Sony, leading the horse race again?

[TheClash603]

It's not like when PS4 comes out, all PS3s on the planet explode and leave behind nothing but shiny black dust that shows fingerprints easily.

Yeah, and it's not like this generation's hardware is known for having extremely high failure rates or anything..  

This is the reason backward compatibility is so important with the PS4, compared to say a SNES.  When I buy a digital download PSN game, that game is only available on my PS3.  It is correct that if my PS3 breaks, I can buy another system and re-download the games, but this isn't an infinite proposition.

Games will not remain on servers forever and games will remain for even shorter periods of time if there is no longer a market for them.  In this instance, when the majority of gamers move to the PS4, from the PS3, I would assume most of these games will not be available anymore.

Fast forward 10 years from now.  My PS3 breaks and I want to play a game of Double Dragon Neon.  Unlike in previous generations where if my system broke I could go out and buy a new system to play my old cartridges, this is no longer a possibility.

Backwards compatibility would prolong the duration these games I bought.

[geise]

Damn, I never really thought of it like that.  I rarely do DL only games.  I just have a few for my Vita, and that's it.  I do have to say that not many games I would really want to play decades later like I do now with the 80's and 90's stuff.  Regardless still a great point.

[Arkhan]

It's not like when PS4 comes out, all PS3s on the planet explode and leave behind nothing but shiny black dust that shows fingerprints easily.

Yeah, and it's not like this generation's hardware is known for having extremely high failure rates or anything.. 

Ive got a day one PS3 still going.  I've logged bajillions of hours onto it.

Failure rates aren't shit, anyways.  PS3s are still being made, the new models are better, and there are plenty to go around for the people who actually give f*cks.

[KingDrool]

My launch day PS3 works fine, too. But the second one I bought to use as mainly a bluray player is kaput.

However, the point that these games won't be able to played after the hardware is discontinued and the servers are shut down is still a relevant one.

For example, let's play out this imaginary-yet-completely-possible scenario: You paid $20 for Shiny Happy Fun Time on the PlayStation Store and loved the shit out of it. In a couple years, you want to play SHFT again, but your PS3 is on the fritz. So, you hit up a used game shop for a used, functioning PS3. You boot it up, enter your account information, and head to the PlayStation Store to acquire the copy you paid for. DOH! Sony has decided to remove Shiny Happy Fun Time from the servers, so you can't re-download it! NOOOOO! *tears*

And...scene.

[Arkhan]

Yeah that is a valid problem, but it has nothing to do with backwards compatibility.

That's just the future of gaming.

[KingDrool]

That's true. I thought of that after I typed it out, but was so happy with my Super Happy Fun Time scenario that I let it ride.

[geise]

I guess just ps3 backup to a 2nd drive is the only way around it...if you remember to do it before something malfunctions.  I usually never remember.

[Necromancer]

Solution: DO NOT BUY DOWNLOAD ONLY SHIT!

[bob]

Solution: DO NOT BUY DOWNLOAD ONLY SHIT!

THIS!

[Arkhan]

Solution: DO NOT BUY DOWNLOAD ONLY SHIT!

hell yeah gimme dem boxes.

[TR0N]

Solution: DO NOT BUY DOWNLOAD ONLY SHIT!

To bad some games are digital only 

[TheClash603]

Solution: DO NOT BUY DOWNLOAD ONLY SHIT!

To bad some games are digital only 

I buy the boxed copy every chance I get...  I hate it when there is a digital only game I want!

[TR0N]

Solution: DO NOT BUY DOWNLOAD ONLY SHIT!

To bad some games are digital only 

I buy the boxed copy every chance I get...  I hate it when there is a digital only game I want!

Yeah it's annoying i do prefer physical to but if it's digital only i will download it.

[GohanX]

It's looking like the PS4 will win the next gen war by default. The Wii U is grossly underpowered and is failing at the moment, and Microsoft has been more concerned with being a content box than a game machine, and every time a bit of new information is leaked about the new Xbox I lose more and more interest.

Unless the new systems get some interesting exclusives, I think I'm out this gen. I'm not a PC gamer, but I might just throw a modest video card into my computer and stick with it, handhelds, and old systems for the next few years.

[geise]

That's a big problem with all these new consoles.   They seem to be more geared towards general entertainment rather than hardcore games.  In Nintendo's defense it will probably be the more game oriented machine out of all of them, since that's what it's main focus is.  Now I just think of it this way.  The less next gen rubbish I buy the more money I have for classic stuff I still want.  Games I know I will come back to and want to play.