PS3 Price Cut - Buying Guide Prelude

A year after release, will the PS3's price finally be right?

November 2, Sony slashed the PS3 80GB model's price from $600 to $500. In addition, they released a toned-down 40GB version of the system.

To date, there have been four models of the PS3, including the two mentioned above. The remaining two, a 20GB and 60GB model have been discontinued.

So, let's evaluate. The mighty morphin' PS3 will have two versions to choose from (although you could probably purchase the discontinued 20GB and 60GB online)

What do the 40GB and 80GB have in common? Sony says:

Both the 80GB and 40GB PS3 models come standard with Cell Broadband Engine™ (Cell/B.E.), Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) player, built-in HDD, 1080p high-definition output, , free PLAYSTATION®Network access, Wi-Fi connectivity and SIXAXIS™ wireless controller.

This is the jargon that tells you that, either way, you are purchasing one very fancy-pants system. In short both have: some specifications that will make your game look very pretty, Blu-ray disc player, the ability to connect to the Playstation Network, wireless internet connectivity and a motion-sensitive wireless controller.

But what is the 40GB version missing?

• can't play back Playstation 2 titles, but can play Playstation titles
• instead of being packaged with a PS3 game like the 80GB version, the 40GB has Spiderman 3 on Blu-ray disc
• the 80GB has 4 USB ports; the 40GB has 2 USB ports.
• the 40GB does not have the "multi-media memory card slot" that allows players to transfer their PS1/PS2 memory card data to the PS3. However, Sony says players can use other accessories such as this doohickey to transfer their data through one of the USB ports

By looking at this list, it looks like they dropped some of the extras, slashed the price a bit and called it a new model.

So here are consumer options for the holiday PS3-purchasing*:

If you just want to play PS3 games, and ONLY PS3 games (also if you already have a PS2):

• go for the 40GB model; it's got the bare necessities. The 80GB model is really geared towards the hardcore gamer who has to have all the extras.
  

If you don't have a PS2, but would like to play PS2 games AND have a PS3:

• Well, you could get the 80GB model with PS2-compatibility, but there have been some issues where the 80GB PS2 has difficulty playing some PS2 games. You can check if your PS2 games will work with the 80GB PS3 at Sony's backwards compatibility status site. This article from HardcoreWare.net, shows the results of one man pitting his 90 game PS2 library against a 60GB PS3 and 80GB PS3. Results: 84/90 games worked perfectly on the 60GB, and 50/90 worked perfectly on the 80GB.
• If backwards compatibility is a must then finding a used 60GB PS3 might be a better deal than buying the 80GB model. There are plenty on sale online, whether you prefer to shop on eBay, Froogle, or Amazon (just type in: 60GB PS3). Don't know if retailers like Gamestop resell them.
  
• Or, you could buy the 40GB PS3, and a used/new PS2. It would cost about the same as the 80GB model, and you'd have a sure-fire way to play your PS2 games. (As well as the PS2's built-in DVD-player, so you don't have to commit to buying Blu-Ray discs for your PS3).
• The Slimline PS2 is a great deal if you can find a used one for $99. Otherwise, it's a $129 MSRP.
  
• On this note: There is a new PS2 on the horizon. It's not any slimmer, and I haven't quite found out what the difference/improvement is yet, but it's on sale in Japan for $114. The rumor mill suggests its a revision of the slimline PS2, has built-in power supply and will sell for under $100 when it hits the US in 2008. I wouldn't put too much stock in the rumored price-tag, though.
• NOTE: On its backwards-compatibility status site, Sony said it is up to the game publishers and peripheral/accessory manufacturers to develop the appropriate hardware to play PS1 and PS2 games on the PS3. They did not/have not issued a date on when the backwards compatibility issue might be fixed.
  

That's a lot of options, and I realize it's intimidating to look at. But fear not. Just be confident in what you want. A PS3, like any game system is a big investment, and you should think carefully before purchasing. Please e-mail YFG if you have further questions about this post.



*(subject to change with any other price cuts that might follow :P)