Last-Gen Console Discussions (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)

New 250GB PlayStation 3 Coming this Holiday
Sony finally doubles the hard drive space for North America.

October 15, 2009 - Sony has announced it will be releasing a new PlayStation 3 SKU that includes a 250GB hard drive.

This SKU will be available in North America at retail on November 3 for $349.99. Sony has stated it will still continue to offer the $299 120GB model.

"The PS3 platform is poised for a tremendous holiday season," said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA. "We kicked things off early with the new price point and sleek form factor and have continued the momentum with this week's launch of the universally acclaimed exclusive, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves."

"The new 250GB PS3 provides consumers with another compelling hardware option and speaks to the growing consumer appetite for digital content from the PlayStation Network – particularly high-def content that showcases the power of the PS3 system," he added.

Talk of a 250GB SKU began back in August when a FCC filing that was discovered showed Sony submitted a model with a larger hard drive for testing.

Several 250GB bundles have already been announced in other territories, including a Uncharted 2 bundle for Australia and a Final Fantasy XIII bundle in Japan.

Graphics Chip Deals Lead to New Console Talk
Rumors of new consoles swirl, Microsoft and Nintendo not commenting.

October 14, 2009 - Rumors and speculation are running rampant this week. Are there really new Xbox and DS consoles in the works?

Fudzilla is reporting "industry sources" told the website that graphics chip manufacturer AMD/ATI has already won the GPU deal for Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console, the same company that developed the current Xbox 360 graphics processor. They say Microsoft wants to allow for backwards compatibility of older titles, and using a compatible chipset will make that happen.

They would continue to speculate the new or "refreshed" console could hit the market by 2012.

When asked for comment, Microsoft issued its standard response to IGN, saying "Microsoft does not comment on rumor or speculation."

There's also talk that graphics company nVidia has signed a deal with Nintendo to implement its latest Tegra System-on-Chip processor in the successor to the current DSi handheld, according to BSN's "confidential sources."

The website also states we could see the new handheld in late 2010, possibly at next year's Tokyo Game Show, and it will be backwards compatible with DS games and applications.

When asked for comment, Nintendo issued IGN a very familiar sounding response, saying "We don't comment on rumor or speculation."

The Microsoft rumor seems more likely at this point, simply because it actually makes sense. Nintendo, meanwhile, has no motivation releasing a new DS anytime soon, and certainly not as early as next year.

I expected the 250gb PS3 would retail for 399$, ...

349$ sounds much sweeter.

And I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo announces a new handheld next year. Not in the slightest

I am not at all surprised by the 250GB PS3 but...why? Really, how many times does Sony need to do this?

Originally posted by Peach
I am not at all surprised by the 250GB PS3 but...why? Really, how many times does Sony need to do this?

As many times as it needs to bring in the maximum amount of $$$. Slim sold like hot cakes.

Originally posted by Peach
I am not at all surprised by the 250GB PS3 but...why? Really, how many times does Sony need to do this?

may I ask why is that so much of a terrible thing to do?

it's not like is forcing anyone to buy it, nor is it a surprise since it was know since the before PS3 Slim came out. and better yet, they're not charging 100$ just for extra space

and quite frankly is much better than having to shell 120$ for a 120GB as M$ does... and as any PS3 owner knows, you can use any laptop HDD (which you can find relatively cheaper) with your PS3 so you are not forced to buy an overpriced first party HDD

Originally posted by S_D_J
may I ask why is that so much of a terrible thing to do?

it's not like is forcing anyone to buy it, nor is it a surprise since it was know since the before PS3 Slim came out. and better yet, they're not charging 100$ just for extra space

and quite frankly is much better than having to shell 120$ for a 120GB as M$ does... and as any PS3 owner knows, you can use any laptop HDD (which you can find relatively cheaper) with your PS3 so you are not [b]forced to buy an overpriced first party HDD [/B]

I <3 this.

I'm sorry, where did I say it was a terrible thing for them to do?

It was assumed from your statement that the release of a 250GB PS3 slim for $350 is a bad thing.

Originally posted by Peach
I'm sorry, where did I say it was a terrible thing for them to do?

Terrible might have been a bit of an exaggeration, but, Can you honestly tell me you don't mean it is a bad thing for SONY to sell a bigger HDD SKU next to a smaller one?

I've seen you voice your discontent whenever SONY puts out a new package. If they were to have changed the product internally or taken out features... that's different. But this, is totally harmless.

And BTW, SONY is not the only company doing it.

It's not a bad thing, it just doesn't strike me as a logical decision. It's only going to accomplish two things - confuse consumers further by adding yet another version (this will be PS3 #7), and piss off people who were waiting for a larger version and bought a 120GB system. The fact that they are releasing it so soon after the 120GB version seems...odd to me. Frankly, I get the feeling that this is only to compete with the 250GB COD 360 that Microsoft is releasing.

Also I doubt they'll keep the two systems for long. Every time they've released a new version, they've discontinued the previous model.

Oh, and yes. Sony is the only one doing this. The 360 has gone through a few versions, but the only differences have been additional items (HDD size, pretty much). You get one, you're good indefinitely as you can upgrade it as you wish. They've certainly not done anything like what Sony has done, which is pretty much roll out a new model every few months.

They should just cave and put backwards compatibility back in. The PS2 is officially on its way out and has another half a year left, tops. Let people hang on to their older games without having to hang onto a dying/dead system.

Sorry honey, but no.

1.- It shouldn't confuse customers, because both boxes are different, they don't cost the same (it'd be like saying 360 Arcade and 360 Elite confuse people)

2.- People who can get pissed about it are plain dumb. it costs only 50 bucks more, and they can pretty much buy any HDD they choose (size, brand and more importantly, price) to upgrade the current space, no need to upgrade to the newer model. That applies to all PS3 models

3.- They are not releasing it soon. it was already known before the PS3 slim came out, and it always been the case to have 2 different PS3 SKU. Everybody knows that. If anything I can say (and rightly so) that M$ announced 360 MW2-FM3 to compete with it.
It goes both ways...and the PS3 250gb was known before the 360 250gb.

4.- They won't discontinue the PS3 slim 120gb just yet, that has never been the case. SONY has always had 2 in-production version up for sale (20-60 ... 40-80... 80-160 ... 120-250) Always.

5.- Yes, the PS3 has already had 8 versions (9 if you count the 80gb PAL), while the 360 had 6 (not counting second Arcade and HDcable-less elite version). BUT the 360 also has bigger HDD versions selling along side smaller ones. It always been the case. (the only company not doing it is Nintendo... if you don't factor the DS, that is), Apple does it, Microsoft does it (Zune, etc)

6.- Yes, it's a whole different issue when you're talking about missing features (most notably BC, usb ports, media slots), but that's not the case here, it's strictly about HDD sizes.

7.- The 360 has gone through different version as well, but not the degree or impact as the PS3 has. but they are still internally different versions (different MOBO to fight off RROD, increased flash memory to deal with NXE in Arcades, HDMI). This are not known facts to the consumer, but they have had a great impact when talking about the 360 performance.... the same with Wii, PS2 ... etc

SONY has churned out different versions in less time than M$ has, that's indeed true

8.- BC should return, and if rumors are true, it will... to all existing PS3s, but the PS3 is selling for being the PS3, not for retro gaming

SONY has always had 2 version up for sale (20-60 ... 40-80... 80-160 ... 120-250) Always

Sorry, but no. This is flat out wrong. The 20GB system was discontinued almost immediately, leaving just the 60GB system available for quite some time. The 80GB and 40GB system were available simultaneously for a while, but there was a period where only the 40GB was available, and when that was discontinued only the 80GB system was being produced. The 160GB system was only being produced for a very short amount of time. The 80GB was discontinued the day that the 120GB was released, leaving just the 120GB system available.

They've had only one model available far more often than they've had multiple models available at once.

It shouldn't confuse customers, because both boxes are different, they don't cost the same (it'd be like saying 360 Arcade and 360 Elite confuse people)

Well, it does. Not everyone keeps up to the minute on this info - in fact, most people do not. And for the record, people do get confused on the fact that there's an Arcade, Pro, and Elite 360. Just as they get confused about the DS, DS Lite, and DSi, or the 1000, 2000, 3000-series PSPs, and the PSP Go.

When was the 250GB PS3 first known about? First I heard about it was two or three days ago.

The majority of people who buy the PS3 will not have the technical skill to change out their HDD, not to mention the fact that doing so voids any warranties you may have, which a lot of people will not be willing to do. And I wouldn't say someone is dumb for waiting for a larger size HDD PS3, buying a 120GB one, and then getting annoyed when a larger one is released a couple of months later. Yes, it's only $50 more...but if you have one already, you're kinda SOL.

Originally posted by Peach
Sorry, but no. This is flat out wrong. The 20GB system was discontinued almost immediately, leaving just the 60GB system available for quite some time. The 80GB and 40GB system were available simultaneously for a while, but there was a period where only the 40GB was available, and when that was discontinued only the 80GB system was being produced. The 160GB system was only being produced for a very short amount of time. The 80GB was discontinued the day that the 120GB was released, leaving just the 120GB system available.

They've had only one model available far more often than they've had multiple models available at once.

They did discontinue the 20gb one earlier, but the 40 and 80 appear together. the 40 was discontinued, replaced with the 80 (same features as the 40, but bigger HDD). the 160 appeared soon after, just bigger HDD (just like the 120-250 right now).

the only real different ones (about features) are the 20, 60, 40, 80gbBC compatible and slim versions (only in appearance, anything else follows the 40 template). they are completely different, anything beyond that as been only different HDD sizes. the 20 and 80BC are the only ones to have been quickly discontinued, everything else has had a much longer production life (the 40 was just a template)

they have sold two versions at the same time, they haven't been released then at the same time, but they have two in-production versions on sale at the same time. and that has always been true

Well, it does. Not everyone keeps up to the minute on this info - in fact, most people do not. And for the record, people do get confused on the fact that there's an Arcade, Pro, and Elite 360. Just as they get confused about the DS, DS Lite, and DSi, or the 1000, 2000, 3000-series PSPs, and the PSP Go.

so why brought up people's confusion then? not everyone is on the net, not everyone knows about the difference, but it's a situation that applies to all consoles, not just Sony...

When was the 250GB PS3 first known about? First I heard about it was two or three days ago.

Originally posted by S_D_J
250 gb PS3:

[b]Make it stop: 250GB PS3 Slim models may be coming
http://www.destructoid.com/make-it-stop-250gb-ps3-slim-models-may-be-coming-144908.phtml [/B]

that was the first time, before the 120gb came out (that's August 20th). Then the 250gb AU version was unveiled, bundle with Uncharted 2.
BTW you should check out the FFXIII special edition PS3. I love it.

The majority of people who buy the PS3 will not have the technical skill to change out their HDD, not to mention the fact that doing so voids any warranties you may have, which a lot of people will not be willing to do. And I wouldn't say someone is dumb for waiting for a larger size HDD PS3, buying a 120GB one, and then getting annoyed when a larger one is released a couple of months later. Yes, it's only $50 more...but if you have one already, you're kinda SOL.

you are dead wrong on that one.

Changing the PS3 HDD does not void your warranty, in fact, the user manual teaches you how to do it, the official manual that comes in the box teaches you how to unscrew the famous blue screw.
A little research before hand always comes in handy 😉

and yep, bitching about how you get screwed over by company is dumb, really dumb... when the issue at hand is a bigger HDD, one that you can totally do without or change as you see fit

FKN RoD.

End of rant.

Originally posted by Zack Fair
FKN RoD.

End of rant.

Again?

they have sold two versions at the same time, they haven't been released then at the same time, but they have two in-production versions on sale at the same time. and that has always been true

No. That is not at all the case. Nearly every single time they've released a new console, they've ended production on whatever the previous model was, or (in the case of the BC 80GB or the 160GB) the new one was produced only for a very limited time. Sure, you may have still been able to buy the now-deceased model - I just sold a brand new 60GB PS3 two weeks ago (I wasn't aware they still existed) - but it was not being made any longer.

Um, that article you posted completely contradicts what you said. It clearly states that the 120GB model had already been announced at that point. Also, it was only a rumor at that point. I mean, when was it first officially announced. Official news.

And I apologize for not knowing that the manual will tell you how to do that, considering that 99.9% of the time, opening the case of a system will void your warranty, as well as doing any sort of modifications to it.

I never said the it was known before the 120 gb was announced. I said it was known before the 120 came out, as in official out for sale, before Sept. 1st.

it was not officially confirmed at the time, but the info was legit, and a sure thing, even if Sony wasn't confirming it. Sony has never been good at keeping something secret. (PSPGo, PS3 SLIM)

The MW2 360 was announced Sept 15th

The Uncharted 2 and FFXIII PS3 were announced Sept 23th.

Does it really matter which came first though?. It can go both ways.

btw: when was the 160 discontinued?, last time I checked it was discontinued when the slim came out, at the same time as the 80.

Click This.

Clearly shown: Between April and November of 2007, in North America, only one SKU was at any point being produced. In PAL territory, from launch into 2008 only one SKU was being produced. In Japan, immediately after the shutdown of the 20 and 60GB models, and for a while after that, only one SKU was being produced.

Clearly, to say that PS3 SKUs have always been produced in pairs is folly.

I should have expressed myself better them.

yes, there were a time in which only one console was produced, my point was that two models have been in produced and up for sale at the same time. they have tried to do so every time, sell a cheaper version, and a extra 100$ bigger HDD one.
It is different when the BC thing happened, I always said that. That has only been the real change, the exception. every other discussion was about HDD difference.

I did got it wrong with the 40 - 80 thing, that slipped my mind.

and btw: I always been talking about the US market, the news of the 250gb is about this market, the inclusion of JP and AU market was only referential, as it was the 9 versions variation when counting the pal model.
The Xbox 360 as always been sold with the only (noticeable for the consumer) difference being a, or lack of, HDD....
... which takes back to the root of this discussion, why would it so much of a big deal to sell another SKU with bigger HDD? The only difference is bigger space, which is really, in the case of the current PS3, irrelevant.

Originally posted by S_D_J
The Xbox 360 as always been sold with the only (noticeable for the consumer) difference being a, or lack of, HDD....

S_D_J is right on that one.

I own a 40GB PS3, but swapped it with a cheap 1TB HDD.
Had it modified in a Sony outlet, so no warranties voided whatsoever.

I honestly don't see anything wrong with Sony's move.
It is a marketing tactic, and it is expected to sell well, particularly in Japan and other countries in Asia.