$299 Version of PS3 announced

[Gigadi]

"A new version of the Playstation 3 has been announced. It will not be
released until January of 2007, and if you are wondering why it is so
cheap read on.

As you know the cost of Sony's BluRay drive is the driving, no pun
intended, force behind the $499 price tag of the PS3 base model. After
the outcry and backlash of the E3 price announcement Sony has decided
to release a budget "LD" model of the PS3. The catch? This model
doesn't have BluRay! You may be left wondering, as we were at first,
how can this model play all of the PS3 games that will undoubtedly be
on BluRay disks. Sony's solution is quite simple, "Laser Disk". You
heard it right, Sony has plans to push the Laser Disk format and will
be selling LD versions of all it's games at a discounted price.

Please keep in mind this model doesn't offer anything above 480p
resolution. Games will either be downsampled to 480p or in 480p to
begin with. That isn't all either, the "LD-PS3" is a pretty heavy
package, weighing in at just over 14lbs. It also does not include PS2
backward compatibility, but does have a pass through connector so you
can plug your old PS2 right into it. Together with the PS2 the LD-PS3
is about the size of two Xbox36o's, so it is a bit large. Other than
the slightly cumbersome size, this sounds like a brilliant idea.

A PS3 for $299 sure does sound good to us."

-IGM.com-

[Moe]

doing that actually makes me want to get a 360 more... b/c then you'll have people saying yeah i got a PS3 when really they have something not even worth considering it a ps3... then entire point of a new console is the better graphics and playability.... you take that away you might as well not make a new one...

[GWS923]

But when BluRay becomes cheap, and the fully-loaded PS3's price comes down, aren't you going to feel like you've wasted 300 dollars for a system that sounds unnecessarily cumbersome, both in its size and its overly complicated functionality? Would the graphics of my PS2 games be any better if I plugged my PS2 into this "PS3?" Essentially, if I bought this system, I wouldn't be able to get rid of my PS2 the way I could with my PS1.

It just sounds like a PS2.5 in my opinion, in which case the price is still too high. The graphics will be better I suppose, but I really don't care that much. I was only interested in the PS3 for BluRay and FFXIII in the first place, and I'm not going to buy a system for a handful of games I may or may not play.

I think Sony could have thought this out a little better, and could have made this product more appealing. Plus, twice the size of a 360? I don't want a monster like that in my dorm room.

[Tyrdium]

What? Where are you getting this from? I just checked IGN, and there's nothing of the sort up there. Plus the idea is rather absurd. I don't believe this for a second.

[madpierrot]

I'd say nice try, but you could of made up something better.

[jetfire]

I'd say nice try, but you could of made up something better.

Especially when this very recent article on PS3 IGN.com is saying that they want to keep their price high: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/714/714775p1.html

[Linuts]

Especially when this very recent article on PS3 IGN.com is saying that they want to keep their price high: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/714/714775p1.html

What's even worse is that, Sony is hinting on higher priced games to come...

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=9901

Even if the initial post is a fake/joke, I for one would've believed it, considering how lousy Sony's current marketing strategy is...

[SonicTHP]

Wii

I'm just saying...

[Gigadi]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/74/LDDVDComparison.jpg/800px-LDDVDComparison.jpg
Yeah, it was a joke...anyone who really bought into this is seriously dense. No company in the world is that dumb, I hope. First off, there is no such thing aas IGM.com. Second, hooking up your PS2 to a console doesn not count as backwards compatability. Good job on whoever knew I was joking.

[Yodatsubato]

And I was looking forward to the laserdisc drives... They might as well use a vinyl record; they're both analog formats. The random-access thing might be a bit difficult to pull off with vinyls, but they could probably get the needle moving fast and accurate enough.

It also does not include PS2
backward compatibility, but does have a pass through connector so you
can plug your old PS2 right into it.
Though, wouldn't it be great if they did something like SLI for PSX/2/3's? I know it would cost a lot of money, and would be quite rediculous to boot, but I'd love to see an array of five PS3's chugging away to render one sweet-looking MMO.

[Akimichi Choji]

Yeah I'm pretty sure this isn't true. Considering Sony would probably never sell any of the blueray versions with a lowpriced version out there that could do the exact same thing as the expensive one.

*EDIT* Maybe not exact, but close enough.

[Zushio]

Yeah I'm pretty sure this isn't true. Considering Sony would probably never sell any of the blueray versions with a lowpriced version out there that could do the exact same thing as the expensive one.

CONGRADULATIONS ON READING THE TOPIC BEFORE POSTING!

Man, laser discs kick so much ass.

[GWS923]

Yeah, it was a joke...anyone who really bought into this is seriously dense.

Or.. really... um... cool, right guys?

I'm just going to pretend I knew it was a joke the whole time. Maybe if I had known what a laserdisk was, I would have figured it out.

[oompa loompa]

of course it was a joke.... Sony down price something ABSURD!!!! but that wont stop the fanboys from shooting 599 out of their parents wallets

good job fanboy

[Syner]

wow laser discs...isn't laser discs those giant record size discs that plays like a DVD?

it only this topic was true but sadily it is not :(

oh well...i'll stick to the Wii

Currently have enough from a Wii and about 10 games for it :D

[Yodatsubato]

wow laser discs...isn't laser discs those giant record size discs that plays like a DVD?
You wish they play like a DVD. However, you can always secure fifty of those babies together in a stack, stop by the Michelin Man, and wrap said baby in a streamlined rubber tire. Screw five to seven holes in the disc stack for the lugnuts, and BAM! Instant replacement car wheel, to do with which what you wish.

[kLaUS]

Wii
I'm just saying...

This is the most coherent post in this thread, wich btw makes no sense...
Anyway , lets all be happy, lets all buy a wii !!! (is not an advertising for nintendo )

[Mystic_Spike]

Wiiiiiiiii

[Dtortot]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/swatman/untitled.jpg

[ZZalapski]

My dad actually owned laserdiscs. Good thing I read the whole thread before putting up a "No-Frickin'-Way" post.

Sony really wasn't kidding when they suggested that people take up a second job to pay for a PS3, were they?