubious about this, I mean, does it really cost anything to support backwards compatibility through software? I can see a cost savings because of removing the Emotion Chip for PS2 hardware compatibility (like on the new 80gb version), but if they are going to emulate PS2 through software anyways it doesn't save a dime to exclude it. Also no USB? USB costs literally pennies to implement so that doesn't save any money and will prevent Sony from making money back from the EyeToy and other accessories.
Lastly I don't understand why Sony feels the need to offer different sizes of hard drives either. Just offer one without a hard drive (which should save around $50) and let people decide if they want to add a hard drive. Heck, if Sony was smart they would even sell a separate PS3 branded hard drive accessory and charge twice as much as what an OEM drive would cost and recoup some money. Why buy even a cheaper 40gb version only to strip it out and put in a 160gb hard drive?

Posted at 4:56PM on Sep 24th 2007 by chris.westermann

14. @9

LOL

And the Xbox 360 isnt an Xbox 1.5 with cheap parts. I love sarcasm too.

Anyway there's not a chance of removing the USB ports(well maybe 1 or 2),but this is great news to say the least.

Posted at 5:02PM on Sep 24th 2007 by heh

15. I hope news of a cheap SKU is true and that its unveiled this week. Anything at all to piss on Microsoft's parade is welcome.

PlayStation is a favorite of mine with Nintendo coming in a very close second.

But the Xbox family of consoles? It's the Fox Broadcasting of gaming. This generation is a two front war for Microsoft and I hope they lose - badly.

Pray for gaming if Microsoft takes over - unless you welcome their "by fanboys for fanboys" approach as well as the gradual PC-ification of the console market.

Posted at 5:10PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Pajama Party!

16. BTW...Sky didn't 'report' it...they took the news off a newswire service and are just poorly repeating old news.

http://cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_20723.html

Posted at 5:20PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Kspraydad

17. @ Pajama party
R U my clone?

Posted at 5:35PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Ruben

18. One way Sony can save money on consoles is to get rid of the nifty PS logo the rotates. I bet that thing costs about 1 cent to make. That would be 5 million dollars saved right there.

Anyone else think Sony is making a profit on PS3's now?

Posted at 6:08PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Andy

19. @Ruben. I'm sure their are plenty of people who feel the way I (we) do.

I'm sorry but the Xbox bought its way into the party. It was an unwelcome scab that screamed "Me too!" and served little purpose but to divert development resources and exclusives away from the PlayStation 2 and Gamecube where they belonged.

The 360 follows suit. Poorly made trash that seems to serve no other purpose than to unify console gaming with the dead-alive PC market. No doubt an attempt by Microsoft to cock-block Apple, who I'm sure they're scared shitless of at the moment.

Is it any surprise that the three heaviest hitters on the 360 are also appearing on the PC? And that all three are what would traditionally be PC fare?
Microsoft is terrified that as Apple builds more momentum through the success of its "i" line of products that its only a matter of time before serious gaming development starts happening on the platform. And as we all know - games are what bring in the big bucks in consumer electronics these days.

Apple is the only other developer of a widely used (by consumers) operating system in the world - and what happens when Windows (which is about as reliable as a 360) suddenly loses its monopoly over PC gaming?

And don't forget the rumors of a possible partnership between Apple and Nintendo.

The long and short of it is that Microsoft needs to be run out of the home console industry. Their influence brings nothing welcome or necessary to the table.

Posted at 6:08PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Pajama Party!

20. LMAO!!! at xbots!!
no need to scare just yet!
:) this is very interesting.

Posted at 6:08PM on Sep 24th 2007 by Me