We had a public holiday today (Melbourne Cup day for Victorians in Australia), so I ended up down at the local "mall" (shopping centre - Chadstone).

Ended up deciding to boycott EB again (prices are ridiculous), put down a $10 deposit for Metroid (arrives in two days... finally!) and will also grab Big Brain Academy (+ Wiimote) on the same day. Will end up getting both games + Wiimote for around $140AU (pretty good - EB are charging $180 for the same thing!).

Anyway...

I was in Toys R Us, completing my purchase - and just walked out of the gaming section when I overheard this conversation. It was the classic family (Mum, Dad, Boy - about 8 - and sister):

Mother to son: "...but it doesn't play PS2 games does it. The Wii doesn't play ..."

I couldn't help myself, so I interjected into the conversation:

... 

Shams: "Well actually - the PS3 does play PS2 games, its just the new/cheap/40gig model that doesn't"

Mother: "Yes, that's the new silver one right? It won't play all those old games we have"

Shams: "The Wii will play Gamecube games..."

Mother: "He (son) is getting a Wii for Xmas!"

Shams: "Oh, he is going to have heaps of fun with that!"

...

I just thought it was interesting - with the conversation happening at the "family" level. The kid definitely looked like he wanted a PS3 (I think? - he might have just been pining for ANY new console!). I definitely found the awareness of the mother interesting. I can only assume they looked into the "new silver" PS3 - only to discover it wouldn't play any of those old PS2 games they already owned. No chance of a purchase after that.

Keep the PS2, buy a Wii to complement it? 

Prepare to be killed by Sony fanboys.

But the Wii doesnt play any of the old PS2 games either....

Never said it did. I didn't overhear the rest of what was said about the Wii. I think she was making a point that it DID play old games (i.e. GC games).

PS - I think the "Wii for Xmas" was decided a long time before today. Just a feeling I got from the conversation. Might have been the mother was using "no PS2 compat" as a classic parent excuse for not purchasing something for her kids (i.e. a PS3).

So you told the mother to buy him a Wii instead of a PS3 when he clearly wanted it but you didn't care? Didn't you tell them about the 60 or 80 GB? (or is Austrailia wacky)

In Australia only the 40gig is on the market, and I can't see any of the 60's on the market.

It sounds like the parents had already decided on the Wii for christmas, but the kid (who didn't know this), wanted a PS3 NOW. So Shams just told them that yes, the new ps3 doesn't play PS2 games.

I think any parents getting their 8 year old kid a PS3 are really in for a rough ride - I mean spending 400 USD on an 8 year old?

Actually, it sounds more of like the mother was telling her son the Wii she is getting him for Christmas doesn't play Wii games. Atleast that's what it sounds like to me.

Sounds like the mom didnt care what the kid was complaining about getting at that moment. The fact is, she already bought a Wii and thats what he is getting!

Spoiled kid. When I was a kid I got to play with toothpicks...if I was lucky!