Japan Gets New PS2 Slim

ps2 slimRumors of a new PS2 slim have been here since forever, but now Japan will in fact get a new, updated, PS2 slim console. It will keep the same price, but will have an internal power supply and still weight slightly less than the original PS2 slim. It will retail for 16,000 Yen, or $140 USD, and will be in stores on November 22. Officially there are no plans of offering the console in the rest of the world, but you can bet your ass that it’ll reach the North American and European shores in early 2008.




I remember hearing some people discussing whether or not Sony would make an add-on (some form of USB attachment) for the PS3 that would allow systems without backward compatibility to play PS2 games; and proposing that the device be sold for a MSRP of $60 with another member adding that he would happily spend $100+ on the device. Another member proposed the idea of implementing backwards compatibility through software/firmware updates. While these ideas sound awesome (particularly the latter) and may well be possible, the chances of Sony making backwards compatibility feasible by such means are slim at best.




It's probably not impossible to make a device add-on for the PS3 that would enable backwards capability, but does Sony really want to make such a device? Wouldn't Sony rather have people buy a PS2 console as opposed to making an add-on. Making an add-on would incur company cost and any company in the right mind wouldn't want that, especially not with the current economic climate; it'll be a lot of wasted money and effort on something that already exists.



Sony wants to expand the base of their products, condensing their systems into one single unit would only spell the loss of profits; they want people to buy their PS3's they want people to buy their PS2's. They want people to be using their PS3 for what it was intended for otherwise PS3 content would be stagnant, the demand for games on the PS3 would plumit and the in turn the demand for PS3 exclusive game developers would decline.



Do you find yourself turning back to your old friend the PS2?



There's just so many great games on there that I still haven't finished (namely FFXII -- the soundtrack to that game is simply amazing).



Happy Friday - off to see the Watchmen!!