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PlayStation 3 Has Game Glitch
By TSC Staff
11/14/2006 1:35 PM EST
Sony's (SNE - commentary - Cramer's Take - Rating)
New PlayStation 3 is having problems running some games originally created for its two predecessor platforms, marking the latest bit of bad press for the electronics giant.
The PS3 went on sale in Japan over the weekend. According to reports, certain games from the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 aren't playable on the new console, even though it's supposed to be capable of running the older titles.
The problem with the PS3 is the latest issue for a console whose rollout was already delayed. The Associated Press quoted a Sony spokesman as saying the same trouble is expected when the PS3 hits the U.S. later this month. The spokesman also said the issue had been expected.
However, considering the console will sell for as much as $600 in the U.S., few gamers, especially PlayStation loyalists, are likely to have much patience for glitches.
Shares of Sony were up 1 cent to $40.02.
PlayStation 3 Already Experiencing Problems:
Sound is eliminated on some software titles designed for PS2 when played on the PS3, while some other PS2 titles do not play on the latest machine at all.
The PS3, launched in Japan on Saturday, is supposed be compatible with game software designed for its previous models.
A spokesman for Sony Computer Entertainment, said the game unit of Sony is checking the compatibility of the PS3 with some 8,000 game titles launched in Japan for the PS1 and PS2, but declined to give the number of games found incompatible so far.
Sony plans to solve the problems by online upgrading of system software for the PS3.
By the highly anticipated PS3 launch, Sony is pitting itself against Microsoft's already available Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii, which will hit U.S. stores on Sunday.
Sony plans to start rolling out the PS3 in North America on Friday at prices between $400 and $600. Gamers in Europe must wait until March due to a glitch in commercial production of blue laser diodes, a key component of the game gear's Blu-ray high-definition DVD player.
Sony Admits Some Older Games Won't Work On Its New PlayStation3
On Monday, we told you about the launch of the long awaited Sony PlayStation 3, just in time for the Christmas season.
But now a glitch has developed in the console, which many see as a kind of Sony saviour. The company, which has suffered declining sales and international embarrassment over its now infamous laptop battery recalls, was counting on the new technology to give its sagging bottom line a boost.
But it's now admitted that many of the old games from previous versions of the PlayStation either won't play properly on the new model - or won't work at all.
The "3" was supposed to have been backwards compatible to allow millions of users to continue to enjoy their sometimes expensive software played on the unit.
As many as 200 of the format's 8,000 older games may display the wrong colours, sounds or images. And some won't even let players get that far.
The company insists it anticipated the problems but contends that's the price of progress.
"We are sorry for the game fans that they cannot play all the games," notes spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka. "But unfortunately some of these problems could not be avoided.'' He claims the problems are typical whenever there's an upgrade.
The company allows players to search a glitch list on its Japanese website, but it hasn't translated it into English yet, so North Americans may still be in the dark.
Sony intends to provide downloads it insists will fix most of the problems.
PlayStation3 is competing with Nintendo's equally hyped Wii system and Microsoft's Xbox. All three are expected to be big sellers this holiday season.
The company had hoped the latest innovation would help turn its fortunes around, after the former industry leader fell behind its competitors and suffered a sea of red ink over the past few years.
Which makes this one game they can't afford to lose.
The PlayStation3 hits North American shelves this weekend.
The Following Articles are Compiled From Different Sources. And Are Not The Work Of PPM.
