Sony gives fans a big "F- YOU!"

Neo · 11-14-2006, 09:56 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061114/...an_playstation

Quote:

TOKYO - Sony's PlayStation 3 game console, which went on sale in Japan over the weekend leading off a global launch, can't play some of the older games for the original PlayStation and the upgrade PlayStation 2, a company official said Tuesday.

Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news). had billed PlayStation 3 as compatible with the previous PlayStation machines.

But Sony Computer Entertainment spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka said some of the 8,000 older games weren't working properly on PS3, making the wrong sounds or images, and some couldn't be played at all.

He declined to give a number for the games that weren't functioning, but he said the same problem is expected when the game console goes on sale in the U.S. Nov. 17. About 16,000 different games have been sold for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 in North America.

Fukuoka said the problems in playing the older games were not a glitch and had been expected. Sony announced the problem on its Japanese Web page Nov. 11, the day when the PS3 went on sale to lines of eager fans at Japanese retailers.

Users can punch in the name of the PS or PS2 game on the Web page, and a list will pop up, telling you if the game can be played without problems or not.

For example, all the "Biohazard" series games can be played without problem, except for one in which a virtual gun won't fire properly, according to Sony's Web page.

"We are sorry for the game fans that they cannot play all the games," Fukuoka said. "But unfortunately some of these problems could not be avoided."

PlayStation 3 is facing off in a three-way console war for this Christmas against Nintendo Co.'s Wii, which goes on sale Nov. 19 in the U.S., and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360, which had a year's head start over rivals.

Although response has been enthusiastic to the PS3, the launch hasn't been smooth.

Production problems meant that only 100,000 PlayStation 3 machines were in time for its debut in Japan. When it goes on sale in the United States on Nov. 17, some 400,000 PS3 consoles will be available there.

The console's European launch has been pushed back until March. That was the second delay, as PS3 had been initially promised for spring of this year.

Sony has a lot riding on the success of the PS3, which is powered by the new "Cell" computer chip and supported by the next-generation Blu-ray video disc format.

But Sony will be losing money for a some time because of the high costs for research and production that went into the highly sophisticated machine.

The red ink is coming at a time when the Japanese electronics and entertainment company, known for the Walkman portable audio player and "Spider-Man" movies, is struggling to stage a comeback.

In recent years, Sony has fallen behind in key products like flat-panel TVs and digital music players. A fumble in its PS3 business could prove a huge blow at a time when it's seeing its brand image badly tarnished by a massive global recall of lithium-ion batteries for laptops.

So they were aware of the problem, they just didn't care to tell us. Thanks Sony!

Dyne · 11-14-2006, 12:10 PM

At least Microsoft is ****ing honest.

BreakABone · 11-14-2006, 12:43 PM

Maybe its just me, but its not really all that surprising.

PS2 couldn't play all PSX games if I remember correctly.

And well backwards comp is important. The fact that you can't play all of the games.. isn't that big of a loss...

I think people blow things out of proportion at times...

thatmariolover · 11-14-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakABone

Maybe its just me, but its not really all that surprising.

PS2 couldn't play all PSX games if I remember correctly.

And well backwards comp is important. The fact that you can't play all of the games.. isn't that big of a loss...

I think people blow things out of proportion at times...

I think you're right, to an extent. It's going to get blown out of proportion. But in a way that's Sonys fault. They've been preaching 100% backwards compatibility for ages now.

TheGame · 11-14-2006, 04:08 PM

Boo, now I have to play my Ps2 games on my Ps2. *cries*

GameMaster · 11-14-2006, 04:44 PM

This is unacceptable!

You won't see this lack of professionalism and poor workmanship from Nintendo. Nope!

When Nintendo says 100% backwards compatibility, they deliver. No filthy lies or obstructions of truth.

When is Sony going to learn to offer a quality gaming experience?

Sony, when will you learn?

BreakABone · 11-14-2006, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GameMaster

This is unacceptable!

You won't see this lack of professionalism and poor workmanship from Nintendo. Nope!

When Nintendo says 100% backwards compatibility, they deliver. No filthy lies or obstructions of truth.

When is Sony going to learn to offer a quality gaming experience?

Sony, when will you learn?

We don't even know if that is true yet.

So we shall hold judgement on Sony until we find that all Nintendo games work.

Dyne · 11-15-2006, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakABone

We don't even know if that is true yet.

So we shall hold judgement on Sony until we find that all Nintendo games work.

Well it may be Nintendo's first time, but they really aren't ****ing around. People are complaining that the Wii is a souped-up Gamecube for a reason - it's a souped up Gamecube. I have faith in Nintendo in that respect.

Typhoid · 11-15-2006, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyne

Well it may be Nintendo's first time, but they really aren't ****ing around. People are complaining that the Wii is a souped-up Gamecube for a reason - it's a souped up Gamecube. I have faith in Nintendo in that respect.

How would you know they're not ****ing around if they havent 100% proven anything yet, other than press releases and just verbally?

And.....so then...Nintendo is stealing the backwards compatability idea from Sony, right? right?

GameMaster · 11-15-2006, 03:15 AM

I don't care whether it blows or not. They're selling for BIG money on eBay and I have to buy one so I can make big money too. I'm giddy with excitement. Thursday afternoon as soon as class lets out, I'm camping out at Target.

thatmariolover · 11-15-2006, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typhoid

How would you know they're not ****ing around if they havent 100% proven anything yet, other than press releases and just verbally?

And.....so then...Nintendo is stealing the backwards compatability idea from Sony, right? right?

Then Sony copied it from Atari (2600 to 7800). In the end, I don't think the Wii should have any problems with Gamecube compatability (I'm open to being wrong). That opinion is based on the fact that the major processing cores in the Wii are all derivatives of the Gamecube hardware. Just further down the roadmap - higher speed and more advanced. Whereas the PS3 and Xbox 360 are depending on emulator technology.

Perfect Stu · 11-15-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakABone

I think people blow things out of proportion at times...

Dude, don't try being sensible...not at GameTavern, when discussing anything Sony-related.

There are a couple people who just wait for an opportunity to really "give it" to Sony and this is one of those chances. Were they going to buy a PS3 and use a lot of games for backwards compatibility? Probably not. However, that doesn't matter. It has become far too predictable, but those are the bounces.

Personally, I find it humorous...so don't try being sensible, dude.

11-15-2006, 04:51 PM

Anybody else campin out? I called 5 Walmarts locally and all but one already have a line. The one that doesn't is having their line @ 7:00 A.M. tomorrow so I will be trying my luck there.

Storm Eagle · 11-15-2006, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakABone

We don't even know if that is true yet.

So we shall hold judgement on Sony until we find that all Nintendo games work.

This sucks about the PS3. As for the Wii however, if its backwards compatibility fails in some aspects, I had no intentions of giving up my GameCube anyway.

Bube · 11-16-2006, 02:07 PM

Nintendo had something like this with the GBA.. They said it was fully compatible, but there were some problems with some games.

Boasting about "full backwards compatibility" is good and all, but when you are, make sure it's not just in theory.. If you're saying stuff like "full" and "100%", then I assume you've tried all 16,000 games, and know that they work. This goes for both Sony and Nintendo, and anybody else who says their console is fully backwards compatible.

And if 8,000 of your 16,000 games don't work, then I'd like to see some people fired!