Backwards compatibility is a fan service, it says to people who already own the previous console that if they choose your console again the expensive games and controllers they purchased previously would work on the new console. Replace one console with another and still play the old games from the old system on the new with the previous investment acting like a trade-in off the cost of the new system. The backwards compatibility in the 60GB PS3 was an exercise in futility and a complete failure.

 The backwards compatibility was fine for those who never owned a PS1/PS2, but for those who did the lack of a memory card reader and slots for the old controllers made backwards compatibility for most people who wanted it completely irrelevant. Most people will not go out and buy the adapter, either they won't know it exists, and most of those who do would find it too complicated to use.

The chain of backwards compatibility wasn't broken with the 40GB, it was broken with the 60GB PS3 which theoretically had full backwards compatibility. I would say its a strong bet that most people who owned a PS2 kept it when they got their full BC PS3 because they couldn't easily transfer their saved games to the new system so from that point on it didn't matter whether they got a PS3, a Wii or an Xbox 360 because they were always going to have to keep the PS2 around.

The backwards compatibility they did give us was horribly compromised and provided no net gain to Sony. The hardcore Sony owners now were always going to buy the system anyway and the less tech savvy masses who appreciated the simple convenience found it anything but convenient. In the end it was a terrible price to pay for something that did no-one any real good and their balance books show evidence of the full price they paid.

I disagree. When I bought my PS3 at launch, I got rid of my PS2. I made sure that I finished every game that I needed to that had a save file on my PS2 memory card so I didn't have to transfer anything.

So if they put in a spot for PS2 memory cards it would have been a success? I honestly don't think it is that big of a deal.

I spent £5 on a memory card adaptor, and so I could transfer my save files

The BC also allowed me to play God of War 3 on my PS3 (it was released after EU launch), KH 3 which I got after launch, SO 3 and it allowed me to replay FF X this summer, thanks to the BC I got 96 hours of joy from FF X.

Yes I still have my PS2 connected, but the convenience of wireless controlers is so great, the only reason I have it there is because it looks lovely, and it will allow me to play Jak and Daxter in the future, as it does not quite work on PS3

I gave my PS2 to my friend since getting my PS3 and I have played FFXII, Ratchet and Clank Deadlocked, Red Dead Revolver, Ring of Red, God of War, God of War II, and Resident Evil 4 on my PS3. And I want to play Shadow of the Colossus and maybe a few of the RPG's that have come out recently. I don't have much room in my room so it would have been a bitch to have both my PS2 and PS3. If I still lived back home it wouldn't have been a big deal, just annoying. Most people probably hold on to their PS2's though so you're right it probably really didn't help push many PS3. It was a major convenience for me though!

sold all but 2 of my ps2's (one a fat launch ps2 [still works too] and the other the slim one)

i like to keep each console

anywho i sold about 2 ps2's got a 60gb ps3, me and friends (whom also had the ps3 w/bc) chipped in and got a memory card adapter and all transfered save files. then we sold it on craigslist and got our money back. simple as 3.14

as for the controller thing..your just silly. ps3 comes with a controller and it works just as fine if not better because wires are out to get us all!!!

Im not talking about the 1-5% of people "In the know", im talking about the 60% of people who didn't even know the PS3 could play Blu Ray! The percentage of people who know to get a memory card adapter is insignificant compared to the number who don't.

I do love your contributions to this site Squil.
But it would be refreshing to see anything outside of the usual Sony bashing.

You just have to ask yourself
Has anything you have ever said about Sony made your life any better?
(modified quote from American History X, you've probly never seen it)

Although this particular thread is not so bad, I agree with you somewhat.. from a financial standpoint Sony did screw it up. But at least the 60gb did exist.

mine is a full BC 500 gb (internal) ps3. And I often play PS2 games. So hah! , jk.

(and yeah it is an inconvenience the PS2 cardreader was not included, but it doesnt matter that much, if someone who doesnt know about the reader likes a PS2 game enough, starting a new save file isn't that much of a hassle, is it?)

yeah I'm surprised people would actually buy a PS2 memory card adapter at retail price. ll you need to do is use it once and sell it back. I never go into gamestop but if they did used accessories they should have had a bunch of these things for cheap.

..but you can still save games on the PS3 Hard drive right?

If so than I'm not sure it's any different from the 360. I think there is a way to transfer XBOX save games but it may/may not be an ordeal.

Personally, like others it seems, I just sstart new save games with the 360.
Though I must admit, I think I got a grand total of 22 play hours on my original xbox (14 hours bieng Fable), the controllers hurt my hands physically, so I didn't get to far in any game I had, so I probably can't "feel the pain" that you seem to express.