Sony removing OtherOS feature in 3.21 PS3 update

[env963]

I am hoping this isnt true. If this turns out to be true. I will not buy another NEW game again from Sony. Only used ones. They will not make another dollar off of me. F* That!

[CRTGAMER]

A very devious precedent. As Inazuma and Niode point out what if at a later date, PS2 compatibility is removed claiming to combat piracy. Removing Alternate Operating System features is wrong no matter how little its used, its a feature paid for. The writing is already on the wall, PS2 compatibility will be firm-wared out on the 60gb. The 80gb PS2 software EMU mode is a joke but that would be firm-wared out too. Then Sony PS2 library will have to be repurchased as a temporary download. Temporary as in eventually PS3 support will go away when a PS4 hits the market. Then you get to repurchase same library under PS4. Already ridiculous, even with OSHA lead-free solder requirement a console couldn't be designed to be reliable, failing with no warning other then an idiot light YLOD and RROD. Maybe we are the idiots for buying these systems.

[Niode]

[Crt's usual sensationalism*]. Maybe we are the idiots for buying these systems.

You hit the nail on the head there buddy. I'm already feeling like a mug for buying the 360 and PS3 now. First Sony try and pull this crap with removing features I've paid for (TWICE!!). Then my 360 gets the RRoD.

Boy am I feeling mugged. I think I would have been more satisfied with a hacker stealing £729.98 out of my bank account, that's £279.99 for the 360 Premium, £299.99 for the 40GB PS3, and £150 for the 60GB PS3 for those wondering.


*Don't take offence from that CRT, I'm only ribbing you.

[CRTGAMER]

EDIT: For erxample, did you know that the 20GB and 60GB PS3's can play super audio CD's? Super audio CD info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Audio_CD

Most people don't, and most people wouldn't care to use it, but if you owned a library of expensive SACD's and had a nice sound system wouldn't you enjoy the ability to have an extremely cheap yet very very nice SACD player? Most SACD players cost in the neighborhood of $400-$800, compared to that the PS3's $500 was a steal when considering all of the features from when it first came out!

I did not know about this CD format. At least according to the Wiki link, SACDs will still work on existing CD players, sans extra SACD sound quality. As in the obsolete HD-DVD, the Blu-Ray discs should all include a DVD for the car and bedroom DVD players. One reason why I have not jumped to Blu-Ray. Perhaps Sony marketing way of forcing out DVD and Toshiba trying to fight back with the XD player. Marketing of early iMacs not having the 3½ floppy similar, but more of just good foresight on Apple. Does anyone actually own a Toshiba XD DVD player, a review?

More of my usual sensationalism. *
With YLOD reliability factor, best to keep PS3 run time to strictly gaming. Yes PS3 advertised as Home Media Center Blu-Ray player for home theater, but why take chance on a limited mileage YLOD console.

*None taken Niode, I appreciate acknowledgment to my attempt at creating a non-boring reply.

[the7k]

Think about it this way - they're actually giving you an opportunity to wait for the custom firmware that will no doubt be used by a little less than 100% of it's users to pirate games. They could have just shat this firmware update out without warning anybody, and no one would be any the wiser.

It'd piss a lot more people off (and their rage would actually be justified), but they'd also be killing any chance of piracy for quite some time.

It is heavy handed, especially since most the PS3s out there are now Slims at this point anyway - but at least you have a choice.

[msimplay]

All I can say is that its a skank regardless of those people that don't use these features Sony should not be taking features away that people paid for.

If they can get away with this stuff one day you might just end up with a box with all of the extra "features" taken away and be able to play just PS3 games and you will still get all them people saying oh its okay I only use it to play games.

I read that Sony don't need that 1% who paid for those features but from where I stand that 1% is also the same 1% that put down half a grand and bought the PS3 on the first day, those PS3 owners should not be marginalised.

[noiseredux]

Maybe we are the idiots for buying these systems.

Honestly (and I'm not trying to rub anything in here) this is part of why I'm so okay with remaining "last-gen." I just feel like current gen is so riddled with shakey crap like this... being stripped of what you paid for and digital downloads tied to a console with a shockingly short life-span. I don't know. There might be a Wii or DS or 360 game I want here or there or something, but ultimately I'm so unimpressed with the hardware and business of these newer consoles.

[Niode]

Think about it this way - they're actually giving you an opportunity to wait for the custom firmware that will no doubt be used by a little less than 100% of it's users to pirate games. They could have just shat this firmware update out without warning anybody, and no one would be any the wiser.

It'd piss a lot more people off (and their rage would actually be justified), but they'd also be killing any chance of piracy for quite some time.

It is heavy handed, especially since most the PS3s out there are now Slims at this point anyway - but at least you have a choice.

That's not a choice. It's an ultimatum. Have linux and no PS3 games, or have PS3 games and no linux. It's not a choice.

It doesn't matter though, at the end of the day they're removing features from the PS3 that I paid for. Under consumer rights (I called them today regarding this) I am in my rights to demand at least a partial refund from them. Trading standards will back me up.

@ noiseredux, the only console where your downloads are tied to a console with a short lifespan is the Wii, the PS3 and 360 have user accounts that are transferable between consoles. The Wii doesn't, Wiiware/VC is tied to that console and is non-transferable.

[noiseredux]

@ noiseredux, the only console where your downloads are tied to a console with a short lifespan is the Wii, the PS3 and 360 have user accounts that are transferable between consoles. The Wii doesn't, Wiiware/VC is tied to that console and is non-transferable.

really? I wasn't aware. I'm going by what little I've paid attention. I believe the DSi is the same deal as the Wii -- tied to the system. Although, when I mentioned short lifespan, I was referring more to the 360 and PS3 hardware. I don't believe I"ve heard of a RROD/YLOD equivalent on the Wii. Am I wrong?

[videogameexperiment]

really? I wasn't aware. I'm going by what little I've paid attention. I believe the DSi is the same deal as the Wii -- tied to the system. Although, when I mentioned short lifespan, I was referring more to the 360 and PS3 hardware. I don't believe I"ve heard of a RROD/YLOD equivalent on the Wii. Am I wrong?

Wii's can overheat as well. This is actually a lot of instances of it. But I imagine as long as you keep the same mac address in the wii you can get your games back.