With the announcement that the stock of 60GB PS3s will be running out soon, I’ve been waffling back and forth on whether to get one or not.
On the one hand, this will be my last chance to get a model with the hardware-level PS2 compatibility, and I’ve still got a lot of unfinished PS2 games that would benefit from the upscaling and faster loading (the 80GB models use a software emulator that’s not nearly as compatible). And, being the gaming whore that I am, I’d probably wind up eventually getting one anyway. And it can run Linux and things like the MythTV frontend, which always tickles my inner geek.
But on the other hand, the thing is freaking expensive. It’s better now, at only $50 more than I paid for my 360, but that’s still a lot for something that’ll largely be used as a glorified PS2 in the short term. Which leads to the next problem, the lack of games. There are a couple that look interesting, like Resistance and Warhawk, but they’re not really compelling by themselves, since they’re not really my preferred genres. A bunch of others are turning out to be disappointments (i.e., Lair), and most of the rest are also available for the 360 anyway, where I’d prefer to get them for things like the Achievements and better online integration. And it won’t even work with my LCD monitor (damn HDCP), so I’d be stuck using it on S-video until I get a proper HDTV. And I don’t really need the backwards compatibility since I already have a PS2; it would just be a convenience.
The PS2 library did have a lot of games I liked, and hopefully the PS3’s library will eventually turn out the same way, but is that hope that it’ll live up to that potential enough to balance out the immediate hit to the wallet…
Kin & I already both bought the 60 gig.. for the backwards compatibility.. It’s basically almost perfect.. But, it all depends on what you want.. there are disadvantages to both.. Basically, they’ve already announced a rumble controller is in the works.. & also in a years time (if you waited that long to buy) the price would drop, the hard drive would be bigger, and maybe some of the insides would be upgraded a little.. you’d get the new revision.. etc.. but after reading a lot about the 80 gig model, I just decided that the 60 gig is the best deal in the end.. I’ve played Resistance & a few other games such as Super Stardust HD and Blast Factor.. also Heavenly Sword is being released in a few days.. There’s enough out now, even with the 360, to go buy the 60 gig and be happy, in my opinion.
I think I’m going to try and not worry so much about the backwards compatibility and just wait until there are some must-haves out for it. Maybe they’ll have improved the software BC by then (looking at the list, there are about six or seven games I have that would be completely unplayable right now). If not, and my PS2 breaks, there’ll certainly be a zillion used ones available for cheap too.
It’ll just make my living room even more of a wiring mess. :)